BoardReady

What BoardReady does

BoardReady is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Washington State in 2017 and headquartered in Seattle. It operates a two-sided platform that connects companies seeking qualified board directors with a curated network of board-ready candidates, primarily focused on improving board diversity and governance quality. The organization is led by co-founders Deanna Oppenheimer (Founder & Chair) and Phyllis Campbell (Co-Founder & Vice Chair), both active board directors serving on FTSE 100, S&P 500, and Russell-listed companies.

Name

BoardReady

Legal name

BoardReady

Website

https://boardready.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BoardReady is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects companies seeking board directors with a curated, diverse TalentVault of 1,000+ board-ready candidates, supported by the proprietary BoardReady Index and a cohort-based collective program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Board Placement & Corporate Governance Services

NAICS

Business Service Centers (56143)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)

Keywords

• Board placement services
• Corporate governance advisory
• Board diversity analytics
• Executive board search
• Director talent network

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. BoardBoost Service: BoardReady receives compensation from for-profit and not-for-profit entities in exchange for matching candidates and providing leads. The service offers one-time fees per open board/advisor seat for specific engagements, and enterprise plans with monthly fees for ongoing access to curated shortlists and personalized introductions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BoardReady is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps companies strengthen corporate boards by connecting them with diverse, board-ready talent. Its BoardBoost service delivers curated shortlists of 5–7 candidates per engagement, fee-per-seat or via monthly enterprise subscriptions, while its TalentVault network aggregates 1,000+ pre-vetted candidates and the BoardReady Collective trains emerging leaders for board service.

Product overview

BoardReady is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a single integrated platform centered on connecting board-ready talent with companies seeking directors. The core offerings include TalentVault (a free candidate network for board opportunities), BoardBoost (a paid placement/matching service for companies), the BoardReady Index (a proprietary diversity scoring analytic), and the BoardReady Collective (a cohort-based education and mentorship program). Thought leadership and research publications complement the service portfolio. The platform serves three primary audiences: candidates seeking board seats, companies seeking directors, and the broader governance community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TalentVault: A network of accomplished executives and board members bringing together diverse perspectives from a wide range of industries and backgrounds.
• BoardBoost
• BoardReady Index (BRI)
• BoardReady Collective (BRC)

Products and services

• TalentVault A free network of 1,000+ accomplished executives and board members that connects candidates with board opportunities through profile-based matching, events, and access to BoardReady Collective. Free for candidates to join (20–30 minutes to build a profile).
• BoardBoost A board placement service that provides companies with shortlists of 5–7 qualified candidates from TalentVault based on specified criteria, following an initiation consultation, discovery & sourcing, evaluation, and facilitated introductions. Available as one-time per-seat engagements or monthly enterprise subscriptions.
• BoardReady Index (BRI) A proprietary scoring analytic that measures boardroom composition across five metrics — gender, race/ethnicity, median age, age span, and director tenure — enabling companies to benchmark diversity and identify improvement areas against peers.
• BoardReady Collective (BRC) A cohort-based program running annually from October through April that prepares executive leaders in the Pacific Northwest for corporate board service through seven sessions on governance, fiduciary duty, board bio development, and network strategy, alongside mentorship and industry-leading speakers. Free for participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 in 4 TalentVault members have been presented to clients as strong candidates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• NYSE Board Advisory ServicesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNYSE Board Services addresses diverse, inclusive leadership on corporate boards through their CEO Council. They invite nominated candidates to upload bios to an online database and offer training programs. Their database has helped place 40 diverse candidates on corporate boards.
• EY Center for Board MattersflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerEY Center for Board Matters supports board oversight. BoardReady collaborates with EY to host 'Women in the Boardroom' series across multiple cities, bringing together current and aspiring corporate directors for discussions and networking.
• Egon ZehndercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership advisory firm specializing in executive search, board advisory, executive assessment, and diversity and inclusion. Has 68 offices in 40 countries with long-term client relationships.
• OnBoarding WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram sponsored by Perkins Coie and Spencer Stuart committed to increasing women's representation on public company boards in Washington State. Offers practitioner-led governance education and peer networking.
• University of Washington Foster School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen Board Directors Development Program helps executive women become influential board members, make the jump from non-profit to for-profit boards, or move to larger firm boards.
• D&S Career ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExecutive career services providing board bio writing, board resumes, LinkedIn profiles, recruiter network accelerator, and consulting on board search and interview preparation.
• bluSPARCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBoard Readiness Coaching offering personalized one-on-one support to help leaders leverage strengths and craft value propositions for board roles. Includes network building and gap assessment.
• DirectWomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit working to increase women's lawyers' representation on corporate boards. Identifies and develops women attorney leaders for board service.
• Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity of U.S. Latinos at highest corporate leadership levels committed to developing and increasing U.S. Latinos on corporate boards. Offers programs to prepare Latino executives for board service.
• Ascend PinnacleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest Pan-Asian professional organization in North America, connecting Pan-Asian leaders and empowering emerging leaders. Supports diversity and inclusion goals.
• Banff AdvisorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExecutive talent firm helping clients fulfill career ambitions through network connections, market insights, and stakeholder relationships with executives, boards, and search firms.
• World Trade Center SeattleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPart of World Trade Centers Association, the largest international business association. Offers networking opportunities and member events for business professionals in Seattle and Pacific Northwest.
• DeloitteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounders Circle member and partner. Multiple Deloitte leaders (Don Heisler Managing Partner, Ed Thomas Former Managing Partner, Pete Shimer Former COO, Pat Ogawa Partner) serve as program advisors and mentors for BoardReady Collective.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Athena Alliance: Community and platform that connects experienced executives (often women and underrepresented leaders) with board opportunities and provides board education. Closely comparable to BoardReady's TalentVault + BoardReady Collective proposition.
• Women Corporate Directors (WCD): Global membership organization of women corporate directors with peer learning, education, and a private board-ready talent directory. Comparable to BoardReady's TalentVault for the women's board talent segment.
• DirectWomen: Nonprofit focused on placing women attorneys on corporate boards, identified as a BoardReady partner and serving an overlapping board-readiness niche. Comparable in mission and audience though narrower in target candidate profile.
• Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA): Nonprofit organization developing Latino executives for corporate board service. Listed as a BoardReady strategic partner and serves a similar board-readiness and pipeline mission for an underrepresented demographic.

Direct peers

• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a Board & CEO Advisory practice focused on director recruitment and board effectiveness consulting. Direct competitor for board placement engagements with private equity and large private clients.
• Spencer Stuart: One of the leading global board and executive search firms, with a dedicated Board Practice and significant work on board diversification. Co-sponsor of OnBoarding Women alongside Perkins Coie, which overlaps with BoardReady's candidate pool.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global leadership advisory firm with a dedicated Board of Directors practice and published research on board composition. Competes for board placement mandates and offers governance advisory services that overlap with BoardReady's BRI-style analytics.
• Korn Ferry: Large global organizational consulting firm with a Board and CEO Services practice that recruits directors and advises on governance. Competes for enterprise board mandates and brings substantially larger resources and proprietary data assets.
• Diversified Search: U.S.-headquartered executive search firm with a dedicated Board Practice and historically strong focus on diverse slates for board searches. Direct competitor for corporate board placements, especially with mid-market and PE-backed clients.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and board advisory firm with deep expertise in CEO and board placements, including diversity-focused searches. Listed as a BoardReady partner and a direct competitor for board mandate work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boardready

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BoardReady