If your Board search strategy consists of spending your Saturday mornings refreshing LinkedIn, searching through Institute listings, and waiting for an email alert to ping—this episode is your reality check.

Today, I'm breaking down the "Iceberg Theory" of Board recruitment. The advertisements you see on public job boards represent less than 10% of the actual opportunities. The other 90% - the hidden Board seat market - are filled through trusted networks, private recommendations, and strategic conversations long before an advertisement is ever written.

I explain why this 'Board Recruitment Theatre' (fake ads) might be wasting your time, how the recruitment process actually works behind closed doors, and how you can shift from being a passive 'Applicant' to an active 'Candidate' to access the hidden Board seat market.

Key Takeaways:

• The "Seagull Effect": Why relying on advertisements forces you to compete with thousands of candidates for the smallest slice of the market (like seagulls fighting for a chip at the beach).
• The Risk Management Reality: Why Boards prefer trusted referrals over unknown applicants, and why "who knows you" may matter more than just your resume.
• 'Board Recruitment Theatre': Understanding when an advertisement is just a compliance performance for a role that is already filled.
• The 5-Step 'Trust Transfer': A behind-the-scenes look at how a Board vacancy is filled (hint: the conversation often happens before the formal interview).
• The 3 Keys to Accessing the 90%:
• 1. Clarity (North Star): Being specific about the Board you want.
  2. Visibility (Value Proposition): A clear and compelling Board story built on a reputation that precedes you.
  3. Proximity (Network): Getting into the orbit of decision-makers.

Join the Build Your Board Career Priority Waitlist

Stop trying to piece the map together yourself. Join the Build Your Board Career program waitlist to get priority access to the strategy, templates, and support you need to land your first, next, or paid Board role in 2026.

Join the Waitlist here

Connect with Me:

• LinkedIn
• Website

Actionable Step for This Week: I am giving you a permission slip. If 90% of roles aren't advertised, then "the weekend scroll" isn't hustling, it's just anxiety. Join the waitlist, then close your laptop. Go watch the cricket, go for a run, or get out in the garden. Enjoy your weekend guilt-free knowing you have a plan waiting for you.

If you are currently looking for a Board role, answer this honestly: Is your strategy based on searching for that perfect advertisement, waiting for head-hunters to call, or asking your network to "keep you in mind"?

If so, you are likely hearing a lot of silence.

In this episode, I am sharing a bit of a reality check. I am breaking down the four most common "strategies" aspiring Board Members use, and exactly why they don't work in today's market.

Over 90% of Board roles are never advertised. If you are relying on the "Seek.com Approach," you are competing for less than 10% of the seats. It is time to stop playing the lottery and start building a strategy.

I'll walk you through the flaws in the traditional advice and introduce the intentional, strategic framework you need to access the hidden market and land your first, next, or paid Board role.

Key Takeaways

• The "Seek.com" Approach: Why waiting for advertisements means you are missing 90% of the market (and fighting for scraps).
• The Credential Trap: Why another post-nominal won't magically open the Boardroom door, and what Boards are actually looking for.
• The Recruiter Myth: Why the head-hunters who loved you as an executive have suddenly gone silent.
• The "Keep Me in Mind" Mistake: How aimless networking burns relationship capital and makes you look desperate.
• The Better Way: Introduction to an intentional Board Search Strategy (underpinned by a North Star, an Unique Board Value Proposition, and authentic Strategic Networking).

Are you ready to stop waiting? If you want to move from "aspiring" to "appointed" in 2026, I am opening the doors to a new high-touch implementation program: Build Your Board Career.

This is a 3-month intensive (with ongoing support and lifetime membership) designed to help you define your North Star, craft your Unique Board Value Proposition, and build a networking plan to access the hidden market.

Join the Priority Waitlist here

Instead of giving you a lecture or a list of "10 things you must do over Christmas," I'm giving you the exact opposite: full permission to switch off.

Tune in to hear why "strategic rest" is just as important as strategic action and learn about the one decision you need to make now to ensure 2026 is the year you finally land your Board role.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Permission to Rest: Why you cannot be an effective, sharp Board Member if you are constantly running on fumes.
• The "One Decision": A visualisation exercise to ask yourself where you want to be in December 2026—still aspiring, or wrapping up your year as a serving Board Member?
• A Major Announcement: A sneak peek at the new high-touch program launching in the new year, designed to stop the paralysis and get you Board-ready.
• The "Set and Forget" Strategy: How to plant a flag for your future-self right now so you can enjoy your holiday guilt-free.

Build Your Board Career

I'm officially announcing my brand new, high-touch program: Build Your Board Career.

This is a 3-month intensive starting on March 2, 2026, designed to build your brand, refine your value, and execute your Board search strategy. Crucially, the support doesn't stop after the intensive; you get ongoing support to progress your Board goals throughout the year.

It is the solution for aspiring Board Members who want a Board Career Coach in their pocket to guide them, cheer for them, and hold them accountable.

Links & Resources:

Join the Waitlist for Build Your Board Career: Don't worry about filling out applications during your break. Simply put your details on the waitlist to get first access when doors open in February.

Connect with Me:

• Website: Get on Board Australia
• LinkedIn: Lisa Cook

Thank you for tuning in during 2025. Have a safe, rejuvenating break, and I will see you refreshed and ready to go in 2026!

The end of the year often feels like pure downtime, but we see it as a strategic window; a rare time when high-level professionals and current Board Members are more reflective and accessible.

While everyone else is winding down (or watching the cricket!), you have an opportunity to make three highly focused, low effort moves that will put you miles ahead of the competition and guarantee a strong Board career launch in the new year. This isn't about the hustle; it's about strategic preparation so you can hit the ground running when the new year officially begins.

In this episode, I cover three specific, achievable tasks for aspiring Board Members:

1. The Targeted Personal Brand Clean-Up

This is your chance to refine your most critical assets: your Board Resume and LinkedIn profile.

Learn why your Board Resume is your "calling card" and how it should tell your compelling Board story.

I share some tips on how to audit your LinkedIn profile to ensure it aligns perfectly with your Board Resume, removing operational jargon and focusing on strategic, business, and financial achievements — the language of the Boardroom.

2. The Strategic Thank You and Festive Connection

Networking isn't just about what you can get; it's about strengthening existing relationships without asking for anything in return.

Discover how to identify 5-10 key influencers (mentors, current Board Members) and deliver a genuine, personalised thank you or festive greeting.

I discuss the crucial rule: reinforce the relationship, build goodwill, and never mention your search. This builds the invaluable top-of-mind awareness that can lead to future advocacy.

3. Pre-Book Three Conversations with Key Influencers/Trusted Advisors

Ready to break the "don't ask" rule? This final move leverages your trusted circle for critical, candid feedback.

Learn how to structure an easy "ask" by requesting a short meeting in January to get feedback on three key areas:

(1) Your Board goal(s) for next year.

(2) Your Unique Board Value Proposition.

(3) Your updated Board Resume and LinkedIn Profile.

This approach gives influential people a clear, easy way to help you, moving you closer to landing that coveted Board role.

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 128: Board Resume and Personal Brand Assets (for context on the clean-up)

Episodes 111, 113, and 114: Deep dive into crafting a strategic Board Resume.

Board Resume Articles on the Get on Board Australia Website

Want to accelerate your Board career?

Download our free guide: Networking for Board Success

Join the Break into the Boardroom course

Do I have the right skills and experience for a Board?

I'm back for Part 2 of our three-part series to guide you through the vital self-assessment step on your journey to the Boardroom.

The big question: Do I have the right skills and experience to join a Board? The answer is almost certainly yes, but the key is finding the right Board that needs what you offer right now.

In this episode, I help you:

• Define Your Whole Value: Your Unique Board Value Proposition (UBVP) is more than just your professional expertise. I explain why the "whole basket of goods"—your soft skills, lived experience, and unique attributes—is what can truly opens Boardroom doors.
• The Power of Alignment: Learn the crucial steps to calibrate your UBVP with your Board goal. I share how to strategically research your target Board to ensure your skills are precisely what they need, making your candidacy a 'winnable' game.
• The Reality Check: I explain the importance of getting candid feedback from a trusted advisor with Board experience to gain an objective view of your Board readiness.

Actionable Next Steps:

• Set Your Goal: If you haven't yet, listen to Episode 102 to set your Board goal.
• Audit Your Value: Explore Episodes 98 and 103 to clearly define your Unique Board Value Proposition.
• Download the Resource: Access the Board Skills Self-Assessment resource (PDF).

Resources & Opportunities:

• Episode 102 – Break into the Boardroom – Setting a Board Goal
• Episode 98 – The Ingredients for your Unique Board Value Proposition
• Episode 103 - Break into the Boardroom: Understanding your Board Value Proposition
• Board Skills Self-Assessment Resource (PDF)

Want to accelerate your Board journey?

• Break into the Boardroom Course: My online course guides you through a 4-step process taking you from Board hopeful to Board Member. Use the code BOARDREADY at checkout to get $100 off your enrolment.

What's Next?

You've done the hard work of self-assessment. Now, let's go find that seat!

Join me for Part 3 of this series, Episode 128, where we'll tackle the burning question: "How do I find and get on a Board?" That episode will come out on 19 November 2025.

In this essential and powerful episode, I am joined by Gomeroi man, Kyol Blakeney, who generously shares his profound insights into navigating the world of governance as an Indigenous leader. Kyol provides a candid look at the experience of "walking in two worlds"; from his personal journey transitioning from a small home community to joining several prominent Boards, and reveals what true inclusion requires.

This conversation is a crucial call to action for every Director and Executive committed to creating genuinely diverse Boardrooms.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Unseen Hurdles: Kyol details the unacknowledged barriers that Indigenous aspiring Board Members face, including the constant, exhausting pressure to justify one's position and the systemic issue of tokenism.
• Covert Racism in Governance: Why relegating Indigenous Board Member's professional skills (like finance or education) solely to Indigenous-specific portfolio matters is a form of covert racism that stifles their full contribution.
• What Boards Get Wrong: How existing Boards often unknowingly hold back Indigenous candidates, and the concrete steps they must take to move past the fear of "doing it wrong" through active recruitment and meaningful engagement.
• Beyond the Checklist: Kyol offers a nuanced perspective on whether every Board needs a First Nations person, stressing that the inclusion must be strategic, purposeful, and essential for any organisation engaging with Country or community.
• Advice for Aspiring Leaders: Kyol's powerful recommendations for Indigenous individuals looking to join Boards: prioritise building deep, genuine relationships, never stop learning, and be ready to share your cultural knowledge to ensure that all can "walk together" in the future of governance.

Useful Links or Mentioned Links

Kyol Blakeney on LinkedIn

2025 Watermark Board Diversity Index

Yalari

AI is a hot topic, and its presence in the Boardroom is reaching a "fever pitch." In this episode, I revisit the topic of AI with Board administration guru, Suzanne Rowe, to get her current, real-world take on the rapidly advancing landscape.

Suzanne and I dive into the evolving use of AI for Board Members and Board Administrators, from meeting preparation to minute-taking. We share our candid concerns and enthusiasm, covering the necessary considerations for proper adoption, the tribulations that arise from improper use (or no use at all), and the excitement from someone who has witnessed the journey from manual typewriters to today's AI capabilities.

This is a candid conversation for any Board Member, Company Secretary, or Board Administrator trying to understand, make sense of, and navigate the weird and wonderful world of AI in governance.

The AI Archetype Quiz

I referenced an interesting AFR statistic that approximately 1 in 5 (19%) Australians exaggerate their understanding of AI, and 32% of workers try to avoid the subject.

I took the AI Archetype quiz and was identified as The Cautious Optimist—someone who is excited but cautious about AI. This archetype:

• Balances curiosity and risk-aversion.
• Needs reassurance from authority or peers before committing to action.
• Is often motivated by seeing tangible wins before fully embracing change.

If you want to take the quiz, visit this AFR article.

Connect with Suzanne

If you're interested in connecting with Suzanne Rowe to follow up on this episode, or if you have your own insights into AI in the Boardroom, you can find her on LinkedIn.

Thanks to our sponsor BoardPro

Visit boardpro.com/boardshorts and use the promo code boardshorts – all one word, lowercase – to get a 30-day free trial AND 20% off the price of your first year on any plan.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

AICD Guide to AI Governance

AICD and Governance Institute: Effective Board Minutes and the Use of AI (A Joint Statement)

Know your AI Archetype (AFR quiz)

AI for Board Secretaries with Suzanne Rowe (Board Shorts Podcast Ep. 92)