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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    • Becoming a Board Member
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      • Expanding Perspectives Across Board Leadership
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  • Expanding Perspectives Across Board Leadership
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Becoming a Board Member

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Interested in joining a board? Similar to a job search, you’ll need to make connections with the right people to find a board that fits your interests.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Start Networking

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Start by identifying potential sectors where your skills would be needed and then create a list of organizations and their directors. After that, you'll be ready to:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Get the word out - inform your network of your interest in joining a board
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Leverage family/friend connections and ask them to speak on your behalf
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Add a sentence to your LinkedIn Summary about the type of board opportunity that interests you
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Seek out CEOs, board members, organizational leaders, and investors who could be helpful. Then, develop a strategy to connect with them (through industry meetings, informal networks, LinkedIn, charitable organizations, etc.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Search for fellow alumni in the HBS Alumni Resume Book who have relevant board experience
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Identify and contact executive search firms (see list below)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Increase Your Visibility

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Sell yourself as an expert - get published, get quoted, give speeches, serve on panels, etc.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Invest in the organization
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Consult (preferably for the desired organization)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Volunteer to serve on a non-profit board


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Articles and more on joining and leading boards

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Showcase Your Value

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Similar to a job search, you need to articulate your value to a board. How do you distinguish yourself from the large number of candidates also searching for board seats? Alter your value statement to align with the board's focus and organization's needs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–Highlight Relevant Expertise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Board experience - for-profit or non-profit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Fundraising experience
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Industry knowledge and contacts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • M&A experience
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • IPO experience
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Experience running a company or mentoring start-ups
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Marketing, financial, or technical expertise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Risk management experience
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–Resume Tips

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Your resume should include a Summary section that highlights your attributes relevant to a board role, as opposed to a management role. The rest of your resume should reflect these characteristics and key aspects of your brand. As you update your resume, consider the differences between a resume for a job and a resume for a board seat.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Capabilities (vs. accomplishments)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Experience (vs. companies)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Value you bring to a board (vs. titles)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Demonstrate how your skills and network can benefit the board by introducing new customers/clients, strategic alliances, international opportunities, and/or new technologies.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–Board Bio Template

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Interested in joining a board of directors? In addition to your resume, you will also need a board bio to showcase how your background and expertise will add value to the existing board. A board bio is typically one page including a headshot and four to five paragraphs that highlight your accomplishments, skills, and credibility.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Interpersonal skills
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Ability to handle complexity and ambiguity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Integrity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Independent mindedness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Collaboration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Financial competence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Focus on shareholder and stakeholder satisfaction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Commitment to the mission (nonprofit board)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          View our Board Bio Template.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Find a Career Coach

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Does your board bio need a refresh? HBS alumni receive six complementary career coaching sessions a year.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Connect with an HBS coach to review your board bio.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Due Diligence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Before joining a new board there are questions you should ask yourself and others. Here’s what to ask:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What do boards do? What are the fiduciary duties, roles, and responsibilities of members?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Why do you want to serve on a board?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What questions should you be asking yourself? What are the major pitfalls to avoid?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Explore the what, why, and how of joining a board
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–The Search Committee
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What are the organization's major issues and needs?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What documents should I review?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • How do you orient new directors?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Am I able to meet with the CEO, CFO and other directors during this process? Are there others with whom you suggest I meet?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–The Independent Directors
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is the organization's management style?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is the culture of the board?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is the current succession plan for executive management?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What external sources do you use for industry/company performance?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • How much time do you spend with managers not on the board?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–The CEO
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What do you hope I will contribute?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Can I see the last 3 board packages?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Over the next 3 years, what is the best - and worst - that can happen for the business?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Who is your most dangerous competitor - why?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What do you take to the board for approval?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What succession plan is in place for your position?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Is the organization engaged in any significant legal action?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is your leadership style, and how is the organization managed?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Were there any significant accounting adjustments resulting from last year's audit?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Are there any major blocks of stock represented on the board? If so, what are their objectives?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–The CFO
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is your approach to the treatment of major accounting policies?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is your level of interaction with the board?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is the organization's relationship with its outside auditor?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • How do you evaluate the Audit Committee's work?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • How do you think my background would add to the board's effectiveness?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is your evaluation of the board's understanding of the organization's financial statements?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What is your evaluation of the organization’s leaders understanding of the organization's financial statements?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          +–Yourself Before Joining a Non-Profit Board
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Why am I interested in this cause?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Why is this the right organization for me? Is the organization at the right stage for me to add value?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • How will I contribute to the organization, in terms of time, expertise and/or philanthropically?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • What do I hope to gain from being on this board?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Learn more about boards and board service
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