Currently, I am a director on the boards of Bank of America, Southern Company and Ingersoll Rand. I also serve on the non-profit boards of the University of Florida Foundation, the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation and Discovery Place.

I often get asked how do you succeed in the competitive and challenging environment of a board room? Those with a military background have already been provided with invaluable tools that can be directly applied to leadership. Learning to strategize in a difficult environment is second nature to military leaders. Relationships and processes relate directly to execution. You can have a great strategy but without proper execution, your whole plan falls apart. Communication is key, planning is essential and execution is everything. These tools transfer directly into the board room where you must be prepared, pay attention, build trust, act boldly, communicate often and demonstrate integrity.

I spoke at the National Association of Corporate Directors, From Battlefield to Board Room, a corporate board development program exclusively for military flag and general officers where I discussed effective board/C-suite communication, what leadership looks like at the board level, and the skills needed to help ensure effective risk management and long-term strategic planning.

Listen below for the discussion on diversity on boards during a fireside chat at NACD’s “Battlefield to Board Room” program for senior military leaders.