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NED & Board Advisory

Build a portfolio board career with impact

From your first board role to becoming a Chair. Ten structured journeys covering governance, finding roles, effective contribution, committees, and thought leadership.

10journeys

51milestones

51real deliverables

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Your AI team produces all of this for you

Not templates. Not courses. Real documents, models, and strategies — written for your specific business.

Skills matrix mapped to NED competencies (finance, strategy, governance, sector)Target sectors + company stage (startup, scale-up, PLC, charity)"I help boards do X" — positioning statementBoard-specific CV + LinkedIn positioningGovernance training needs (IoD, FT Board Director Programme, etc.)Summary of Companies Act s.170-177 duties + personal liabilityUnitary vs two-tier, committee structures, terms of referenceHow to read board packs: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, KPIsRisk registers, internal controls, regulatory landscapeConflicts of interest policy + ethical decision frameworkTarget 20 connections (chairs, NEDs, headhunters, investors)Shortlist of board search firms + intro approachProfiles on Nurole, NEDonBoard, Women on Boards, etc.First advisory board role as stepping stoneWhat to investigate before accepting any roleLetter of appointment, fees, D&O insurance, time commitmentCompany financials, culture, risk, and people reviewFirst 90 days: who to meet, what to read, what to observeUnderstand the chair, exec team, fellow NEDs, and power dynamicsIdentify one area where you can add early, visible valueEstablish communication rhythm + feedback channelHow to challenge exec without being adversarialPersonal process for preparing for each board meetingLead or contribute to a strategy away-day or reviewSite visits, employee engagement, customer exposureSelf-assessment + board evaluation participationFinancial reporting oversight, internal/external audit relationshipExec pay, incentive structures, pay ratio reportingBoard succession, diversity targets, skills matrix refreshEnterprise risk framework, emerging risks, crisis preparednessESG reporting, sustainability strategy, stakeholder expectationsTarget number of boards, sector mix, time allocation modelRealistic capacity analysis (most NEDs overcommit)Fee benchmarking + equity/options for startup boardsInbound approach pipeline — referrals + headhunter relationshipsManaging conflicts across multiple board seatsWhen to take advisory vs formal NED (liability, time, equity)Template advisory agreement + equity/fee termsMentoring framework for supporting founders 1:1How investor-nominated seats differ + how to navigateJoin or form an industry advisory panelLinkedIn articles, posts, or newsletter on board topicsIoD, governance conferences, panel pitch templateArticle or opinion piece on governance trendsNED/Board awards (Board Intelligence, NED Awards)Active membership in NED peer group or board communitySkills gap analysis vs Chair competenciesTarget opportunity (subsidiary, charity, advisory board chair)Lead a nomination/succession process as ChairImprove governance standards at one organisationGiving back — mentoring new NEDs, pro bono board seats, trustee roles

Sound familiar?

These are the problems that slow down ned & board advisory. Each one has a journey below designed to solve it.

No clear path in

You have the experience but don't know how to get your first board role.

Governance knowledge gaps

Directors' duties, Companies Act, board dynamics — a lot to learn before your first meeting.

Imposter syndrome

Sitting at a board table for the first time is intimidating. You need a framework for contribution.

How Business Cheetah works

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Step 1

Pick a journey

Start wherever you are. No need to go in order — jump to the challenge that matters most right now.

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Step 2

Talk to your AI team

Text, voice, or phone. Your AI advisors know your business context and produce every deliverable with you.

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Step 3

Get real output

Every milestone creates a tangible asset — a document, model, strategy, or system you use immediately.

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Step 4

Daily progress

Your daily AI health check tracks what's done, what's next, and surfaces problems before they grow.

10 journeys. 51 deliverables.

Each journey tackles a specific challenge. Your AI team guides you through every step and produces the work with you.

Positioning & Readiness

What your AI team delivers

Skills matrix mapped to NED competencies (finance, strategy, governance, sector)

Target sectors + company stage (startup, scale-up, PLC, charity)

"I help boards do X" — positioning statement

Board-specific CV + LinkedIn positioning

Governance training needs (IoD, FT Board Director Programme, etc.)

Governance Foundations

What your AI team delivers

Summary of Companies Act s.170-177 duties + personal liability

Unitary vs two-tier, committee structures, terms of reference

How to read board packs: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, KPIs

Risk registers, internal controls, regulatory landscape

Conflicts of interest policy + ethical decision framework

Finding Board Roles

What your AI team delivers

Target 20 connections (chairs, NEDs, headhunters, investors)

Shortlist of board search firms + intro approach

Profiles on Nurole, NEDonBoard, Women on Boards, etc.

First advisory board role as stepping stone

What to investigate before accepting any role

Letter of appointment, fees, D&O insurance, time commitment

First Board Role

What your AI team delivers

Company financials, culture, risk, and people review

First 90 days: who to meet, what to read, what to observe

Understand the chair, exec team, fellow NEDs, and power dynamics

Identify one area where you can add early, visible value

Establish communication rhythm + feedback channel

Effective Board Contribution

What your AI team delivers

How to challenge exec without being adversarial

Personal process for preparing for each board meeting

Lead or contribute to a strategy away-day or review

Site visits, employee engagement, customer exposure

Self-assessment + board evaluation participation

Committee Expertise

What your AI team delivers

Financial reporting oversight, internal/external audit relationship

Exec pay, incentive structures, pay ratio reporting

Board succession, diversity targets, skills matrix refresh

Enterprise risk framework, emerging risks, crisis preparedness

ESG reporting, sustainability strategy, stakeholder expectations

Portfolio Board Career

What your AI team delivers

Target number of boards, sector mix, time allocation model

Realistic capacity analysis (most NEDs overcommit)

Fee benchmarking + equity/options for startup boards

Inbound approach pipeline — referrals + headhunter relationships

Managing conflicts across multiple board seats

Advisory & Mentoring

What your AI team delivers

When to take advisory vs formal NED (liability, time, equity)

Template advisory agreement + equity/fee terms

Mentoring framework for supporting founders 1:1

How investor-nominated seats differ + how to navigate

Join or form an industry advisory panel

Thought Leadership & Reputation

What your AI team delivers

LinkedIn articles, posts, or newsletter on board topics

IoD, governance conferences, panel pitch template

Article or opinion piece on governance trends

NED/Board awards (Board Intelligence, NED Awards)

Active membership in NED peer group or board community

Chair & Legacy

What your AI team delivers

Skills gap analysis vs Chair competencies

Target opportunity (subsidiary, charity, advisory board chair)

Lead a nomination/succession process as Chair

Improve governance standards at one organisation

Giving back — mentoring new NEDs, pro bono board seats, trustee roles

The outcome

A portfolio of board roles where you add genuine value, with a reputation that attracts inbound opportunities.

Every milestone is tracked. Your AI team knows where you are, what's next, and brings it into every meeting and daily brief. You're never guessing what to work on.

Try Free — 25 Ops Units View Pricing

No credit card required. Start with 25 free Ops Units.

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