ELE Advisory Board FAQs

What is the ELE Advisory Board?

The ELE Advisory Board is a small, invite-only group of 9 senior HR/Talent/L&D leaders who help ELE stay sharply aligned to what employers need now and next. Board members provide real-world guidance on priorities, programming, and member experience.

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Authors

Teri Hart
Dirk Tussing
Yolanda Mangram
Ashanti Morgan
Angelica Stilling

    Is this a “governing” board?

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    No. This is an advisory board—not a legal or fiduciary board. ELE’s leadership team retains decision-making responsibility. The board’s role is to challenge, refine, and elevate direction and execution.

    Why is ELE creating an Advisory Board now?

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    Employers are asking HR, Talent, and L&D teams to do more with fewer resources—often covering multiple critical talent functions at once—so what leaders need most is practical, current guidance and a trusted peer community that helps them stay effective. ELE is forming an Advisory Board now to keep our offerings sharply aligned to that reality and to ensure we continue delivering measurable value for members in every season of their career—whether they’re leading from inside an organization, navigating a transition, or building a fractional practice.

    The Advisory Board helps ELE stay accountable to strengthen:

    • Member value (what’s most relevant, practical, and timely)
    • Program quality (topics, formats, speakers, and outcomes)
    • Community impact (confidence, capability, clarity—measurable growth)
    • Responsiveness (faster feedback loops from practitioners)

    Who should consider joining?

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    Board members are typically ELE members sho are:

    • Senior leaders in Talent Development, Learning, HR, Talent Management, or Org Effectiveness
    • Known for practical judgment, “been there” experience, and collaborative leadership
    • Willing to contribute beyond attending events—through ideas, introductions, and feedback

    Especially strong fit if you’re actively navigating AI-enabled workforce/work redesign or have experience scaling talent practices across multiple sites/regions.

    How many board members will there be?

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    We are recruiting 9 founding members for the initial cohort to keep discussions high-trust, high-quality, and efficient.

    What’s the term length?

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    12 months for founding members, with an option to renew or rotate at term end (to keep perspectives fresh while preserving continuity).

    What is the time commitment?

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    Designed to be meaningful—but manageable.

    Typical commitment:

    • Quarterly board meetings: 4 per year, 75–90 minutes (virtual)
    • One annual working session: 2 hours (virtual or in-person, if aligned with an ELE event)
    • Occasional input: quick surveys or async reviews (2–4 times/year)

    Total estimate: ~8–12 hours/year.

    What will I be expected to do?

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    Board members are asked to:

    • Attend and contribute to board meetings (prepare lightly, participate fully)
    • Advise on priorities (topics, formats, audience needs, trends)
    • Pressure-test ELE programming and member experience (what to improve, what to stop, what to scale)
    • Bring 1–2 talent challenges from your organization to inform real-world breakouts and activities
    • Make warm introductions when appropriate (optional, not transactional)
    • Support two growth priorities (optional, based on interest): contribute ideas and occasional connections to help ELE advance Human-Centered AI Transformation and Local & Global Expansion.

    Where can Advisory Board members help ELE grow most in 2026?

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    We’re asking the founding board to help us accelerate two priority growth areas:

    1) Human-Centered AI Transformation

    Help ELE stay grounded in real AI adoption: what’s working, what’s risky, and what leaders need to practice judgment—not just learn tools. This can include suggesting high-value use cases for working sessions (e.g., AI Practical Labs), pressure-testing ethics/guardrails, and connecting us to peers doing responsible experimentation.

    2) Local & Global Expansion

    Help ELE expand beyond Chicago by identifying where local communities could thrive, connecting us to potential conveners, and shaping a repeatable “local host” playbook so experiences stay integrated with ELE’s platform and annual themes.

    Global expansion fits here too—board members with multi-region/global scope can help us translate what works locally into a scalable approach across regions while protecting ELE’s trust and quality standards. (We’ll start with a few pilots and iterate.)

    What does “success” look like for a board member?

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    A great board member:

    • Shows up consistently
    • Offers candid, constructive feedback
    • Helps ELE stay grounded in real constraints and real outcomes
    • Has passion and interest in talent and learning industry trends
    • Supports a culture of trust, generosity, and usefulness

    How are board members selected?

    We aim for a balanced mix across:

    • Industry/sector
    • Organization size and maturity
    • Expertise areas (L&D, leadership development, early career, capability academies, performance, etc.)
    • Diversity of lived experience and leadership perspective

    Selection is based on alignment, contribution mindset, and ability to commit.

    Are there any requirements around confidentiality?

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    Yes—board conversations work best with trust.

    We ask board members to:

    • Treat board discussions as confidential
    • Use a “share learnings, not attributions” approach (Chatham House style)
    • Avoid sharing sensitive company details unless explicitly intended

    (We can provide a simple NDA if your organization requires it.)

    What about conflicts of interest?

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    Board members should disclose any potential conflicts (e.g., vendor relationships that could create perceived bias). ELE may limit participation in decisions where a conflict exists.

    Is this a paid role?

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    Typically, no. This is a service role designed for impact, learning, and network value.

    If ELE offers perks, they may include:

    • Priority access to select sessions
    • Early visibility into upcoming themes
    • Recognition as a founding board member (optional)

    What do board members get out of it?

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    Board members commonly value:

    • Peer-level insight from other top HR/Talent leaders
    • Influence on programming that supports their teams’ real needs
    • Early signal on emerging practices and priorities
    • A platform to shape “what good looks like” across the ELE community

    Will my name/company be publicly listed?

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    Only with your permission. You can choose:

    • Public listing (name + company)
    • Name only (no company)
    • Not listed publicly

    How does this relate to ELE events and breakouts?

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    This year, breakouts are shifting toward small-group, activity-based problem solving around “ELE Members’ Talent Challenges.” Board members can contribute challenge topics and help refine the format so it stays balanced and high-impact.

    What if I can’t attend a meeting?

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    We understand schedules shift. We ask members to attend most meetings; if you miss one, you can:

    • Send a delegate (if appropriate), or
    • Share async input in advance

    Consistent non-attendance may trigger a rotation so the seat stays active.

    We will hold a meeting when a quorum is present, defined as 5 of the 9 Board members.

    How do I express interest or nominate someone?

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    Reach out to Yolanda Mangram, Board Administrator. She’ll share next steps and can schedule a short call if helpful.

    • Name, title, company
    • A sentence on why you’re interested
    • Any key expertise areas you bring
    • Confirmation you can commit to the time expectations
    • Indicate if interest in Advisory Board or a working sub-committee

    Optional: Once confirmed, board members may add ELE to their LinkedIn profile using this link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/me/edit/forms/position/new/

    Who’s on the ELE Advisory Board so far?

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    Acting Managing Director: Dirk Tussing

    We’re starting small and will add advisors as they confirm.

    Live list: ELE Advisory Board Members

    Look for the Advisory Board Member badge on their ELEfolio card/profile.

    What’s the timeline to finalize the 9 seats?

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    We’re filling seats on a rolling basis and will confirm the founding cohort once the 9 positions are committed.

    Who do I contact with questions?

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    Contact Yolanda Mangram | ELE Group

    We’re happy to do a brief 15-minute call to confirm fit and expectations.

    Can I add ELE to my LinkedIn profile?

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    Listing ELE on LinkedIn is optional and intended for leadership visibility and professional recognition—not employment representation.

    Use this direct link to add ELE as a new position:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/me/edit/forms/position/new/

    Suggested LinkedIn entry (copy/paste)

    • Title: Advisory Board Member, Executive Learning Exchange (ELE)
    • Company: Executive Learning Exchange
    • Employment type: Part-time
    • Location: Your preference
    • Start date: Month / Year
    • Description:

    As an Advisory Board member for the Executive Learning Exchange (ELE), I contribute an independent perspective, practical insight, and trusted counsel to help shape a high‑integrity, peer‑driven leadership community.

    This role focuses on advising—not governing or managing—by sharing expertise, challenging assumptions, and supporting ELE’s mission to advance talent, leadership, and workforce practices in an AI‑accelerated world. Advisory Board members serve as thought partners, helping ensure ELE remains relevant, credible, and grounded in real‑world leadership experience.

    This position reflects a commitment to stewardship, contribution, and leader‑to‑leader learning—without fiduciary responsibility, operational authority, or commercial agenda.

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