Are You Board-Ready?

In a recent article for the Forbes Business Council , I detailed three essential questions to ask yourself before launching your board career. The first question I get from executives interested in becoming a corporate director is, “Am I a good candidate for board roles?”

Here’s how I describe what a board-ready candidate looks like:

Board-ready candidates typically have 20+ years of leadership experience, have reached the C-level in their organization(s), and have either deep functional knowledge (like operations, finance, compliance/regulatory, etc.) or an extensive background in their industry.

Corporate boards look to bring on new directors with deep industry and functional knowledge who offer a mix of perspectives and insight that are missing from their current board. This means the qualifications above are just table stakes for most opportunities.

Strong board candidates also need a background in something significant, such as M&As, divestitures, IPOs, performance turnarounds, expansions, or crisis management. It also helps to have global or international operating experience.

Another key to board readiness includes understanding corporate governance and the role of the board, committees, and individual directors. There are many board preparation organizations and courses that can help with this, including the NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) and the Private Directors Association? . There are also programs for specific groups, such as the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) and 50/50 Women on Boards . Many Ivy League institutions such as Harvard and Wharton and consulting firms like 德勤 and 安永 also have programs geared toward board candidates.

Completing a board preparation program is not a requirement, but it can help you learn the language of corporate governance, understand the role of a corporate director, and demonstrate that you have done the work to prepare to lead in this capacity. Bonus – most of these organizations come with a deep network you can tap into as you launch your board search.

Ready to launch your board career?

We work 1:1 with senior leaders to create stand-out board resumes, bios, and LinkedIn profiles. We also develop board search strategies, prepare you for board-level interviews, and expand your network of board recruiters.

Schedule a call with us to learn more. ?

Read the rest of the Forbes article, “Three Essential Questions to Ask To Launch Your Board Career” here .