ROUNDTABLE: BUSINESS BOARDS
SEEKING to SERVE
Business boards provide more than counsel to entrepreneurs seeking help
By Andrew Tellijohn
Photographs by Jonathan Hankin
E
ntrepreneurs often feel alone on an island when dealing with the pressures and problems they encounter running their businesses. But there usually are a number of resources they can turn to for help — including others like themselves. For many reasons, from the altruistic desire to give back to the need to put a few more dollars in their pockets, current and former business owners are willing sit on informal boards of advisers or, in some
cases, more formal boards of directors. They’re a resource that too often goes untapped, says John Francis, founder and CEO of Next Level Franchise. “Boards may be among the more underutilized tools business owners have available to them for feedback on various issues,” he says. “A board is a powerful thing that can really add value to an organization with really little or no risk for the owner.”
Determining the right format
So, what kind of board is right for your business? The
“Having someone with the opposite in terms of skills and knowledge and style is a good thing — as long as the values match. They have to have a philosophy match. That’s the foundation of making a decision on who to bring in.” —Julie Keyes, KeyeStrategies
18
UPSIZE JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2020
www.upsizemag.com
