A well-connected feel for the company.

• Author: HATHAWAY, DEREK C.
• Position: Board mentoring program

Profile of a board mentoring program that matches directors with specific operating divisions.

EARLY IN MY CAREER, as a young chairman of a publicly traded company in the United Kingdom, I benefited from the counsel of more experienced and wiser individuals who were generous enough to take an interest in me and offer sound advice. They were supportive without being intrusive, instructive without being imposing.

From these trustworthy mentors, I learned the simple precept that wisdom and experience are hard-earned, valuable resources, representing a significant off-balance-sheet asset. The board mentoring program we have established at Harsco Corp. embraces this philosophy by creating a collaborative culture in which our directors seek to become engaged with the senior managers of our operating divisions, in the same way that was so beneficial to me.

Since 1994, Harsco's core businesses have doubled in size and tripled in earnings. We stand today as a strong $1.7 billion worldwide company, operating at more than 300 locations in over 30 countries, with nearly 15,000 employees.

We are the world's foremost provider of on-site technology and services to steel mills and other metals producers. We are the premier supplier of gas containment and control systems to the global gas and energy industries. Our railroad maintenance-of-way equipment is used in virtually every part of the world to maintain and expand railroads, while our scaffolding and grating products are the industry's standard.

It is a lot to put one's arms and mind around. We have intensified our focus on these core, strategic business sectors over the past several years, and I believe that our board mentor program has proven to be a valuable contributor to our success.

Initial step

My first step in putting together the program was to assess the board members and determine the best match for each of our operating divisions. I looked at the background of each director, his or her particular specialties and life experiences. We are privileged to enjoy an unusually intelligent, dedicated and committed group of individuals as directors. As you would well expect, they bring a rich and varied background to the management of our company, combining professional life experiences in manufacturing, finance, marketing, construction, and health care, to name just a few.

Each division has at least one board member as a mentor, while larger divisions have two or possibly three. The relationship...