Here are three lessons from leaders who've mastered the boardroom:
1️⃣ THE REAL BOARD MEETING HAPPENS BEFORE THE MEETING
The most effective sessions are built on early alignment with your CEO, with key board members, and even with the VC associate preparing the pre-read materials.
Walking in without that groundwork means you'll spend your time reacting instead of leading. By checking in ahead of time, you can:
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Understand what topics are top of mind for board members
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Preview sensitive areas and align on messaging
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Ensure your metrics, forecasts, and narratives are consistent across the exec team
Think of it as pre-negotiating the agenda. You're not scripting the conversation, you're making sure it's framed in a way that strategically moves the business forward.
2️⃣ READOUTS AREN'T ENOUGH
Boards don't just want a recap of last quarter's performance - they can read the numbers on their own. What they really want is insight into what's ahead:
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What tradeoffs are you evaluating?
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How is finance enabling growth?
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Where are the risks, and what's being done to mitigate them?
A strong CFO doesn't just report the news, they interpret it, connect the dots, and translate complexity into clarity. They leave the boardroom having influenced the company's priorities, not just documented them.
When you go beyond the spreadsheet, you shift from "scorekeeper" to "strategic partner." That's when board members start turning to you, not just for updates, but for direction.
3️⃣ YOU DON'T NEED EVERY ANSWER, BUT YOU DO NEED A RESPONSE
No matter how well you prepare, a curveball question is inevitable. Maybe it's about a market shift, a customer churn event, or a competitor's new pricing. Saying "I don't know" might be honest, but it can also erode confidence.
Instead, pivot:
This shows you're in control, even when the question is unexpected. Staying calm, composed, and solution-oriented builds trust faster than having every fact memorized.
Turning feedback into fuel
If your last board meeting didn't go as planned, you're not alone. Even the best finance leaders have off days. The difference? They treat feedback as fuel. They debrief with their CEO, listen carefully to what the board wanted more (or less) of, and adjust for next time. The boardroom is a long game. Every meeting is a chance to build your influence, refine your message, and prove that finance isn't just a reporting function, but a driver of the company's future.
August is a fresh start
Your next board meeting might be weeks away, but your chance to win starts now. Set aside time to align, rehearse, and anticipate. Build the narrative, not just the numbers. And when you finally step inside, you'll already have half the battle won. | 
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