Blog – Dynamic Boards

Non-Executive Director Service Contracts: A 6 Point Checklist

This blog contains a 6 point checklist to support Non-Execs when reviewing their own service contract. Guest blog from Lawyer and NED, Caroline Dutot at Ardent Chambers.

The Legal Role of a Non-Executive Director: Mitigating Exposure to Risk (Part 3/3)

In the final blog of this series, we explore how Non-Execs can mitigate potential legal issues when fulfilling their duties.

The Legal Role of a Non-Executive Director: When Things Go Wrong (Part 2/3)

In the second blog of this series, we explore the legal pitfalls of being a NED and what happens when things go wrong.

The Legal Role of a Non-Executive Director: Requirements and Duties (Part 1/3)

In the first blog of this series exploring the legal risks faced by NEDs, we look at the requirements for becoming a Non-Executive Director in the UK and the legal duties associated with taking on a board role.

The Merits of the Consultant Non-Executive Director

What are some of the main biased viewpoints that consultancy-experienced Non-Executive Directors face and what can they do to navigate and mitigate these potential biases during board applications? Learn more in this guest opinion blog from Liz Henderson, member of our Dynamic Boards NED Community.

Women on Boards as Non-Executive Directors Series – Ruth Glazzard

In the final instalment of this women on boards blog series, we speak to Ruth Glazzard on her experience of being a NED.

Women on Boards as Non-Executive Directors Series – Christina Renner-Thomas

In the next blog of this women on boards series we speak to Christina Renner-Thomas on her experience of being a Non-Executive Director.

Women on Boards as Non-Executive Directors Series – Gail Le Coz

In the third blog of this women on boards series, we speak to Gail Le Coz on her experience of being a NED.

Women on Boards as Non-Executive Directors Series – Alison McKinna

In the next instalment of this women on boards blog series, we speak to Alison McKinna on her experience of being a NED.

Women on Boards as Non-Executive Directors Series – Yvonne Luu

We speak with five women about their experiences of being a Non-Executive Director. We kick off this blog series by speaking to Yvonne Luu.

Lab To Boardroom: Using your STEM Skills as a Non-Executive Director

Science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) skills are essential to any modern business. Mistakes in STEM can be expensive, and in some cases, catastrophic, so it’s critical to have these skills represented at the top level. We spoke with STEM champion, Helen Ramsay, about her journey from a chemical engineer to Non-Executive Director. Why did you become a NED?

How Cross-Sector Non-Executive Directors Can Add Value To Any Board

How Cross Sector NEDs Add Value To The Board

Should a company board be made up of those who have experience from within their specific industry, or with those from other industries too? We are seeing a shift in NED makeup: from boards almost exclusively appointing retired individuals from an industry, to boards now recognising the benefit of bringing in Non-Executives from other sectors. So, how can NEDs joining

Positively Shaping Your Board Mindset: Best Books For Non-Executive Directors

Invest in your board career with a good book to help positively shape your board mindset for the coming year. Here are some top reads recommended by our NED Community Members.

Four Due Diligence Checks Non Executive Directors Should Do Before Accepting A Board Role

Four Things Every Non Executive Director Should Do Before Accepting A Board Role

Companies conduct thorough due diligence checks on candidates, but, it goes both ways. Or, at least it should. As a NED, this research can help you to know if the organisation is a good fit for you and your needs as a Non-Executive Director. But, what due diligence checks should you do? Read on to find out.

Board Meeting Preparation Tips For Non-Executive Directors

Don’t be a NED that just shows up to board meetings and goes through the motions! A reasonable proportion of the value that you bring to the business will be in those meetings. You must be prepared. Read our tips for better board meeting preparation.

How Can Non-Executive Directors Have More Effective Hybrid or Online Board Meetings?

Whilst hybrid and online meetings have a number of benefits including increased attendance, greater diversity of board members, and centralised governance, they aren’t without their challenges. What steps can you take as a Chair or NED to make online/hybrid meetings more effective and productive for everyone in attendance? Read on to find out.

What Makes A Good Non-Executive Director? A CEO’s Perspective

The most important relationship that Non-Executive Directors must nurture and sustain is the one with their Chief Executive Officer. However, it is a complex relationship since the CEO is in charge of day-to-day operations of the company, developing and executing strategy while the board provides a broader perspective, approving and advising on decisions. What traits would a CEO look for

Board Dynamics: How To Deal With Difficult Board Members

In a recent NED Community session, guest speaker, Paddy Gray, spoke about the most common types of disruptors, highlighting their key characteristics and provided us with some tips on how best to handle them to restore the balance in the boardroom.

Board Leadership: Top Tips For First-Time Chairs

Being a Chair requires an understanding of when and how to act and an awareness of what the company and its board needs from you. The switch from Exec or Non-Exec to Chair often requires a shift in mind-set. Read on for some top tips on how to make a positive impact as a new Chair.

Co-Sec 101: The Role Of The Company Secretary

Most Non-Execs will find their Company Secretary is an all-too-often untapped fountain of knowledge within an organisation. But, what does a Company Secretary actually do? Read on to find out.

How To Make Risk Come Alive As A Non-Executive Director

Risk management is a serious topic and one that all Non-Executives should be focused on. We take a look at some of the most common mistakes of risk management and what Non-Executives can do to avoid them.

What Can Non-Executive Directors Learn From The Post Office Horizon Scandal?

The Post Office Horizon IT Scandal is a sobering reminder of the importance of good governance in an organisation and serves as a cautionary tale for Non-Executive Directors. What can NEDs learn from the scandal? Read on to find out.

Non-Executive Director Progression: How To Progress Your Career As A NED

Whether you become a NED in your 30s or your 60s, being an effective Non-Executive Director takes a lot of hard work, self-motivation, resilience and self-development but it can be a highly rewarding career path. Read on for some top tips on how to progress your career as a Non-Executive Director.

How To Deal With Imposter Syndrome As a Non-Executive Director or Chair

Imposter Syndrome isn’t a topic that is widely discussed, yet so many Non-Execs will suffer from it at some point in their career. This blog covers advice from Non-Execs across the industry who have shared their own experiences of Imposter Syndrome with us and how they have challenged those feelings.

The True Time Commitment Of A Non-Executive Director

The advertised time commitment of a Non-Exec is often different from the time it actually takes to effectively manage the role. This article takes a look at how NEDs spend their time, what events can cause a spike in time commitment and how the time commitment for Non-Execs varies from sector to sector.

Becoming A NED In A Family Owned Business

A seat at the top table of a family owned business brings its own set of unique challenges and opportunities for an independent board member joining the board as a Non-Executive Director or Board Advisor. What should you consider when joining a family business board? Read more to find out.

Adding A Non-Executive-Director To The Board Of Your Family Owned Business

What are some of the pros and cons to appointing a non-family member to your family board? Read on to find out.

Shadow Directors: What Is A Shadow Directorship & How To Avoid It?

Boards are at the heart of company governance. They play a critical role in making strategic decisions, managing risks and providing oversight and accountability, and can have a significant role in shaping the company’s overall performance and impact. With great power comes great responsibility for the company Directors, but watch out: it also comes to shadow directors.

How Do I Respond To A Chair Who Allows For Minimal Input From The Non-Executive Directors?

For this anonymous challenge, we invited three board members (Monica Chadha, Manju Malhotra and Charlotte Valeur) with experience in non-executive and executive capacities to comment on how they would handle this scenario.

B3Living’s experience of the Dynamic Boards Non-Exec advertising service

“We’ve recruited some great people in the past, but I’ve found you get the same pool of people applying. We really wanted to improve the diversity on our board so I came to realise we needed to do something different“. Claire Howe, Executive Director, B3Living We launched Dynamic Boards to do just that. Something different. UK boards would be more

Becoming A Young Non-Executive Director: Shona Marsh

Shona became a Non-Exec at 31. She spoke to Dynamic Boards’ CEO, Sarah Pierman, about being a young Non-Executive Director, how she landed her first board position and her message for other young people applying for Non-Exec roles.

What to write in your Non-Executive Director role advert?

We advertise c.100 Non-Executive Director and Chair roles every month. Here are our top tips on what to include in your non-exec advert: Headlines: Name of the organisation whose board they would be joining. And if they would be joining a sub committee board within that organisation detail that in the title. The title of the role – e.g. Chair,

“It’s complicated.” Everyone nods, smiles and moves on. What should I do?

Dear Dynamic Boards, One of the executive directors is clever, charismatic and absolutely on top of their game. The rest of the board think they are great and are slightly in awe. However, the result is that whenever I put forward even slightly challenging questions the response is – “well, it’s VERY complicated…” and the rest of the board nod

Tech Experience On Boards: 10 Reasons Chief Technology Officers Make Great Non-Executive Directors

Every business is now a tech business, which means technology expertise in the modern boardroom is an essential skill-set. Yet many boards are still lacking technology skills in 2024, and they have been for quite some time. We asked 65 CTOs (Chief Technology Officers) why CTOs would make great Non-Executive Directors and recorded their top 10 answers in this blog.

Board Recruitment: Off-Putting Wording Used In Non-Executive Director Adverts

Words matter. When someone is reading an advert for your board role, they should be able to gather an impression of your values and culture, understand what kinds of skills, experiences and perspectives you are looking for and figure out whether they would be a good fit. Is that happening? Are they getting a good impression of you and your

Data dive on housing non-exec board roles

What kind of board members are housing associations looking for? How much do they pay? And how much do they use search firms? Read our insights to find out. Nearly half of all Housing Associations specifically look for diversity in their non-exec adverts. The group most frequently encouraged to apply for roles is people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic

How To Write A Non-Executive Director CV And Cover Letter

Whether you are applying for your first board role or are looking to land your next NED opportunity, the quality of your CV and covering letter can make or break your chances of success. Read on for our top CV and cover letter writing tips.

Company Board Positions: Non-Executive Director Jargon

How To Write A Non-Executive Director CV And Cover Letter (2)

There are a range of roles and number of different board positions and acronyms used in adverts, which can be confusing. In this guide, we focus on the different kinds of board role titles you might find when searching for Non-Executive Director positions.

NED chats ~ Mark Sweeny, Non-Executive Director, Sapphire Independent Housing

Watch our full conversation with Mark Sweeny, Non-Executive Director, Sapphire Independent Housing Highlights: ☛ Why housing associations’ have independent non-execs ☛ Has the experience of being on a housing association board changed in 30 years ☛ The COVID-19 impact on the length of board packs ☛ Innovation in housing associations ☛ The need to look at diversity in governance in a sustainable way

Helping Housing Associations create dynamic boards

We know it isn’t easy to create a dynamic board; with a brilliant and ever changing mix of skills, experiences and perspectives. We are on a mission to help you dance towards dynamism, (rather than ticking boxes to achieve diversity)! We use data to optimise the advertising of your non-exec vacancy so you or your search firm can focus your

Joining the Board of a Housing Association

Becoming a non-executive director of a housing association is “like getting an MBA for free”… We asked Mark Sweeny what he’d say to someone considering joining the board of a housing association. His 1 minute answer gets to the heart of it: you’d get a huge amount of personal development (akin to a “free MBA”!) and a chance to bring

NED chats ~ Jonathan Roe, Chair of Amigo Holdings Plc

Watch our chat with Jonathan Roe, Chair of Amigo Holdings Plc. Highlights:☛Joining a board while meetings are held remotely☛ The impact of lockdown on interactions between the board and employees☛ The importance of simple or left-field questions☛ Avoiding group think Thank you Jonathan for your time! ——- If you know of a Non-Executive Director who you think Dynamic Boards should

NED chats ~ Jenny Brown, Board Member and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Longhurst Group

Watch our chat withJenny Brown, Board Member and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee, Longhurst Group. Jenny has been on boards since her 20s. In this video she shares her reflections on the role of a Non-Executive Director. Highlights:☛ Contributing in areas that aren’t necessarily your specialism☛ Standing back and seeing the wood from the trees☛ Having a NED role

Tokenism on boards

Diversity awkwardness. In this series we hit the awkward topics around boards, and we try to encourage a move towards a thoughtful discussion that will drive us to create truly dynamic boards. This is #2 in the series, click here to read #1 “I’m not diversity”. “I don’t want to be asked to join the board just because I’m the

“I’m not diversity” ~ why we advocate using the word ‘mix’

Diversity awkwardness. In this series we hit the awkward topics around boards, and we try to encourage a move towards a thoughtful discussion that will drive us to create truly dynamic boards. He started the video call by saying “So firstly, thank you for speaking with me. I know I’m not diversity. But I’m interested in chatting to you about

Board Diversity Recruitment – How To Encourage NED Applications From Under-Represented Groups

If your board is looking to develop a better mix of skills, experiences and perspectives, get in touch with us at hello@dynamicboards.co.uk, we’d love to help you achieve that. If you think the board of the company you work for isn’t representative then please share this blog with your CEO or the Chair of the board. Or tag them in

Non Executive Directors for 2020 and beyond

All too often we only hear about company boards when something goes wrong. When there is a scandal we ask ‘where was the board?’ and we expect them to perform as a public punchbag. Look back 30 years, and UK boards were often trophy cabinets: the great and the good, there to show the evidence of the company’s gravitas. Look

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