IBI’s Strategy

IBI is a consumer lobby organization combining economics and activism to educate and apply leverage to achieve the goal of having institutional boards of directors reflect the gender of their clientele. IBI believes that a majority of the public isn’t aware of how boards of directors directly affect their lives. From the local hospital board, board of education, university board, or the corporate boards that control the companies they or their families work for, or buy from. To apply leverage and affect change, IBI needs as many women and men as possible to join from every community within Canada, the USA and the UK, so collectively the impetus to achieve its goal will be unstoppable.

Aside from Founding memberships and private donors which will provide the funds and experience needed to support IBI’s strategy, membership in IBI is free; as building membership and gaining voices is the key to ensuring the vision becomes reality.

To build IBI membership and a voice in the media:

  • IBI has instigated a proactive online marketing and membership campaign to educate and increase awareness. Institutions are aware of the consumer power women hold - 80% - as they direct a good portion of their marketing dollars toward selling to them. By and large women just aren’t aware of the power they wield.
  • IBI is distributing media releases to major news outlets to increase awareness and provide education.
  • IBI will attend annual general meetings of selected institutions to advocate for change to have more women represented on their board of directors. IBI will select institutions, buy minimal shares, identify volunteers to attend annual general meetings and repeat IBI-designated questions at each meeting. IBI will anticipate questions and will prepare responses. This will attract media attention.
  • IBI is creating Education & Marketing teams in every community/region in Canada, the USA and the UK to:

    o Educate about what boards of directors do.
    o Promote awareness of the IBI strategy and vision.
    o Canvas for members.
    o Publicize IBI in local communities.
    o Identify local institutions that would be candidates for being an IBI- designated institution.
    o Identify volunteers to carry the IBI proxy at annual general meetings.

  • IBI has instigated and is creating speaking and writing opportunities in the manner of opinion-editorial pieces, on websites and blogs, etc. to provide education, raise awareness and canvas for members.
  • IBI will provide online forums for members to share ideas, information and opportunities.
  • IBI will provide articles for local newspapers as each community Education & Marketing team member comes on board.

How will IBI get the job done?
Through education, marketing and activism, the number of IBI stakeholders will multiply; and by virtue of numbers, IBI’s leverage will escalate as well. IBI will have a voice that institutions won’t be able to ignore. Consumers will be demanding change within their communities, regionally, nationally and globally.

  • IBI will become an international brand that will be recognized as a mark for positive societal change and will become an influential and leading voice that will affect change.
  • IBI depends upon Founding Member funds and donations in order to remain member-driven and maintain neutrality, and is not actively soliciting funds from corporations or traditional foundations.
  • Simply by joining IBI as a member and adding your voice to the powerful lobby group that IBI will represent, IBI will be heard by the institutions where change is required. If board transformation is not called for, it won’t happen!
  • Members will be offered the opportunity to get involved in written and online petitions to express their voices and opinions to affect change.
  • IBI will offer education, awareness and opportunity to institutions as a means to gain an advantage over competitors. Institutions will see the value of partnering with IBI because IBI’s membership will support and patronize them when they demonstrate that they agree women should be fairly represented on boards. Institutions already gear their marketing toward women because they recognize that women make 80% of consumer purchasing decisions - by partnering with IBI they will:

    o Attract consumers
    o Gain a competitive edge
    o Attract the best employees in a world where the baby boom is fast retiring and leaving large gaps in the workplace by making it clear that women are welcome at all levels and at the top

  • Newsletters will keep IBI members informed about progress, new initiatives, partnered institutions and member meetings.
  • IBI will initiate buying groups and loyalty programs with IBI-designated institutions and partners.

The strategy will facilitate IBI to advocate for fair gender balance on boards - and with the offer of a win/win situation for institutions, IBI will become a voice for change that will be heard. It’s fair. It’s smart!