The Director Onboarding Playbook

Live, Online | February 10 & 17, 2027  | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM EST

The Director Onboarding Playbook is a live, online program for directors preparing to join a new board, whether it is their first board seat or the next step in an established directorship career. Every board has its own culture, expectations, priorities, committee structure, and management dynamics. Starting strong means understanding that context quickly and knowing where and how to contribute.

Across two virtual, live sessions on February 10 and 17, 2027, participants will build a practical plan for their first 90 days on a new board. Sitting directors, committee chairs, and governance experts will explore effective onboarding, early boardroom dynamics, oversight of strategy and risk, and how audit, compensation, and nominating/governance committee responsibilities are evolving today. Through guided discussion and real board scenarios, participants will apply the lessons to the board they are preparing to join.

The program is open to NACD members and nonmembers.

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Program Experience

Live, Instructor Led

Join virtually without travel or time away, with real-time guidance from expert faculty and interactive discussion.

Current Boardroom Context

Understand today’s committee responsibilities, oversight expectations, and board-management dynamics.

90-Day Action Plan

Build a practical roadmap for your first meetings, relationships, and priorities on a new board.

Real Board Scenarios

Apply the program through live discussion and real board scenarios with experienced directors, governance experts, and peers navigating similar transitions.

Make Your First 90 Days Count

Even experienced directors enter unfamiliar territory when they join a new board. The company, culture, leadership team, board dynamics, committee expectations, and strategic priorities are different every time.

This program helps directors approach those first months intentionally, with a practical framework for learning the board, building relationships, understanding expectations, and contributing effectively from the start.

You’ll leave with:

• A personalized 90-day plan for your new board role
• A framework for approaching onboarding before and after your first meeting
• Greater clarity on how to contribute effectively while learning a new board’s dynamics
• Current perspective on audit, compensation, and nominating/governance committee responsibilities
• Practical questions to bring into early conversations with directors and management

Program Highlights - Full Agenda Coming Soon

Both sessions are live and online, giving participants direct access to faculty, sitting directors, and peers from wherever they are.

Day 1: The First 90 Days

Build a practical roadmap for entering a new board, from preboarding and onboarding through your first meetings and early relationship building. Directors and governance experts will explore how to learn a new board’s culture, understand expectations, and identify where you can contribute most effectively. Guided breakout discussions give participants time to apply the framework to their own board transition.

Day 2: Strategy, Risk, and Committee Work

Explore how directors can approach strategy, risk, resilience, and committee work in a new board environment. A panel of sitting committee chairs will provide a current look at audit, compensation, and nominating/governance responsibilities and how expectations are evolving. The program concludes with Q&A and peer discussion focused on turning the lessons into action.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is the Director Onboarding Playbook for?

  The Director Onboarding Playbook is for anyone preparing for a new board role, including aspiring and first-time directors, experienced directors joining a new board, executives transitioning into board service, and board leaders or governance professionals responsible for director onboarding.

• What will I learn in the Director Onboarding Playbook?

  Participants will learn how to approach their first 90 days on a new board, understand a new board’s culture and expectations, build key relationships, contribute effectively, and navigate current audit, compensation, and nominating/governance committee responsibilities.

• Is this program only for first-time board directors?

  No. The program is designed for any director entering a new board environment, whether it is their first board seat or one of many. Experienced directors can use the program to prepare for the culture, priorities, relationships, and expectations of a new board.

• What will I leave with?

  Participants will leave with a personalized 90-day onboarding plan, practical questions for early board and management conversations, and a clearer framework for contributing effectively in their new board role.

• What is the format of this program?

  The Director Onboarding Playbook is a virtual live, online program that combines expert instruction, real board scenarios, interactive discussion, and peer exchange without requiring travel.

Accreditation

NACD Credits: NACD will award 6 NACD credits toward maintaining NACD Directorship Certification^® and NACD Board Leadership Fellowship for attendance. Credits will be applied after the event based on attendees' overall session attendance.

NASBA Continuing Professional Education (CPE): Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits (i.e. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)) are available for The Director Onboarding Playbook. NACD is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org

• Instructional delivery methods: Group live

• Number of Hours: 6.0

• Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge

• Level: Basic

• Prerequisites: None

• Advance preparation: None

Event Policies & Cancellation

Event Policies: All registrations must be completed by clicking the "Register" button. Registrations are not accepted by email or over the phone. All invoices must be paid within 30 days of registration. If the payment is not received within 30 days, NACD reserves the right to increase the registrant's rate to the current rate. Registrations can be paid online via credit card (American Express, Visa, and Mastercard). A receipt will appear in your confirmation email.

Event Cancellation: Cancellations must be completed online via the cancellation/modified registration button. Click the "Already Registered?" link to access the cancellation form. No cancellation fee for cancellations received at least four weeks (28 calendar days) before the start of the event. A non-refundable service charge of $250 will apply for cancellations received from four to two weeks (27 to 14 calendar days) from the start of the event. No refunds will be given for cancellations received less than two weeks (13 calendar days or less) from the start of the event. All refunds will be returned via the payment method used at registration up to 120 calendar days after the transaction. After 120 calendar days, the refund is provided by check.