July spotlight on: Beyond the boardroom

I want to challenge us all to think beyond the boardroom. Serving on boards is not the pinnacle expression of your value as a business leader; nor is it the only way for you to continue to maintain professional relevance and make money into later years. Serving on boards is unlikely for most leaders, not because of qualifications, but because of supply. Consider that there are 40k private and public company boards in the US that require independent directors, the average tenure of a board member is longer than the US marriage at 8.5 years, and the average board size across the full landscape is about 5.

This article isn't about dissuading you from an ambition toward board service. I've spent the last 8 years helping women achieve that goal and I am fully dedicated to ensuring parity at the top of business. What this is about is encouraging women to think bigger than boards, and to realize that the more you focus on a Portfolio of Impact, the more likely a board role is; when you invest, pursue entrepreneurship, serve as an advisor, stand on stages as a thought leader, you are in realms where board roles come to be. Give these areas attention too, and more will come to you both in likelihood of a board role, and satisfaction—even if one takes a long time to come by.

I invite you to read my thoughts and engage with the discussion on LinkedIn.

READ THE ARTICLE

Navigating career transitions: top takeaways from Ashley Rudolph

In our recent Salon with performance expert and Athena coach, Ashley Rudolph, we discussed how to approach a career transition, including mindset, questions to ask and tactical tools to dive in with confidence.

Here are the top takeaways from our discussion:

1. Reflect and Learn - explore the deeper “why” behind what lights you up and what you are good at. Ashley recommends The Book of Beautiful Questions for insights into decision-making and transitions
2. Find Fulfillment vs. Passion - use Ashley's "REF method" (Reflect, Explore, Find) to identify activities that bring fulfillment, strengths acknowledged by others, and pivotal skills from past roles. This can help you reflect on your priorities, values, and next steps.
3. Harness LinkedIn Content for Visibility - optimize your profile with relevant keywords and engaging content. This can be an effective way to attract job offers and collaboration opportunities.
4. Leverage the Strength of Weak Ties - leverage “weak ties” or second-degree connections that are crucial for job searches. This includes reaching out to former colleagues, clients, vendors, classmates and people in adjacent industries.
5. Explore Fractional Work - though unconventional paths may seem daunting, fractional roles can transition into full-time positions or serve as stepping stones into new industries, enriching one’s skill set.

Dive deeper by reading this blog post . If you're in the midst of a challenging transition, working 1:1 with a coach can be greatly beneficial. Joining Athena gives you access to more than 25 top-tier executive coaches. Learn more about Athena membership here .

ATHENA ACADEMY

Whether you are looking to move up in your executive career, position yourself for board service, navigate a transition, or architect your next act, Athena Academy programs offer the best of community and skills building in an intimate, cohort-based setting. Early registration is open for our fall courses:

• Launch your board career with our signature Modern Board Readiness course beginning September 10 (filling up fast!). Learn more & register .
• Rise to new levels of leadership with Unleash Your Impact: Executive Excellence beginning September 18. Learn more & register .
• Architect Your Second Half will begin in October. Fill out the waitlist form to indicate interest and receive more info.

MEMBER VOICES

How Pearson's CIO Manages Technical Debt

In CIO.com , read how CIO Marykay Wells uses a targeted auditing system to manage technical debt proactively, enabling strategic tech investments that drive business growth and modernization while reducing risks and budget strain.

How Sama Became One of Few Tech Companies Where Women Are Equally Represented at Every Level

In TriplePundit , Wendy Gonzalez shares how Sama boasts a workforce that is 53% female, with half of its senior managers and executives being women, and how it focuses on providing meaningful work and digital upskilling in Africa to lift people out of poverty.

VIRTUAL SALONS

Unleash Your Impact

Wed, Aug 7 at 12:00pm PT

Join us for an information session on Athena Academy's Unleash Your Impact: Executive Excellence course with program leader and coach Jocelyn King. This program is crafted to assist you in realizing your complete leadership capabilities through a series of dynamic sessions led by seasoned coaches and distinguished leadership authorities. The curriculum delves into strategic leadership, various leadership approaches, effective communication, negotiation techniques, and more.

RSVP

CHRO Perspectives with Lisa Buckingham, CHRO at U.S. Soccer Federation

Thu, Aug 8 at 7:30am PT

Join us for the next Salon in our CHRO Perspectives Series featuring Lisa Buckingham, Chief Human Resources Officer at the U.S. Soccer Federation. Founded in 1913, the U.S. Soccer Federation oversees the USMNT and the World Cup-decorated USWNT, nationwide youth development programs, equal pay initiatives, and major world tournaments. With over 20 years of global HR experience, Lisa focuses on talent, culture, engagement, DEIB, and excellence in all HR functions.

In addition to being a well-recognized people leader, she is also an experienced board director, investor, and founder. Hear from Lisa as she discusses leveraging technology to enhance the human aspect of HR and the strategic role of the CHRO with Coco Brown and Belen Gomez.

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CEO Perspectives with Shelley Zalis, Founder & CEO of The Female Quotient

Tue, July 16 at 9:30am PT

For the next Salon in our CEO Perspectives Series, we're thrilled to be joined by Shelley Zalis, Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient.

The Female Quotient is an equality services company that creates platforms for women and solutions for organizations committed to closing the gender gap in the workplace.

Passionate about giving back, Shelley is a proud mentor to women around the world and a pioneer for online research, becoming the first female chief executive ranked in the research industry’s top 25. Today, she works with Fortune 500 companies, impact organizations, and conscious leaders to advance equality in the workplace.

Join this fireside chat hosted by Coco Brown and Suja Chandrasekaran to hear Shelley's journey to becoming a Founder and CEO and her perspective on how we can all contribute to The Female Quotient's mission: "Change the Equation. Close the Gap.

RSVP

MEMBER NEWS & CELEBRATIONS

Congratulations to our members on their recent achievements

• Alice Brennan was named to the Directors to Watch: Gender Diversity Class of 2024 by Directors & Boards
• Amy Gilliland received the 2024 Wash100 Award
• Bethany Mayer was appointed to the Board of Astera Labs
• Carol Meyers was appointed to the Board of Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council
• Coreen Sawdon was appointed Chief Financial Officer at CYPHER Learning
• Deneen Donnley was named as a finalist for 50 Women to Watch For Boards 2024 by 50/50 Women on Boards
• Erika Cramer was appointed to the Board of WVU Foundation
• Erin Selleck was named to the Directors to Watch: Gender Diversity Class of 2024 by Directors & Boards
• Galina Antova was featured on the July cover of Forbes Bulgaria
• Nancy Casey was named as a finalist for 50 Women to Watch For Boards 2024 by 50/50 Women on Boards
• Marva Bailer obtained the Certificate in Private Company Governance from Private Directors Association
• Sonal Malavia named a finalist for the #empowHERaccess 2024 Awards

Welcome new members

We are thrilled to welcome this month’s new members to the Athena community. They include Chief Officers, VPs, and Founders in human resources, finance, and information technology. They come to us from leading organizations such as Salesforce, Visa, and AbbVie.

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