“I want to build a portfolio NED career. But where do I start?”
A question I’m increasingly asked
We recently sat down with Renaud Huck, who brings over 30 years of experience across financial markets. Renaud is deeply embedded in the fintech ecosystem, serving on multiple boards and currently mentoring at Level39 and at FinTech Innovation Lab London Accenture’s incubator and previously at Barclays Innovation Hub powered by Eagle Labs
Over the last decade, he’s built one of the more established NED profiles in the London fintech market.
And he has 5 Tips for those starting out at building a NED career:
1. Start with your network
Building your NED career starts with something far less glamorous than most expect: your network.
After 30 years working across six countries, his network was his starting point when he transitioned into NED roles in 2016. Outreach, relationships, and conversations.
You’re not stepping straight into chair-level roles. You need to learn the trade.
2. Start with charity NED positions
Renaud recommends starting with charity NED positions. They follow the same board structure, offer real governance experience, and help you understand the mindset. This is not about execution, but a “helicopter view” of strategy, risk, and oversight.
3. Qualifications are not essential
On qualifications, his view is refreshingly direct. They’re simply not essential. There’s no shortage of free resources, and in many cases, experience and network matter far more than formal NED courses.
Instead, the focus should be on staying visible:
attending industry events
building relationships
contributing to ecosystems
Because, unlike traditional roles, NED opportunities are rarely advertised. They’re found through trusted networks, conversations, and introductions often via recruitment partners or direct outreach from CEOs during periods of growth or transformation.
4. Sector expertise matters
NED roles are often brought in when a business needs to scale, expand, or navigate complexity. Which means sector expertise matters.
The result? A portfolio career made up of strategic oversight roles, advisory positions, and ecosystem involvement, each requiring a different balance of time, typically from a day a month to more hands-on advisory work.
Think about what expertise you have to offer as you build your NED career.
5. A strong NED career isn’t built overnight
Critically, a strong NED career isn’t built overnight. It’s built through experience, network, and credibility, layered over time, and anchored in a clear point of view.
I’m tagging the brilliant Renaud Huck. He’s a great example of how to turn deep industry experience into a meaningful portfolio career.
Get in touch
DM Ellis for a confidential chat and further information.