At CEO Resume Writer, we’re proud to celebrate a milestone that reflects both excellence and leadership in our field: Mary Elizabeth Bradford’s ongoing recognition and contributions to Forbes.

Mary’s thought leadership has long positioned her as one of the most trusted voices in executive branding, career strategy, and board-level positioning. Her recurring features in Forbes stand as a testament to her continued influence and the respect she’s earned across the executive career landscape.

Honoring a Track Record of Expertise

Forbes is one of the most respected business publications in the world—known for amplifying experts who shape how professionals think about success, leadership, and growth.

Through multiple Forbes features, Mary Elizabeth Bradford has shared her expertise on topics that matter most to senior-level professionals: how to craft a board-ready resume, navigate complex executive transitions, and align one’s career narrative with evolving market expectations.

Each article reflects the principles Mary has championed throughout her career—authentic storytelling, strategic positioning, and the belief that every executive deserves a clear, confident, and compelling professional voice.

A Broader Message: Empowerment Through Clarity

Mary’s work in Forbes doesn’t simply provide advice; it offers encouragement. Her writing empowers readers to think differently about how they present themselves as leaders.

She reminds executives that credibility isn’t about self-promotion—it’s about clarity of purpose, alignment with impact, and the courage to own your story. These are the same guiding values behind every engagement at CEO Resume Writer.

Leading with Purpose, Recognized at the Highest Level

Being featured in Forbes is a distinction reserved for leaders who demonstrate exceptional insight and integrity in their work. Mary’s continued recognition in the publication affirms what our clients have long known: her approach to executive and board-level branding doesn’t just follow industry standards—it helps define them.

Her contributions highlight how effective career strategy is as much about vision as it is about value—and how authentic leadership begins with how you choose to tell your story.

A Well-Deserved Honor

We extend our sincere congratulations to Mary Elizabeth Bradford for her continued Forbes recognition. Her voice continues to elevate not only our profession but also the executives and board leaders she serves every day.

To explore Mary’s featured articles and thought leadership, visit her Forbes author profile and the CEO Resume Writer Blog.

The middle-market CFO talent shortage has created an unprecedented opportunity for you to command premium compensation and accelerate your career trajectory. If you’re crafting your CFO executive resume, understanding these market dynamics is crucial to positioning yourself for the most coveted roles. Your Chief Financial Officer executive resume must now reflect not just traditional financial expertise, but the expanded strategic leadership capabilities that organizations desperately need.

In today’s market, the smartest finance leaders are partnering with CFO executive resume writing services that understand how to position them for high-impact roles. A strategically developed Chief Financial Officer resume does more than highlight financial acumen—it tells a leadership story aligned with the evolving demands of the modern CFO.

Executive search firms report that companies are competing aggressively for experienced finance leaders like you, making this an ideal time to evaluate new opportunities. The key to capitalizing on this demand lies in how you present your evolving skill sets in your CFO executive resume. Your CFO executive resume and LinkedIn profile should emphasize technology leadership, strategic partnership with CEOs, and operational excellence—competencies that reflect the dramatically expanded role. As a smart CFO, you should be updating your CFO executive resume to highlight these “Super CFO” capabilities that will distinguish you in today’s competitive market.

To stand out amid intensifying CFO job market trends in 2025, your executive LinkedIn profile optimization should complement a powerful resume narrative. Showcasing technology adoption, strategic influence, and business transformation in both platforms’ signals to executive recruiters that you represent the next generation of finance leadership.

Why You Represent the “Super CFO” That Companies Need

According to Egon Zehnder’s comprehensive global survey of 581 CFOs, an overwhelming 82% of finance leaders report that their role has grown significantly in recent years¹. This expansion encompasses new complexities across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate strategy—fundamentally redefining what hiring managers expect to see when they review your executive resume.

“The role and its demands are changing fast,” notes a British CFO in Egon Zehnder’s study. “I have been CFO for almost nine years, and the role is very different today to when I started. It is certainly more demanding, especially from the board and overall governance perspective.”²

This evolution has created what Egon Zehnder terms “Super CFOs”—finance leaders who are not just reacting to the changing business environment but actively driving it. If you’re among the finance leaders ranking driving change, shaping strategy, and developing talent as your most important competencies for the next five years³, you should prominently feature these strategic leadership accomplishments in your executive resume.

How the Record-Breaking Talent Shortage Benefits Your Career

The expanded role comes at a time when the market faces an acute shortage of experienced finance leaders like you, creating exceptional leverage for qualified candidates. Russell Reynolds Associates reports that CFO turnover reached a six-year high in 2024, with companies increasingly putting a premium on experienced finance chiefs⁴. The supply-demand imbalance is particularly acute, with 54% of outgoing CFOs either retiring or moving exclusively to board positions⁵.

“We’re at a point where the supply, demand dynamic is getting concerning,” explains Jim Lawson, co-leader of Russell Reynolds Associates’ CFO practice. “Classically-trained CFOs are making the move to retirement, and that is really limiting the pool of candidates moving forward.”⁶

This scarcity is driving companies to compete more aggressively for talent like yours and offer significantly higher compensation packages. When organizations do look externally for CFO appointments, experienced finance chiefs now make up 80% of external hires—a quarterly high matching levels seen in 2021⁷. For you, this means emphasizing your tenure, successful exits, and measurable business impact in your executive resume and LinkedIn profile will yield premium results.

Technology Leadership: Your New CFO Executive Resume and LinkedIn Profile Differentiator

One of the most significant changes reshaping middle-market CFO opportunities is the integration of technology and artificial intelligence—an area where you can significantly differentiate yourself. PwC research indicates that 44% of CFOs say increasing the use of technology to reduce costs is very important to fund in the next 12 months⁸. If you’re among the forward-looking finance leaders harnessing advanced analytics, AI, and cloud technology to improve forecasting, cash management, and organizational transformation⁹, you have a major competitive advantage.

You should highlight specific technology implementations, digital transformation leadership, and data analytics initiatives in your executive resume. This technological evolution represents what Boyden’s Chad Hesters describes as the second major “wave of change” in his career, following the post-Sarbanes-Oxley compliance era¹⁰. If you can demonstrate successful technology integration and AI adoption, you’ll command premium positions.

Experienced CFO resume writers know how to translate digital transformation initiatives and AI-driven insights into measurable leadership impact. Aligning your narrative with current CFO hiring trends not only strengthens recruiter appeal but also reinforces your executive career branding across resume and LinkedIn platforms.

How to Showcase Your Strategic Partnership and CEO-Level Leadership

Paradoxically, as CFO roles become more technology-driven, your human leadership element has become even more crucial for career advancement. Egon Zehnder’s research shows that companies should consider bringing on CFOs who excel as leaders of people and who can connect and engage with others at a deeply human and motivational level¹¹.

The pandemic accelerated this trend, with CFOs increasingly required to focus on the “human” aspect of their role—not only leading the finance function but also motivating, energizing, nurturing, and retaining people across their organizations¹². This shift reflects a broader recognition that the days of the “hero CEO” and “number cruncher” CFO are truly over. You should emphasize your cross-functional leadership, organizational development, and change management experience in your career narratives.

Why Private Equity Experience Boosts Your Middle-Market Value

The private equity sector is significantly influencing CFO compensation trends, particularly in the middle market where deal activity remains robust—creating exceptional opportunities for you if you have relevant experience. Heidrick & Struggles’ 2024 Private Equity-Backed CFO Compensation Survey reveals that compensation remains strong for CFOs at PE-backed companies across base, bonus, and equity components¹³. Notably, respondents in the United States with less than five years of CFO experience reported significantly higher total compensation, underscoring the increasing competitiveness even for first-time CFOs¹⁴.

If you’re targeting PE-backed opportunities, highlighting your experience with due diligence, value creation initiatives, exit strategies, and portfolio company operations becomes essential. The middle market’s focus on operational improvements and growth acceleration creates premium opportunities for finance leaders who can demonstrate these capabilities.

As private equity-backed CFO opportunities continue to expand, highlighting your transaction leadership and value creation results becomes critical. Working with a senior executive resume writing service that specializes in career branding for finance leaders can ensure your profile resonates with private equity investors and hiring partners.

How to Position Yourself for the CEO Pipeline

Perhaps most significantly for your career trajectory, 60% of finance leaders now aspire to become chief executives, with the highest interest levels in Latin America (72%) and North America (64%)¹⁵. This CEO ambition reflects the strategic nature of the modern CFO role and suggests that you’re positioning yourself as a natural successor to lead entire organizations.

However, barriers remain. Nearly half of CFOs surveyed identify networking and visibility as the biggest obstacle to becoming CEO, followed by customer and market knowledge and operational expertise¹⁶. You can address these gaps by highlighting your business development activities, customer-facing roles, and operational leadership in your professional positioning.

How Skills-Based Hiring Creates New Opportunities for You

Despite recognition of the need for new competencies, the transition to skills-based hiring remains an opportunity for well-positioned candidates like you. Korn Ferry’s 2025 talent acquisition research shows that while 39% of talent leaders recognize the value of skills-based hiring, only 17% plan to switch to this model in 2025¹⁷. This gap between recognition and implementation creates opportunities for you if you can clearly articulate your expanded skill sets beyond traditional finance credentials.

Your Action Plan: Capitalizing on Unprecedented Demand

The middle-market CFO landscape in 2025 represents an evolution from traditional financial management to strategic co-leadership, creating exceptional opportunities for qualified finance leaders like you. As organizations compete for scarce talent in an environment of expanding responsibilities and rising compensation, your success will depend on how effectively you can communicate your evolution from finance expert to business leader.

The current market rewards CFOs who can demonstrate technology fluency, strategic thinking, operational excellence, and human leadership capabilities. If you’re ready to make your next career move, there has never been a better time to leverage your “Super CFO” skill set for premium opportunities and compensation packages.

When considering a career transition or seeking a more lucrative role, engaging resume writing services for senior executives can be a critical investment, as these specialized firms understand the unique demands of C-suite and leadership positions. Many of the top resume writing services for executives distinguish themselves by offering bespoke strategies that go beyond mere document creation, often including personal branding guidance and interview preparation tailored to the executive level. Ultimately, these services aim to present a compelling narrative of an executive’s career trajectory, aligning their past achievements with future opportunities to secure high-impact roles.

As CFO roles in the middle market grow increasingly strategic in 2025, finance leaders must craft resumes that emphasize transformation, value creation, and growth leadership — and those aiming to also serve on boards should align their messaging with insights from this guide on board resumes.

Executives preparing for CEO or board roles can find tailored board resume recommendations in Board Resume Documents – 2025 Trends You Need to Know That Are Changing What Boards Are Looking for in Nominees.

Ready to Position Yourself for Your Next CFO Role?

• Book a complimentary and confidential consultation to discuss your executive career goals and branding.
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Footnotes:

¹ Egon Zehnder, “New Global Survey from Egon Zehnder Reveals the CFO Role is Bigger Than Ever,” March 7, 2024 ² Egon Zehnder, “The Super CFO- Insights on Evolution of the CFO Role,” March 26, 2025 ³ Ibid. ⁴ CFO Dive, “CFO turnover reaches six-year high: Russell Reynolds,” March 31, 2025 ⁵ Ibid. ⁶ Ibid. ⁷ CFO Dive, “Companies vie for ‘tried-and-true’ CFOs amid volatility: Russell Reynolds,” June 2025 ⁸ PwC, “What’s important to the CFO in 2025” ⁹ Ibid. ¹⁰ CFO Dive, “CFO evolution puts spotlight on data, tech skills,” March 25, 2025 ¹¹ Egon Zehnder, “Four CFO Trends to Watch,” June 11, 2021 ¹² Ibid. ¹³ Heidrick & Struggles, “2024 Private Equity–Backed Chief Financial Officer Compensation Survey” ¹⁴ Ibid. ¹⁵ Egon Zehnder, “The Super CFO- Insights on Evolution of the CFO Role,” March 26, 2025 ¹⁶ Ibid. ¹⁷ Korn Ferry, “Korn Ferry Research Reveals Top Talent Acquisition Trends Shaping 2025,” October 24, 2024

The role of Chief AI Officer (CAIO) is rapidly emerging as one of the most sought-after executive positions across industries. Once limited to large global corporations, CAIO hiring has expanded dramatically into middle-market companies, reflecting AI’s growing importance in business strategy and operations.

The article highlights how demand for AI leadership has surged—with a sharp rise in organizations appointing CAIOs to drive innovation, oversee governance, and ensure responsible AI adoption. This has created a competitive talent landscape where executives must differentiate themselves through strategically crafted résumés and LinkedIn profiles.

To stand out, CAIO candidates must emphasize their ability to:

• Develop and govern enterprise-level AI strategies.
• Integrate AI initiatives across business functions.
• Demonstrate measurable ROI and performance outcomes.

The piece also advises executives to work with experienced résumé writers who understand the AI executive market, possess industry certifications, and can highlight both technical and strategic leadership strengths.

Ultimately, as AI reshapes business models worldwide, executives who effectively position their AI expertise and achievements will gain a clear competitive edge for top CAIO opportunities.

Check out my latest Forbes article, “Chief AI Officer Resume Writing: Landing CAIO Roles In Fortune 500 And Middle Market,” to learn why you should consider aiming for chief AI officer (CAIO) and how to ensure your executive résumé and LinkedIn profile tell the right story that is aligned not only with your personal branding but also with current market demand.

You can read all of my articles as a Forbes Contributor by visiting Mary Elizabeth Bradford, CERM, CMRW, CARW, MCD, Forbes Coaches Council Member.

Board-level recruiting is increasingly competitive in 2025. A strong board resume must do more than summarize your career—it must clearly convey governance experience, strategic oversight, and board-ready perspective. When nominating committees or executive recruiters review board candidates, they often filter first by whether the resume aligns with board service expectations.

Understanding the Difference Between Executive Resumes and Board Documents

Crafting resumes for board positions requires a fundamentally different approach than creating a traditional executive resume. While many executives mistakenly repurpose their operational resumes when seeking board positions, successful board candidates understand that resumes for board positions must showcase a broader set of competencies. Resumes for board positions need to highlight your governance experience, strategic thinking, and ability to collaborate effectively in a peer-based environment rather than an operational hierarchy. Understanding the fundamental elements of a board resume is crucial, especially when considering the evolving 2025 trends in board resume documents.

The distinction is crucial because resumes for board positions serve as your first impression when applying for a board seat and can significantly impact the outcome of your application. 

Because board roles emphasize oversight over operational execution, your board resume documents should mirror that shift. Use language that reflects governance acumen, risk oversight, committee value, or strategic stewardship. These are exactly the attributes board recruiters are scanning for when evaluating candidates.

Why Submitting Properly Constructed Board Documents Matter

Submitting proper board documents (a multi-page document containing several different sections) versus your standard resume shows you are a serious candidate who understands the distinct requirements of board service. We call them board documents because both the format and content represent a departure from your traditional C-Suite resume.

C-Suite resumes focus on operational or other major functions and emphasize the impact of your specific contributions within a hierarchical framework. In contrast, board documents focus on your overall leadership capabilities and governance-type accomplishments that demonstrate your value at the highest organizational level.

C-Suite resumes require you to focus on how you are motivated, managed, and led teams, with measurable metrics of success. Resumes for board positions, however, need to focus more on demonstrating your independent thinking outside of hierarchical structures. Your board profile should highlight your leadership, innovation, and collaboration abilities from a governance perspective.

Think of your presentation as a high-level view—not in-the-weeds numbers. You want to position yourself as someone who can provide strategic oversight rather than operational management.

Essential Elements to Include in Resumes for Board Positions

When crafting your board documents, you should include where applicable:

Industry Expertise: Highlight your deep knowledge and experience in relevant industries.

Committee Value: Identify specific board committees where your expertise would bring particular value.

Past Governance and Board Work: Detail previous board experience, committee roles, and governance responsibilities.

Character Traits: Outline the personal qualities that make you an effective leader and collaborator.

Leadership Approach: Demonstrate your demeanor and approach in group or leadership situations.

Why Leadership Traits Matter in Board Documents

Boards are looking for emotionally intelligent leaders they can trust and collaborate with. Even if you’re brilliant in your area of expertise, if you’re difficult to work with or position yourself as the smartest person in the room, boards will be hesitant to appoint you.

There are three types of intelligence that gain traction among boards of directors:

Emotional Intelligence

An emotionally intelligent board director is self-aware, can self-regulate, and demonstrates empathy.

Mindfulness Intelligence

A mindfully intelligent board director is open to change and can adapt their behavior and communication style to their audience and environment.

Adversity Intelligence

A board director with high adversity intelligence can withstand challenges and maintain perspective during unexpected events.

Structuring Your Board Documents

When creating your board documents, you will want to clearly define the core keywords of what you have done, commonly including your most significant professional titles and achievements in a cohesive fashion.

You should also outline the few key areas that have direct alignment to common board committees. These may be your financial acumen, risk management, human capital, operations, governance, strategy, innovation, or digital transformation, to name a few.

Board Documents vs. Executive Resume Conclusion

Whether you are a seasoned board director, have just obtained your first board seat, or are just starting to explore board opportunities, demonstrating emotional, mindfulness, and adversity intelligence through your board documents, interviews, and participation will be paramount to your success.

By creating board documents that effectively communicate your governance experience, leadership philosophy, and the unique value you bring to a boardroom, you significantly increase your chances of securing desirable board positions. Remember that board service is fundamentally about collaborative leadership, strategic oversight, and principled governance—resumes for board positions need to reflect these priorities rather than simply listing operational achievements. For those seeking guidance, a sample resume for board of directors’ positions can provide a valuable framework. Engaging professional board resume writing services can further enhance your presentation.

Board resumes must shift from operational depth to strategic oversight, demonstrating governance value and industry insight — a pivot also seen in how modern CFO resumes are evolving, as explored in this CFO resume strategy article.

Successfully landing a board seat often depends on how your board documents, outreach materials, and personal narrative align with selection criteria. A strong board resume primes nominating committees to see you as ready for governance, not just operations—and that distinction can make all the difference.

Looking For Your First or Next Board Seat? We Can Help.

Successful board nominations and appointments are quickened through properly constructing resumes for board positions, as well as personalized outreach approaches. Our clients who utilize our board resume writers and board resume writing services consistently secure board nominations and appointments and enjoy the confidence of knowing their branding and presentation is what nominating committees want to see from serious candidates. For a detailed guide on how to structure your application, refer to our comprehensive board resume writing guide for 2025.

• Book a complimentary and confidential consultation to discuss your board goals.
• Explore our BOD Board Document Resume Writing Services | CEO Resume Writer
• Read our board document resume reviews to see how we’ve helped executives successfully transition into both traditional and emerging roles.

In 2025, Board of Directors are being called to respond to rapid transformations – both operational and economic. As boards face both an increase in confidence as M&A, IPO and private equity markets prepare for economic growth, as well as unprecedented challenges, the criteria for selecting new board members are evolving rapidly, and this directly impacts how board candidates should prepare their board resume documents and board positioned LinkedIn profiles. The intersection of technological advancement, geopolitical volatility, and changing economic conditions is reshaping what nominating committees look for in potential BOD’s resume documents. Here are the key trends that every board candidate needs to understand.

Key Considerations for Board Resume Documents in 2025

The Shift from General Leadership to Specific Expertise

According to NACD’s 2025 Trends and Priorities Survey (NACD, 2024), there has been a decisive shift in what boards prioritize when recruiting new directors. A striking 67% of boards now indicate they are more likely to seek candidates with specific expertise rather than general business leadership experience when filling their next board seat. This represents a significant departure from traditional board recruitment patterns that heavily favored former CEOs and CFOs.

Industry-specific expertise tops the list of desired characteristics, with 42% of boards specifically seeking this qualification in board candidates, board resume documents and board focused LinkedIn profiles. Technology expertise follows as another crucial area, reflecting the growing complexity of technological oversight responsibilities facing boards.

The Rise of Technology Literacy as a Core Competency

Technology literacy is no longer optional for board members. As noted in the NACD survey, “technology literacy is becoming as important as financial literacy and should be considered a part of board training and development” (NACD, 2024) This shift is driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and increasing cybersecurity threats, which were identified as top trends impacting companies in 2025. Board candidates should consider enrolling in coursework, leadership programs or conferences to keep pace with these advances and include these in their board resume documents and LinkedIn profiles to demonstrate a commitment to both current trends and commitment to lifelong learning.

Enhanced Focus on Soft Skills and Collaboration

While technical expertise is crucial, boards are simultaneously placing greater emphasis on directors’ soft skills. As highlighted by Harvey A. Meier, author of Board Governance Best Practices, nominating committees must evaluate candidates’ “ability to listen with the intent to understand without judging others’ viewpoints, promote and ensure collaboration, facilitate productive dialogue, foster effective interpersonal communication to achieve consensus, and cultivate harmonious working relationships” (Pfister, 2024). Properly constructed board resume documents and LinkedIn profiles will strategically categorize top soft skills to meet board needs.

The Return to Internal Nominating Processes

A significant trend reshaping board recruitment is the movement away from external search firms. According to M. A. Pfister Strategy Group’s analysis (Pfister, 2024), nominating committees are increasingly reclaiming control of the end-to-end candidate search and appointment process. This shift is driven by several factors:

1. Quality and Depth of Candidates: Boards are finding that reliance on search firm databases can limit access to qualified candidates, particularly when seeking specific expertise (Pfister, 2024).
2. Cost Considerations: With placement fees for U.S. public companies ranging from $250,000 to $500,000, boards are looking to leverage alternative candidate sources, including alumni associations, board membership groups, and professional certification organizations (Pfister, 2024).
3. Process Control: Nominating committees are seeking greater control over the selection process to ensure better alignment with specific board needs and organizational culture.

Board candidates can consider additions to their recruiter networking such as peer networking, understanding how to effectively utilize LinkedIn to passively network with companies and individuals that fall within their interest, joining associations such as NACD or obtaining board-readiness certifications.

The Impact on Board Candidates

For professionals seeking board positions in 2025, these trends necessitate several key adjustments to their approach. As van der Oord and Sikora (2024) note in their analysis, boards are increasingly focused on finding directors who can contribute across multiple domains while maintaining deep expertise in critical areas. This is where board resume writing services and board resume writers can be invaluable. This is where board resume writing services and board resume writers can be invaluable.

Board Resume Documents: Essential Elements for 2025

Finance leaders interested in board roles should also review our CFO guidance in CFO Executive Resume Guide: Why Middle-Market Finance Leaders Are in High Demand with Higher Compensation in 2025.

Given these trends, your board resume documents should be structured to highlight the following key elements:

1. Executive Summary Section: Begin your board resume documents with a powerful executive summary that specifically addresses your domain expertise and technological literacy. This section should immediately signal your ability to contribute to the board’s collective knowledge in critical areas.
2. Expertise Matrix: Include a clearly formatted matrix in your board resume documents that maps your specific competencies against current board requirements, particularly in technology oversight and industry-specific knowledge areas.
3. Collaborative Leadership Evidence: Dedicate a section of your board resume documents to concrete examples of your soft skills in action, particularly instances where you’ve facilitated complex decision-making processes or managed stakeholder relationships.
4. Technology Fluency: Your board resume documents should explicitly highlight your experience with emerging technologies, particularly AI and cybersecurity oversight. Include specific examples of how you’ve guided technology-related strategic decisions.
5. Continuous Learning Commitment: Document your board-specific education and certifications, such as IBDC.D or similar credentials, demonstrating your commitment to board excellence.
6. Industry Impact: Provide quantifiable results and specific examples of your industry expertise and how it has created value in your previous roles.

Remember, as noted by M. A. Pfister Strategy Group, modern nominating committees expect candidates to “submit Board Documents – not resumes or CVs” (Pfister, 2024). Your board resume documents should reflect this higher standard of presentation and professional positioning required for board service in 2025. Leveraging the expertise of board resume writers can ensure your documents meet these exacting standards.

For those considering board opportunities, knowing the 2025 trends that are changing what boards are looking for in nominees is as vital as emphasizing the right director skills, which you can learn more about in the board resume writing guide.

Looking Ahead

As boards continue to navigate an increasingly complex business environment, the ideal board candidate profile will likely continue to evolve. The NACD survey emphasizes that boards are seeking directors who can “stretch into other domains” while bringing credible leadership experience (NACD, 2024).

The most successful board candidates will be those who can demonstrate not just their expertise in a specific area, but also their ability to contribute to the board’s collective knowledge and effectiveness in navigating the complex challenges facing organizations in 2025 and beyond.

Sources:

NACD: Directors Should Prepare to Address Five Board Dilemmas in 2025

PFISTER STRATEGY: (36) The Nominating Committee Recalibration | LinkedIn