As your career grows, ideally your network should grow with it. Professional networking ultimately expands your opportunities, helps you achieve your goals, and introduces you to people across industries and experiences. Board positions are a key component of any professional network.
My first experience as a board member was as a preteen, serving as a member of the first youth credit union in my hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts. It was a black-owned venture, owned and managed by young people. It showed me the power of people coming together to pursue goals and share ideas.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published. entrepreneur magazine.
Well, I currently serve on the National Women’s Business Council, among other board positions. It is a bipartisan federal advisory committee that serves as an independent advisor and policy advocate to the President of the United States, Congress, and federal managers. U.S. Small Business Administration. This position allows me to influence government on issues important to women business owners and entrepreneurs.
In my decades-long career as an entrepreneur and thought leader, I’ve seen the impact a board position can have on a person’s professional life and influence, especially when starting out. More than just a resume booster, these opportunities can pivot your career in new directions. They can grow your confidence and skills. Also, if you are an entrepreneur, you can attract funding and advisors for your own business.
Conversely, companies with more diverse boards tend to perform better than less diverse boards. His recent McKinsey Insights report on corporate diversity shows that companies with diverse boards across gender and ethnicity outperform less diverse companies financially. I see that in my day-to-day work as executive director of Babson College’s Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership. It is as imperative as ever that boards seek new talent for these positions.
Board positions include advisory boards for nonprofits and community organizations, boards and trustees for startups and other organizations, and committees for governments and commissions. Even if the period is short or you don’t feel any results at the moment, there are benefits to be gained from the experience. Keep these factors in mind when searching for a position.
Think outside your personal box
From commercial companies to higher education institutions to community organizations, boards have many opportunities to consider. Some of the boards I sit on now I never would have considered earlier in my career. Those experiences only expanded my skill set and networking opportunities. Don’t base your executive job search on your current role or interests.
When searching for an executive position, pay more attention to the job description than the industry. You can adapt your skills across disciplines. It’s more important to make sure you get what you want from the position.
“These opportunities aren’t just resume boosters, they can pivot your career in new directions. They can grow your confidence and skills. And if you’re an entrepreneur If so, they can attract funding and advisors for your own business.” Dr. Shakena Williams, executive director of the Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College
Look at company websites and traditional job boards like LinkedIn to see what’s out there and how the organization describes its positions. Also, check how different organizations define board members, directors, and committee members to determine their level of commitment. That research will tell you what value your perspective and skill set can bring to the organization.
Build on opportunity
The most coveted director positions are paid, but usually not available from the start. However, starting small doesn’t always mean getting smaller. When you sit on the board, you learn how the board works and how you function within it. Each board position is an opportunity to develop your skills and prepare for the next position.
Your first board position should give you perspective on five key areas:
- How to fit these opportunities into your schedule
- What efforts can be feasibly scaled?
- Required training (this includes board specific training)
- In what area of expertise do you feel comfortable mentoring people?
- How board positions shape short- and long-term goals
With that knowledge, you can sketch out the desired position. This is a great exercise for not only asserting yourself, your skills, and your influence, but also for professional self-discovery. The sooner you start, the sooner you can find the perfect board opportunity.
Think of everyone as your network
Don’t wait for people to come to you. Communities are a great place to look for opportunities, especially for young leaders and entrepreneurs. Let them know that you are looking for new opportunities with everyone in your professional network and, if you feel like it, with people personally. This includes community organizers and leaders, mentors and former managers, colleagues, and people you meet at conferences and clients. Keep in touch with people and ask them about the organizations and companies they work for.
When seeking executive opportunities, it’s important to confidently communicate how your background and skill set can be used. Make sure you know how to market yourself to these people. Keep your professional branding and social media up to date and consistent across platforms.
Also look for positions where you can provide mentorship. You may not be ready to be a mentor early in your career, but one day you’ll want to take advantage of the role. Taking a favorable position on a board provides both clarity and insight into your professional life and potential ways to give back to your community and network.
It’s never too early to start building your portfolio and see what opportunities exist for your board. Ideally, your next board position will bring you something new, such as funding opportunities, business partners, untapped skills, a sense of accomplishment, and community.
Dr. Shekenna Williams ’94 is Executive Director of the Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College, where she founded the Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program and directed the WIN Global Lab Accelerator Program and the Diana International Institute. I am.
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