The Fast Company Executive Board is an exclusive, invitation-only community for senior-level executives and entrepreneurs. It is a fee-based membership that offers networking opportunities and the ability to publish thought leadership articles on Fast Company’s platform, rather than a traditional corporate board of directors position.
As a high-achieving professional, you know a board seat is a powerful goal. It’s a position that offers more credibility and a chance to shape a company’s future. On your path to the boardroom, you might find opportunities like the Fast Company Executive Board. But is this a direct route to a real corporate board seat?
The journey to becoming a non-executive director or a board member involves more than joining a networking group. While these groups are valuable, they are very different from the process of joining a corporate board, where you have serious strategic and financial duties. This article explores what the Fast Company Executive Board offers and how it differs from the direct path to a board position. We’ll help you decide if it aligns with your goals, because board seats aren’t just for CEOs – they are for you.
What is a Fast Company executive board?
The Fast Company Executive Board is a members-only organization for accomplished business leaders, including executives, founders, and entrepreneurs. Members join to enhance their professional profiles, connect with peers, and share insights. Operating under the Forbes Councils umbrella model [1], it provides a structured environment for networking and thought leadership.
Key Benefits of Membership
Membership offers several key benefits, mainly focused on visibility and connecting with peers. It’s important to understand, however, that these advantages are very different from those of a true corporate board appointment.
- Enhanced Executive Visibility: Members can publish articles on FastCompany.com, which helps build their personal brand and position them as industry experts.
- Exclusive Peer Networking: You gain access to a private community of other high-level professionals, with connections made through networking events and online forums.
- Leadership Insights: The platform provides curated content and exclusive resources to help you stay current on business trends.
- Professional Credibility: Affiliating with a respected brand like Fast Company adds prestige to your resume and can open doors to new opportunities.
While valuable, these benefits are designed to build your executive brand, not grant actual board governance responsibilities.
Understanding the Cost and Application Process
Joining the Fast Company Executive Board is not an open-enrollment system; it involves a specific application process where candidates must meet certain criteria.
- Application Requirements: Applicants typically need to show significant leadership experience, such as executive roles or major professional achievements, through a formal application.
- Vetting Process: Each application is vetted to ensure members meet the community’s standards and to maintain the group’s exclusivity.
- Membership Fees: An annual membership fee is required. This fee, which can range from several thousand to over ten thousand dollars annually [2], covers access to the network and publishing opportunities. It is an investment in the platform’s benefits and not Compensation for board service.
This process is very different from securing a corporate board seat, which involves a rigorous selection focused on your governance expertise and how you fit a specific company’s needs.
Crucial Differences: Membership vs. a Corporate Board Seat
It’s vital to understand the difference: a Fast Company Executive Board membership is not the same as a corporate board seat. They serve fundamentally different roles. One is for building your professional profile, while the other demands fiduciary responsibility.
| Feature | Fast Company Executive Board Membership | Corporate Board Seat (Real Board Seat) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Thought leadership, networking, personal brand building. | Fiduciary duty, strategic oversight, governance, accountability to shareholders. |
| Decision-Making Power | No direct governance power over Fast Company or other firms. | Direct influence on company strategy, operations, and executive leadership. |
| Legal Obligation | None beyond membership terms. | Significant legal and ethical responsibilities. |
| Compensation | Typically an annual fee paid by the member. No salary or equity from the “board.” | Often includes an annual retainer, equity, and/or meeting fees. |
| Impact | Enhances your individual executive brand and network. | Directly impacts the company’s direction, performance, and stakeholder value. |
| Pathway | Application and fee-based access to a peer network. | Rigorous selection based on experience, skills, and fit for specific governance needs. |
An executive board membership is a valuable tool for professional development, but it does not provide the strategic influence or governance responsibilities of a true corporate board position. If your goal is to land a real board seat, you will need a different approach.
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Can a Membership Platform Help You Secure a Board Seat?
Building Your Executive Brand Through Published Articles
To get a board seat, you need a strong executive brand. You must show that you are a credible authority and an insightful leader. Membership groups, like a Fast Company Executive Board, often offer publishing opportunities. You can write articles or expert commentaries to showcase your industry knowledge.
Sharing your unique perspective improves your professional reputation and positions you as an expert. Publishing also makes you more visible to the wider professional community. This exposure is key for anyone hoping to become a director, as it lets you share your strategic vision. However, just publishing articles will not guarantee a board seat. It is only one part of a larger strategy. Your content must connect with the specific needs of potential boards.
- Showcase Expertise: Published articles prove your deep understanding of market trends and challenges.
- Enhance Credibility: Regular contributions build your reputation as a thought leader.
- Increase Visibility: Your name and insights reach a wider audience, including those on search committees.
- Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Articles let you share innovative solutions and forward-thinking ideas with potential board chairs.
Networking Opportunities with Other Leaders
Connecting with influential leaders is key for anyone who wants a board seat. Membership groups help you network with other top professionals. You can meet executives, entrepreneurs, and current board members. These conversations can lead to mentorships and open doors to board opportunities. However, the quality of your networking is what matters most. Not every new connection will lead to a board seat.
Good networking is about building real relationships. You should connect with people who can help you find a board seat. This means talking to those who understand how boards hire. It is more than just swapping business cards; it requires strategic conversations that show your value as a potential director. Research shows that many board members get their seats through personal networks and referrals [3]. Therefore, a platform should offer networking that supports this fact.
When looking at these opportunities, consider:
- Relevance of Connections: Are you meeting people who recruit or refer board candidates?
- Depth of Engagement: Does the platform encourage real conversations, or just superficial interactions?
- Access to Decision-Makers: Can you connect directly with current board chairs or hiring committee members?
- Geographic and Industry Fit: Do the networking events match the type of board you want to join?
Evaluating the ROI for Your Board Director Goals
Before investing in a membership group, you need to understand its return on investment (ROI). Your main goal is getting a board seat, so the group’s value must be measured by how well it helps you meet that goal. Consider the costs: membership fees, time, and travel. Then, weigh those costs against the real benefits for your board goals. Will it speed up your path to the boardroom? Or will it offer indirect benefits that take longer to pay off?
Many groups offer prestige and general career growth. While these are good, they are less important than a direct path to a board seat. You need to find out if the platform truly prepares you for a board role. Does it offer special coaching for board interviews? Does it provide access to a handpicked list of open board positions? A good ROI means making clear progress toward getting a seat. It means quickly turning your experience into a board-ready profile. General networking is useful, but it may not give you the focused support you need to reach this specific goal in a timely manner.
Ask yourself these critical questions:
- Direct Board Access: Does the platform offer direct links to board openings or recruiters?
- Time to Placement: Can it speed up your path to a board seat, rather than just improve your general profile?
- Specialized Support: Does it provide specific training or advice for board applications and interviews?
- Guaranteed Outcomes: Does the platform offer a clear path to a board seat, not just networking?
What is the Most Direct Path to the Boardroom?
The Veblen Director Programme: A Focused Alternative
General networking platforms like the Fast Company Executive Board are useful for building a profile, but they are not designed to land you a board seat. Many executives invest time on these sites without finding a clear path to a directorship.
The most direct path to the boardroom requires a targeted strategy. The Veblen Director Programme offers a focused alternative with proven systems designed specifically for securing board positions. Our approach moves beyond general networking and gives you the exact tools and knowledge you need to succeed.
We will teach you how to find the right board opportunities and present your unique skills so you stand out as a top director candidate.
How to land a board seat with only your current experience – guaranteed!
Many people think board seats are reserved for retired CEOs or those with previous board experience. This is a common myth. At Veblen, we show you that your current executive experience is your strongest asset.
Our programme walks you through a clear process:
- Uncover Your Board-Ready Skills: We help you pinpoint the leadership, strategic, and operational skills you already have that are in high demand in today’s boardrooms [4].
- Craft a Compelling Board Narrative: Learn how to frame your career achievements to fit a non-executive director role. This means showcasing your past impact and future value in a way that resonates with boards.
- Target the Right Boards: We help you identify which organisations need your specific expertise. This makes your search for a board seat both efficient and effective.
- Master Boardroom Dynamics: Understand governance, fiduciary duties, and strategic oversight so you can step into your first board meeting with total confidence.
Our proven method and dedicated support mean you can land a significant board role in under 12 months. This outcome is guaranteed.
Joining a Global Network of Board-Ready Leaders
Beyond our strategic training, Veblen gives you a powerful asset: our global network. You will join an exclusive community of ambitious professionals who are also seeking or serving on boards around the world. Our members find this peer group vital to their success.
This network offers key advantages:
- Peer Support and Mentorship: Connect with peers to share insights, gain new perspectives, and learn from their challenges and successes.
- Exclusive Opportunities: Get access to board vacancies that are not advertised through public channels, giving you a competitive edge.
- Strategic Alliances: Build relationships that can lead to valuable introductions and endorsements, speeding up your journey to the boardroom.
- Ongoing Learning: Use the collective knowledge of the network to stay current on governance trends and boardroom best practices.
A strong network is essential for a long-term board career, expanding your influence and credibility. Are you ready to join this powerful community and secure your board seat?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the members of the executive board?
The Fast Company Executive Board is an invitation-only community for top executives. Members are leaders from different industries, including founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs [5]. They are professionals who are shaping the future of business.
Members use the platform to share ideas, publish articles, and network. It is important to know this is a membership-based community, not a position on a corporate board. A corporate board seat comes with legal duties and direct responsibility for governing a company.
What is the Fast Company Executive Board cost?
The Fast Company Executive Board has an annual membership fee. This fee gives you access to its network, resources, and publishing platform. While prices can change, the yearly cost is usually between $2,000 and $3,000 [6].
The fee covers benefits like networking and building your professional profile. It’s important to decide if these benefits are worth the cost for your career goals. If you want a real board position, this fee could be part of your larger career plan.
Who is the CEO of Fast Company?
Brendan Vaughan is the current CEO of Fast Company. He guides the strategy and daily operations for the well-known business publication [7]. Vaughan makes sure Fast Company continues to focus on innovation and leadership.
Knowing who leads major publications is important. It helps you understand their editorial focus and the influence of their content.
Who is the owner of Fast Company?
Fast Company is owned by Mansueto Ventures LLC, a private company that also owns Inc. magazine [8]. Its founder, Joe Mansueto, is a well-known name in publishing and investing.
Mansueto Ventures owns media brands for entrepreneurs and business leaders. This ownership shapes what Fast Company writes about and who it reaches in the business world.
Sources
- https://councils.forbes.com/forbesexecutiveboard
- https://councils.forbes.com/how-it-works
- https://www.heidrickandstruggles.com/insights/board-leadership/the-inside-track-how-new-directors-get-appointed
- https://www.imd.org/news/updates/board-of-directors-skills-demanded-today/
- https://executiveboard.fastcompany.com/
- https://fastcompany.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-vaughan-2430206
- https://www.mansueto.com/
