Swiss Board School

Name

Swiss Board School

Legal name

Board Foundation (Swiss Board School)

Website

https://boardfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Education and Corporate Governance Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

University-Led Summer/Winter Schools (Credit/Non-Credit) (EDAIAIAA)

Keywords

• Board education
• Corporate governance training
• Director certification programs
• Executive board development
• Governance professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Stallen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Board Education Programs: Revenue generated from tuition fees for certificate programs, diploma programs, compact courses, and masterclasses in board governance and leadership. Programs range from single-day courses to multi-module certificate programs spanning several months.
2. SIoD Membership: The Swiss Institute of Directors (SIoD) offers membership tiers (Basic, Plus, Enterprise, Officer) that provide access to networking events, board tools, mandate listings, and member-only programs. Membership fees support ongoing access to the board network.
3. Custom Board Programs: Tailored corporate governance training programs developed for specific organizations or groups, delivered as enterprise engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Swiss Board School provides board development programs for board chairs, members, and secretaries, delivered through certificate programs (15-day, CHF 19,500), diploma programs (3-6 days, CHF 7,750), compact one-day courses (CHF 1,250), and specialized masterclasses on topics such as AI governance, family governance, and board chair leadership. Programs are offered in German, French, English, and Italian, in collaboration with leading Swiss universities, and are supported by a Board Network of more than 2,000 members plus mandate placement and board audit services.

Product overview

Swiss Board School operates as a comprehensive board education and governance ecosystem offering a multi-tiered program portfolio. The core offerings include Board Certificate Programs (15-day intensive certifications in German, French, and English, with the VR-Zertifikats-Programm at CHF 19,500 and International Board Certificate Program), Board Diploma Programs (3-6 day diploma programs at CHF 7,750), and compact 1-day overview courses at CHF 1,250. Specialized masterclasses address AI Governance, Family Governance, Group Governance, Cooperative Governance, and Board Chair development. Supporting services include Board Pass (member benefits), Board Network (2,000+ member community), Board Mandates (placement service), Board Tools (templates/expertise), and Board Audit (effectiveness evaluation). Content resources encompass Board Guides, Board Books, Board Views, Board News, and Board Casts. Strategic initiatives include Board Tech Lab (AI/data governance), Chapter Zero Switzerland (climate), Female Board Pool (diversity), and NextGen Board Leaders (generational). The school hosts regular events including Swiss Board Circle, Swiss Board Day, Swiss Board Visits, Global Board Forum, Global Board Conference, and regional Board Meetups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Board Certificate Programs: Programs for developing board leadership skills with certification
• Board Diploma Programs
• Board Courses
• Board Masterclasses
• Custom Board Programs

Products and services

• Board Certificate Programs Multi-week certification programs (15 days) for board directors covering board leadership competencies and governance fundamentals; available in German (CHF 19,500) and English (CHF 19,500) variants delivered across multiple Swiss locations.
• Board Diploma Programs Advanced diploma programs for board directors delivering diplomierte board leadership competencies; available in German (6 half-days), French (6 half-days in Lausanne), and English (3 days in Thun), each priced at CHF 7,750.
• Board Compact Courses Single-day intensive overview courses on board member tasks and responsibilities; available in German (CHF 1,250), French (CHF 1,250), and Italian (CHF 1,250 at USI Lugano).
• Board Masterclasses Specialized short programs (0.5 to 2 days) covering AI governance, family governance, cooperative governance, group governance, board chair leadership, and crisis leadership (Board Bootcamp); some free or discounted for SIoD members, others up to CHF 3,750 with accommodation.
• Board Officer Diplom-Programm First specialized diploma program in Switzerland for Board Secretary/Officer competencies; 3 days in Luzern, CHF 7,750 including overnight stays.
• Custom Board Programs Tailored corporate governance training programs developed and delivered for specific organizations or groups seeking customized board development for their leadership teams and governance bodies.
• Board Network Networking platform and community for board members with more than 2,000 members across Switzerland, providing ongoing peer exchange, mandate listings, and access to member-only events.
• Board Mandates Placement and portfolio-development service helping members develop their board portfolio and find board opportunities through mandate listings.
• Board Tools Practical tools and templates developed by international experts for effective board work, covering governance checklists, board calendars, and self-assessment instruments.
• Board Audit Service for evaluating and improving board effectiveness, providing independent governance reviews and effectiveness diagnostics.
• Board Pass Member benefits service providing SIoD members with access to board resources, networking tools, and benefits across Basic, Plus, Enterprise, and Officer membership tiers.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Universität St. Gallen (HSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Board School works closely with the University of St.Gallen as a key educational partner, leveraging academic excellence and research capabilities for board governance programs.
• Universität ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for delivering board education programs and leveraging governance research expertise.
• Universität BerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for board governance education and research collaboration.
• Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian-speaking Swiss university partnership providing programs in Italian language for the Ticino region.
• Swiss Data Science CenterstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on data science and AI governance topics, supporting the Board Tech Lab initiative on artificial intelligence in corporate governance.
• European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard Foundation has partnered with ECGI to foster the exchange of governance theory and practice, supporting research and knowledge sharing in corporate governance.
• Chartered Governance InstitutestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Institute of Directors has partnered with the Chartered Governance Institute to enhance governance standards and professional development.
• International Corporate Governance NetworkstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network partnership connecting Swiss board professionals with international governance standards and practices.
• Swiss ArmyminorOthersPartnership with the Swiss Armed Forces for governance and leadership development.
• St. Gallen SymposiumstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with the St. Gallen Symposium for thought leadership and networking in business and governance leadership.
• STARS FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting next-generation board leadership and emerging governance leaders.
• International Corporate Governance SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic society partnership for governance research and professional development.
• PwCcoreOthersThe Board Foundation is audited by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), providing independent financial oversight and credibility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• INSEAD: Global business school with a well-established corporate governance program and director education offerings. Comparable in serving senior executives and directors seeking board certification and governance training at premium price points.
• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): US-based member organization dedicated to board leadership, offering director certification, education programs, and a peer network for corporate directors. Closely mirrors Swiss Board School's educational and community-based model.
• Chartered Governance Institute: International professional body for governance professionals offering qualifications, training, and member services. Already a direct strategic partner of Swiss Board School and an obvious peer in governance certification.
• IMD Business School: Swiss-based business school offering executive education including board and director development programs. Directly comparable as a Switzerland-headquartered competitor providing premium governance education to senior executives.
• Stanford Directors College: Stanford's flagship program for corporate directors, offering intensive governance education. Comparable premium executive education product targeting sitting directors and senior executives preparing for board roles.
• Institute of Directors (UK - IoD): UK membership organization for company directors that provides boardroom training, certification (Chartered Director), networking, and director development services. Highly comparable mission, business model, and member-based structure.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Business School - Corporate Governance programs: Harvard Business School offers governance-related executive education through its broader portfolio of programs. An incumbent broader competitor with overlapping capabilities but not focused exclusively on board education.
• International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN): Global investor-led network promoting effective corporate governance standards and dialogue. Partner of Swiss Board School and an incumbent in the international governance ecosystem it operates within.
• European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI): International scientific non-profit association that fosters debate and research on corporate governance. Partner of Swiss Board School and an incumbent in the broader European governance research and practice ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Henley Business School - Directors Programme: UK business school offering board development programs and executive education. Comparable executive education provider with similar director development offerings and European footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@boardcasts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swissboardschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Swiss Board School