Clarity on your board-level contribution.
Evidence that panels can properly assess.
Positioning aligned to how Chairs and boards actually appoint NEDs.

Designed to strengthen judgement, contribution, and how you are assessed in real board appointments.

For senior executives preparing to apply for their first NED role.

A Clear, Board-Ready Positioning Statement

Fast-Start develops your NED positioning using the same assessment principles Munro Consulting applies when advising Chairs and presenting candidates to appointment panels.

It clarifies the contribution you would make at board level, strengthens the quality of your evidence, and frames your leadership, judgement, and style in a way that aligns with how real appointment decisions are made.

This is not generic or template-driven. It reflects how boards evaluate fit, contribution, and credibility when making NED appointments and why many capable candidates are rejected when these are unclear.

What You Will Achieve After Fast-Start

By completing Fast-Start, you will be able to:

  • define your board-level contribution with clarity and precision

  • articulate your skills, leadership style, and judgement in a way Chairs respond to

  • assess your relevance across a broader and more realistic range of NED opportunities

  • present evidence in applications that stands up to assessment-panel scrutiny

  • use a clear, ready-to-apply NED positioning statement in conversations and applications

This is practical, senior-level positioning, focused on judgement, contribution, and assess ability.

Who Fast-Start Is For

Fast-Start is designed for senior executives preparing to apply for their first or early Non-Executive Director (NED) roles.

It is particularly relevant for those operating at C-suite or near–C-suite level, including executives working in:

  • large corporates

  • SMEs

  • private and family-owned businesses

  • public sector organisations

  • health, education, and third-sector bodies

  • start-ups and scale-ups

Fast-Start is suitable for functional leaders, operational leaders, and P&L owners across all disciplines.

If you operate at senior-executive level and are being asked to demonstrate board-level contribution, rather than career history, Fast-Start will help you position yourself credibly.

Why This Approach Works

Fast-Start applies the same criteria Chairs and appointment panels use when assessing Non-Executive Director candidates.

Rather than focusing on career history, governance theory, or informal networking, it shifts your positioning towards future board contribution, judgement, and assessability.

This is where many capable executives struggle — not because they lack experience, but because they have never been required to articulate how they would contribute at board level in a way that stands up to scrutiny.

Munro Consulting brings this perspective from assessing, coaching, and presenting NED candidates across multiple sectors, and from observing first-hand why strong executives are often rejected at shortlisting stage.

What the Programme Includes

Fast-Start is structured around practical outputs you can apply immediately, including:

  • a bespoke NED positioning statement reflecting your leadership, judgement, style, and board-level contribution

  • a clear articulation of the skills you bring to a board and how they map to a typical skills matrix

  • guidance on the type and quality of evidence appointment panels expect in strong applications

  • a concise NED pitch you can use in conversations, profiles, and applications

  • a realistic understanding of where your experience is most relevant — and where it is not

Initial cohort only: a 45-minute one-to-one strategy session with Steve Haggerty to review and refine your positioning (limited to the first 10 participants).

All outputs are tailored specifically to you, drawing on Munro Consulting’s experience assessing and advising senior executives for NED appointments.

Programme Overview

The Munro NED Fast-Start Programme is designed for senior executives considering their first or early Non-Executive Director (NED) role who want to approach the market with realism and judgement.

Drawing on extensive experience in executive search and board appointments, the programme focuses on how Chairs and appointment panels actually assess NED candidates. It does not rely on governance theory, generic advice, or informal networking assumptions.

Fast-Start guides you through a structured, assessment-led process to:

  • clarify the contribution you would make at board level

  • translate executive experience into a clear, forward-looking NED proposition

  • understand how boards think about balance, skills, and judgement

  • identify and present evidence in a way panels can properly assess

  • recognise common reasons strong candidates are rejected at shortlisting stage

This is not a governance qualification and does not attempt to turn you into a professional NED overnight. Its purpose is to help you approach your first applications with clarity, restraint, and a credible board-level proposition.

Time Commitment

Fast-Start is designed to be completed alongside full-time executive responsibilities.

Most participants complete the programme over 14–21 days, investing approximately 10–15 hours in total, depending on the level of reflection they apply to their positioning.

The programme is structured around short, focused modules and practical outputs, allowing you to progress at a pace that fits around existing commitments.

Pricing

Initial cohort pricing: £500

This includes a 45-minute one-to-one strategy session with Steve Haggerty to review and refine your NED positioning.

Participation in this strategy session is limited to the first 10 executives.


Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fast-Start appropriate if I already hold a Non-Executive Director (NED) role?
Yes. Fast-Start is particularly useful if you want to sharpen how your contribution is articulated for future appointments, reposition yourself for different types of boards, or strengthen how your evidence stands up to assessment.

Do I need governance training before applying for NED roles?
No. Governance training can be helpful once appointed, but it is rarely a prerequisite for securing an initial NED role. Appointment decisions are more often driven by contribution, judgement, and fit than formal qualifications.

How personalised is the output?
All outputs are bespoke. Fast-Start is designed to surface and articulate your contribution, evidence, and positioning — not to apply templates or generic profiles.

Is Fast-Start sector-specific?
No. The principles apply across sectors. While board contexts differ, the way Chairs and panels assess contribution, judgement, and credibility is remarkably consistent.

What if I decide I am not yet ready to apply for NED roles?
That is a valid and constructive outcome. Fast-Start is designed to improve decision quality. In some cases, it will confirm readiness; in others, it will help you identify what needs to change before applying.

How much time do I realistically need to commit?
Most participants complete Fast-Start within 14–21 days. The programme is concise and focused on outputs rather than content consumption, respecting the time constraints of senior executives.

Next Steps

Fast-Start is designed to help you make informed decisions about pursuing Non-Executive Director roles and to position yourself credibly when you do.

If you want to approach the NED market with clear judgement, a defensible board-level proposition, and a realistic understanding of where you add value, the Munro NED Fast-Start Programme will support you in doing exactly that.