Transform Your Voice into Strategic Influence and Why Join a Customer Advisory Board?
Have you been invited to serve on a board or heard about customer advisory boards, and are curious? Learn more and take the customer assessment. Alternatively, you can skip to the bottom of the page and watch interviews with other board members to learn from their experiences.
What is a Customer Advisory Board (CAB)?
A Customer Advisory Board is an exclusive strategic forum where selected customers provide direct input to vendor executives on product direction, market strategy, and business priorities. CABs create mutual value through trusted relationships that go far beyond traditional vendor-customer transactions.
Introduction
Considering an invitation to join a Customer Advisory Board? This assessment is designed for senior executives and decision-makers who want to evaluate whether CAB participation aligns with their strategic goals and professional development objectives. If you're wondering whether investing your time in a vendor's advisory board will provide meaningful value to your business and career, these questions will help you make an informed decision.
Customer Advisory Board Member Assessment Questions
Time to complete: 3-5 minutes
Instructions: Answer each question with a simple YES or NO based on your current business situation.
Assessment Questions
Instructions: Answer each question with a simple YES or NO based on your current business priorities and professional goals.
1. Would you benefit from exclusive, direct access to a vendor's executive leadership team?
Consider whether having strategic conversations with C-suite leaders about industry direction and partnership opportunities would add value to your role.
2. Are you looking to influence the future development of products or services that directly impact your business operations?
Shaping vendor roadmaps and feature priorities can improve outcomes for your organization.
3. Would networking with peer executives from similar companies provide strategic insights and validation for your own initiatives?
The value of confidential discussions with industry leaders facing similar challenges and opportunities is worth exploring.
4. Do you see professional value in being recognized as a strategic thought leader within your industry network?
Think about whether advisory roles and industry expertise recognition align with your career development goals.
5. Would early access to product roadmaps, market intelligence, and innovation discussions help you plan and lead more effectively?
Advanced knowledge of vendor strategies can provide a competitive advantage for your planning.
6. Are you seeking to transform a key vendor relationship from transactional to a strategic partnership?
Deeper collaboration could unlock mutual opportunities that extend beyond standard business relationships.
Your CAB Participation Score
5-6 YES answers: Ideal CAB Candidate
You're perfectly positioned for CAB success. The strategic value will be substantial and mutual. Your participation will have a meaningful influence on vendor direction, delivering significant professional and business benefits.
What to Expect:
Direct influence on product roadmaps and strategic direction
Exclusive networking with C-suite peers and vendor executives
Early access to market intelligence and competitive insights
Recognition as a strategic industry thought leader
Long-term partnership opportunities beyond the CAB
Your Value to the CAB: Your strategic perspective and industry expertise will significantly enhance vendor decision-making and peer discussions.
3-4 YES answers: Strong Strategic Value
CAB participation will provide substantial benefits. You have clear strategic drivers that align well with advisory board value propositions. Focus on maximizing the areas where you answered YES.
What to Expect:
Meaningful influence in your areas of strategic interest
Valuable peer networking and industry insights
Professional development through strategic advisory experience
Selective early access to relevant innovations
Maximize Your Participation: Be specific about your strategic priorities during onboarding to ensure optimal value creation.
1-2 YES answers: Consider Strategic Prerequisites
Limited but focused value potential. Before committing to CAB participation, ensure the vendor can provide the specific strategic value you need through proper executive sponsorship and engagement.
Requirements for Participation:
Request a dedicated executive sponsor from the vendor's leadership team
Secure commitment for annual strategic visits from vendor executives
Define specific outcomes and value metrics for your participation
Establish clear communication channels for ongoing strategic dialogue
Future Consideration: Reassess in 6-12 months as your strategic priorities evolve or vendor relationship deepens.
0 YES answers: Focus on Current Priorities
This may not be the most suitable forum for your needs at this time. Consider building strategic vendor relationships through more targeted engagement that aligns with your immediate business objectives.
Alternative Engagement:
Join the vendor's beta program to influence specific product development
Select features on the roadmap that align with your business goals for early testing
Participate in vendor-customer events and conferences
Request one-on-one strategic discussions with vendor leadership on specific topics
Listen and watch other peers who have joined customer advisory boards of their board experiences with:
