Building a board portfolio is the ambition of many senior executives looking to transition into strategic governance roles. The appeal is obvious: influence at the highest levels, opportunities to shape industries, and the flexibility to operate across sectors. But the reality? Most people fail to make real progress. Despite years of effort, many find themselves with a handful of unpaid Not-for-Profit roles and no clear pathway to securing commercial board seats.
This isn’t about ambition or ability. It’s about having the right strategy, network, and positioning to break through in a highly competitive market.
The Australian Board Market is Brutally Competitive
As the Australian Financial Review puts it: “There’s a glut of director talent on the market, but not nearly enough seats at the commercial table to satisfy demand.”
It’s no longer enough to be competent or experienced. Boards are seeking domain expertise, referenceability, and candidates who tick every box. If you’re approaching your board career without a clear plan, the odds are stacked against you.
Common Mistakes Holding Back Board Aspirants
1. No Clear Strategy or Direction Too many aspiring directors take a scattergun approach. They say yes to anything, hoping it builds momentum. But without clarity on your endgame – the types of boards you want to join, where you add the most value, and how your portfolio should evolve – you end up with a disconnected collection of roles that lack commercial weight.
2. Weak Value Proposition It’s not enough to say you’re strategic or bring a fresh perspective. Boards want industry-aligned experience, strong governance capability, and a clear return on the value you bring. Applying for roles in sectors where you have no track record is naïve and rarely successful. As The Sydney Morning Herald noted: “Board selection is getting more rigorous, more political, and more focused on precision – not potential.”
3. Relying on Coffee Chats and Cold Outreach Many professionals waste time with coffee meetings or informal catch-ups that don’t go anywhere. They ask for advice but not for action. They lack board-level relationships and don’t have champions who will advocate for them when it counts. Without access to decision-makers – Chairs, Non-Executive Directors, nomination committees – they’re stuck on the outside looking in.
What You Actually Need
If you want a successful board career, here’s what it takes:
- A well-defined board strategy, aligned with your expertise and career goals
- A clear, compelling value proposition that sets you apart from other candidates
- Deep relationships with those who can influence board appointments
- Access to private, off-market board opportunities
- A quarter-by-quarter action plan to build momentum and visibility
As reported by ABC News, insolvencies are rising and organisations are under increasing pressure. Risk, governance, and compliance are under the microscope – and only the most prepared, referenceable candidates are getting through the door.
How Tiger Boards Can Help
At Tiger Boards, we specialise in helping senior executives transition into real, paid, commercial board roles. We’ve helped thousands of professionals build high-impact board portfolios through our Board Portfolio® programs and search services.
Our offering includes:
- Tailored board career strategy and positioning
- Access to exclusive board opportunities through our search practice
- Personal introductions to key decision-makers in private, government, and PE-backed businesses
- Resume, board bio, LinkedIn and value proposition development
- Ongoing one-on-one mentoring and guidance throughout your board journey
We know the board market inside out – and we know how to get our clients in the room.
