If you’re interested in board service, how do you know if you’re ready? What skills position you to be the ideal board member? How do you find the right board?
Last Thursday, Silicon Valley Bank and theBoardlist hosted a virtual salon exploring those questions for women starting on their path to board service. A Seat At The Table: Landing Your First Board Seat featured an expert panel of board directors with diverse professional experience across technology, biotech, and consumer goods. In a conversation moderated by theBoardlist CEO Shannon Gordon, the panelists- Asmau Ahmed, Mandy Fields, and Shehnaaz Suliman gave the audience actionable and inspirational advice for pursuing board service.
Skills assessment emerged as a central theme in the conversation. It’s an important early step for determining board readiness. While women are generally prepared for board service before they even begin looking into opportunities, they may question if their skills align with an organization’s needs. It can be tricky connecting a skillset built over a career with the sometimes nebulous expectations an organization may have for its board of directors. This is especially true for a career path that crosses several fields. Asmau Ahmed used consulting as an example. The key skills consultants often demonstrate in their practice- providing strategic advice, making connections, and ensuring staff have what they need to do their work, are essential for board governance responsibilities.
Once you understand how your skills and experience match to potential board opportunities, follow these three steps to find the right board for you:
- “Be a board warrior, not a board worrier.” For Shehnaaz Suliman preparation is key. This means being strategic and deepening your knowledge to position yourself for success. In Shehnaaz’s words, “You make your own future. Seize opportunities and capitalize on them. Never apologize for the spark that makes you a warrior.”
- “Focus on the areas where you are strongest and tell your story.” Asmau highlighted this approach to bring into focus the unique value each person brings to a situation. Strengths aren’t untethered abilities, they exist in the context of who you are and how you do what you do. Don’t be shy. Name your accomplishments. Shrinking yourself and playing small doesn’t serve you.
- Now that you’re prepared, know your strengths, and are ready to tell your story, put this golden piece of advice from Mandy Fields into action: “Leverage everything around you in your ecosystem to get where you need to go.” The bottom line is know what you want and go for it.
Meaningful board service is an expansive experience. When you recognize the value of your skills and expertise, you can cultivate fulfilling board opportunities.
DP Cogan Consulting 