Boards can better prepare internal successors by taking an active, long-term role in succession planning, gaining direct exposure to potential leaders, and ensuring they receive experience and support that build enterprise level readiness. This work is most effective when the Board, CEO, and CHRO coordinate closely and involve trusted external advisors where needed.
Clarify future requirements and success profiles
- Define what the organization will need from C-Suite roles in the coming years, not just today.
- Translate this into clear, future focused success profiles for roles like CEO, CFO, CHRO, and other key executives.
Give the Board visibility to internal talent
- Arrange regular sessions where potential successors present to the Board or key committees.
- Encourage rotation of high potential leaders across functions, regions, or business units to broaden their enterprise view.
Invest in development and support
- Pair successors with stretch assignments, targeted development plans, and exposure to critical stakeholders.
- Provide access to executive coaching and mentoring that focuses specifically on transition readiness and leading at the top.
Brenda Bence’s work with Boards and internal successors
Brenda Bence works with Boards, CEOs, and CHROs to identify and develop internal successors for C-Suite roles, including CEO, by combining individual coaching with broader advisory support on succession strategy. She helps successors build the mindset, presence, and stakeholder relationships required for enterprise level leadership, while supporting Boards in assessing readiness over time. Her work includes preparing successors, supporting newly appointed CEOs, and aligning leadership teams during periods of change.
She brings experience from senior executive leadership roles in Fortune 100 companies, a Harvard MBA, and more than two decades of coaching global executives across industries and regions. Her recognition by Thinkers50 as a Coaching Legend and rankings by Global Gurus provide independent validation of her work with senior leaders.
Client perspectives
“I’ve shifted from function-focused to enterprise-minded leader trusted across the C-Suite.”
– CLO, U.S.-based Publicly Listed Multibillion Dollar Company
“Brenda’s coaching made him a trusted partner who eliminated past triggers.”
– CHRO, Global Publicly-traded Transportation Manufacturing Company
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