Home / How to Join
Membership

How to join
Forum Select

The complete guide to Forum Select membership, who qualifies, how invitations happen, and what to do if you believe you belong.

The Three Paths

Three ways into
Forum Select

Path 1

Attend a Forum Event

Attend a Forum Event, show up as a giver: share what you know, make connections, contribute generously. Murray watches every room. The most generous leaders receive a personal note within 48 hours.

See upcoming events →
Path 2

Member referral

If you know a Forum Select member and they believe you belong, ask them to refer you to Murray directly. Referrals from existing members carry real weight. The member's credibility is on the line.

Apply and mention your referral →
Path 3

Direct inquiry

C-suite executives and board directors can apply directly. Murray reviews every inquiry personally. Applicants should be genuine senior leaders who operate as givers. The inquiry should reflect that.

Apply directly →
The Informal Criterion

The real question
Murray is asking

Forum Select has no formal application criteria. There is no points system, no committee, no checklist. Murray is asking one question about every person he considers: Are they a giver?

It's not about whether they're successful (most are) or well-known (irrelevant) or working on something interesting (everyone is). The question is whether this person makes the room better: whether they share what they know without being asked, make introductions without expecting anything back, and contribute without performing.

"I can identify a giver in about ten minutes. They ask questions that are curious rather than competitive. They name people who helped them. They share credit instinctively."
Signs of a Giver
  • →They share knowledge before being asked
  • →They make introductions without being prompted
  • →They ask questions out of genuine curiosity, not positioning
  • →They credit others naturally, without prompting
  • →They arrive at events to contribute, not to collect
  • →They have a reputation built over years, not months
  • →They don't need to tell you they're a giver, it shows
Eligibility

Who Forum Select
is designed for

Forum Select is designed for C-suite executives and board directors who are navigating the AI era. The seniority requirement is real. The candor Forum Select depends on requires peers. A VP doesn't speak the same way with a board director in the room.

There is no industry requirement. Members come from AI companies, enterprise technology, healthcare, fintech, consumer, media, and professional services. The common thread is senior leadership and a generous approach to the world.

  • ✓CEO · CFO · COO · CTO · CMO · CHRO
  • ✓Chief AI Officer or equivalent
  • ✓Sitting board director
  • ✓Managing Partner / General Partner (VC or PE)
  • ✓Founder-CEO at scale (Series B+)
  • ✗VP, Director, or mid-level leaders (for now)
  • ✗Consultants or advisors without operating roles
FAQ

Questions about
membership

How long does it take to receive an invitation?
There is no fixed timeline. Murray may extend an invitation immediately after meeting someone at a Forum Event, or months later. The most reliable path is to attend Forum Events consistently and behave generously every time.
Can I apply if I haven't attended a Forum Event?
Yes. Direct applications are reviewed by Murray. A strong direct application includes a clear description of your senior role, the company or board you serve, how you found Open Future Forum, and, ideally, a name of someone in the Forum Select community who can speak to your character as a giver.
Is Forum Select available outside Silicon Valley?
Yes. Dinners are held in San Francisco and Palo Alto, but Forum Select members include leaders based across the US and internationally. Remote members are welcome when visiting the Bay Area, there is no residency requirement.
What happens after I'm invited?
Murray will reach out personally, usually via LinkedIn or email. He will introduce you to the community and include you in the next relevant dinner. There is no onboarding process, no orientation, you are simply invited to the next table.
Can I bring a guest to a Forum Select dinner?
Not without Murray's prior approval. Forum Select dinners are curated personally by Murray. Members who wish to bring guests can suggest them to Murray in advance, that suggestion becomes a referral.
Ready?

The first step
is to show up

Whether you attend a Forum Event or apply directly, the path to Forum Select begins the same way, by giving generously in a room full of people who are doing the same.

Attend a Forum Event Apply directly