How To Choose A Board Member

http://blog.eladgil.com/2011/12/how-to-choose-board-member.html

by eladgil • 15 years ago

57 8 15 years ago

blog.eladgil.com

cq• 15 years ago

Why not make every employee a board member, with one vote each, and equal ownership of the company?

Decisions would be made based on what is in the best interest of the employees of that company. A real democratic way to run a business.

jrockway• 15 years ago

What's in the best interest of the employees may not be in the best interest of the company. I never really thought about it until I interviewed at Amazon and realized that they care a lot more about customers than employees. Great if your a customer, not so great if you work there.

moonchrome2• 15 years ago

Two words : corporate politics. Working former ex-communist company (~300 workers) where workers own the majority share of stock turned me from a idealistic socialist to a cynical libertarian in just two years.

mike_esspe• 15 years ago

Can you share the experience?

freiheit• 15 years ago

Because you need to limit the size of the board. Also better if your board has an odd number to minimize ties. You can't reasonably have 50 people meet in a room, discuss a complicated issue and then vote on it.

Having the employees elect some of the board members wouldn't be terrible, however.

ceejayoz• 15 years ago

> Decisions would be made based on what is in the best interest of the employees of that company. A real democratic way to run a business.

Decisions would be made based on whatever can convince 50%+1 of the employees, which might well not be in the best interest of the employees of that company.

The potential results like "no raises for the 25% of employees who are women" might get you sued, too.

gordonbowman• 15 years ago

Great post on an important topic. I also like Fred Wilson's advice:

"Above all else, look for great judgment and ethics."

http://avc.blogs.com/a_vc/2008/02/thoughts-on-cho.html

How To Choose A Board Member

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