By Sarah Wilson, Group Operations Executive
The Pathway to Board event in Sheffield on Thursday 23 April brought together ambitious professionals and experienced leaders for an evening focused on real insight into board career progression. Hosted at The Victoria, the event offered a clear and practical look at what it takes to secure and succeed in a board level role.
As part of Elevation Recruitment Group’s Pathway series, the event is designed to support those working towards their first board position or looking to strengthen their impact at senior level.
A key theme throughout the Pathway to Board event was that there is no single route to the boardroom. The panel shared honest reflections on their careers, highlighting the importance of broad experience, commercial awareness, and leadership capability.
Attendees gained valuable insight into:
The discussion also reflected the shift in leadership expectations. Emotional intelligence, trust, and the ability to lead people effectively are now central to success at board level.
Feedback from attendees highlights the value of combining practical insight with strong networking opportunities.
One guest shared:
"As much as I love meeting people and engaging with them, I’m terrible at networking, so last night was needed for me especially as I make a transition from HOD to Director. I really enjoyed the venue, the setup, and the panellists – Ben was a great host, and I took a lot away from it. It was brilliant for me to see a CPO on the panel, but I took a lot from those that were non HR too, and as development for me, I’d love to work towards being on a panel like that myself one day." Feedback from attendees highlights the value of combining practical insight with strong networking opportunities, particularly for those progressing into more senior roles.
One guest shared:
"As much as I love meeting people and engaging with them, I’m terrible at networking, so last night was needed for me especially as I make a transition from HOD to Director. I really enjoyed the venue, the setup, and the panellists – Ben was a great host, and I took a lot away from it. It was brilliant for me to see a CPO on the panel, but I took a lot from those that were non HR too, and as development for me, I’d love to work towards being on a panel like that myself one day."
Another attendee highlighted the strength of the audience and discussion:
"The industry mix of speakers and delegates made for an effective and interesting night. I am now in the process of finding a mentor."
Alongside the panel discussion, the Pathway to Board event created a relaxed and well-structured environment for networking. The mix of industries and seniority levels made it easier for attendees to connect and build relationships.
Key feedback included:
For many, this was a key part of the evening:
"It was my first networking event and I really enjoyed it… the Elevation team did a great job making introductions and creating a welcoming environment."
Several consistent themes came through in feedback:
Attendees also shared suggestions, including more audience interaction and earlier ice breakers, which will help shape future leadership networking events in the UK.
If you missed the Sheffield event, the next Pathway to Board event will take place in West Yorkshire on Thursday 14 May at Archive in Leeds.
Speakers will be announced soon, with another strong panel expected. With growing demand for Leeds networking events and increasing interest in board level careers, early registration is recommended.
To find out more about our events, contact Sarah on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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