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
Former Chairman, Levi Strauss & Co

Boards: Amgen, Eyemart Express, Mattel, Quinn, Uber

Mary McDowell

Polycom

Former CEO

Boards: Arrow Electronics, Autodesk, Informa

Walter Solomon

Ashland

Former VP & Chief Growth Officer

Boards: Alliance Animal Health, Checkerspot, Debut Biotech, PatientPoint

Linda Barham

Russell Reynolds Associates

Partner, Board and Advisory Practice, CFO Practice Lead

Upcoming Sessions

September 28-29, 2027

Palo Alto, California

Session Chair: Bob Eckert, Chairman Emeritus and Former CEO, Mattel; Former Chairman, Levi Strauss & Co; Director, Amgen, Eyemart Express, Mattel, Quinn, 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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