Building Your Boardroom Champions: The Secret to Sustaining a Successful Board Career

One of the most underestimated keys to a successful board career is the need for champions—people who advocate for you, sing your praises, and keep your name circulating in boardroom circles. A strong portfolio of champions can open doors to board positions you may never even hear about otherwise. But creating these valuable relationships doesn’t happen overnight, and too often, talented professionals arrive at the boardroom without the external network they need to sustain and grow a board career.

In the unadvertised world of board positions, champions are essential. These advocates, often working behind the scenes, will introduce you to decision-makers and ensure your name is brought up when opportunities arise. Here’s why champions matter, how to develop them, and what steps you can take to build a network that consistently works for you.

1. The Role of Champions in Your Board Journey

A champion is more than just a network connection—they’re a raving fan who believes in your abilities and actively promotes you for new board roles. Unlike casual connections, champions are deeply invested in your success and understand what you bring to a boardroom setting. They know the type of roles you’re aiming for and are ready to endorse you, often without being asked.

Think of champions as the “behind-the-scenes” support system that every board director needs. Their proactive introductions can connect you with board chairs, decision-makers, and industry influencers who can make a difference in your board career. Without this network of advocates, your board opportunities can be limited to what’s advertised, often leaving the most prestigious or impactful roles out of reach.

2. Building Champions Requires a Strategic Investment

The process of developing champions starts long before you set your sights on a board role. Many aspiring board directors have enjoyed successful C-suite careers but haven’t focused on expanding their external network. When transitioning to the boardroom, they find their connections outside their current company or industry are sparse. While they may have delivered impressive results within their organisation, they lack the critical board-level relationships necessary for a thriving board career.

A meaningful board network doesn’t appear overnight—it’s a long-term investment. This means attending key industry events, participating in thought leadership, and intentionally engaging with influential individuals who can become your champions over time. The sooner you recognise the value of these relationships, the more successful your board journey will be.

3. Who Should Your Champions Be?

Champions should be carefully chosen, well-connected individuals who can open doors and vouch for your expertise in high-stakes settings. Aim to identify at least 3 to 5 champions who know your boardroom ambitions and have influence within the board and executive space.

Consider building champions across different areas:

• Board Members and Chairs: Connections with experienced board members and chairs provide a direct route to other boardrooms. They can endorse your skills and character in their own networks.
• Partners in Big 4 Accounting Firms: These partners have access to a vast network of board members and companies seeking advisory or governance expertise.
• Law Firm Partners: Legal partners often work closely with boards on governance issues, making them valuable conduits for board recommendations.
• Private Equity and Venture Capital: Partners in PE and VC firms regularly appoint board members for portfolio companies and can offer insight into open roles.
• C-Suite Executives: Executives outside your industry can expand your reach, especially in sectors where your skills are transferable.

4. Consistent Contact and Communication

Once you’ve identified your champions, the next step is to cultivate these relationships with consistent, thoughtful communication. Champions aren’t just people you contact when you need a favour. They’re professionals you keep in touch with regularly, updating them on your career and boardroom goals so they’re always aware of the types of roles you’re seeking.

Think about it as a two-way street. Make sure you’re adding value to the relationship by sharing relevant insights, connecting them with other valuable contacts, or simply staying supportive of their own professional goals. Regular check-ins—whether by phone, email, or over coffee—help keep your relationship strong and your name top-of-mind.

5. Develop a Strategy for Finding and Cultivating Champions

• Start with Your Existing Network: Take a look at the relationships you already have and identify who might be able to act as a champion. Reach out to past mentors, trusted colleagues, and even clients who respect your work.
• Expand Strategically: Attend targeted networking events and seek out industry forums where you can meet high-level contacts. Look into the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), AmCham Australia, and The CEO Institute as excellent starting points for connecting with potential champions in the Australian board community.
• Make Thoughtful Introductions: Helping others can be a powerful way to strengthen your own network. If you see a way to connect someone in your network with a valuable contact, do so. Building goodwill will make it more likely for others to reciprocate.
• Be Clear on Your Goals: Champions need to know your direction. Regularly communicate your board aspirations to help them understand what type of role you’re looking for, so they can be on the lookout for relevant opportunities.

6. The Unadvertised Board Market: Where Champions Open Doors

The board market operates largely through private referrals and recommendations, with only a fraction of board roles ever being advertised. Champions are critical to accessing this hidden market, where decision-makers rely on trusted recommendations. In this landscape, champions can make a decisive difference by advocating for you when opportunities align with your strengths and aspirations.

Without champions, even the most qualified candidates can struggle to secure top-tier board positions. With champions, however, you tap into a network of influence that can open doors to roles you’d never discover through traditional channels.

7. Assessing and Expanding Your Champion Network

Ask yourself:

• Do I currently have champions who would speak up for me in a boardroom setting?
• Are these champions aware of my board aspirations and specific interests?
• How often am I in contact with them, and do they understand the value I bring?

If you find gaps, start taking steps now to cultivate champions who can support your board journey. Remember, it’s a long-term investment in your career, and the connections you build today will be invaluable assets in the future.

In Summary

A successful board career isn’t just about skills, experience, or even personal drive. It’s about having a network of champions who are willing to advocate for you behind closed doors. By building these relationships strategically, consistently, and authentically, you lay the foundation for a board career that thrives.

In 2025, take the time to identify, cultivate, and strengthen your network of champions. Engage with them regularly, stay connected, and make sure they know your board ambitions and the value you offer. The impact of having even a few true champions can be transformative, guiding you to opportunities and connections that propel your board journey forward.

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