      review.firstround.com · 2017-06-12
      · 3278d
    

When and How to Recruit Independent Board Members: A Founder's Guide

Michelle Wilson, an independent board member for Pinterest, Okta, and Zendesk, provides guidance on identifying and integrating independent board members. The article covers optimal timing for recruitment (2-3 years before IPO), key roles to fill (audit committee chair, CEO mentor), and the attributes to seek in candidates to represent shareholder interests as companies scale.

4 metrics· Cited 0× in the knowledge base ·Open source ↗

Metrics in this report

Board Filling Timeline

1year

approximate

to complete independent board recruitment

Board Onboarding Timeline

1year

approximate

for independent directors to reach full operational speed

Mature Board Independent Members

3-4count

typical range

fully developed boards

Years Before IPO for Independent Board Member Recruitment

2-3years

recommended range

all companies planning to go public