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Avenue to the Boardroom

Mentoring and Supporting Aspiring Directors

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:

  • Best Governance Practices
  • Ethics
  • Modern Leadership
  • Enterprise Agility

Program Details

  • Real Time Application

Formal meetings and events to take place throughout 2026-2027

  • Monthly Touchbases

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

  • One-on-One

6-8 mentors and mentees will be selected and paired together

View Sample Program schedule

Join The Program

  • Applications for our next cohort are open and will close
    August 31st.
  • Mentees will be selected in September.
  • Pricing for Avenue To the Boardroom:
    $3,500 for CDF members | $4,500 for non-members

The next cohort will run October 2026 – June 2027.

If you are interested in the program, please reach out to Claudia Hanten chanten@directorsforum.com

Apply now

Program Outcomes

Credentials & Materials

  • Polished board bio and resume, refined through mentor feedback and a personal branding session
  • Certificate of Completion from CDF Institute
  • Board bio distributed to executive search firms
  • Complimentary enrollment in the BoardReady Talent Vault

Relationships

  • A mentor relationship with an active board member
  • Peer relationships with other board-track executives

Event Access

(Complimentary)

  • Director of the Year Awards Reception
  • CDF Holiday Party
  • Directors Summit 2027

Share your expertise. Become a mentor.

Mentors must be current or former corporate board members.

For more information, contact Jessica N. Grounds

Become a Mentor