3 Places to Network Your Way to a Board Position
It’s the next job you want, but you can’t apply for it, so how do you let companies know you’re looking for a board role?
Successful startup founders know that networking and raising venture capital are the keys to getting your startup off the ground. Being proactive and working hard is part of every successful entrepreneur’s playbook. It’s a big part of the job.
Arguably, many successful founders and executives working in tech tend toward Type A personalities, they’re go-getters, they fail early and often, and they aren’t afraid to ask for what they want — be it a promotion or negotiating their next big business deal.
Here at theBoardlist, we work closely with many of these types of women in tech to help them prepare for board service — they are successful, articulate and used to going out there to get it done. They’ve mastered the art of being proactive when working toward their goals, so it can be a bit shocking once these high achievers realize the process of getting a board of director position is decidedly different than any job hunt they’ve had in the past.
In addition to preparing your board resume/profile (with a professional headshot) and crafting a “board pitch” (1–2 minute pitch including your superpower and why you want to be on a board), it’s important to let people know that you’re looking for a board role. We’ve pulled together three types of events where you can broadcast your desire to join a tech board.
1. Conferences, Festivals, or Forums
Conferences offer much more than a way to stay up to date with industry trends. From formal mixers, to informal hallway meetings, to social media sidebar conversations, conferences can provide many opportunities to network and get the word out about your desire to serve on a board.
Smaller events and annual festivals provide a great opportunity to expand your network. From informal tech-focused meetups to more formal forums and roundtables, events pull together industry leaders who are interested in learning more about a particular topic. Volunteering to speak at events like these is another way to raise your personal brand and — if it makes sense — gives you a larger platform to announce your interest in serving on a board. It’s a great way to expand your network in just a few hours a week.
2. Campaign or Nonprofit Events
We know this might sound a little bit outside the box, but give it a chance. Political events and volunteering are usually excellent for networking, and right now there’s a new surge of female candidates running for public office. The trend caught wind last year, when women found themselves networking at Clinton’s campaign events. Nonprofit events are also another great place to connect with those who share your passions — and who might be outside your normal network.
3. Board Organizations and Training Events
Board-specific trainings and events are another great way to prepare for a board position and connect with those who assist with board recruiting. For example, members of theBoardlist community have access to board-readiness workshops and events. In addition, more in-depth training such as the annual Stanford Directors Consortium can be especially helpful if you’ve never served on a board before.
Bonus Tip: Phone a Friend
Since many board positions are filled via friend of friend referrals, it’s also really important to make sure your personal network is aware you’re looking for a board spot. Make sure that your mentors/sponsors in your own company who sit on boards (e.g., your CEO) are aware of your desire to sit on a board. Think about other friends and acquaintances who are already on boards and drop them a note to check in with them.
Bonus Times 2: Read even more board networking tips in our earlier post.
