The Reston, Virginia, U.S.A.-based National Fisheries Institute (NFI) has completed the first semester of their new program for industry leaders, the Board Leadership Certification Program.
The program, part of the NFI’s new strategic plan, is designed to teach essential board skills to and foster industry connections for people who are currently leading seafood organizations or likely to be doing so in the future.
North Star Strategic President Derek Figueroa developed the program in partnership with NFI, designing it to prepare others to secure board positions that will help share the future of the seafood industry.
“We designed this program to develop strong leaders and serve as a catalyst for meaningful board service,” Figueroa said. "Our goal was to equip participants with the skills, perspective, and networks to shape the future of our industry while advancing NFI’s strategic plan. This inaugural class was a who’s who of seafood professionals who set a high bar. I’m proud of this group and am confident that their commitment to growth, leadership, and personal development will drive lasting impact on the industry and in their own careers.”
The six month hybrid program focused on four pillars: developing essential board skills, fostering a tight-knit community of leaders, providing exposure to NFI’s work and priorities, and offering active support as participants sought board roles.
The coursework included primers in board structure, fiduciary duties, financial oversight, key committees, regulatory issues, and strategic alignment, among other topics.
NFI President and CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard said that the program was strengthened by NFI’s other programming, which has long sought to cultivate leaders in the industry.
“We saw so many Future Leaders graduates in this first class, I couldn’t help but think of it as an industry master’s class,” said Wallenda Picard, referencing the year long mentorship and training program that the NFI runs for rising leaders in the seafood sector.
“Given their rich backgrounds and clear interest in leading, the knowledge they’ve been given and the skills they’ve learned will be such a benefit to the industry as they pursue their own board positions," she said.
NFI will honor the inaugural class graduates at an upcoming NFI Board of Directors meeting and will begin recruiting members of the second cohort in fall 2025.
