Client Testimonials

What Others Are Saying

“Deb helped create a business plan for a new suite of offerings to help empower women leaders to seek board seats versus waiting for the phone to ring. Because of her extensive knowledge in this area, she was able to provide a competitive assessment and created a series of services that were differentiated in the marketplace.

Her insight and extensive knowledge and experience likely saved us more than 6 months in getting the program up and running. I find Deb to be professional, an excellent communicator, very organized, and someone who delivers on her commitments. She’s a real gem to work with and we did great work together. Working with Deb exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend her to other individuals or organizations wanting to learn more about seeking public or private board seats.”

“When we began to entertain the idea of forming a board, Deb was there for me—reviewing the need, developing the charter, writing the position descriptions and vetting the candidates. Utilizing her connections and her expertise in the business world, we built a strong, relevant, and inspiring team of advisors who guide KNOCK’s important initiatives both today and in the future.”

“After fifteen years as a senior executive, I chose to pursue a board role where I could contribute to company growth from a different perspective. While my skills and operational qualifications were top-notch, I needed coaching and support to re-position that experience to best meet the requirements of board service. Deb helped me achieve this and much more. With Deb’s expert guidance, I developed a winning board profile, established a compelling value proposition for my unique expertise, and effectively navigated a complex and lengthy search process. In less than 6 months, I was appointed to my first outside director position. Deb provided so much value during every step of the process, giving me the confidence, expert intel, and coaching and mentoring that powered my success.”

“In the year leading up to my retirement, I was invited to participate in the inaugural Deloitte Board Coaching Program, created for retiring Deloitte Partners by Deb Nelms, Founder and CEO of Corporate BoardLink. This program is designed to assist retiring partners to prepare for board service and develop effective board campaigns.

Throughout the program, real-time coaching was provided for plan refinement, goal setting, and accountability.

I was fortunate to have Deb as my coach/consultant through the process.  Deb was highly engaged in this role and provided valuable and supportive guidance. She was very effective in challenging my paradigm and thinking and I quickly learned how much I had underestimated the board campaign and interview process. Through Deb’s coaching and guidance, I was able to successfully launch my board campaign immediately upon my retirement and was fully prepared with a plan, networking strategies, board profile, and interview preparation strategies.

Within 6 months of my retirement I accepted invitations to join two separate corporate boards and I continue to have interest expressed in my availability to serve on other boards. I would highly recommend Deb for anyone who is seeking board opportunities for her coaching and guidance throughout the process.”

“Deb was an incredible partner in helping me develop guiding principles for our board. She provided critical and timely feedback early on and helped facilitate meetings to establish a purposeful path. I’m honored to have walked alongside her, demonstrating her strategic insight in moving our agency forward.”

“Deb has elevated our family council on every level. In the past year, Deb has taken us through a strategic planning process and guided us through executing it. She has helped us professionalize presentations and interactions with our family business’s executive team, management, and board of advisors. This allows our council’s message to be clear, on-point, and calibrated throughout the organization so that every team member at the company can see and understand our family council’s primary purpose and value. She is gifted at skillfully mediating intense emotional conversations while staying close to our council’s mission and strategic goals. Additionally, she worked with us to create the inaugural and subsequent annual Family Assembly meeting. 

To help us achieve our goals this year, Deb expertly guided, encouraged, and provided accountability for us to become increasingly open about our approach to financial decision making, individually and collectively. As a result, she has been instrumental in our council becoming increasingly transparent with each other in a way that is strengthening our commitment to each other and unity as a council.”