Building Your Personal Board of Directors: A Career Masterstroke

In today's competitive professional landscape, having the right guidance can be transformative. As tech executive Angie Vaux explains, your "personal board of directors" is more than just a catchy phrase—it's a strategic network of advisors who support your career development and help you achieve your business goals. This diverse group, ideally consisting of five to six people, should include mentors who've walked your path, sponsors who advocate for you at higher levels, reverse mentors who bring different generational perspectives, and trusted confidants who provide unfiltered feedback.

The approach to building this career-enhancing circle requires thoughtfulness. Rather than making generic requests, conduct research on potential advisors and craft specific outreach highlighting why you admire their expertise and how they might help with your identified gaps. As Vaux notes, "Be very targeted in your approach, do your research, be specific, and flattery gets you everywhere." Remember that chemistry matters—these relationships should be built on mutual respect and admiration. Be prepared for some to decline, but don't let that discourage you; instead, ask for alternative recommendations.

Most critically, having a personal board requires you to embrace a growth mindset and be open to tough feedback. While cheerleaders are valuable in difficult times, authentic growth comes from those willing to challenge you. "If you genuinely want to grow and learn and develop, you have to have that feedback," Vaux emphasizes. The final component is intentionality—schedule personal development time regularly to review goals, identify needed skills, and nurture these pivotal relationships. As Vaux recommends: "Feel the fear and do it anyway. If you have a great idea, just do it—communicate it to the universe, to your network, to your personal board of directors, and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve."