Vicki Fuller, originally from Chicago, credits her mother for her success despite a challenging childhood. She excelled academically, earning scholarships to Roosevelt University and the University of Chicago. Fuller’s career began at Morgan Stanley before moving to AllianceBernstein Equitable Capital, where she managed high-yield portfolios. Her first board position came unexpectedly when she was approached by the CEO of Brooklyn Union Gas, seeking to diversify his board. Fuller served on that board for eight years, gaining valuable experience in strategy, M&A, and succession planning.
Fuller attributes her attractiveness to boards to her entrepreneurial drive, marketing skills, and ability to develop beyond her initial role. To prepare for board service, she gained leadership and governance experience through non-profit organizations and industry associations. Fuller emphasizes the importance of being prepared, thinking outside the box, and asking relevant questions in the boardroom. She believes diversity improves board discussions and company performance when there is a sufficient threshold of diverse members. When joining a new board, Fuller takes a proactive approach to orientation, meeting with key executives and asking questions to understand the company’s strategy and culture. She stresses the importance of being authentic and building relationships with other board members, particularly the chair and committee heads.
Fuller believes that despite recent backlash, companies will continue to quietly recruit diverse candidates, recognizing the positive impact of diversity on business performance. She encourages current board members to actively promote diversity and offers advice to aspiring directors, emphasizing the importance of excellence in their current roles, networking, and pursuing opportunities to interact with board members and CEOs.
