Advisory Boards

Andrew Penny

Why Advisory Boards Are Rarely Urgent — But Always Incredibly Important

By

Andrew Penny

Executive Summary

“Most CEOs like the idea of an advisory board. Few make it happen — until they wish they had".

Advisory boards are one of those leadership tools that never feel urgent, yet always prove incredibly important.

They give CEOs what they quietly crave — seasoned, objective input on strategy, growth, and succession.

When built with intent, they sharpen decisions, expand thinking, and help leaders see around corners.

This article explains how to build and run an advisory board that actually adds value — and introduces an equally powerful model: the Executive Advisor, a trusted 1-to-1 partner for the CEO.

Building and Running Advisory Boards that Deliver Real Value

Section Title

 

1. Why Advisory Boards Exist

  Running a business can be lonely. Even surrounded by capable people, few leaders have access to completely unfiltered advice.    Employees, investors, and partners all bring bias — conscious or not.  

An advisory board provides:

 

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    • A forum for unfiltered strategic conversation
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      • Constructive challenge from experienced peers
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        • Perspective not tied to internal politics or ownership
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          Key insight: Advisory boards aren’t about giving up control — they’re about improving it.  

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