How to Land a Board Seat: Naomi Kent on The Mindset, Strategy, and Long Game Most Executives Miss

Board seats aren’t reserved for a lucky few, but they are reserved for leaders who understand the game.In this episode of Work Unscripted, executive coach Marlo Lyons sits down with board career expert and co-author Naomi Kent to unpack their new book, Wanted: A Board Career, and break down what it really takes to build a meaningful, strategic board portfolio.This is not a job search. And treating it like one is the biggest mistake executives make.Together, Marlo and Naomi walk through the three phases every successful board career requires:Discovery: clarifying your “why,” your values, and your long-term board visionPreparation: crafting a board-ready brand, narrative, LinkedIn profile, and pitchExecution: building relationships and trust over time (not chasing openings)They also tackle common myths about board service, the difference between nonprofit, private, and public boards, and why board readiness is about judgment, governance, and mindset.Whether you’re an executive in transition, a senior leader thinking about your next chapter, or simply curious about board service as a purposeful career move, this conversation will help you think differently — and more strategically — about your path to the boardroom.Want to learn more? Marlo dives much deeper into the board journey in her new book, Wanted → A Board Career, a step-by-step guide to becoming board-ready and landing a board seat.Order the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tfMWbFConnect with Marlo Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  -----------Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.