The Boardroom Journey
Practical Guidance for Women to Secure a Seat at the Table
1. Auflage Mai 2025
288 Seiten, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Empower your journey to the corporate boardroom with practical guidance and real-life examples.
The Boardroom Journey: Practical Guidance for Women to Secure a Seat Table by Dr. Keith D. Dorsey offers a clear, actionable roadmap for women at any career stage to strategically build a path to the boardroom. The evidence-based strategies and inspiring success stories presented throughout this book have been gleaned from interviews with hundreds of current corporate board members. Specific tactics are outlined for early career professionals shaping their leadership journey, mid-career professionals navigating their way to the C-suite, and current and retired C-suite executives actively seeking their first (or next) corporate board seat. This book helps readers navigate the nuances of these journeys by moving from theoretical insights to actionable advice.
The Boardroom Journey is an invaluable guide that helps women assess their personal motivations for career growth and board service, identify suitable boards, and enhance their board readiness through assessment tools and exercises. The book also offers strategies for building and leveraging a network of mentors, sponsors, and allies to gain support and boost confidence throughout the board journey.
Inside the book:
* Discover strategies to effectively prepare for board service
* Gain insights on how to present and differentiate oneself via five types of capital
* Learn how to build and leverage a support team
The Boardroom Journey is perfect for anyone aspiring to bring their unique perspective to corporate governance. The evidence-based strategies offered here give readers a proven method for charting an intentional path to executive service and securing a seat at the corporate boardroom table.
Preface xiii
About This Book xvii
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Part I Surveying the Landscape 15
Chapter 2 Welcome to the Boardroom 17
Chapter 3 Find Your Why 39
Chapter 4 Select a Destination 49
Chapter 5 Gauge Your Board Fitness 67
Part II Gearing Up for the Trek 81
Chapter 6 Cultural Capital 83
Chapter 7 Director Capital 97
Chapter 8 Human Capital 115
Chapter 9 Social Capital 131
Chapter 10 Commitment Capital 153
Chapter 11 Leveraging Your Capital Portfolio 167
Part III Navigating the Journey 181
Chapter 12 Neutralizing Naysayers 183
Chapter 13 Assembling Your Support Team 199
Chapter 14 Fail-proofing Your Journey 213
Chapter 15 Conclusion 227
Notes 253
Index 261
"The Boardroom Journey helps aspiring directors envision their future and take actionable steps towards securing their place. A vital contribution to governance and leadership" - DR. ALEXANDRA R. LAJOUX, Chief Knowledge Officer Emeritus, National Association of Corporate Directors and Founding Principal, Capital Expert Services
"Breaking into the boardroom isn't about luck - it's about strategy, preparation, and execution. The Boardroom Journey provides a clear step-by-step roadmap for executives and leaders looking to secure and thrive in board roles." - SHELLYE ARCHAMBEAU, Fortune 500 Board Director and Former CEO, author of Unapologetically Ambitious
"Keith Dorsey provides an essential roadmap for executives looking to secure a corporate board seat and contribute to ethical, forward-thinking leadership." - JESSICA N. GROUNDS, CEO, Corporate Directors Forum; Co-Founder Mine the Gap and Running Start
"A game-changing framework for women at every stage of their career looking to secure a seat at the boardroom table and lead with impact." - CAROLE K. CRAWFORD, CFA, Chair Emeritus, 100 Women in Finance
"Keith Dorsey delivers precisely what every executive seeking a board role has needed - a one-volume insider's take on how boards work and how to secure a seat at the table." - RALPH WARD, Publisher, Boardroom INSIDER