As Wharton MBA alumni and executives seek new ways to expand their leadership impact, board service has become an increasingly attractive path.

Opportunities span for-profit and nonprofit organizations, paid and unpaid roles, and a wide range of industries and regions. Join Cara Costello and Diane Eliasson, Co-Leads of the Wharton Board of Director Project, for a virtual program that highlights how Wharton alumni can successfully position themselves for board opportunities. Topics will include:

1. Board search best practices
2. Exclusive Wharton board resources
3. Current board landscape and Wharton alumni interest trends
4. How organizations and search firms recruit Wharton talent for board seats

Cara Costello is Director of Executive Careers at Wharton, where she leads career strategy and programming for more than 100,000 MBA alumni and the Executive MBA program. With over 20 years of experience coaching senior executives and alumni, she specializes in executive career advancement, leadership transitions, and board readiness. Cara is the founder of Wharton's Board of Director Resume Book and co-founder of Wharton's Circles Program, two initiatives designed to expand leadership opportunities and strengthen alumni engagement. She also leads a wide range of executive career resources and advising programs that support leaders throughout every stage of their careers. Her passion is helping accomplished professionals position themselves for meaningful leadership and board opportunities.

Diane Eliasson is Senior Associate Director of Alumni & Executive MBA Career Management at Wharton. In this role, she provides executive-level career coaching to Wharton MBA alumni and Executive MBA students, helping experienced professionals navigate career transitions, pursue senior leadership and board opportunities, strengthen their executive presence, and develop effective job search and networking strategies. She is part of Wharton's lifelong career management team, which supports alumni throughout their careers with personalized advising and best-in-class career resources. Diane also helps lead Wharton’s Board of Director initiatives, the Wharton Circles Program and resume strategy for full-time MBAs as they launch into the highly competitive recruiting landscape. Fun fact: Diane began her career at Penn as Head Diving Coach!

This event is for Wharton MBA alumni only.

When:
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
12:00 PM ET – 1:00 PM ET

Cost:
WCNY Members (Wharton MBA) - $0 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton MBA Alumni - $25

Meeting Access Information:
Registered guests will receive the Zoom link 24 hours prior to (and the morning of) the event date to the email address provided during registration. If you do not receive the Zoom link within this timeframe, please first check your spam folder to check receipt. If you are registered and are unable to locate the meeting link, please contact Gabriela Sanchez no later than 9:00 AM ET on event date to ensure we have ample time to assist you.

By registering for this event, you agree to the following:
I understand that this session may be recorded and made available, and that my image, name, comments, or questions may appear on-screen.