Uncensored CMO – "Why you need a personal board of directors" [Uncensored Renegades]

Podcast: Uncensored CMO
Episode Theme: Exploring the concept of building a "personal board of directors" to support and accelerate your career, featuring a candid discussion between Jon Evans and Cory Marchisotto.
Date: March 23, 2026
Format: 20-minute deep dive with practical stories and actionable insights.

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the transformative idea of assembling your own "personal board of directors"—a handpicked group of trusted advisors who provide guidance at pivotal moments in your career. Through personal stories and practical advice, the hosts explain why this concept is invaluable and how to approach building your own board, breaking down the differences between community, network, and advisory relationships. The conversation is engaging, honest, and geared toward marketers and professionals seeking to level-up their self-management and career trajectory.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why You Need a Personal Board of Directors

• Origin of the Concept
  • Cory credits a professor from FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) for introducing the idea:

    “I do have to give credit to the professor that taught us, as part of our master program about having a personal board of directors.” (01:54, Cory)

• Corporate vs. Personal Governance
  • Companies have boards to offer expertise and oversight, but most people never think to do this for their personal careers.
  • Jon observes:

    "We spend all our time thinking about our brand. We don't think about our own career, do we? In the same terms we might plan a brand..." (01:32, Jon)

2. Three Layers of Professional Support

• Community: A support system of friends and colleagues so “you’re not going at this thing alone.” (02:30, Cory)
• Network:
  • A broader circle you can "tap into" for specific needs, such as job leads or recommendations.
  • “A network is an incredible group of people who are in some way doing something similar… you and I were in each other’s network before we entered into this journey together to force, multiply.” (03:01, Cory)
• Personal Board of Directors:
  • A select advisory committee of individuals chosen for their expertise, candor, and willingness to contribute to your journey.
  • “If you choose them wisely, they all bring something different to your pool of knowledge.” (03:47, Cory)
  • They help "see around corners, point out blind spots, talk you through rough patches and spots." (03:55, Cory)

3. Key Qualities of Board Members

• Honest and Direct:
  • “They are not afraid to call you out on your shit. That is absolutely critical.” (05:02, Cory)
  • Avoid yes-people; you need "honest candor."
• Aspirational and Experienced:
  • “Somebody who you admire and would want to seek advice from… that this person has that.” (05:30, Cory)
• Emotionally Invested and Available:
  • Should genuinely care about your career—"They all have a genuine care about me and my career." (06:00, Cory)

4. How to Assemble Your Board

• Organic Process:
  • Most relationships evolve naturally as you recognize "something about them that I want to be when I grow up." (06:41, Cory)
• Making the Ask:
  • Cory stresses being direct: “Would you be open every once in a while if I tapped you for this thing? I’ve never met anybody in my life who said no.” (07:09, Cory)
  • Jon’s common worry is addressed: "The top reason not to do this probably is, well, no one's going to say yes… But your experience would suggest the opposite." (07:29, Jon)

5. Getting Value from Your Network

• Underestimating Your Network:
  • Jon shares a story about discovering hidden connections in private equity through a friend:

    “My mind was blown. I hadn't even thought that the answer might be in the network I already had.” (10:33, Jon)

• Proactive Outreach:
  • Ask contacts for introductions and advice:

    “When I met someone, asked them some advice, said, do you know anybody that might be able to help me in this situation?... the trust that gets transferred…” (11:21, Jon)

• Responsibility:
  • “You also don’t want to take advantage of somebody else’s generosity… This is big stuff, a moment you’ve never handled before…” (11:42, Cory)
  • Frequency matters: Don't over-rely or burden your board.

6. Evolving Your Advisory Group

• Adapt as You Grow:
  • “It’s also gonna change over time. As you change over time… And you don’t want … only to get advisement from [people] that’s too myopic.” (12:33, Cory)

7. Building the Habit of Seeking Advice

• Vulnerability and Growth:
  • “If you get in the habit of having a personal board of directors, one, you’re being vulnerable... I’m going to train the habit of seeking advice.” (13:51, Cory)
• Offering Your Own Guidance:
  • “What, who can I help along their journey? When somebody asks you one day if you will be on their personal board of directors… you’re going to think about the people that supported you.” (14:31, Cory)

8. Practical Examples & Memorable Relationships

• Reciprocity in Mentorship:
  • Jon recounts reaching out to Adam Morgan (author of Eat the Big Fish) during a pivotal time:

    “I just thought, you know, I've ended up building a relationship with a, you know, world renowned author and expert... simply because I felt vulnerable and was out of my depth and wanted to help.” (16:08, Jon)

• Learning From Those Who’ve Been There:
  • Cory discusses her experience shifting from an operator to a board member:

    “He gave me advice that was invaluable… they're going to point you to things that you haven't thought about. And there is nothing I love more than when I say, wow, I haven't thought about it that way before.” (17:23, Cory)

  • Emphasizes that growth comes from challenging your own assumptions.

9. The Importance of Continual Learning

• At Every Stage:
  • “I think the more senior or the further you go in your career, the more that matters… I certainly feel that I'm learning more now than when I was in my 20s.” (19:11, Jon)
• Reducing Fear, Building Confidence:
  • “You feel like, I may not have been here before, but I have advice on my shoulders that is gonna give me the confidence that I need…” (20:09, Cory)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On assembling your board:

  "The strategy comes from how you assemble them… they are not afraid to call you out on your shit."
  (05:00, Cory)

• On asking for advice:

  "Would you be open every once in a while if I tapped you for this thing? I've never met anybody in my life who said no."
  (07:09, Cory)

• On underutilizing your network:

  "I hadn't even thought that the answer might be in the network I already had."
  (10:33, Jon)

• On responsibility to give back:

  "When somebody asks you one day if you will be on their personal board of directors, you're going to think about the people that supported you."
  (14:31, Cory)

• On learning from others:

  "There's nothing I love more than when I say, wow, I haven't thought about it that way before. Those are growth moments..."
  (18:30, Cory)

• On seniority and learning:

  "The more senior or the further you go in your career, the more that matters…"
  (19:11, Jon)

Actionable Takeaways

• Identify and reach out to potential board members—not out of the blue, but those with whom you share some rapport.
• Don't underestimate the power of your existing network; the help you need may already be nearby.
• Diversity in your board is key—seek different perspectives, not just similar backgrounds or roles.
• Remember: ask for help at truly pivotal moments and pay it forward when others seek your counsel.
• Seek to form these habits early and continue to adapt your advisory group as your career evolves.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:32-03:53] – Introduction to the personal board of directors concept
• [03:53-06:21] – Qualities that make an effective board and assembling strategy
• [06:21-07:43] – Organic assembly vs. intentional selection and overcoming hesitations
• [08:59-11:42] – Hidden power of your network and the importance of proactive outreach
• [12:33-15:00] – The evolving, reciprocal nature of your board and network
• [16:08-17:23] – Real examples of making and keeping these valuable relationships
• [17:23-20:09] – Learning, confidence, and the changing nature of advice as you rise in your career

Conclusion

The episode is a practical, no-nonsense guide to supercharging your career resilience, confidence, and growth by cultivating a personal board of directors. Cory and Jon bring the concept to life with honesty, humor, and actionable advice. Anyone feeling adrift, seeking new challenges, or simply wanting to accelerate their professional journey will take away not just encouragement, but a workable framework for intentional growth.

Final Word:

"So everyone listening. If you can do one thing, think about who would be your personal board of directors and reach out to them. And based on your experience, Corey, I think it's a very good chance they're going to say yes, and you'll look back and be very grateful that that happened for sure."
(21:01, Jon)