It all starts with a relationship. That’s exactly how I began building business acumen through board roles. My journey reinforces what the PMI Pulse of the Profession 2025 report confirms: business acumen is a critical factor in project success. Additionally, the most effective leaders leverage stakeholder relationships, strategic insight, and people-centric influence.

PMI found that 90% of high-performing project professionals use business acumen to solve complex problems and deliver value, not just within project teams, but across the entire organization.

One of the key takeaways from the report is that business acumen isn’t a single skill. Instead, it is a blend of strategic thinking, relationship currency, financial awareness, and leadership adaptability. Equally important, it grows over time. Board service is a great way to start developing it.

The Power of a Recommendation

My journey into board leadership began not with a formal application or planned pursuit but rather with a recommendation. A former coworker invited me to join the inaugural advisory board for the Academy of Health Sciences and Engineering at Bryan Adams High School during its crucial “year of planning” as it prepared for National Academy Foundation (NAF) certification.

This invitation stemmed from something more meaningful than credentials—it was built on trust that had developed gradually through shared work experiences and mutual respect.

Through this experience, I learned the significant value of Relationship Currency. Meaningful opportunities often emerge not from your closest connections but instead from those who have directly observed your work ethic and character in action.

Naturally, I embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly. Beyond merely joining the board, I stepped into the role of inaugural chair, helping to shape the early vision and establish a path toward NAF certification for the first graduating class. This unexpected experience was the beginning of a leadership journey that I hadn’t anticipated but fully embraced with enthusiasm.

Leading Through Strategy and Relationship Currency

From 2015 to 2017, I led the board as its first chair. This was more than a title. It was a deep commitment to building a foundation for long-term impact. Our mission involved aligning the curriculum with NAFTrack Certification standards, while also building a meaningful work-based learning calendar. That meant coordinating industry career fairs, introducing students to professionals, and connecting them with real-world STEM environments.

The process spanned several years. Although I transitioned out of the chair role in 2017, the board’s journey toward NAFTrack Certification continued. Certification was ultimately achieved in 2019.

During my tenure as chair, I collaborated with school leaders, teachers, and industry professionals to establish the long-term strategy and credibility of the program. Together, we built trust, recruited new members, and opened a pipeline of STEM and healthcare exposure for students.

This experience taught me how to lead through influence. I learned to align key stakeholders—education, nonprofit, and industry—without having direct authority. As a result, I sharpened my ability to think strategically, communicate clearly, and cultivate valuable relationships.

From Board Chair to Executive Leadership

Building on the relationship currency I cultivated during my time as board chair for NAF, I was able to carry that momentum into a new role in 2017. As Vice President of Education and Programs at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, I transitioned from shaping strategic vision on the advisory board to driving execution in an executive capacity. Though I stepped down from my position as board chair, I didn’t step away from the mission. Instead, I expanded my impact by applying the same business acumen I developed through board leadership.

At the Museum, I formed strategic partnerships with Dallas ISD schools and other institutions, ensuring NAF students gained access to immersive, STEM-rich experiences directly aligned with their certification goals. That transition—from board leadership to executive leadership—was seamless in purpose, yet deeper in responsibility.

I went from shaping vision to owning execution. I managed a team, oversaw budgets, and scaled educational programs to drive organizational impact. In 2018, we hosted two rising seniors as paid interns, supporting their NAFTrack requirements, and followed up with another intern in 2019, continuing to strengthen the career-connected learning pipeline.

Sustained Impact and Program Growth

Even after leaving the board, I stayed engaged. I mentored students, supported teachers, and delivered creative workshops focused on problem-solving and design thinking. The Museum became a living lab for students, offering career-connected learning and hands-on experiences to more than 300 students annually.

This work extended far beyond community service. It was strategic leadership with measurable outcomes. Through ongoing collaboration, we delivered workshops, guest lectures, and internships. Each program served a dual purpose: to create immediate value for students and to build a sustainable workforce development strategy.

Bridging Board Leadership to Industry Coaching

These experiences directly shaped how I lead today. They helped me grow from managing timelines to guiding people through meaningful change. Those lessons became the foundation for a professional development webinar I later delivered to the Project Management Institute (PMI): “Empathetic Leadership: A Key Approach to Effective Change Management.”

The session received a 4.6 out of 5 rating and offered professional development units (PDUs). More importantly, it reinforced a belief I carry across every leadership opportunity: business acumen starts with understanding people, not just systems.

From Relationships to Results

Whether I’m chairing a board, directing educational programs, or coaching professionals through change, I rely on a consistent toolkit:

Strategic thinking
Stakeholder engagement
Change leadership
Financial awareness
Program delivery

Board leadership gave me a safe space to practice these skills. It offered a platform to collaborate, innovate, and deliver meaningful results.

How You Can Build Business Acumen Through Board Roles

If you want to grow as a leader, consider board service a powerful starting point. Here are five ways to begin:

First, start with relationship currency: ask how you can contribute. Offering value opens doors to broader opportunities.
Second, choose a mission that resonates. You’ll learn faster and lead stronger when you believe in the cause.
Third, own a strategic initiative. Whether you launch a learning plan or lead a fundraiser, focus on driving measurable results.
Fourth, learn to influence without authority. Board leadership requires alignment, not just delegation.
Lastly, apply skills across environments.. What you learn in boardrooms can transform how you lead in your job and vice versa.

Ultimately, business acumen is about more than just reading financials. It’s about making informed decisions, navigating complexity, and creating value that lasts. Furthermore, you don’t need a title to build it. Overall, you simply need a seat at the table and a willingness to grow.