I’m from a WASPish background, but a step down from those who typically got invited into boards. I just ruled a path up to the exec board out (typical time to promotion in the FTSE firm security team I landed in was 10 years) https://twitter.com/ysmithnd/status/1300152814836957185

That was until I worked with someone whose security career path was planned round Non-Exec Directorships as a route to govt.

Crazy how much of a revelation that seemed. Kinda naive, but more just not being around people from those schools and at those dinner parties 2/

For me it was a paper thin wall, for many other women and much of our less represented colleagues it’s the opposite.

I studied business at a Russell Group Uni, but diverged from the job norm by pivoting into a very new industry with no route into exec leadership 3/

Also, unless Big 4, no real advisor related route either. Also rarely networked until mid career due to regional base.

OP’s great thread and maybe some of this, might signpost how boards end up being non-representative, to their detriment.

And that’s ignoring VC world 4/5

Yes, those of us in frequently ignored groups need to seek the right mentors and speak up,

but folk looking for constructive and creative strategic governance also have to turn heads to look in new places for new blood, cos typical pipelines are similarly slow to change. 5/5