Your Roadmap To Serving On A Corporate Board
There’s never been a better time for women and specifically women of color to throw their hat in the ring for corporate board service. More and more boards are reexamining the makeup of their boards from the needed skillset along with gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, age and backgrounds.
Now is the time to get serious about your board journey, so here are some quick tips to help you achieve your goals of corporate board service now.
Identify Your Value-Add
If you want to join a corporate board, you have to absolutely know your value-add and be able to clearly articulate it to your network. Think – what exactly is it about your professional and personal experience that is going to make you an attractive board candidate and what value do you bring?
Network Yourself Into A Board Seat
One of the most strategic things you can do while preparing yourself for board service is to network; network with people from outside your network, and alert those within your network about your interest in corporate board service. A portion of our proven process is dedicated to discussing and strategizing with our members about how to engage with their networks.
This is an incredibly valuable resource because it helps women to create their path to the boardroom through their own networks and by working to expand their networks with individuals that may be able to connect them with open seats in the boardroom.
Promote Yourself
To say we’ve entered a virtual renaissance is an understatement. Over the past few years, our entire lives have shifted to remote or online environments, and people are spending more and more time learning about others online. Your digital presence should be polished, and your best bet is to power up your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords, descriptions, content, and an updated headshot to get yourself noticed.
This is also one of the first places boards are going to scan in an attempt to get to know you. Be sure to establish a cohesive and relevant brand within your digital presence. You can do this by developing and producing your own content, sharing relevant information and articles, showcasing your work or speaking engagements, and engaging with other like-minded peers in the digital world. You’re going to have to make some noise to get noticed!
Keep Yourself Accountable
This one is incredibly important. Stay accountable! Achieving a seat on a corporate board is no easy feat. You must be able to dedicate at least five hours a month to developing your board documents, rehearsing your elevator pitch, identifying your value-add, and networking. You’ve got to commit some time to staying focused on your board journey goals. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.
Gain Access To Corporate Board Opportunities
Once you’ve fully prepared yourself for board service, you need to actually identify and submit your board documents to corporate board openings. Since these openings aren’t public, you’ll only be able to access them through your network, through a search firm, or by joining an organization like Women in the Boardroom that shares corporate board openings with its members.
Continue to Learn and Grow
Engage with other like minded individuals who are both serving on corporate boards and/or looking for their board seat. Continue to learn what it takes to be the best board member and what boards are looking for in potential candidates. Make sure you have a great cover letter when you submit for openings and that you have polished your interview skills.
If you’re interested in continuing the conversation, Reach out to me directly!
Sheila Ronning, CEO & Founder, Women in the Boardroom.
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