Here at Athena, we like to say, “What got you here (to this point in your career) won’t get you into the boardroom.” This applies to everything—the way you present yourself, how you speak to your unique value, your reputation, your executive presence, even your voice. 

The same goes for your Board Resume and Board Bio. The executive resume you’ve held for the past several years will not get you into the boardroom. This is why each aspiring director member at Athena meets with our team of professional executive writers. Our writers work with you to learn your career story, drill down to what you do better than anyone else, and frame it in a way that appeals to boards of directors and CEOs. 

But what exactly is a Board Resume?

As an executive, your resume is crammed with accomplishments. This falls in line with the resume framework you’ve been taught to work within as you’ve risen through the ranks. Executive management resumes tend to rattle off lists of what you’ve done, how you’ve moved the needle, and the specific impact you’ve made at each company you’ve worked at. 

On the other hand, a Board Resume presents your full career history through the lens of a board. It positions you as a strategic and experienced leader and collaborator, ready to guide and advise a company. It strives to capture a holistic view of who you are, and the strengths and values that you—and only you—can bring to the table.

Keep in mind that Nominations and Governance (Nom/Gov) committees often have unicorn profiles for their future board directors. They typically begin their search for an independent director with a good idea of what background and experience these individuals should have, including company type, size, and industry. They’re not looking for a good operator—they’re seeking a strategic business leader with specific experience that relates to their company goals. Your Board Resume is where your holistic career experience and thought leadership must stand out.

A Board Resume includes:

• Your board experience to date, including non-profit and private boards
• Committee work. Demonstrate that you have experience on committees or experience in work that supports committees, such as finance and strategy.
• Board interactions. This is especially important for aspiring directors, who haven’t yet secured their first board seat. How can you demonstrate that you’re comfortable working with boards, presenting to boards, and that you understand the boardroom environment?
• Governance experience. You may not have boardroom experience, but perhaps you have experience making high-stakes decisions, dealing with international markets, or working in a highly regulated industry. All these career experiences “count” as you want to portray that you have served as not just a leader, but as a steward of the business. 

Present yourself as a steward of the business. 

Board Resumes elevate your value beyond a list of accomplishments. It’s not about what you did and on what date it happened—it’s about painting a picture of yourself as a transformative leader. For example: 

More than a Resume

You may have gotten to the executive team with a standard resume. You may not even have a recent resume because, until now, you’ve been fortunate enough to ride on your reputation and network. 

While a polished board resume and bio will create a great first impression when you apply to board opportunities, the value is not just in the finished product but in the process itself. The process helps you learn who you are. You walk away with confidence and conviction. It puts your greatest strengths on paper. It maps out your value proposition in a way that leaves no room for guessing or doubt, laying the foundation for every step in the Athena executive development program.  It allows you to confidently articulate your value, your purpose, and what you (and only you) bring to the table as a leader. 

Join as an Athena member and add on a Branded Career Portfolio to get a comprehensive suite of documents custom-created to showcase your leadership potential to boards. Current members can learn more and add on a BCP here.

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The Athena Alliance is a community that propels leaders to build impact—in the C-suite, in the boardroom, as an investor, as an entrepreneur, as a thought leader and beyond.