Case Study:
Siobhan Dowdall ACG
Meet Siobhan Dowdall ACG, shortlisted nominee for our One to Watch 2021 Award, as she tells us what its like to be a Subsidiary Governance Officer at Royal Bank of Canada, London.
Tell us a little about you, and what makes you tick
I love the detail and I am very methodical in how I work. When not in work, you will likely find me in F45 or at home reading a crime/thriller novel. I’m currently reading 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard and it is seriously interrupting my target of 8 hours sleep!
Only dead fish go with the flow
You don’t need to be a leader to lead
What is Governance?
Governance is essentially the corporate conscience of any organisation and ensures effective oversight and recording of key decision-making.
What is a governance professional?
An individual entrusted to set the best standards in governance. The role of a governance professional will vary depending on the sector however as part of my current mandate, I regularly partner with other stakeholder groups outside of my immediate team in driving change, examples include corporate restructuring/regulatory change initiatives.
The route to a career in governance
I completed an MSc in Management and Corporate Governance so a straight forward answer to that one!
The essential skills for success in governance
Having strong soft skills is an imperative and in my view, one of the most significant components in doing what we do well. Governance professionals must be effective communicators in order to deliver key messaging and solicit the right information.
Career highlight
I won the RBC Conference Award for the calendar year 2020. This award is awarded to the top 1% of performers at RBC globally each year and was a great honour for me personally.
How did the Institute support your career as a governance professional?
Membership of the Institute identifies those individuals with skills and knowledge in governance and it is through affiliation with the Institute that I have been able to grow a broad network of people in a similar discipline. More recently, I was approached by a graduate member of the Institute on Linkedin for advice in regards to the next steps in securing an entry-level role in governance. It is by virtue of my association with the Institute that opens up opportunities such as this one.
Words of wisdom for the next generation of governance professionals?
Never assume and work hard.
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