- Next OnBoard
- Leadership Team
- Next Awards
- Next Events
- Next Membership
About Next OnBoard
OnBoard created Next OnBoard in 2014 to engage motivated early and mid-career professionals as they travel the path to senior leadership and perhaps board service.
Next OnBoard provides its members with opportunities to connect with senior executive women and men interested in OnBoard’s mission, learn about board governance, and expand their professional networks. Next OnBoard advances OnBoard’s mission by identifying and engaging motivated professionals early in their development to senior leadership.
ENGAGE young professionals in OnBoard’s mission early in their careers
LEARN about board governance
CONNECT with senior professionals
BUILD a network of accomplished peers
Follow Next OnBoard on Social Media
Next OnBoard Newsletter
Next OnBoard publishes a quarterly newsletter to give a recap of past events and teasers to upcoming ones, provide updates to its members on benefits such as the mentorship program or event discounts and encourage social media following and women on board success stories.
Meet the 2023 Leadership Team
Interested in joining the Next OnBoard Leadership Team? Email Kate Allan at kate_allan@outlook.com. to learn more about available positions and how you can get involved.
Next OnBoard Annual Award
Next OnBoard Outstanding Member of the Year 2021 Recipients



Katie Hoppenjan (UPS), Nela Powell (Formation Capital, LLC), and Maddie Thykeson (Gratus Capital) were selected as the 2021 Next OnBoard Outstanding Members of the Year for their many contributions serving on Next’s leadership team. Katie Hoppenjans served as our Membership Chair and continuously improved the experience for new and existing members. Nela Powell served as our Governance Chair guiding the leadership team to a successful year. Maddie Thykeson served as our Marketing Chair managing social media and outreach for NOB. Thank you to these incredible women for volunteering their time to lead Next OnBoard!
Outstanding Member of the Year Award Description
This award recognizes an honorable member of Next OnBoard who exemplifies what it means to be a “Nexter”. The recipient is an early career professional who serves as an outstanding role model for advancing OnBoard’s mission to increase the number of women in executive leadership and on corporate boards in both public and private for-profit corporations.
Previous Recipients
- 2019 – Katie Hull
- 2018 – Anna Biegen
- 2017 – Erin Elliott
- 2016 – Christina Schenck
- 2015 – Carrie Gorman
- 2014 – Erica Svobada
Making Connections Award Description
Making connections is all about recognizing the Nexter who recruits the most Next OnBoard members to engage young professionals early in their careers as they learn about board governance, connect with senior professionals and build a network of accomplished peers.
Previous Recipients
- 2017 – Christina Schenck
- 2016 – Yami Joshi and Erica Svoboda
- 2015 – Yami Joshi and Erica Svoboda
- 2014 – Carrie Gorman
Next OnBoard Events
Upcoming Events
Check back soon for upcoming events!
22 May

Fireside Chat with Career Coach and Author, Donna Peters
a virtual event on Zoom
Event Info:
In preparation for the Book Club discussion, attendees can purchase “Options are Power: Career Strategies for High Performers Who Want a Life” in print, audio, or as an e-book. We encourage all who are interested in attending the discussion to read Ms. Peters’ book, but it is not required to benefit from the conversation!
Thank you to our Sponsors:
Past Events

Fireside Chat with Donna Peters
Next OnBoard presents a virtual discussion with Donna Peters about her award-winning book, “Options are Power: Career Strategies for High Performers Who Want a Life”, a strategic guide to how high performing professionals can surround themselves with options that drive personal and professional empowerment, clarity, and focus

Next OnBoard’s Night of Speed Networking
04 Apr Next OnBoard’s Night of Speed Networking Location : Baker Donelson, Monarch Plaza, 3414 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 1500 Atlanta, GA, 3032 Date :

Plan & Prosper with Reem Krisht
Plan & Prosper with Reem Krisht Location : Equifax Headquarters Address: 1550 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA Date : Thursday, December 8, 2022 Time :

Lace Up Your Sneakers & Step into Your Leadership Shoes
Lace Up Your Sneakers & Step into Your Leadership Shoes Location : A virtual event on Zoom Date : Wednesday, August 10, 2022 Time :
Recharge: Slow Down to Speed Up Led by Kafi London of Smart Women on Fire
A virtual event hosted by Next OnBoard in partnership with AON and Black Professional Network
Roadmap to Board Service for Early Career Professionals
Why You Should Start Preparing Now
Fireside Chat with Donna Peters
Next OnBoard presents a virtual discussion with Donna Peters about her award-winning book, "Options are Power: Career Strategies for High Performers Who Want a Life",...
Next OnBoard’s Night of Speed Networking
04 Apr Next OnBoard’s Night of Speed Networking Location : Baker Donelson, Monarch Plaza, 3414 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 1500 Atlanta, GA, 3032 Date :...
Plan & Prosper with Reem Krisht
Plan & Prosper with Reem Krisht Location : Equifax Headquarters Address: 1550 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA Date : Thursday, December 8, 2022 Time :...
Lace Up Your Sneakers & Step into Your Leadership Shoes
Lace Up Your Sneakers & Step into Your Leadership Shoes Location : A virtual event on Zoom Date : Wednesday, August 10, 2022 Time :...
Recharge: Slow Down to Speed Up Led by Kafi London of Smart Women on Fire
A virtual event hosted by Next OnBoard in partnership with AON and Black Professional Network
Join Next OnBoard and Support the Mission
Next OnBoard membership is open to early and mid-career professionals who support OnBoard’s mission
Next OnBoard provides connections with senior leaders and accomplished peers. Members receive targeted education about board governance along with the opportunity to calibrate their experiences with the career paths of existing board members and senior leaders. The peer connections formed through Next OnBoard provide ongoing opportunities for professional growth, shared learning, and engagement.
OnBoard’s mission is to increase the number of women on public and private boards in Georgia and building a pipeline for candidates ready now and in the future is important to that mission. It is never too early in a career to start building the credentials, experience, skills and networks needed to advance to senior leadership that can then lead to public and private board service.
Next OnBoard was created to engage high potential professionals early in their careers to inform and educate these young women helping them on the path to senior leadership roles and to the potential of board service in their future.
The benefits of membership are accentuated when combined with involvement as a volunteer or leader of a Next OnBoard Committee. We welcome the opportunity to help you find a niche in our organization. To get involved in a Next OnBoard Committee, please email nextonboardnow@gmail.com. We look forward to working with you to advance OnBoard’s mission.