Robert Dagge

From Operator to Board Leader: Takeaways on Moving into NED & Chair Roles I recently attended a fantastic Boardwave event focused on the transition into Non-Executive Director (NED) and Chair roles for scaling SaaS companies. Having navigated this shift myself, I completely agree with the core message: The best board members know the business like an operator first, then step back to govern strategically. The insights from leaders like Christian Erlandson, Elizabetta Camilleri and Lars Dige Pedersen confirmed that embracing a growth mindset is paramount for success in transitioning to the boardroom. It requires continuous learning, challenging assumptions, and being prepared to pivot strategies as the company scales. Here are my top takeaways on the playbook for impactful board leadership shared by our panelists: 1. The Operator-First Onboarding Approach As Christian emphasized, getting to know the business is key—but it's about breadth, not depth initially. You need to earn your perspective. 💡 Become the Voice of the Customer (VoC): Meet with customers and truly anchor your strategic questions on the pain point the company is solving. This ensures the boardroom never loses sight of the primary value driver. 💡Structured Learning & Connection: Balance desk research on the competitive landscape with authentic connections (lunches, drinks) with the management team. 💡Rhythm of Dialogue: Establish a regular 'catch-up' rhythm with the management team, separate from formal board meetings, to maintain an open dialogue and stay current. 2. The Board's Strategic Trinity Lars laid out the three core areas where a board member must focus their expertise to drive sustainable growth—all underpinned by a growth mindset: 💡Value Creation: What are the 2-3 levers that will truly compound value in this specific market? 💡Value Chain: Understanding where the business sits within its ecosystem and how it captures that value. 💡The Exit: Alignment is crucial. The board's role is to agree on the strategic "canvas" that needs to be "ticked off" to execute the desired exit—and understanding the value at stake for all stakeholders. Crucially, the Team underlies all three. The board's greatest role is ensuring the right leadership is in place to execute this vision and embody that continuous learning culture. The transition from a full-time operator to a strategic NED/Chair is a fascinating shift. It demands a growth mindset, disciplined learning, a commitment to bringing the VoC to the table, and absolute alignment on the long-term value creation and exit strategy. #BoardLeadership #SaaS #NED #NonExecutiveDirector #GrowthMindset #Boardwave #ValueCreation 🔥 Question for the community: What is the single most important question you ask a CEO during your initial onboarding to understand the true pulse of the business?

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"I think Luminance is magic." 🪄 In part three of Luminance's video case study with leading chip manufacturer AMD, Senior Director - Legal, Sheldon Silverman, explains how Luminance can take a first-pass of all incoming contracts and what this means for the wider business going forward...

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Today marks a huge milestone for Actionstep, as we have just released our first ever UK Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report. We’ve spent the past few months gathering real insights straight from UK law firm leaders about what’s driving their strategies in 2025. A few key takeaways I wanted to share: - The competition for great people is real. Hiring and retaining talent is the top priority. - Client experience is under the microscope. Firms are focused on delivering more consistency and impact. - Most firms have streamlined operations, but AI adoption remains low. The report has so many trends and key takeaways relevant to midsize law firms in the UK. Download the free report here: https://okt.to/XRW0b8 There are still a few spots available for our event this Thursday in London where we will explore these key findings in depth. Sign up here: https://okt.to/4UnQWq #lawfirmreport #lawfirmleadership #ukevent #lawfirms #midsizelaw

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BusinessCloud has joined forces with the UK’s largest community of board advisors to hold a series of exclusive UK-wide masterclass business events in 2026. VirtualNonExecs.com is the UK’s largest community of board advisors, giving corporate partners unparalleled access to the boardrooms of over 50,000 SMEs.   The company, which was acquired by Leonard Curtis in 2024, specialises in connecting companies, private equity, venture capital and family office funds with non-executive and chair professionals.   VirtualNonExecs has big ambitions to grow and have teamed up with BusinessCloud to hold a series of face-to-face masterclass events.   Experienced Dominique Dempsey has joined as events manager and the first two business breakfast has been earmarked Leeds for the end of February on how to scale internationally.   Gary Cain, managing director of VirtualNonExecs, said: “We’re delighted that Dominique has joined us and to be partnering with BusinessCloud.   “By combining these in-person events with VirtualNonExecs’ existing virtual networking, we are creating a powerful hybrid model that really enhances our offer.”   Christopher Maguire, executive editor of BusinessCloud, said: “We’re delighted to be working with VirtualNonExecs. I’ve known Gary and Dominique for a long time and we can leverage our respective networks to produce the best events.   “I’ve followed the growth of VirtualNonExecs since it was founded in 2019 and we’re honoured that they’ve chosen BusinessCloud to be their events partner.” Full story here https://lnkd.in/ekbZ5Zw4

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Starting or growing your business just got easier with a variety of grants and loans available to entrepreneurs across the UK. Whether you're looking to scale up, invest in technology, or fuel your creative project, there’s a funding opportunity to suit your needs. Here’s what you need to know about the best small business grants and loans: https://heyor.ca/xyhsDq #BusinessGrowth #StartUp #SmallBusinessUK #GrantsAndLoans #Entrepreneur

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Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP Chief Innovation Officer Sam Dixon on the pain of hunting for clauses, definitions and endless scrolling before Definely. "I didn't realize how much of a pain point that was." A conversation with Womble Bond Dickinson, in partnership with LegalTechTalk.

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UK Top 50 law firm Birketts LLP, which has a significant East of England presence, has further strengthened its Commercial and Technology team with the appointment of Ian Williamson. His appointment brings the number of Partners in the Commercial and Technology Team to five and the total number of Partners at Birketts to 138.  Joining from EY, Williamson is described as a highly skilled Commercial Technology Partner, with extensive experience in advising on all aspects of commercial contracting, technology agreements and data use and monetisation. He works with both national and international clients intending to do business in the UK. Also joining the team is Ian’s former EY colleague, Mariya Kolomiyets, who has been appointed Associate in the Commercial and Technology Team. Both will be based in Birketts’ London office. The appointments follow the arrival last month of Partners Barny Croft, Private Wealth Disputes and Stephanie Kingdon, Property Disputes, as well as Legal Directors Lucia Mills, Property Disputes, and Catrin Mills, Employment. Jeanette Wheeler, Partner and Head of Corporate Services at Birketts, said: “Ian has a strong track record in the sector, as well as a broad range of experience, and we are very much looking forward to having him and Mariya on board. There is no doubt that they will be excellent additions to our Commercial and Technology team.” Full article – https://lnkd.in/eck4D5ZM

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