Build your Board Career in Fintech & Regulated Financial Services
FINTECH Circle Board Programme 2026
What is Included in the Board Programme?
- Watch 12+ Hours of Premium Board-Level Training- Available 24/7
- Complete 8 x Strategic Modules designed for Future Board Leaders
- Webinars: Fintech specific & Board Role focused
- Experience Live “Pop-Up Boards” & Real-World Role-Play Scenarios
- Enjoy Hybrid Learning. Both on and offline
- Connect With Senior Finance & Fintech Professionals
- Meet Leading Executive Search Firms & Top Headhunters
- Live CV Coaching
- Attend Exclusive VIP Networking & Leadership Events
- Professional Industry Networking
- Access Promotional Opportunities within The Community
- Events: Access the Annual Board & CEO Summit
Who should Join?
Combines:
- Strategic frameworks with practical guidance
- Real-world fintech case-studies
- Interviews with successful Board Members & Headhunters
- Personal introductions to Fintech CEOs, Board Members and Headhunters
FINTECH
CIRCLE
BOARD
Programme
Participating Headhunters
Course Lecturers include:
Patrick Dunne OBE
Ralph Grayson
Susanne Chishti
Ian Merricks
Hyder Jumabhoy
Simon Poole
Board Lecturers from
Tier 1 - Online Curriculum
Six modules. Every door you need opened.
Board Fundamentals
- Board overview
- Directors' duties in regulated sectors
- Role of Board vs Executive
- Sub-committees: Audit, Risk, Remuneration, Nomination
- Key roles: Chair, SID, NED, CEO, CFO
- Governance frameworks
Portfolio Career Strategy
- Advisory vs NED vs Fractional roles
- Working with founders vs CEOs
- Listed board dynamics
- Career progression: Advisor NED Chair
- Coaching importance
- Income mix & portfolio structuring
Fintech Advisory & NED Landscape
- Fintech market dynamics
- Positioning & credibility
- Commercial structuring (fees, equity)
- Case studies
Fundraising Journey
- Capital raising stages
- Founder pressures
- Round execution strategies
- Board advisor role in fundraising
Regulatory Accountability
- FCA & PRA governance expectations
- Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR)
- Fiduciary, reputational, and personal risk exposure
- Importance of D&O insurance
AI for Board Members
- AI strategy and data foundations
- Opportunities and risks of agentic AI
- The board's role in AI-driven transformation
- AI regulation in financial services
Tier 1 - Online Curriculum
Four modules: Chair & NED Interviews
Charles McManus
Tier 1 - Online Curriculum
Headhunter Sessions
|
FINTECH Circle Board
Programme Features & Benefits
|
TIER 1
Digital
£999
incl. VAT · Online Only
For the board-curious
|
TIER 2
Flagship
3 months
Our core board programme
|
TIER 3
Elite
3 months
Maximum placement power
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Features included | 8 features | 19 features | 29 features |
| 1 · Format & Access | |||
| Online on-demand course 12 hours · self-paced | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1 year content access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monthly live webinar NEDs, Chairs & headhunters | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monthly Pop-Up Board Live fintech CEOs | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-person London events | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3 extra Board webinars | — | — | ✓ |
| 3 extra Pop-Up Boards | — | — | ✓ |
| Build your own AI Board Agent Half-Day Workshop Create your personal Board Digital Twin & Productivity Assistant safely | — | — | ✓ |
| VIP Dinner at Annual Board & CEO Summit in London | — | — | ✓ |
| 2 · Cohort & Selection | |||
| Open / unlimited enrolment | ✓ | — | — |
| Selective admission Max 25 members · Application required | — | ✓ | — |
| Highly selective Max 15 members · Application + interview required | — | — | ✓ |
| 3 · Cohort Frequency | |||
| Always-on rolling access Enrol any time · immediate start | ✓ | — | — |
| Up to 10 cohorts per year | — | ✓ | — |
| 3 cohorts per year Spring · Summer · Autumn | — | — | ✓ |
| 4 · Headhunter & Placement Access | |||
| 7 Headhunters in online course Audeliss · Teneo · Warren Partners · Russell Reynolds · Norman Broadbent · Sapphire Partners · Miles Advisory | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live NED CV Clinic with Warren Partners Warren Partners · group session | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Routes to NED appointments session | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| First-time NED success session | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private Board Career Review (2 hrs) 1-to-1 with Susanne Chishti | — | — | ✓ |
| Private Interview Practise (2 hrs) 1-to-1 with Headhunter | — | — | ✓ |
| Private Board Coaching (2 hrs) 1-to-1 with Certified Coach | — | — | ✓ |
| 5 · Personal Introductions | |||
| Opportunity-driven introductions Via cohort events | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Guaranteed 3 personal introductions to Chairs & CEOs | — | — | ✓ |
| Exclusive invite to FINTECH Circle Investor Network & introductions | — | — | ✓ |
| 6 · Access to CEO Network | |||
| Direct CEO interaction at Pop-Up Boards | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bi-annual Investor Network events City of London | — | — | ✓ |
| Pre-event intro to 3 fintech CEOs Personally arranged by Susanne Chishti | — | — | ✓ |
| VIP Dinner · Annual Board & CEO Summit | — | — | ✓ |
| 7 · FINTECH Circle Marketing Support | |||
| Personal Social Media Card for LinkedIn | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Written interview published FINTECH Circle LinkedIn + website · 260,000+ community | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video interview published FINTECH Circle LinkedIn | — | — | ✓ |
| Permanent listing in Board Member Directory Visible to CEOs & Chairs seeking NEDs | — | — | ✓ |
| 8 · FINTECH Circle Community Access | |||
| FINTECH Circle newsletter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full 260,000+ global community access | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| WhatsApp peer network Real-time board support & insights | — | ✓ | ✓ |
|
Post-programme community access
3 months (Tier 3) · 12 months priority (Tier 3) |
— | ✓ | ✓ |
| Permanent alumni status Annual Elite roundtable · First refusal on board roles | — | — | ✓ |
| 9 · Certificate & Post-Programme | |||
| Certificate of Completion | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CPD-eligible hours (from Nov onwards) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Formal CPD hours log on completion | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMCR/FCA-aligned CPD certificate Verified hours for regulated firm CPD logs | — | — | ✓ |
| Optional reference from Susanne Chishti, Chair Board Programme For board applications, reference requests | — | — | ✓ |
| 10 · Corporate Sponsorship (Tier 3 only) | |||
| Group pricing for 3+ employees £5,500 + VAT per person | — | — | ✓ |
| Bespoke corporate onboarding Aligned to board succession objectives | — | — | ✓ |
| Post-programme CPD report Progress · achievement · next steps | — | — | ✓ |
| SMCR/SMF CPD mapping Suitable for Senior Managers' CPD logs | — | — | ✓ |
| Corporate reference letter | — | — | ✓ |
| Best for: Choose the tier that matches your experience and ambition | Financial services professionals exploring a board career for the first time | Senior executives pursuing their first or next fintech board seat — min. 15 years senior financial services experience | C-suite / MD-level or corporates sponsoring employees with 20+ years finance expertise |
Experience a Fintech Pop Up Board
As well as 12+ hours of Video learning, delivered by senior Industry professionals, board members are invited to join live “Pop-Up Boards” and interactive role-play sessions designed to simulate genuine boardroom discussions and decision-making environments.
These sessions help you to develop the confidence, communication skills, and strategic mindset expected from modern board directors, while allowing you to learn directly from experienced professionals and peers within the Fintech industry.
Participating Fintech CEOs from the following companies
Get FINTECH BOARD Ready
Positioning Coaching
Leadership Events
That Open Doors
Within The Community
CEO Summit
At Board Level
Board-Ready Leader
Course Materials include:
Boards: A Practical Perspective
FinTech for Dummies
Testimonials
What our members say.
Stacey Body
Co-Founder & CEO, Aventur
Sonja Lang
NED Aventur · CEO, Mindful Clarity
Monica Millares
Chief Product Officer at Purpose Driven Fintech and Advisory Board Member and Product, Strategy & Commercial Operator in B2C Fintech
Get Board Ready with the World 1st Fintech Focused Board Programme
- Online Access to all Course Materials for 1 year
-
Top 10 Tips for writing your Board CV in
Finance & Fintech
-
3 Months Membership of the FINTECH
Circle Board Group
- Guide to how to find your 1st Board Role in this sector
- Career Advice from top Industry head-hunters including Audeliss, Miles Advisory, Norman Broadbent, Sapphire Partners, Teneo, Warren Partners and Russell Reynolds Associates
-
Join the private FINTECH Circle Board WhatsApp Group
for peer-to-peer networking and support
Programme Includes
Monthly Live Webinars
Non-Executive: what interviewers look for and how to prepare
FINTECH Pop-up Boards
Fintech Scale up Serene
What You Get
Annual Board & CEO Summit
Not open to the public — reserved for programme members only.
Private Peer Network
Your Personal
Marketing Profile
This alone is the kind of visibility that takes years to build independently
Access to Board
Whats App Group
Become Board Certified
Personal Career Coaching & NED CV Review with Headhunter
Private Interview Practise & Access to CEO Network
Who this Course is Perfect for?
The Programme is designed for:
- Senior leaders from banking, insurance, asset management, payments and fintech
- Former or current partners from consulting and audit
- Experienced fractional executives
- Board advisors and NEDs expanding into fintech
- Coaches with proven experience in regulated environments
It is NOT Designed for:
- Early-career professionals
- Sectors outside of finance and technology
What you'll leave with
A defensible, paid
portfolio career strategy.
01
A defensible portfolio-career strategy
02
Clear role boundaries and practical knowledge
03
Confidence to spot where you add most value across sectors and company stages
04
Long-term credibility — and a measurable lift in interview success
The difference
What makes this
programme different.
services only
Chair roles together
industry headhunters
and downside risk
interpret behaviour
The FINTECH Circle Board Programme
What is Included in the Board Course?
- Watch 12+ Hours of Premium Board-Level Training- Available 24/7
- Complete 8 x Strategic Modules designed for Future Board Leaders
- Webinars: Fintech specific & Board Role focused
- Experience Live “Pop-Up Boards” & Real-World Role-Play Scenarios
- Enjoy Hybrid Learning. Both on and offline
- Connect With Senior Finance & Fintech Professionals
- Meet Leading Executive Search Firms & Top Headhunters
- Live CV Coaching
- Attend Exclusive VIP Networking & Leadership Events
- Professional Industry Networking
- Access Promotional Opportunities within The Community
- Events: Access the Annual Board & CEO Summit
FAQ
Does this programme guarantee board or advisory roles?
No programme can guarantee a board appointment, and we’re upfront about that. What we do guarantee is that you’ll be significantly better positioned to secure one.
The FINTECH Circle Board Programme is built for one purpose: helping senior executives land paid board roles in fintech. The curriculum, live events, marketing support, and community access are all curated to move you closer to the boardroom.
For Flagship and Elite members, this goes beyond education – you get direct access to the people who make board appointments happen: fintech CEOs, Chairs, and leading headhunters. Elite members receive guaranteed personal introductions from our Chair, drawing on her 15+ years at the heart of the global fintech community.
Your visibility is also amplified – through interviews, video features, LinkedIn content, and our Board Member Directory, you become known to the 260,000+ professionals in our network who fill board seats.
We cannot place you on a board. But we can give you the knowledge, relationships, visibility, and introductions that make a board appointment a realistic, near-term outcome.
No programme can guarantee a board appointment, and we’re upfront about that. What we do guarantee is that you’ll be significantly better positioned to secure one.
The FINTECH Circle Board Programme is built for one purpose: helping senior executives land paid board roles in fintech. The curriculum, live events, marketing support, and community access are all curated to move you closer to the boardroom.
For Flagship and Elite members, this goes beyond education – you get direct access to the people who make board appointments happen: fintech CEOs, Chairs, and leading headhunters. Elite members receive guaranteed personal introductions from our Chair, drawing on her 15+ years at the heart of the global fintech community.
Your visibility is also amplified – through interviews, video features, LinkedIn content, and our Board Member Directory, you become known to the 260,000+ professionals in our network who fill board seats.
We cannot place you on a board. But we can give you the knowledge, relationships, visibility, and introductions that make a board appointment a realistic, near-term outcome.
Is this a generic non-executive director course?
No.
This programme is not a generic NED or governance theory course. It focuses specifically on:
- Fintech and regulated financial services
- Fractional leadership, advisory and NED roles together
- FCA / PRA expectations, accountability and regulator perception
Practical decision-making under scrutiny
How is this different from other board or portfolio-career programmes?
Most programmes focus on governance theory or cross-sector board mechanics.
This programme is different because it:
- Is built exclusively for regulated financial services and fintech
- Addresses fractional and advisory roles, not just boards
- Focuses on risk, sequencing and accountability, not titles
Reflects how regulators actually interpret influence and behaviour
Is the programme relevant if I work part-time or on a fractional basis already?
Yes — particularly so.
A core theme of the programme is that “fractional” does not mean “fractional accountability” in regulated environments.
Many experienced fractional leaders attend specifically to:
- Re-evaluate exposure across multiple roles
- Clarify boundaries with founders and boards
- Strengthen engagement structures and exit triggers
How long does the programme take to complete?
Depending on the Programme Tier (Digital, Flagship or Elite) the duration varies:
– The Digital Board Programme is a 12 hour long, on demand online course.
– The Flagship and Elite Programmes are 3 months courses (live online & in person) with Flagship Cohorts starting every month while the Elite Programme has 3 cohorts per year: September – November, Jan – April or April to July.
All 3 tiers provide access to the online board course for 12 months.
Is the programme accredited for CPD?
The programme will be accredited for CPD from the end of 2026 onwards.
Is this programme suitable for first-time directors?
Yes. However, this programme assumes significant senior experience and is not designed for:
- Early-career professionals
- Individuals seeking a career change into financial services
If you are unsure whether this programme is appropriate for you, we recommend booking a conversation.
Do I need fintech experience to attend?
No prior fintech experience is required.
However, participants should have:
- Senior-level experience in regulated financial services, and
- A genuine interest in operating under fintech governance, growth and regulatory dynamics
The programme is designed to help experienced professionals enter fintech safely, not to teach fintech fundamentals.
What format is the programme delivered in?
Depending on the Programme Tier (Digital, Flagship or Elite) the format varies:
– The Digital Board Programme is a 12 hour long, on demand online course.
– The Flagship and Elite Programmes are 3 months courses with live webinars, pop-up board meetings, headhunter and Chair discussions and in person events in London.
All 3 tiers provide access to the online board course for 12 months.
Can I speak to someone before enrolling?
Yes.
If you would like to discuss:
- Readiness
- Role sequencing
- Whether the programme is appropriate for your situation
You can book a confidential, no-obligation conversation with a member of the FINTECH Circle team.
What is the expected outcome of the programme?
Participants complete the programme with:
- Clear judgement on which portfolio roles make sense next
- A defensible framework for assessing fintech opportunities
- Greater confidence to accept, defer or decline roles responsibly
- A regulator-aware approach to building a sustainable portfolio career
This programme is likely right for you if…
- You are a senior professional in regulated financial services (Director level or above)
- You are considering or already holding fractional, advisory or non-executive roles
- You are interested in fintech or scaleups, but want to approach this responsibly
- You care about regulatory scrutiny, fiduciary exposure and long-term reputation
- You want clarity on which roles to take next — and which to decline
- You are a successful coach in financial services or technology environments and want to expand into the fintech sector
👉 Next step:
If this resonates, you can enrol directly or book a conversation to discuss fit and portfolio career benefits.
You may want to pause or seek a conversation first if…
- You are unsure which portfolio role is appropriate for you right now
- You already hold multiple roles and are concerned about conflicts or exposure
- You are new to fintech and want to understand the governance and regulatory differences
- You want to sanity-check a specific opportunity before committing
👉 Next step:
Book a confidential discussion with a member of the FINTECH Circle team to talk through your situation.