Technology advisor to the board
A standing technology seat for your board or advisory board. Before each meeting we review the technology items and write a one-page brief. At the meeting we answer the technology questions directors ask. Between meetings the CEO and directors can call. It is an advisory seat, not a voting director role.
Who it is for
Who is it for?
- PE-backed and investor-backed companies whose boards ask technology questions nobody in the room can answer
- Founder-led companies building an advisory board
- Family-owned companies preparing for a transition
Deliverables
What do you get?
- A one-page technology brief before each board meeting
- Attendance at up to four board or advisory board meetings a year, in person in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, or remote
- A review of the technology items in board materials: budgets, vendor commitments, and major purchases
- Two calls a month with the CEO or a designated director
- An annual technology review for the board
The process
How does it work?
- 1
Month 1
Onboarding
A read of the board materials, the budget, and the major contracts, and a first brief.
- 2
Quarterly
Each meeting
A brief before, the room during, and follow-ups after.
- 3
Monthly
Between meetings
Two calls a month with the CEO or a designated director.
Price
What does it cost?
$2,500 per month
6-month initial term, then month to month. A voting director seat is a separate agreement and requires the company’s D&O coverage to extend to it.
An engagement letter is signed before any work starts.
Scope
What is not included?
- A voting director seat (available by separate agreement).
- Hands-on management of technology, vendors, or the MSP. That is the Operator Retainer.
Questions
Questions buyers ask
What does a technology advisor to the board do?
Reads the technology items before each meeting, writes a one-page brief on what matters and what to ask, answers directors’ technology questions in the room, and is available to the CEO between meetings.
Is this a board seat?
It is an advisory seat with no vote and no fiduciary duty. A voting director seat is possible by separate agreement, with the company’s D&O coverage extended to it.
How is this different from the Operator Retainer?
The board advisor works for the board and the CEO at the level of decisions and oversight. The Operator Retainer works inside the business: the MSP, the vendors, and the day-to-day technology calls.
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Is this the right fit?
Thirty minutes on the phone settles it. If it is not the right fit, we will say so.