As someone deeply committed to strengthening India’s social impact sector, I have come to appreciate that the strength of an organisation does not rest solely on its leadership team. It is equally shaped by the commitment and engagement of its Board.

I experienced this firsthand during our ILSS strategy exercise, version 2.0. At a pivotal moment of growth and reflection, my Board stood alongside me as true thought partners. They challenged assumptions, helped refine our priorities, and ensured our vision remained bold yet grounded in impact. Their diverse perspectives, constructive pushback, and unwavering support were instrumental in sharpening our focus and charting a clear direction for the future.

The recent recognition of Educate Girls with the Ramon Magsaysay Award illustrates this truth. Their Board did much more than fulfil statutory responsibilities; they catalysed innovation, held the organisation accountable to its mission, and supported scale with both rigour and responsibility.

The relevance of Boards in the social sector cannot be overstated. Founders often speak of the loneliness of leadership, the weight of responsibility, constant decision-making, and the challenge of balancing short-term crises with long-term vision. In such moments, an invested advisory Board becomes more than a governance body; it is a sounding board, a source of perspective, and an anchor of stability. Boards ​can potentially bring together expertise ranging from corporate leaders and philanthropists to educationists and grassroots practitioners, offering diverse perspectives and helping organisations navigate​ risk and complexity more effectively. When they engage deeply through field visits, project-based involvement, or mentoring senior teams, Boards can shift from being formal structures to becoming true partners in impact.

In today’s context, where the social sector faces increasing complexity and limited resources, Boards are not a luxury. They are critical enablers of resilience, strategy, and long-term purpose. As this issue of Leadership Inspired explores, there is a growing need to reimagine Boards: to make them more diverse, more engaged, and more visionary.

If we are to build organisations that not only survive but truly thrive, we must invest in building Boards that serve as anchors of wisdom, stewards of accountability, and champions of transformative change.