Accelerating boardroom excellence

Built on the knowledge and experience of Fortune 500 directors and board experts, Next Director is an immersive program for C-suite leaders actively pursuing director roles, contemplating board service, or aiming to enhance their board partnerships. This two-day workshop provides a comprehensive overview of today’s governance landscape and equips participants with the essential skills and resources for board success.

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Next Director participants are corporate officers at organizations with an annual revenue of more than $1 billion. The selection process is competitive. We look forward to learning more about your interest.

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Key Program Focus Areas

Exploring the corporate board landscape, including public and private governance structures
Demystifying the board interview process
Articulating the difference between management and governance, and knowing how to shift one’s mindset when moving into a director role
Making an impact beyond functional expertise
Identifying the critical skills needed to succeed as a director, including financial acumen, strategic cross-functional thinking, and risk assessment

The Next Director Difference

Next Director participants gain real-world insights directly from seasoned board directors who are in the seat. Candid, confidential conversations focus on answering three essential questions: “How do I get on the right board? How do I best interact with the board? How do I deliver exceptional value once I’m there?”

Participants emerge with:

A board-appropriate bio, ready to circulate for relevant board opportunities and with search firms.
A persuasive and compelling narrative highlighting their board-level value, including business impact, career experiences, unique skills, and passions.
The tools to activate their network, and determine key influencers and critical movers in their board search.

Select Discussion Leaders

Bob Eckert

Mattel

Chairman Emeritus
and Former CEO

Boards: Amgen,
Levi Strauss & Co. (Chair),
and Uber

Eileen Kamerick

Houlihan Lokey

Former Chief Financial Officer

Boards: ACV Auctions, Associated Banc-Corp, Legg Mason Closed-End Funds, and Valic Funds

Michael Sneed

Johnson & Johnson

Former EVP, Global Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer

Boards: Kenvue, and Wayfair

Mary McDowell

Polycom

Former CEO

Boards: Arrow Electronics, Autodesk, Informa

Upcoming Sessions

June 23-24, 2026

Chicago, Illinois

Session Chair: Bob Eckert, Former CEO, Mattel; Chairman, Levi’s; Director, Amgen and Uber

Next Director provides real hands-on experience with real-world board directors who candidly share their experiences—not theoretical scenarios. I’ve been serving public boards for over 20 years, and I only wish that I had a program like this when I was at this stage.

– Bob Eckert, Chairman Emeritus and Former CEO, Mattel;
Chairman, Levi Strauss & Co.; Director, Amgen, and Uber

M

Development

C-Suite Preparation

C-Suite Impact

Board Readiness

Board Diversity

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