Preparing for the Leadership Shift: Seize Boardroom Opportunities

Janice Burch, Executive Career Coach, Pro Resume Center

The retirement wave of the baby boomer generation is reshaping corporate leadership landscapes, creating critical gaps that demand proactive leadership development and succession planning strategies. At the forefront of these changes is the need to prepare Gen X and millennial successors to step into pivotal roles. For organizations, this transition isn’t just about filling vacancies—it’s about ensuring that leadership is equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s business environment.

Boards Under Scrutiny: The Push for Age Diversity & Strategy Experience

Simultaneously, companies and shareholders are scrutinizing the composition and effectiveness of their executive boards. The traditional makeup of boards is under the microscope in a landscape defined by rapid technological advancement, evolving regulations, and heightened competition. Generational diversity is becoming a focal point. Nearly 70% of U.S. board members are currently 65 or older, and there is mounting pressure to implement term limits and age maximums to foster a continual infusion of fresh perspectives.

This trend is supported by data from the global consulting firm Korn Ferry, highlighting an increased effort to accelerate board turnover. In an article written by Andres Tapia, Senior Client Partner with the executive search and consulting firm, he quotes Mark Nevins, an advisor to public and private company boards. Nevins shares that the paradigm has shifted. “Directors in the past could enjoy long tenures because business didn’t change much. Now, however, boards view age—along with race, ethnicity, gender, and skill diversity—as critical to keeping up with the fast pace of business,” Nevins explains.

A recent study shows that nearly 20% of new directors appointed this year are age 50 or younger, marking a clear move toward generational diversification.

Further, according to the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporation article?"Trends in Board Composition & Refreshment?in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500," shareholders are concerned about a growing decrease in directors with business strategy experience, calling it a "worrisome trend." According to the report, having a shared strategic lens for assessing business opportunities and risks as they arise enables boards to stay on course despite the changing winds of business and often conflicting demands.

Positioning Yourself for the Boardroom

What does all this mean for you? For senior executives considering board roles, this evolving landscape signals opportunity. Are you a C-suite or VP-level leader with a breadth of expertise across finance, operations, HR, QA and strategic marketing? Do you possess specialized skills as a technology or information systems leader adept at navigating artificial intelligence and other emerging innovations? Companies are actively seeking leaders like you who can guide them through upcoming complex transformations to remain competitive.

The key is preparation. Positioning yourself as a strong board candidate requires a deliberate approach to identifying your value and potential contributions to a board and company and articulating it in a concise, engaging and inspiring way.

Identifying where you want to land and the value and experience you have to offer those select boards is a critical first step. Researching the organization or company is an important second step -- are you seeking a board member role for a nonprofit, private company or public company? First time board member applicants may find the most easily attainable appointment is via nonprofits, followed by startups and smaller private companies. The paid board director roles with publicly held companies are the most challenging boards to get on. About 7,500 of these turnover each year out of the 15,000 publicly held US companies.

What if I have never served on a board and not yet attained C-suite status?

We work with many clients who often don’t comprehend the true value they have to offer an organization as a future executive employee or board member. We will pull from you what we need to help position you as a leading candidate for a new role or Board of Director position.

Need to expand your knowledge of how boards work and how your experience can be a selling point to secure a board appointment? Here are a few top board credentialing university or organization programs to give you an edge in how boards work.

We have reviewed and recommend these comprehensive programs to educate yourself on what is expected of a board member:

• Wharton Executive Education, University of Pennsylvania
• Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
• NACD Directorship Certification
• Harvard Business School Executive Education

How to Find Board Roles

While board member roles may occasionally be advertised on a job search platform or through sources and recruiters who actively recruit board members, there are other ways to find those opportunities, primarily through direct outreach. A survey of board members revealed that almost 70% of directors at public companies find new directors through personal networking, professional networking, or word of mouth. Additional studies revealed that 90% of Board opportunities are never listed on a website, or in front of a recruiter.

Personal networking remains a dominant channel for aspiring board members.

In addition, a few executive board organizations offer educational, networking and support services to connect you to possible board opportunities. We provide an active list of resources for clients.

You Know Where To Look - But Are You Board-Ready?

Are you prepared to pursue an executive board role? If your experience meets the needs of a company board but your materials don’t make you the clear choice, we can help.

Our proven process and award-winning writers can help identify your value and career highlights to develop a professional story that elevates your brand and sets you apart as a leading board candidate.

To this end, we offer the Executive Evolution Package, a comprehensive suite of services and materials tailored for forward-thinking senior leaders and C-suite executives. Whether preparing for a career pivot, seeking a board role, or aiming to amplify your public speaking and media presence, this package is designed to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market and advance your leadership footprint.

Visit www.proresumecentercom to learn more and schedule an introductory call to learn how we can help you achieve board director status.

Did you find value in this article? Please feel free to share, like and comment below!

About Janice

Ready to take your career to the next level? Connect with Janice on LinkedIn or visit Pro Resume Center to explore how she can help you stand out?and?succeed.