Serving on Advisory Boards

with Breen Sullivan

“When you are an advisory board member, you’re being tapped to fill a skill gap to help connect that management team to particular communities or networks or people, or maybe help them secure some type of contract that can really make the difference for the company.” — Breen Sullivan, The Fourth Effect

Being on an advisory board can help you make an impact, elevate your career, and maybe even get equity in a company or get paid. But the stats for women — and women of color — on boards are dismal.

We need more women on advisory boards. But most of us just don’t know how it works since it’s been done behind closed doors or through an “old boys’ network.” Learn how the process works and how to get on for-profit advisory boards with my guest Breen Sullivan in this week’s episode of Profitable Joyful Consulting.

Key areas discussed in this episode

0:00 Introduction
4:10 How Breen’s company helps more women get on for-profit advisory boards
10:23 The gap that causes less diversity — and unfilled seats — on boards
14:33 Getting on boards at companies that aren’t just not-for-profits or Fortune 500 companies
17:33 The economic case for diversity
26:23 The difference between a governing board and an advisory board
34:45 What consultants do versus what board members do
37:50 How to find the right board
42:21 Stories of members who have gotten positions on boards
47:13 Gaining the confidence to become a board member