Case Study
From Managing Director to Public Board Director
Previous Firm
Deloitte
Previous Role
Managing Director, Professional Practice
Target Role
Public Company Board Member
Target Industry
Retail & Consumer Goods
Nancy had built an exceptional career at Deloitte, climbing to Managing Director level with deep technical expertise in professional practice and assurance. But her brand was locked into accounting and compliance — exactly what boards didn't need. Boards wanted governance leaders with strategic risk oversight, ESG expertise, and digital transformation understanding. We completely reframed her narrative to position her as a modern governance expert, not a technical practitioner. Within 8 weeks, she had board offers.
THE CHALLENGE
Her personal brand was deeply tied to accounting, assurance, and compliance — not board-level governance
Board recruiters weren't finding her because her LinkedIn and positioning didn't match governance frameworks (NACD, Spencer Stuart keywords)
She had credibility but lacked visibility in the board recruitment ecosystem
Her background signaled "technical expertise" not "strategic independence"
OUR APPROACH
Elevated brand from accounting to board governance (ESG, cybersecurity, digital transformation)
Reframed leadership narrative around enterprise risk, stakeholder relationships, organizational change
Optimized LinkedIn for board recruiter visibility (Spencer Stuart/NACD keywords)
Refined board-readiness materials (bio, headline, executive summary)
Built strategic board network visibility with directors and search firms
Guided through board interviews, governance assessments, final negotiations
THE RESULTS
✓ Appointed Independent Director & Audit Committee Member at NASDAQ restaurant group
✓ Company acquired by Darden Restaurants (expanded board portfolio)
✓ Now advises multiple boards on risk, compliance, cybersecurity governance
✓ Recognized as thought leader in board digital transformation
