Digital & Technology

Why Boards Need Digital NEDs To Shape The Right Questions

5 min read

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“Insufficient tech literacy in the C-suite and board is becoming unsustainable. Digital leaders can be accelerants for boards to skill up fast.” – Sarah Venning.

As AI and cyber risks dominate board agendas, digital literacy is no longer optional. Digital non-executives (NEDs) are rapidly gaining recognition by boards as a fundamentally valuable part of the agenda and strategy, and a strategic driver of growth and resilience.

At Odgers recent ‘Bridging the Gap’ event, four seasoned digital leaders shared their deep insights for boards and Chairs around the true value of digital leaders’ expertise in the boardroom; and advice for aspiring candidates on securing and transitioning into NED roles.

Our panellists were:

Sarah Venning, NED, AO.
Sanjeevan Bala, NED, SThree and Bakkavor.
Mike Potter, Independent Advisory & Former NED, Crown Hosting Data Centres.
Craig Suckling, NED, SONAE.

Why Pursue A NED Role?

For many, the move to a non-executive role is deeply personal. “Two of the most important things to me in life are purpose and connections. I wanted to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives, but also interact with amazing people,” said Mike.

For Sarah Venning, it was about staying sharp: “I wanted to keep learning. I was nervous my skills would get stale. I consciously looked for a role with a pureplay digital business to keep my own skills fresh.”

Reaching The First NED Role

Securing that first board seat often starts with signalling intent. “I signposted my interest with the CEO, and secured broader buy-in, shifted to board-themed events,” explained Sanjeevan Bala. “I started with a pro bono role to learn the language of the board.”

For Craig, finding the right fit was his primary objective: “It wasn’t something I actively pursued… I wanted cultural fit with the CEO and a vision I could help steward. It wasn’t about any NED role - it had to be the right one.”

Advice For Aspiring NEDs

When interviewing for NED roles, the focus should shift from personal delivery and commercial outcomes typical of executive roles, to demonstrating influence and strategic impact.

Sarah Venning added: “Stories for NED interviews are very different - it’s less about what you delivered and more about how you influenced decisions and helped others take great decisions around technology. Tailoring your CV for NED roles will strengthen your positioning.”

Advice For Chairs & Boards

Boards need strategic advisors who can help shape the right questions and guide decision-making.

A digital NED role is fundamentally different from an executive role as it demands broad, lateral thinking, cross-industry experience, and the ability to anticipate future technology impacts while translating them into commercial terms. Cultural insight is just as critical as technical knowledge.

“It’s about helping boards formulate the right questions and steer strategy so they’re thinking about the implications of technology across the business,” commented Craig Suckling.

How Digital Leaders Can Align Perfectly

Sarah, Sanjeevan and Mike shared why digital leaders make for strong NEDs.

“Insufficient tech literacy in the C-suite and board is becoming unsustainable. Digital leaders can be accelerants for boards to skill up fast,” said Sarah.

Commented Sanjeevan: “We’ve honed the ability to influence without authority… and make risk-adjusted investment decisions - exactly what happens in the boardroom.”

“The only sustainable competitive advantage is innovating more quickly than the competition, and that’s nearly always through technology,” added Mike.

NED Candidate Takeaways:

Signal your intent early. Leverage networks to access opportunities.
Tailor your narrative. NED interviews focus on influence and strategic impact, not operational delivery.
Choose the right fit. Look for boards that value digital insight beyond compliance.

Chair & Board Takeaways:

Digital literacy is critical. Cyber risk, AI and data strategy must be understood at the highest level.
Cross industry and cultural insight matter. Boards should see advisors who combine technical knowledge with broad commercial perspective and cultural fit.
Think beyond compliance. Digital expertise is a driver of growth, not just a regulatory or risk-management necessity.

Odgers’ CIO & Technology Officers Practice is dedicated to identifying and securing transformative digital leaders. Leveraging a global network of technology-focused search specialists, we partner with organisations ranging from ambitious start-ups to multinational enterprises to deliver the visionary talent needed to lead with impact and drive innovation.

Watch our in-depth conversations with our network of digital execs as part of our series exploring 'How Digital NEDs Are Bringing Value To The Boardroom.

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Get in touch. Follow the links below to learn more, or connect directly with our dedicated executive search experts and Digital & Technology Officer leadership consultants at your local Odgers office here.  