SMU-SID Directorship Programme Testimonial
With Nitin Palande | Founder, The Boardroom Edge
I wanted a rigorous, Singapore-anchored governance grounding in real boardroom practice - combining academic depth, practitioner insight, and Asia-relevant case studies. Given my work across SE Asia & ANZ, I needed a programme addressing today's board realities: regulation, digital disruption, sustainability, and board dynamics. SMU-SID's credibility, the path to Accredited Director status, and the calibre of the cohort made it an easy choice.
Nitin Palande
Founder of The Boardroom Edge
What made you decide to join the SMU-SID Directorship Programme?
I wanted a rigorous, Singapore-anchored governance grounding in real boardroom practice — combining academic depth, practitioner insight, and Asia-relevant case studies. Given my work across SE Asia & ANZ, I needed a programme addressing today's board realities: regulation, digital disruption, sustainability, and board dynamics.
SMU-SID's credibility, the path to Accredited Director status, and the calibre of the cohort made it an easy choice.
Share your favourite experience / a memorable moment
The cohort itself was a highlight. Senior leaders from diverse industries sparked honest debate and rich peer learning.
The standout moment for me was learning an entire module by watching the movie 12 Angry Men where inside a sweltering jury room, one dissenting juror challenges the others to reconsider a seemingly obvious guilty verdict. As tensions rise, biases surface and the group is forced to confront the fragility of certainty, the weight of responsibility, and the meaning of reasonable doubt.
It was the closest thing to a real boardroom crisis without the stakes, and it reshaped how I think about board behaviour, influence, and collective judgement.
What takeaways have been helpful in your daily role?
The programme sharpened several areas of my practice:
- A stronger governance lens on directors' duties and fiduciary responsibilities.
- A more strategic view of risk - as both constraint and enabler.
- Sharper strategic oversight, especially challenging assumptions and asking better questions.
- Deeper insight into board dynamics - trust, culture, and constructive dissent.
- A stronger stewardship mindset, linking sustainability, accountability, and long-term value.
These shape how I support CEOs, challenge management constructively, and contribute at the board level.
One piece of advice for aspiring Directors / Board Members
Network, let people know that you are aspiring for a board role/position. Build your governance foundations early. Technical knowledge matters, but judgement earned through exposure, reflection, and learning from others - is what sets effective directors apart.
The SMU-SID Directorship Programme delivers all three: a solid governance base, practical tools, and a strong peer network. It's an excellent starting point for anyone serious about becoming a credible, independent, future-ready director.
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About the SMU-SID Directorship Programme
The programme is a collaboration between Singapore Management University and Singapore Institute of Directors to empower board directors to be champions of good governance. It is one of the leading local directorship training programmes that leads to the SID Accredited Director status with exam exemption.
More information about the SMU-SID Directorship Programme here.