C-Suite to Board: Elevating Your Leadership Journey

Overview:

In this powerful episode of “Live with Sondra,” Sondra Shannon, CEO of Gatemaster  Technology, sat down with Naomi Kent, CEO of The Boardroom Company, to discuss how  executives in the attraction industry can successfully transition their careers from the C suite to the boardroom.   

Insights from This Live

• Start Early:
  Do not wait until retirement to pursue board service. Naomi Kent stressed that starting early while still an active CEO or executive gives you a massive advantage over candidates who wait until their 60s, as they will compete with professionals who already have a decade of board experience.
• Discipline Equals Success:
  Both personal fitness and business success are an endurance sport that requires consistent discipline. Setting small, achievable goals
  within a long-term plan prevents burnout and provides the necessary momentum to achieve a 5 or 10-year strategy.
• The Power of Speaking Up:
  A core duty of a board member is to have the courage to challenge the leadership team and speak up, even when everyone else is voting “yes.” Fiduciary responsibility, which is the legal duty to act solely in the best interest of another party, requires you to present your dissenting view and have it on record.
• Look Beyond Your Industry:
  When seeking a board role, think about other industries that make money in the same way as yours. Boards often prioritize candidates from unrelated sectors to gain a diverse perspective and bring fresh, non-competitor ideas into the organization.
• Advisory Boards are Your Launchpad:
  An advisory board is an ideal place to start, as members advise the CEO without having fiduciary responsibilities. It is an excellent way for professionals, including those not yet in the C-suite, to build their leadership skills and network.

Notable Quotes

• “Whether you’re leading an attraction today or planning your next career chapter, the boardroom represents a new level of impact for many professionals.”
  — Sondra Shannon
• “Take a look around you. Who are you already advising? Who are you already speaking to? Who do you already have some kind of conversation with about their business, and can you make it official?”
  — Naomi Kent
• “So the board’s responsibility is to make sure that there is a CEO in place, it is the right CEO, and that they continue to think about succession.”
  — Naomi Kent
• “I think anyone who’s a mentor to you, who likes you, trusts you, and thinks you have a great business, is going to jump at the chance to be around you.”
  — Naomi Kent
• “[Have the] courage to speak up. Imagine everybody is voting ‘yes’ and you’re like, ‘I’m a no, but I’ll just go with everybody else. I don’t want to go against the grain.’ You’ve got to have the courage to say, ‘I’m a no, and this is the reason why, and I want this on record.’”
  — Naomi Kent

Naomi Kent’s Approach

Naomi Kent (CEO, The Boardroom Company) stresses that successful board candidates focus on strategic oversight and governance, not management. Her core strategy requires two pillars: an impeccable reputation and strong relationships. When selecting boards, candidates must ensure their subject matter expertise (e.g., e-commerce) aligns with the company’s fundamental revenue goals.

Sondra’s Perspective

Gatemaster CEO Sondra Shannon confirmed the invaluable nature of external advisory boards, even for family businesses. Business is an endurance sport, and leaders must courageously speak up to avoid detrimental directions. The ultimate goal of board service is to have a larger impact by solving business problems and creating great communities.

Connecting with the Speakers

We hope you enjoyed this insightful recap! For more deep dives into leadership, strategy,  and the attraction industry, be sure to connect with our speakers: