How To Build A Personal Board Of Directors To Guide Your Career

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your career or unsure of your next move, you’re not alone. But here’s something that high-impact women leaders are doing that just might be the game-changer: building a personal board of directors.

Just as companies rely on boards for strategic guidance and accountability, many women are forming their own personal boards of directors — trusted individuals who provide support, challenge, and direction through career decisions. This practice has been highlighted by numerous successful women who have shared how assembling such advisory teams has been instrumental in their professional growth. ​

Here’s what we’ve learned from their stories—and how you can do the same.

Before you build your board, you need to know where you’re going. Bozoma Saint John, former Netflix CMO and marketing executive, emphasized this in her MasterClass and public talks: clarity is everything. She encourages women to lead with boldness and intention.

Defining your core values and career direction is essential in determining the type of guidance you need. According to the National Career Development Association (NCDA), understanding what is most important to you is crucial in career development, as it helps align your career choices with your personal values and goals. Your personal board of directors should reflect the career and life you’re building, not just be a list of impressive contacts. As highlighted by Capital One Careers, selecting individuals who align with your goals and values ensures that the guidance you receive is relevant and supportive of your aspirations.

In her Harvard Business Review article, career strategist and author Dorie Clark outlined what makes a personal board effective: it’s not about collecting mentors; it’s about assembling a variety of perspectives. She recommends thinking in terms of roles:

• The Mentor: Someone who’s been where you want to go.
• The Challenger: Someone who pushes you out of your comfort zone.
• The Connector: Someone who expands your network.
• The Sponsor: Someone who can advocate for you in rooms you’re not in.
• The Peer Ally: Someone who’s growing alongside you and understands the grind.

It’s okay if one person fills multiple roles, but intentionally balancing your board ensures you’re not just being affirmed — you’re being stretched.

Tiffany Dufu, founder of The Cru and author of Drop the Ball, said the most impactful members of a personal board of directors aren’t necessarily those within one’s immediate field. In an interview with BlackHer, she shares that her life’s work is advancing women and girls, a purpose inspired by her personal experiences.

So while experience and expertise matter, don’t get caught up in title-chasing. A startup founder, an educator, or a community leader may all have valuable insights that resonate more with your path than someone with a fancy title but little connection to your vision.

Elaine Welteroth, journalist and former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, has discussed the concept of mentorship in the digital age, emphasizing that some of her most influential “board members” are thought leaders she follows online — individuals whose content she consistently engages with for guidance and inspiration.

Mentorship doesn’t always require formal relationships. By curating a personal “board” through podcasts, newsletters, and online content, individuals can access diverse perspectives that support their growth and align with their career goals. ​

Build your own “board” by bookmarking favorite podcast episodes, subscribing to insightful newsletters, or consistently engaging with voices that challenge, motivate, and inspire you. In doing so, you create a reservoir of wisdom that helps inform decisions and propel your professional journey forward.​

Your career will evolve, and so should your board. In her widely shared talks and writings, Carla Harris — Wall Street powerhouse and senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley — emphasizes the importance of evaluating who’s in your corner at every stage of your career. In her book Strategize to Win: The New Way to Start Out, Step Up, or Start Over in Your Career, Cara encourages professionals to regularly reassess their circle of advisors, noting that the strategies and support systems that helped you succeed at one level may not be the ones that carry you to the next. Growth, she explains, often requires new voices, fresh insights, and bold thinking.

You don’t have to make a dramatic overhaul every six months, but checking in with yourself annually to evaluate what kind of support you need (and whether your current board offers it) is key.

Forget the idea that your personal board has to resemble a formal corporate setup. Whether it’s a quarterly coffee, a text thread, or an annual voice memo you send to each person reflecting on your goals and growth, the format is entirely up to you. What matters most is the intentionality, consistency, and reciprocal exchange of insight.

Minda Harts, author of The Memo and host of the Secure The Seat podcast, often emphasizes the importance of building professional relationships that work for you — but also being clear in what kind of support you’re seeking. Her work reminds us that cultivating a strong network means being courageous enough to ask for help and strategic enough to know what kind of help you need.

A personal board of directors isn’t just a clever career hack — it’s a radical act of self-investment. It’s about acknowledging that you don’t have to navigate your career alone. And it’s a reminder that behind every powerful woman is often not one mentor, but many — and she’s curated them with care.