Celebrating Eight Year Anniversary of ACE!

Back in 2016-17, I was curious why there were not more women on boards. Yes, I was naïve and had my head in the sand. I set out to find out why from the women themselves and ended up meeting with 200 women over an 18-month period. I wanted to know why they thought there were not many women on boards and why they themselves were not on boards. These were accomplished women executives, and it was eye-opening for me to learn that they had some gaps in knowing how to get on boards and even that they could get paid to be on boards.

Understanding the Boardroom Gap

These conversations revealed a significant number of qualified women, yet also highlighted substantial gaps in their knowledge about the top 10% of the executive culture, including the C-suite and boardroom dynamics. This gap became the focus of my curiosity and later, my mission.

The Executive Vernacular and the Path to the Top

While serving on two boards myself and eyeing a semi-retirement filled with board duties and leisure, I observed a pattern among my male mentors at the time. They climbed the corporate ladder, secured multiple board positions, and eased into a lucrative semi-retirement. This path seemed less trodden by women, and I wanted to understand why and how to change it, not just for myself, but for others too.

Researching Training Opportunities

Next, I researched existing training programs for women. Most were exclusive, catering to a tiny fraction of women who were already CEOs of large corporations. This left out the vast majority and highlighted a significant need for inclusive, comprehensive training that would prepare more women for board roles.

The Birth of the ACE Board Training Program

Inspired by a friend's observation about my passion when discussing the potential of these impressive women I had met with, I experienced a moment of clarity. I asked myself what it would look like if I were to address this gap. That's when the ACE board training program was conceived. Designed to empower and prepare women for board service, the program is a culmination of the insights and needs I identified through my conversations and research from those 200 women.

Commitment to a Continuing Mission

We've come a long way since the inception of ACE. Many women are now certified and serving on corporate boards, but the journey doesn't end here. The mission continues for me to train one thousand women, recognizing that the need for more female representation on boards is ever-present. We're just getting started, and there's much more to achieve.

Now we have proven the ACE program works! With over 125 board placements of our certified graduates, we are making a BIG difference. The ACE board training program is more than just a curriculum; it's a bridge over the gaps I discovered in those 18 months of research. It's a path forward for women who aspire to lead and make a difference at the highest levels of corporate governance.

As I look to the future, the goal remains clear: to equip and empower more women to take their rightful places in boardrooms across the globe. We still need more women in the boardroom! Are you ready?