Michael Hyter, CEO of the Executive Leadership Council, shared his journey from a working-class background in Detroit to becoming a successful executive and board member. He credits his passion for human resources and the mentorship he received for his rapid career growth. After serving as an officer at Dayton Hudson and building his own diversity and inclusion consulting firm, Hyter joined Korn Ferry, where he became the Chief Diversity Officer.
Hyter’s experience, reputation, and familiarity with Dine Brands led to his appointment on their board. He believes that diversity contributes to better board discussions and company performance, but emphasizes that capability and impact should be the primary focus. Hyter sees incremental growth in Black board representation in the near future, with programs supporting board readiness and cultivating relationships as key factors in accelerating this progress.
Hyter advises aspiring board members to focus on small to midcap companies where their contributions will be valued, and to prioritize building relationships with board members and stakeholders. He stresses the importance of being outstanding in one’s day job and cultivating strong relationship-building skills. Hyter encourages candidates not to be limited by others’ definitions of their capabilities and to strategically position themselves in terms of value and reputation to increase their chances of being considered for board positions.
