How to Land on a Board in 2026
For many experienced leaders, serving on a Board is the next logical step in their career.
The benefits of serving on an Advisory Board are many and include:
- Helping other companies grow using your experience
- Can bridge you to the next step in your career on Boards
- Compensation via equity
- Staying “in the game”
People who want to be Board Advisors have typically served as subject matter experts in their fields and industries. However, too often they feel like their experience is not only overlooked, it is actually considered irrelevant by the world. They want to be Advisors because they want to use their skills to help others grow.
So, what makes a good Board Advisor? The best Advisors are great listeners. You’ve been successful on the business battlefield. You’ve built, scaled, navigated uncertainty, and made hard decisions with real consequences. You’ve learned what works — and what doesn’t — and your experience gives you perspective that can’t be taught. That experience has real value, especially to leaders who are facing challenges you’ve already lived through.
We know that being on an Advisory Board is a win-win proposition, but where do Board opportunities actually come from? How do you position yourself credibly? And how do you actually land a Board role without paying thousands of dollars in “membership” fees?
One practical way to get started
I want to share a resource that I believe aligns well with this moment in many leaders’ careers.
The ABplatform connects experienced executives and operators with companies that want real-world guidance through Advisory Boards. Their focus is on surrounding CEOs with people who have truly “been there before.” I've been a proud Advisory Board Member with The ABplatform for the past 2.5 years — I love the work they are doing to help both Advisory Boards and Advisors thrive.
A few things that matter to me about how The ABplatform operates:
- Registration as an Advisor is free
- You are not asked to pay a monthly fee to be “listed”
- Advisory roles can include equity compensation
- Boards are not only formed — they are managed and supported over time, which helps ensure real impact by applying proven best practices
If this resonates, you can learn more and register here: https://theabplatform.com/advisors/
One important note on positioning
If Board or Advisory work is something you’re considering, your visibility and narrative matter.
Your background needs to be easy to understand, not just where you’ve worked, but how you create value.
That’s why executive bios are so important in this context. If it’s helpful, I wrote more about that here: 4 Reasons You Need an Executive Bio (Ivy Exec)
If you’ve been thinking about leveraging your expertise to join a Board, you want to consider how you are presenting yourself on LinkedIn as well, both through your profile and through your posting strategy.
Want more personalized help? My Q1 resume, LinkedIn, executive bio, and 1:1 one-hour strategy call spots are filling fast - learn more about my offerings here and set up a 15-minute pre-engagement discussion here.
As always, thank you for being part of this community.
Best -
Colleen
