For many aspiring Board Members, LinkedIn feels like a chore. We treat it like a static electronic filing cabinet for our past job titles, or we avoid it entirely because we're afraid of looking self-promotional.

But in 2026, your LinkedIn profile is often the very first thing a Chair, Nominations Committee, or Board Recruiter looks at; even before they read your CV.

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Etherington, a former journalist turned LinkedIn Strategist and the founder of Connect Content. Tom strips away the "influencer" noise and shares practical, low-stress strategies to turn your LinkedIn profile from a resume into a resource.

Together, we discuss why 90% of Board roles are filled through the "Hidden Market" and how your digital presence is the key to unlocking those doors.

Key Takeaways:

• The Mindset Shift: Why you need to stop thinking of LinkedIn as shouting about yourself and start thinking of it as being of service to your network.
• The Headline Audit: Your headline is the most valuable real estate you own. Tom explains why "People Asset Consultant at [Company]" is a wasted opportunity and how to rewrite it to showcase your value proposition.
• The "Wedding Photo" Mistake: Why a cropped photo of you at a social event sends the wrong signal to a Board, and what to use instead.
• Resume vs. Resource: How to write an "About" section that sells your future potential (i.e. Board governance) rather than just listing your past history (i.e. executive operations).
• The "Cocktail Party" Strategy: For introverts or those time-poor professionals: why commenting on other people's posts can often be more effective than writing your own.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

FREE WEBINAR: How to Win at the Board Game Want to see how your LinkedIn profile fits into a wider Board search strategy? Join Lisa for a free live masterclass on Thursday, 19 February 2026. Register for the Free Webinar Here

JOIN THE WAITLIST: Build Your Board Career Tom Etherington is a Resident Guest Expert inside the Build Your Board Career program. If you want his personal help auditing your profile, join the waitlist to be notified when the Founding Member intake opens. Join the Program Waitlist Here

Connect with Tom Etherington:

• LinkedIn: Connect with Tom
• Book a Call with Tom
• Website: Connect Content

Connect with Lisa:

• LinkedIn: Connect with Me
• Website: Get on Board Australia