Ready to Lead in the Boardroom?
Explore how the Director Fundamentals Program helps CEOs prepare for their first outside board role—and lead with confidence from day one.
Gain the context, skills, and strategy CEOs need to add value on day one—across oversight, risk, governance, and stakeholder management.
Self-paced, online modules designed for busy executives. Learn anywhere, anytime—on your schedule.
Join curated roundtable discussions with veteran directors and fellow CEOs preparing for board service.
Earn the Director Qualified credential from Corporate Board Member—a nationally recognized standard of boardroom readiness.
The Director Fundamentals Program equips CEOs and senior executives with the insight, context, and confidence to succeed as a private or public company board member.
You’ll build a strong foundation in governance, compliance, stakeholder engagement, and board dynamics—while hearing directly from experienced directors who’ve been in your shoes.
Throughout this 3-month program, you’ll:
Complete self-paced online learning modules—built around real boardroom scenarios
Join bi-monthly virtual roundtables with veteran public company directors
Attend a half-day Director Fundamentals Workshop focused on board duties, investor expectations, and emerging governance issues
Upon completion, you’ll earn the Director Qualified credential from Corporate Board Member’s American College of Corporate Directors (ACCD)—a recognized standard of readiness in the board community.
The Director Qualified certification is issued by Corporate Board Member's American College of Corporate Directors—a nationally recognized standard in public company director education since 2008.
Only participants who complete this program earn the credential. Your name will be:
• Listed on the ACCD website as a credentialed member
• Featured in Corporate Board Member magazine
• Shared with Nasdaq’s board candidate network
By completing the Director Fundamentals Program, you will:
Upon successful completion, you’ll be awarded the Director Qualified Credential from Corporate Board Member’s American College of Corporate Directors (ACCD)—recognized as a gold standard in board readiness.
This program is for aspiring public company board members.
Online Training Courses
4 self-paced, scenario-based modules (30–60 minutes each)
Each includes a downloadable certificate of completion
Live Program Events
Attend 1 Virtual Director Fundamentals Workshop
Join 1 Ask-the-Veteran-Director Roundtable
Gain a thorough understanding of board roles and responsibilities, along with insights around current challenges and opportunities from veteran directors and industry experts.
Key Insights Learned:
Module features the Director Fundamentals training course & guide, reports and a webinar recording.
Understand the relationship between the board + shareholders and regulators, in addition to oversight expectations to meet legal responsibilities and help your companies prosper.
Key Insights Learned:
Module features reports and event session video recordings.
Boards are tasked with issues that are highly complex and always evolving — learn how to build a competent board, be proactive in the onboarding stages and assess board performance to build stakeholder trust.
Key Insights Learned:
Module features the Nominating/Governance Committee training course & guide and reports.
Discover how you and your board should effectively integrate human capital and executive pay strategies into your overarching plans to create long-term value, and how to properly communicate these delicate decisions to different stakeholders.
Key Insights Learned:
Module features the Compensation Committee training course & guide, reports and event session video recordings.
There is no shortage of risks to scare directors. Build resilience by gaining a concrete understanding of potential risks, and how to properly prepare for and manage new or existing threats.
Key Insights Learned:
Module features the Audit Committee Fundamentals training course & guide, reports and event session video recordings.
Corporate Board Member Network will host a virtual Director Fundamentals workshop quarterly. Participants will have the opportunity to attend one of these workshops during the duration of their program.
Every other month, Corporate Board Member Network will invite current program participants to join a virtual Q&A roundtable with veteran directors.
The Director Fundamentals Program includes bonus training opportunities and content for CHROs and senior HR executives. In collaboration with Pearl Meyer, CHROs enrolled in the Director Fundamentals Program have access to a quarterly workshop focused specifically on how compensation committees are expanding their human capital oversight and evolving their processes accordingly, which creates an excellent opportunity for CHROs to be valuable contributors to boardroom discussions. Bonus content will educate you on compensation committee trends and best practices to help you best position your skills for board service opportunities.
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Access exclusive online materials to learn key aspects of serving on a public company board.
Connect with other program participants and veteran directors.
Upon program completion, obtain your Director Qualified certification from ACCD.
Explore how the Director Fundamentals Program helps CEOs prepare for their first outside board role—and lead with confidence from day one.