How to get on a board
Many people ask us how to find openings on the boards of nonprofits or for-profit companies. There are two ways to go about it: 1) cultivate your network over time and/or 2) search online or become a member of a board-focused association.
Neither path will be quick unless you already have a strong network of executive connections. However, the route that involves building connections is likely to produce better and faster results. You have to be patient. While landing a job can take up to six months or more depending on your level, it could take six months to several years before you land a board role.
Building and Nurturing Targeted Connections
Your network may be the best place to tap into open board positions. You can also reach out to executive recruiters because they may recruit for open board roles.
Contact former bosses and update them on your career progression, sharing how their leadership impacted you. Think about the executives and bosses with whom you have worked and admire. Have you been helpful to them? If not, consider if there's a way to do so before asking for their time. When you speak with them, keep the conversation specific, brief, and ask for suggestions on who else they know who you might benefit from speaking to.
If you have connections or second-degree connections in the the following industries, it could benefit you to cultivate these relationships because they interact heavily with corporate boards.
Venture capital and private equity groups
Bankers
Law firms
Accounting and audit firms that advise boards
Management consulting firms (McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Bain, and Accenture)
Turnaround consultancies (Alvarez and Marcel, Alix Partners, BDO Seidman, and Buxbaum Group)
Activist hedge fund investors (Elliot, Carl Icahn, Third Point, ValueAct, Jana, Pershing Square, Starboard, and Trian)
Search Online or Become a Member of an Organization
If you're interested in nonprofit board opportunities, BoardSource provides a handful of nationwide and international resources. Some may be familiar places to find roles, such as Idealist and LinkedIn.
You can also find for-profit opportunities on LinkedIn and other popular job sites. You may also want to check out the following options specific to board positions.
Board Prospects (free and paid options)
Boardsi (paid)
National Association of Corporate Directors (paid)
Private Directors Association (paid)
As an individual member of the associations above, you can search or be sought for board positions by their members. Getting involved may also help you raise your profile as a subject matter expert. Other ways to do this are to speak at conferences or post thought leadership articles.
Remember, it may take time, but if you have the skill sets boards are often looking for, using one or both of these strategies are the best ways to go about landing one.
Photo credit: Marc A