Apply by
October 30, 2025
International Cohort
- Board Education
- CEO & Board Member Networking
- Board Opportunities
For Women Executives in Luxembourg, Belgium & the Netherlands
DRIVING CHANGE FROM THE TOP.
WHO WE ARE
We are the most exclusive leadership club for aspiring board members.
2020
In January 2020, the Boardroom idea is conceived at Harvard Business School, where Diana Markaki-Bartholdi, an international lawyer from Greece, developed a proprietary one-stop solution for executives who aspire to be board members.
2021
In September 2021, Diana’s vision takes shape! the Boardroom was founded in Switzerland, with a state-of-the-art Private Clubhouse in the centre of Zurich, as the first private club for women executives who aspire to be board members. The mission was clear: improve corporate governance by placing more qualified women on corporate boards.
2022
In September 2022, the Boardroom publishes its first book, “Inspiration and Advice from Women that Made it to the Top”, showcasing the first 100 Founding Members in Switzerland, as part of its efforts to change the face of leadership.
2022
In October 2022, after a successful first year, the Boardroom launches its pan-European expansion to break down borders and build an international community of influential leaders. First stop Greece, the Founder’s home country, with the opening of a luxurious Clubhouse in Athens.
2023
In January 2023, the Boardroom launched the first season of the “Unlocking the Boardroom” Podcast, a monthly masterclass featuring industry leaders from around the world.
2023
In February 2023 came our next stop, Denmark, with the opening of our fourth Clubhouse in the centre of Copenhagen.
2023
In May 2023, the Founder and CEO of the Boardroom, Diana Markaki – Bartholdi, received the esteemed title of “Businesswoman and Social Entrepreneur” at the prestigious Maria Callas Awards in Monaco, marking their 3rd Anniversary Edition of 100 Years.
2023
In October 2023, following successful launches in Switzerland, Greece, and Denmark, the Boardroom expanded its reach by opening its fourth Clubhouse in the United Kingdom, in the centre of London.
2024
In May 2024, our fifth Clubhouse opened in the heart of Paris, marking an exciting new chapter in our journey.
Build Relationships
We focus on building close and long-lasting relationships, operating as a collaborative learning community of the top executives internationally, who want to grow together as leaders.
Improve Corporate Governance
We are determined to improve corporate governance by placing more qualified women on corporate boards. Through our unique holistic approach to board-readiness, we not only help our members land a board seat, but also help them succeed when they get there.
Maintain a Pipeline of Board Candidates
We promote and support senior female talent, cultivating an active pipeline of qualified women executives ready to fill corporate board positions.
HOW WE DO IT
Our unique holistic approach to board-readiness, based on four pillars and built in three phases, is specifically designed to accompany executives in their career journey from the C-Suite to the boardroom.
Adopting a Holistic Approach
Adopting a Holistic Approach
In a one-stop shop approach, we bring together everything an executive needs to become a successful board member. From education to placement, we support executives as they transition into impactful board roles.
JOINING FORCES
JOINING FORCES
the Boardroom is a meeting point for top executives, men and women, who are committed to improving corporate governance and increasing diversity at the board level. Male supporters are an integral part of our efforts to foster a culture of inclusion in the business environment, whereas our strategic partnerships with large corporates, PE/VC firms, and recruiters, create an invaluable ecosystem of decision-makers who are committed to driving change from the top.
Pan-European Expansion
Pan-European Expansion
With five Clubhouses within the first three years of operation and five more opening soon, the Boardroom is strategically laying the foundation for the next generation of board members across Europe.
Life-long learning
Life-long learning
We systematically provide aspiring and experienced board members with the highest standard of knowledge, theory and practice, and all the necessary tools, resources and connections, to effectively manage the important, complex, and timely issues that corporate boards face today.
THE FOUNDER
Diana Markaki-Bartholdi is the Founder and Group CEO of the Boardroom. What began in 2021 as a leadership case at Harvard Business School has evolved into a rapidly growing international platform with a clear mission: to increase the number of qualified women on corporate boards around the world.
A seasoned board director and international M&A lawyer, Diana brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in regulated sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and telecommunications. Over the course of her career, Diana has advised on equity offerings and cross-border M&A transactions exceeding €50 billion in value. She has lived and worked in New York, Milan, London, Athens, and Zurich, leading high-stakes negotiations and managing globally dispersed teams across 60 countries and five continents. She has also held executive roles in Europe’s largest energy infrastructure project.
Diana is also Executive-in-Residence at IMD Business School in Lausanne, where she teaches on the Women on Boards program and Partner at international investment firm Venero Capital, advising on Impact Investing.
In 2023, Diana was honored in Monaco with the Maria Callas Award for Social Entrepreneur and Businesswoman of the Year, in recognition of her work to advance gender equity in business leadership.
Diana holds a Law degree and LL.M. in International and European Law from the University of Athens and is a Harvard Business School Alumna, where she earned her EMBA.
FOUNDER
MEET OUR GLOBAL CHAIRS
Switzerland
Greece
France
France
United Kingdom
Maggie Milnamow
United States
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Christina Livada
Assistant Professor of Commercial Law
University of Athens
Greece
Dr. Vassiliki Lazarakou
Chair
Hellenic Capital Market Commission
Greece
Ioannis Karagiannis
Chairman
Olympia Group
Greece
Manos Panorios
Managing Director
Stanton Chase
Greece
Natassa Paschali
Group CHRO
Eurobank
Greece
Theodora Varvarigou
Computer Science Professor
Technical University of Athens
Greece
CELEBRATING THE BOARDROOM
Join us as we commemorate a milestone in our journey with this special anniversary video. Over the years, we’ve grown, learned, and achieved incredible things together. This video captures the essence of our shared experiences, the dedication of our team, and the support of our community.
THE BOARDROOM BOOK
Through a curated set of questions and answers, the Boardroom members in Switzerland candidly share their stories, that are an invaluable source of advice and inspiration for men and women of all ages from all walks of life.
- Hardcover: 304 pages, 1st edition
- Language: English
- Dimensions: 21.3cm x 27.8cm (x 3.5cm back)
- Weight: 1.6kg
- Publisher: the Boardroom GmbH
- CHF98.00
- Ships only to Switzerland
- ISBN: 978-3-033-09291-4
SHOWCASE YOUR COMMITMENT TO BOARD EXCELLENCE
Join the most exclusive club for women executives who aspire to be board members.
