Preparing to be board ready

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just get your checkbook ready

This advice applies to nonprofit board positions that are almost always unpaid and are essentially vanity projects for retirees and bored spouses of high earners.

I believe OP is asking about boards at for-profit corporations, in which case 11:57's advice is spot on.

OP here. That's correct, though my experience and observations don't support the need to be rich and have rich friends. I'm not talking about getting on the board of WalMart or Amazon here.

To be on the board of a company that pays you to be on the board, you kind of do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just get your checkbook ready

This advice applies to nonprofit board positions that are almost always unpaid and are essentially vanity projects for retirees and bored spouses of high earners.

I believe OP is asking about boards at for-profit corporations, in which case 11:57's advice is spot on.

OP here. That's correct, though my experience and observations don't support the need to be rich and have rich friends. I'm not talking about getting on the board of WalMart or Amazon here.

To be on the board of a company that pays you to be on the board, you kind of do.

Yeah I feel like you need to be a well known executive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a relatively new c-level (think:CIO) and am interested in joining a board or two at some point in the future. No rush, as my day job keeps me busy and interested enough. And I don't want to appear distracted.

In the meantime, I'd like to do what I can to prepare myself both for the role and to be a more compelling candidate. I have a couple questions.

1) Are prep courses worthwhile? I see that HBS, Kellogg, etc offer courses. Has anybody attended them?
2) Is a certification worthwhile? I was recommended https://certification.nacdonline.org/ , but I have no real insight into whether that a legit thing or not.
3) How does one position themselves for a board position? Networking, obviously, but do you just wait for serendipity or go out and actively pursue them?

Thanks in advance!

I think networking, volunteering, philanthropy get you noticed. I serve on 3 and all of them came about from volunteering in some capacity.

R u talking Chief Info Officer, ie tech job?

[Anonymous]

Recruiters specialize in this.

[Anonymous]

I would say familiarize yourself with basic board protocols and laws in your region/area etc.

Shocking how ignorant board members are to this stuff.
I was had a board chair chastise me for pointing how a decision that was made before I joined the board carried some serious legal and financial exposure. Days later board chair hunted me down and asked more questions about my statement and then the next agenda included discussion on other options to mitigate the issue.

One of 100 issues I can recount. And I am young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say familiarize yourself with basic board protocols and laws in your region/area etc.

Shocking how ignorant board members are to this stuff.
I was had a board chair chastise me for pointing how a decision that was made before I joined the board carried some serious legal and financial exposure. Days later board chair hunted me down and asked more questions about my statement and then the next agenda included discussion on other options to mitigate the issue.

One of 100 issues I can recount. And I am young.

That's really helpful. Thank you.

Do you happen to know of any resources?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say familiarize yourself with basic board protocols and laws in your region/area etc.

Shocking how ignorant board members are to this stuff.
I was had a board chair chastise me for pointing how a decision that was made before I joined the board carried some serious legal and financial exposure. Days later board chair hunted me down and asked more questions about my statement and then the next agenda included discussion on other options to mitigate the issue.

One of 100 issues I can recount. And I am young.

That's really helpful. Thank you.

Do you happen to know of any resources?

Memorize Robert's rules of order