Research, Commentary & Media

A quick guide to acing your board interview

28 February 2024

Eight practical points for board candidates preparing to meet a chair, a nominating committee, or sitting directors.

Illustration of a diverse group of professionals in discussion around a boardroom table.

Understand your unique value: recognise and articulate the unique skills and experiences you bring to the board, focusing on your unique selling point or board value position — whether that is your potential contribution to the audit committee or your network of contacts among institutional clients.
Prepare success stories: have three to four examples of your successes ready, ideally aligned with the organisation’s desired attributes and the core elements sought by the chair.
Anticipate questions: be ready for questions on your background, governance style, skills and commercial acumen; research the organisation and the administrative aspects; and have thoughtful questions of your own.
Express your governance style: convey how you interact with the board, the chair and other stakeholders, emphasising teamwork and risk management.
Demonstrate skills and acumen: show how your executive skills are relevant at board level, focusing on strategic contributions rather than operational tasks.
Show in-depth organisational knowledge: your research should be visible in your answers, demonstrating a deep understanding of the organisation’s challenges and opportunities. Most negative comments from existing board members were about candidates who had not done their homework.
Handle administrative queries with foresight: prepare for questions on remuneration and conflicts of interest, showing awareness of board responsibilities and commitment.
Ask meaningful questions: rather than asking questions for the sake of it, use them to express your understanding of the organisation and its challenges.