How to Create an Imaginary Board of Directors

While I may not technically be on a first-name basis with Janelle Monáe or Dolly Parton, I feel like I know them well enough to imagine the advice they would give me if I could text them in a moment of panic.

Sometimes that perspective is all you need.

Your Imaginary Board of Advisors

Janelle and Dolly are both valued members of my Imaginary Board of Directors. It’s a list of folks I admire and can turn to for some made-up guidance whenever I need it.

You can design your own Imaginary Board of Directors as a creative way to solve problems and overcome challenges. The process is easy enough:

• Brainstorm a few artists, business owners, podcasters, authors, historical figures, or fictional characters that inspire you.
• You could write these names on a Post-it note, tack them up on your office wall, and call it a day. (In fact, this is a prompt in our Self-Care Master Plan!) But, being the visual person that I am, I think there's something powerful about creating and displaying photos of your Imaginary Board of Directors. That way, it's like they're with you during every boring Zoom call!
• After you come up with your list, take a moment to reflect on what values these folks represent. How do you want to incorporate their mindsets into your life?

My board represents values I want to live daily—generosity, ambition, and creativity.

My Imaginary Board of Directors (clockwise starting at the top): Mary Oliver, Jeni Britton Bauer, Janelle Monáe, Lynda Barry, Fred Rogers, Dolly Parton, and Michelle Obama.

Board of Directors Starter List

Need ideas for your own Imaginary Board of Directors? Here’s a list of 50 inspirational folks to get you started:

1. Amanda Gorman
2. Amy Poehler
3. Anthony Fauci
4. Betty White
5. Beyoncé
6. Bruce Springsteen
7. Coco Chanel
8. Conan O’Brien
9. Dwayne Johnson
10. Eleanor Roosevelt
11. Eliot Page
12. Elizabeth Gilbert
13. Frida Kahlo
14. George Takei
15. Greta Thunberg
16. Helen Keller
17. Jacinda Ardern
18. Jane Goodall
19. Jeff Goldblum
20. John Lewis
21. Judy Blume
22. Kamala Harris
23. Kate McKinnon
24. Keanu Reeves
25. Lady Gaga
26. LeBron James
27. Lin-Manuel Miranda
28. Mahatma Gandhi
29. Malala Yousafzai
30. Martin Luther King
31. Maya Angelou
32. Megan Rapinoe
33. Meghan Markle
34. Melissa McCarthy
35. Meryl Streep
36. Mother Teresa
37. Neil deGrasse Tyson
38. Oprah Winfrey
39. Phoebe Waller-Bridge
40. Rosa Parks
41. Serena Williams
42. Shonda Rhimes
43. Simone Biles
44. Taylor Swift
45. Tina Fey
46. Tom Hanks
47. Toni Morrison
48. Ursula LeGuin
49. Viola Davis
50. Yayoi Kusama

Who do you wish could give you advice on your life or business? Let us know on Instagram!

And, if you enjoyed this creative exercise, check out our Vision Board Book to create more visual reminders of your values and goals.