Karen Challinor

UK

staring at clouds

When you sit at that table it's politics and power games. The fact that you are there means the other directors have less influence. They want you as a subordinate who does what he's told and not as an equal.

You have to demonstrate to the other people at the table that you have every right to be there, just being invited is not sufficient

If the CFO doubts your knowledge of the business ask him to kindly fill the gaps in your education and you'll reciprocate by educating him about the function of IT in the company.

I'm sorry that this happened to you. Not every company has a board with such bad manners. If someone at the board table disrepects you or your department you have to slap them down there and then or you will never hear the last of it and you will always be the teaboy.

it might even be that he recognised you from one of your earlier columns and has taken offence