Boardroom: Position Yourself for a Paid Board Seat is a practical online program designed for executives, founders, senior operators, and experienced professionals who want to become strong board candidates, contribute meaningfully in the boardroom, and position themselves for paid board opportunities.

This program goes beyond general career advice. It is built to help you understand what private company boards actually need, how to translate your executive experience into board value, and how to present yourself as someone founders, investors, and fellow board members would trust around the board table.

This course is designed to help you do exactly that.

The Boardroom program is built around two essential outcomes:

1. Position Yourself for a Paid Board Seat

You will learn how to reposition your background from executive experience to board value. This includes understanding how to frame your career, identify your differentiators, and communicate why you belong on a board.

2. Become an Effective Private Company Board Director

It is not enough to secure a board seat. You also need to know how to contribute at the right level. This program will help you understand how strong directors think, how boards function, and what it takes to add value in real board settings.

Meet Your Instructor: Jahn Karsybaev

Jahn is the Managing Partner of Big Sky Capital, an early-stage venture capital fund that has invested in 30+ companies, giving him direct exposure to how private company boards operate, how founders and investors think, and what companies truly look for in effective board members.

Importantly, this perspective is not only theoretical. Jahn is currently serving on 5 paid boards, which gives him firsthand insight into the responsibilities, dynamics, and expectations that come with real board service. He understands what it takes not only to earn a board seat, but to add meaningful value once you are in the room.

He is a Harvard Business School alumnus, a former tech executive, and the author of VC Boards, a book focused on the realities of venture-backed and private company boards. He also hosts the Ivy Podcast, where he has interviewed Fortune 50 CEOs and other influential leaders, providing him with a unique lens into leadership, governance, strategy, and high-level decision-making.

Why This Program Is Different

There are many professionals who are qualified to serve on boards. Far fewer know how to position themselves properly, communicate their value strategically, and navigate the board ecosystem effectively.

This program is different because it focuses on both sides of the equation:

• How to become an effective private company board director

• How to position yourself and find board opportunities

It is designed to help you bridge the gap between being accomplished in your career and being seen as truly board-ready.

This is not generic leadership content. It is focused, practical, and specifically built for people who want to step into the boardroom with purpose.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course focused on public company boards?

The primary focus is on private company boards, including founder-led, growth-stage, and investor-backed companies. The principles are highly relevant for aspiring directors who want to build meaningful board experience and pursue paid opportunities in the private market.

Do I need to be a CEO to benefit from this course?

Not at all. Many valuable board candidates come from functional leadership backgrounds such as finance, technology, operations, product, legal, cybersecurity, marketing, HR, or risk. What matters is how you position your expertise and communicate your board value.

Will this course help me find a board seat immediately?

This program is designed to help you become more board-ready, better positioned, and more strategic in how you pursue board opportunities. While no course can guarantee a board seat, it can significantly improve your clarity, visibility, and readiness.

What kind of board opportunities is this course designed for?

The program is designed for private company board opportunities, especially those where companies are looking for experienced leaders who can provide strategic guidance, oversight, and relevant domain expertise.

How will this help me stand out from other candidates?

Many candidates are experienced, but not all know how to clearly articulate their relevance to a board. This course helps you sharpen your narrative, define your board value, and present yourself in a way that is more credible, strategic, and compelling.

What will I walk away with after completing the course?

You will walk away with a clearer understanding of private company board service, a stronger board narrative, better positioning for paid board opportunities, and a more intentional strategy for becoming board-ready and board-referable.

Is this course self-paced?

Yes. The program is designed to be consumed at your own pace, allowing you to move through the material in a way that fits your schedule.