Avenue to the Boardroom

Mentoring and Supporting Aspiring Directors
In partnership with REF San Diego

Avenue to the Boardroom identifies experienced and newly minted c-suite leaders who are hoping to achieve placement on their first corporate board seat.

The program matches public and private company board members (mentors) with former and current c-suite executives (mentees) to help shape their understanding of effective governance, board service, and the skills and preparation needed to be successful at the board-level. Through a combination of monthly interactions and quarterly events, the mentoring and peer support experience will be platformed around the 4 pillars of:

Program Details

Following the completion of the year-long engagement, mentees will be added to the BoardReady Talent Vault to help with their placement on their first company board.

One-on-One

12 mentors and 12 mentees will be selected and paired together

Real Time Application

Formal meetings and events to take place throughout 2025

Monthly Touchbases

Monthly mentor/mentee interactions
(in-person and virtually)

Program Chairs

Mark Neilson is a partner with REF San Diego and a career CFO, CEO, and board member for private and public company boards.

Mike Richardson is a partner with REF San Diego and a career CEO and board member for private company governance boards and advisory boards.

Join The Program

Program costs for mentees: $2,500
Corporate sponsorships available

Following the completion of the year-long engagement, mentees will be added to the BoardReady Talent Vault to help with their placement on their first company board.

Mentee applications are now open! Please fill out the survey here or click the button below.

Mentees will be notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis on or before December 6, 2024.

Share your expertise. Become a mentor.

Mentors must be current or former corporate board members.

For more information, contact Jessica N. Grounds