With extensive experience in People & Culture, Dani Saadu joined Connectd’s Transition to Portfolio programme to transition into a successful advisory board career, bringing strategic insight to startup growth.
The ‘Transition to Portfolio’ programme provided one pro bono advisory role, which I loved, but I also took on an advisory role and another pro bono NED role. Immersing myself in these roles helped me secure the paid NED position I have now because I was actively doing the work.
What impact has completing the ‘Transition to Portfolio’ programme had on your career path as a non-executive director?
The programme helped me present myself better in the external market. My previous CV wasn’t really suited for advisory board and NED roles, but the mentor I worked with was excellent—they helped me refine it to better fit these opportunities. After making those changes, I started getting more responses, and it also gave me a clearer understanding of the differences between advisory, non-executive work, and a senior leadership role within a business.
Which aspects of the programme did you find most valuable in preparing you for non-executive director roles?
For me, the mentoring sessions were the most valuable part. I learn best by bouncing ideas off someone, asking direct questions, and getting real insights. Having a mentor who already had a portfolio career and could guide me on how to get there was incredibly useful.
How have the skills and knowledge you gained during the programme helped you secure or approach non-executive director positions?
My mentor gave me a great strategy ‘take on as many volunteer and pro bono roles as possible to build experience’. The programme provided one, which I loved, but I also took on an advisory role and another pro bono NED role. Immersing myself in these roles helped me secure the paid NED position I have now because I was actively doing the work.
When it came to interviews, I wasn’t just talking about wanting to be a NED, I was already in the role, sharing real examples of what I’d done and the impact I’d made. That made a huge difference.
Can you share a specific moment or session from the programme that significantly shaped your approach to non-executive director leadership?
I always thought advisory work and being a non-executive director meant contributing solely in board meetings, following an agenda and discussing set topics.
What I learned, especially with startups, is that advisory roles can be much more fluid. Through the pro bono work I did with Connectd, I found myself providing one-on-one mentorship to individuals looking to gain experience in the HR and people space. Since board meetings couldn’t cover everything, I offered my support outside of them, taking a more strategic and hands-on mentoring approach. It was a perspective I hadn’t considered before, but it turned out to be incredibly valuable.
Do you feel more confident and prepared to take on non-executive director roles after completing the programme?
100% I feel a lot more confident.
I wouldn’t have secured the paid NED role I’m starting in 2025 without the experience I gained. During the interview process, I was able to showcase everything I’d done through the Connectd Transition to Portfolio programme—the training, the pro bono work and the insights I’d developed. It allowed me to present myself as an experienced advisor, and for that, I’m grateful.
