Tips for success

Pathway to Board membership

Everybody’s pathway to Board membership will take different routes. There’s no right way, and there’s no wrong way either.

However it’s unlikely that you will succeed at an application to join the board of a large organisation without being able to demonstrate some experience with governance.

That’s why it can be useful to have some idea about your pathway to Board membership.

For example, participating in a governance role as a volunteer in an unincorporated organisation (such as local sports club, local interest group etc) can provide valuable experience towards a role in a limited company, public organisation or charity.

Some steps you might want to consider if you’re early in your Board career:

  • Look for small local organisations that work in sectors or with topics that you find interesting. They are often very happy to accept volunteers to help manage their work. Unincorporated organisations are not bound by the same rules that govern registered businesses, charities and public sector organisations, and are usually not dealing with large budgets. This reduces the impact of
  • If you have an interest in young people or education, consider applying to become a Governor at a local school. You should be able to access training, and prior governance experience is often not required
  • Third sector organisations vary hugely in size and complexity, but are often extremely valuable places to gain experience
  • Large organisations often have Committees that welcome participation from members of the community with specialist skills in a relevant area, such as HR, finance or tech.
  • Regulated public Boards, or companies seeking non-executive Directors, will usually expect a prior level of knowledge and experience in governance for appointment
Four boxes linked by arrows, going from unincorporated organisations, to third sector organisations, to committees, to regulated public boards

Finding a mentor

A mentor could be a useful way to gain insight from their experience. They might also be able to use their networks of contacts to support your efforts to find an appropriate Board position.

Choose someone you admire in your industry or in an industry in which you’d like to be. This doesn’t have to be someone you know. Study their professional profile and take note of their career path. Write down what you admire about them and why you want to be like them professionally. 

You don’t want mentors who tell you what to do or what they did. While your mentors should offer guidance, they should also give you the space and freedom to carve your own path. If you are not challenged by a mentor then it may be time to move on.