A lot of professionals assume they’re not ready for a board role because they don’t have a C-suite title, an MBA or a network full of board chairs.

Some think they’re too young.

Others worry they’ve already missed their chance.

But MJ makes an important point:

The better question is not, “Do I look like a typical board candidate?”

It’s: "What specific value can I bring to a board?"

In our conversation, MJ shares three foundations for becoming board-ready:

→ Understand how boards actually work and how new directors are selected.

→ Define your unique value proposition at board level, rather than simply retelling your executive career story.

→ Build a professional brand that makes that value visible and easy to understand.

We also explore something I think more mid-career professionals should consider:

A board role doesn’t necessarily have to sit apart from your main career.

Positioned thoughtfully, it can complement your executive work, broaden your experience and become part of a much more intentional portfolio career.

MJ brings a particularly interesting perspective to this conversation.

His career spans corporate strategy, sustainability and business transformation across aviation, consulting and consumer goods. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at Global Green Company Limited and holds board and advisory roles across agriculture, manufacturing and healthcare. He also helps professionals land Board positions.

It’s a useful conversation for anyone who is board-curious but still wondering where to begin, what they have to offer, or whether they’re “ready enough” yet.

 

You can connect with MJ here...

Guest links:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckleinjaveri/

Other - https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/ConnectwithMJ@fortunadirectors.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled

 

Connect with Natalie...

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne 

If you need career and business support in your transition, book a free exploratory chat with me: https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/discovery

Check out my Notion "9-5 TO BIZ TRANSITION ROADMAP"

https://www.notion.so/9-5-TO-BIZ-TRANSITION-ROADMAP-44e6ed2575ba4581ae26e8e55350b118

Check out my Notion "Optimise Your LinkedIn Playbook & Checklist"

https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/linkedin-playbook

Check out my other FREE CLASSES and resources here https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses 

You can also sign up to my COURSES here https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses 

Send me a DM on INSTAGRAM @transitionwithpurpose 

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne 

 

Real Estate by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/corporate-background-music/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

A lot of professionals assume they&rsquo;re not ready for a board role because they don&rsquo;t have a C-suite title, an MBA or a network full of board chairs. Some think they&rsquo;re too young. Others worry they&rsquo;ve already missed their chance. But MJ makes an important point: The better question is not, &ldquo;Do I look like a typical board candidate?&rdquo; It&rsquo;s: "What specific value can I bring to a board?" In our conversation, MJ shares three foundations for becoming board-ready: &rarr; Understand how boards actually work and how new directors are selected. &rarr; Define your unique value proposition at board level, rather than simply retelling your executive career story. &rarr; Build a professional brand that makes that value visible and easy to understand. We also explore something I think more mid-career professionals should consider: A board role doesn&rsquo;t necessarily have to sit apart from your main career. Positioned thoughtfully, it can complement your executive work, broaden your experience and become part of a much more intentional portfolio career.
MJ brings a particularly interesting perspective to this conversation. His career spans corporate strategy, sustainability and business transformation across aviation, consulting and consumer goods. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at Global Green Company Limited and holds board and advisory roles across agriculture, manufacturing and healthcare. He also helps professionals land Board positions. It&rsquo;s a useful conversation for anyone who is board-curious but still wondering where to begin, what they have to offer, or whether they&rsquo;re &ldquo;ready enough&rdquo; yet.
&nbsp;
You can connect with MJ here...
Guest links:
LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckleinjaveri/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckleinjaveri/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790948640035000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Ul7x6EM5XJT7ZBcXfuW-l">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckleinjaveri/</a><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/christineblosdale"></a>
Other - <a href="https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/ConnectwithMJ@fortunadirectors.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/ConnectwithMJ@fortunadirectors.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790948640035000&amp;usg=AOvVaw05Gd6tDfzU-I2XXI6DqBYZ">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/ConnectwithMJ@fortunadirectors.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Natalie...
Connect with me on LinkedIn: <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1704584338470000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RJcLD0b5dyJjHrU0JN1w5">https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne</a>&nbsp;
If you need career and business support in your transition, book a free exploratory chat with me:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/discovery">https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/discovery</a>
Check out my Notion "9-5 TO BIZ TRANSITION ROADMAP"
<a href="https://www.notion.so/9-5-TO-BIZ-TRANSITION-ROADMAP-44e6ed2575ba4581ae26e8e55350b118">https://www.notion.so/9-5-TO-BIZ-TRANSITION-ROADMAP-44e6ed2575ba4581ae26e8e55350b118</a>
Check out my Notion "Optimise Your LinkedIn Playbook &amp; Checklist"
<a href="https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/linkedin-playbook">https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/linkedin-playbook</a>
Check out my other FREE CLASSES and resources here&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1704584338470000&amp;usg=AOvVaw05If03Kudvsuc3k7uK4REB">https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses</a>&nbsp;
You can also sign up to my COURSES here <a href="https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1704584338470000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1H3XG4bGlClNiGW2G-Puub">https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses</a>&nbsp;
Send me a DM on INSTAGRAM <a href="https://www.instagram.com/transitionwithpurpose/">@transitionwithpurpose&nbsp;</a>
Connect with me on LinkedIn: <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1704584338470000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RJcLD0b5dyJjHrU0JN1w5">https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Real Estate by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/corporate-background-music/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 3.0&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/</a>

Transition With Purpose Podcast Hosted by Natalie Tran with inspiring stories and practical tips to help you align to your passion and connect to your purpose from where you can operate and contribute in authentic and meaningful ways. 

Sprinkled with guest interviews who are purpose driven entrepreneurs, influencers and beyond where you can hear of their journeys in finding alignment and fulfilment in their work and life and how they grew their successful businesses and careers.

Be prepared to throw away labels and titles and supercharge your business and career success by learning the secrets to harnessing the right mindset and proven strategies to help you create life changing results with ease.

Check out my FREE CLASSES here https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses

Sign up to my COURSES here https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses

Send me a DM on INSTAGRAM here @transitionwithpurpose

Or connect with me on LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne

Transition With Purpose Podcast Hosted by Natalie Tran with inspiring stories and practical tips to help you align to your passion and connect to your purpose from where you can operate and contribute in authentic and meaningful ways. 
Sprinkled with guest interviews who are purpose driven entrepreneurs, influencers and beyond where you can hear of their journeys in finding alignment and fulfilment in their work and life and how they grew their successful businesses and careers.
Be prepared to throw away labels and titles and supercharge your business and career success by learning the secrets to harnessing the right mindset and proven strategies to help you create life changing results with ease.
Check out my FREE CLASSES here <a href="https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses">https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses</a>
Sign up to my COURSES here <a href="https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses">https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses</a>
Send me a DM on INSTAGRAM here @transitionwithpurpose
Or connect with me on LinkedIn - <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1704584338470000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RJcLD0b5dyJjHrU0JN1w5">https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne</a>

Transition With Purpose Podcast with Natalie Tran

Transition With Purpose Podcast Hosted by Natalie Tran with inspiring stories and practical tips to help you align to your passion and connect to your purpose from where you can operate and contribute in authentic and meaningful ways. 
Sprinkled with guest interviews who are purpose driven entrepreneurs, influencers and beyond where you can hear of their journeys in finding alignment and fulfilment in their work and life and how they grew their successful businesses and careers.
Be prepared to throw away labels and titles and supercharge your business and career success by learning the secrets to harnessing the right mindset and proven strategies to help you create life changing results with ease.
Check out my FREE CLASSES here <a href="https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses">https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/free-courses</a>
Sign up to my COURSES here <a href="https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses">https://www.transitionwithpurpose.com.au/courses</a>
Send me a DM on INSTAGRAM here @transitionwithpurpose
Or connect with me on LinkedIn - <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1704584338470000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RJcLD0b5dyJjHrU0JN1w5">https://au.linkedin.com/in/natalie-tran-coach-melbourne</a>