Board Readiness Program

As organizations navigate increasing complexity and disruption, the boardroom has become a center of strategic influence. Board members must go beyond conventional governance responsibilities to guide long-term direction, stakeholder engagement, and organizational change. To succeed at this level, professionals must combine governance acumen, executive presence, leadership, and communication to shape high-stakes decisions and foster lasting impact.

The Board Readiness Program is designed to bridge this capability gap by equipping experienced professionals and aspiring board members like you with the tools to lead with influence and insight in the boardroom. This immersive learning journey combines two of Wharton Executive Education’s most acclaimed executive offerings, the Corporate Governance program and the Executive Presence and Influence program, to empower you to elevate your boardroom effectiveness, navigate complex dynamics, and accelerate organizational outcomes through strategic leadership.

This immersive 12-week program enables you to:

• Understand board roles, risks, and stakeholder dynamics

• Build trust and communicate with impact

• Gain confidence through case studies and live sessions

• Connect with peers, faculty, and global professionals

Whether you are preparing for your first board appointment or looking to deepen your executive leadership’s interfacing with the board, the Board Readiness Program provides the tools, frameworks, and support you need to succeed at the highest levels.

The Board Readiness Program is ideal for:

• Senior executives aiming to transition into high-impact leadership or board roles and contribute meaningfully to boardroom strategy and oversight

• Current board members looking to strengthen their governance knowledge, boardroom presence, and decision-making influence

• Entrepreneurs and founders preparing to engage with boards and represent their organizations effectively

• Investors and advisors involved in board-level strategy seeking a deeper understanding of governance practices

• Diverse and underrepresented leaders wanting to access board opportunities and expand their leadership footprint

The Board Readiness Program is designed to help you:

• Refine your mindset and behaviors to project a strong and impactful leadership presence

• Understand the structure, responsibilities, and dynamics of the board in shaping governance and compensation strategies

• Build and sustain authentic relationships through strategic networking and influence

• Craft a compelling personal leadership narrative that reflects your vision and values

• Develop a board-level approach to handling crises, internal investigations, and stakeholder conflicts

• Identify the elements of an inclusive board culture and leverage diverse talent for strategic advantage

• Evaluate succession planning complexities and outline key considerations for shaping environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies aligned with organizational priorities

• Recognize the central role of persuasive communication in shaping your experience as a leader

Create an action plan

With Wharton’s Executive Presence and Influence program, you will be ready to display your leadership skills in real time with real impact. During the program, you will receive relevant tools to create your leadership narrative through:

• Informal influence: Recognize the factors influencing your ability to achieve meaningful impact

• Communication of vision: Use your vision and executive communication for your future self to strategize your success

• Informal networks: Identify techniques to diversify your network strategically

• Leadership narrative: Strengthen your leadership presence

• Framework for persuasion: Understand the foundations of successful persuasion

Develop a corporate governance handbook

With Wharton's Corporate Governance: Maximize Your Effectiveness in the Boardroom program, you will be able to explore the processes and responsibilities that drive corporate governance. It also includes a handbook where you can reflect on the program content and how it can help you succeed in a board member role. Topics addressed in the corporate governance handbook include:

• Laying the groundwork: Begin by drafting your director bio and exploring the importance of marketing yourself

• Conducting a personal skills audit: Assess your professional background to help you understand your strengths and any critical gaps in your knowledge or experience for board positions you are seeking

• Finding your director doppelganger: Focus on strategically networking with directors who possess experience/characteristic profiles that are similar to yours, as they can help point you toward boards that are looking for a candidate with your profile

• Demonstrating your grit: Be able to persuasively articulate your experience in crisis/adversity situations

• Completing an executive leadership style assessment: Consider how your style informs the way you would manage various stakeholders, as well as which stakeholders you are most comfortable interacting with and/or advocating for in the boardroom

• Putting the pieces together: Define and characterize your personal guiding principles via a concise and effective board value statement

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org, or schedule a call with one of our Program advisors or call us at +1 680 205 5118 (US) / +44 185 845 9995 (UK) / +65 3135 1422 (SG).