Your online presence has become your boardroom business card – and if you’re not actively shaping it, others will. That was the clear message from a recent hybrid event hosted by NEDonBoard, where expert panellists, including two experienced NEDs and an online privacy specialist, alongside Nikki Kenyon, Partner at Warren Partners, shared valuable insights on the growing importance of digital visibility for Board candidates.

Co-hosted by Reputation Defender by Norton, the session explored how Board peers, recruiters and even algorithms assess potential Non-Executive Directors (NEDs). From search engine results to LinkedIn bios, every element of your digital footprint contributes to the story others are reading about you.

For those considering their first NED role, or looking to broaden their Board portfolio, a proactive and well-managed digital profile is essential to achieving those goals.

Why your online profile matters

Today’s Board searches are shaped as much by online research as by personal networks. Executive search firms and Board chairs routinely use publicly available information for early screening and due diligence. A strong online presence enhances your visibility, ensures you’re discoverable for the right roles and helps establish your credibility.

That means keywords, tone and positioning matter – particularly on platforms like LinkedIn, which remains the go-to source for recruiters seeking Board-ready candidates.

To enhance your digital presence, the following was suggested by the event’s expert speakers:

• Optimise your LinkedIn profile: Use Board-relevant language in your headline and summary. Highlight governance exposure, strategic leadership, risk management, and any experience engaging with committees or regulators – even if you’re not yet in a formal NED role.
• Showcase thought leadership: Share or create content that reflects your areas of expertise – articles, commentary or event contributions. This reinforces credibility and positions you as an engaged, Board-literate leader. As well as helping you appear higher in search results.
• Clarify your aspirations: Make your interest in NED opportunities clear. Unlike a CV, your online presence should focus on the direction you’re heading, not just where you’ve been.
• Consider a personal website: It can serve as a central hub for your experience, achievements and insights. It also allows greater control over how you present your professional narrative online.

Your online presence really is your digital business card. If you’re not proactive in defining it yourself, you’re leaving it to search engines, social media, and even the public to define it for you.

Standing out without overstepping

There’s a fine line between visibility and overexposure. The most effective digital profiles balance confidence with clarity, offering just enough insight to prompt a conversation without veering into over-promotion.

Some key watchouts:

• Avoid a consultancy-heavy tone unless that’s the direction you’re pursuing – Boards are seeking governance leaders, not salespeople.
• Separate personal and professional content. Whilst it’s important to bring your whole self to work, perhaps some of your political views or lifestyle posts may be best kept to private channels?
• Be consistent. Ensure your LinkedIn, website and any other public profiles align in tone, message and career direction. Remember, it should align with your offline NED CV too.
• Authenticity matters – but so does judgement. Consider how opinions or affiliations may be perceived in a boardroom context.

If you’re already on a Board and considering a future Chair role, digital positioning is just as important. Highlight committee chair experience (list audit, risk, Remco in your profile!), contribute to sector-wide debates, and engage in governance conversations through articles or panels. Demonstrating leadership beyond a single organisation helps shape a compelling Chair profile. Importantly, remember to keep your online presence up to date and be intentional about shaping your digital reputation!

As Board dynamics evolve, so too must the way leaders present themselves. At Warren Partners, we help leaders shape not only their career paths, but also how they’re perceived. If you want to know more about finding, placing and advising NEDs, please get in touch.