Leadership Insights: Build the Company You Want to Work For
- Oct 15
- 2 min read
By Duane Nicholson, Founder, NBD Consulting Services and Creator of the Leadership Roundtable
In times of uncertainty, many talented professionals find themselves spending countless hours perfecting résumés—trying to fit into someone else’s company.
At NBD Consulting Services, we believe that energy could be redirected into something far more powerful: building the company you want to work for.
This idea inspired our “From Resumes to Boards” framework—a practical approach to help professionals in transition move from waiting for opportunity to creating it. It’s also the foundation of our Leadership Roundtable, where executives, program managers, and emerging leaders put these ideas into action together.
The Shift: From Job Seeking to Value Building
Most of us have worked at good companies with bad leadership. Yet, if you look back, you’ll recall the colleagues who made those roles meaningful—the ones you’d build with if given the chance.
Imagine redirecting the time you’ve spent rewriting résumés toward something different: forming a board of peers you trust. Together, you could design systems, challenge assumptions, and build something sustainable.
That’s the challenge behind this series: instead of rewriting your résumé five more times, identify five people who would sit on the board of the company you wish existed.
The Five Roles
In this series, we’ll explore the five archetypal roles every board needs:
The Visionary – the anchor of purpose and hope.
The Operator – the architect of systems and structure.
The Connector – the relationship builder and opportunity creator.
The Financier – the steward of investment and value.
The Realist – the voice of accountability and truth.
Together, these roles balance creativity with execution, possibility with pragmatism.
(For those familiar with Patrick Lencioni’s “6 Working Geniuses,” these roles mirror the same productive energies—Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, and Tenacity—but applied to everyday leadership and reinvention.)
Action Step: Start Building Your Board
Write down five people who complement your strengths and challenge your thinking.
Reach out and invite them into a conversation about shared purpose.
Treat this as a working group for your next chapter, not a formal business yet—just a beginning.
Why This Matters
Redirecting your effort from résumés to relationships shifts your mindset:
From helplessness to control.
From isolation to collaboration.
From uncertainty to purpose.
From job seeking to value building.
This isn’t about ignoring the need for income or stability—it’s about building hope and agency in parallel.
Next Step: Join the Leadership Roundtable
The Leadership Roundtable at NBD Consulting Services is where this framework becomes real. It’s a space for leaders and professionals to:
Build accountability around transformation goals.
Exchange best practices with peers in similar transitions.
Turn individual experience into collective progress.
If you’re ready to move from résumés to results, explore the Leadership Roundtable and start designing the company—and career—you want to work for.
Coming Up Next
In our next article, we’ll dive into the first seat on your board: The Visionary — why every board needs a builder of possibilities.
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