Build an Extraordinary Second Act
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In one day, I'll show you the complete A-Z roadmap for building a portfolio career with ambitious SMEs - across NED, advisory, consulting and fractional roles. The same blueprint that's helped 35+ executives start building profitable portfolios.
See Workshop Dates & PricingÂ
Imagine building a portfolio career that works for you
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Not waiting for headhunters. Not competing with hundreds of applicants for corporate board seats that pay a modest day rate. Not wondering where to start.
Instead, building a growing portfolio of board appointments, advisory roles, consulting engagements and fractional leadership positions with founders who value your experience and are willing to pay for it... through retainers and equity.
- Understand the commercial value you bring to ambitious business owners, whether thatâs as a NED, an advisor, a consultant or a fractional leader
- Earn income that matches your corporate career, with the flexibility you left corporate to find
- See the direct impact of your advice on businesses that actually listen
Build a growing portfolio of SME appointments: NED seats, advisory roles, consulting and fractional leadership, with guaranteed retainer income and the potential for multiple small exits of ÂŁ50K-ÂŁ200K+ over the coming years.
Fast-growth SMEs are the opportunity right now
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There are 5.5 million SMEs in the UK. But only a small proportion are scaling fast enough to need (and afford) experienced board-level and strategic support.
The founders running these businesses are ambitious, growth-focused and willing to invest in expertise they donât have in-house. They need strategic guidance, sector knowledge and commercial rigour. Some need a Non-Exec Director. Others need a trusted advisor, a fractional CFO or a consultant whoâs been where theyâre trying to get to. What they all need is someone like you.
But theyâre not advertising on NED boards. Theyâre not working with headhunters. Most corporate executives donât even know these opportunities exist.
Right now, there are ambitious SME founders looking for experienced executives to support their growth... and theyâre willing to pay retainers and share equity to get the right person
Why most executives struggle to build a portfolio career
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Youâve probably heard the story from a colleague. Left corporate. Wanted to build a portfolio career. Joined a NED matching service. Waited. Applied. Heard nothing. Six months later, theyâre back in a full-time role because they couldnât make it work.
Itâs not because they lacked talent. Itâs because they were playing the wrong game.
For corporate NED appointments, the challenge is simple: those seats are filled through referral, the remuneration is fixed and the competition is fierce. Youâre one of hundreds chasing a handful of positions.
If youâre stepping into the SME world - whether as a NED, advisor, consultant or fractional leader - the challenges are different but just as real:
- You donât know how to find the right businesses... the ones that need you, can afford you and are worth your time
- You donât know what to charge... retainers, day rates, equity stakes or some combination
- You donât know how to approach founders without looking like youâre selling yourself... and you donât want to
The result? Talented executives either give up, underprice themselves or accept the wrong appointments with businesses that waste their time.
The roadmap to building a successful portfolio career with SMEs exists. Most people just havenât seen it yet.
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Introducing the
SME Non-Exec FastTrack
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A one-day workshop that gives you the complete A-Z roadmap for building a portfolio career with ambitious SMEs across NED, advisory, consulting and fractional roles.
Not theory. Not motivation. A practical, proven blueprint covering how to find the right opportunities, position yourself, set your rates, negotiate equity, land your first appointment and grow from there.
Delivered live by me - Adrian Knight - with real examples, honest conversations about what works and what doesnât and a live Q&A panel with executives whoâve already built their portfolio using this exact approach.
Available in two formats: join us in person in London for the full-day experience, or attend virtually via Zoom. Same content. Same blueprint. Same result.
What youâll learn in one day
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By the end of the workshop, youâll have the complete roadmap... not just the theory, but the practical steps to start building your portfolio career immediately. Whether youâre targeting NED seats, advisory roles, consulting engagements or fractional leadership, the approach is the same.
01
The SME NED opportunity
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Why the smartest executives are ignoring corporate NED boards and focusing on SMEs instead... and why 2026 is the year to move.
- Why fast-growth SMEs need experienced board members (and why theyâre willing to pay for them)
- The corporate NED vs SME NED comparison... and why corporate NED thinking fails in the SME world
- The mistakes that 99% of NED candidates make that keep them stuck, underpaid, or invisible
02
Your competitive advantage
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How to identify what makes you uniquely valuable to SME founders... and how to articulate it in a way that makes them want to work with you, whether as a NED, advisor, consultant or fractional leader.
- The competitive advantages framework, pinpointing exactly what you offer that SMEs canât find anywhere else
- How to match your skills and experience with the right type, size and stage of business
- Building your NED positioning so you attract the right opportunities instead of chasing them
03
Finding and approaching businesses
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Where to find the businesses that need you and how to approach them without feeling like youâre selling yourself.
- How to optimise your LinkedIn profile to attract NED enquiries and board-level conversations
- A practical outreach process that feels natural and generates a pipeline of opportunities
- Where to discover âhard to findâ businesses that your competitors arenât serving
04
Pricing, retainers and equity
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The part most people get wrong. How to set your rates, structure retainers and negotiate equity stakes with confidence.
- How to structure your retainer: day rates, monthly retainers and hybrid models
- Understanding equity percentages and how to negotiate a fair minority stake
- How to protect yourself with the right agreements and avoid getting trapped in a bad deal
05
Your first 90 days
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What to do before, during and after your first appointment... whether itâs a NED seat, advisory role or consulting engagement to make an immediate impact and set yourself up for a long-term relationship.
- Proven frameworks for working with SME clients... not corporate governance templates, real SME approaches
- How to make a visible impact in your first 90 days so clients refer you to other business owners
- The portfolio approach... how to manage multiple appointments without sacrificing your lifestyle
06
Building toward multiple exits
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The long game. How to engineer a path to multiple small exits of ÂŁ50K-ÂŁ200K+ across your portfolio over the coming years.
- How to negotiate an exit path from day one so youâre never trapped in a business
- The portfolio growth strategy... building from your first appointment to three, four, five concurrent roles across NED, advisory, consulting and fractional
- How to create a waiting list of potential appointments so you always have options
Hear from executives whoâve already done it
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This isnât just me telling you whatâs possible. During the workshop, youâll hear directly from 2-3 executives whoâve built their portfolio career using this exact approach.
Theyâll share their journey honestly... what worked, what theyâd do differently and where they are now. Some have secured NED seats. Others are consulting or advising SME founders. Several are doing a mix of all three. You can ask them anything.
These are real people from the SME Non-Exec Accelerator community who were in your position 6-12 months ago. Theyâre not paid speakers. Theyâre executives who wanted to design an extraordinary second act career and are now doing exactly that.
Nothing is more powerful than hearing someone who was where you are six months ago say: âThis is how I did it... and hereâs where I am now.â
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Everything included in the FastTrack Workshop
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01
The complete AâZ roadmap for building a portfolio career with SMEs... NED, advisory, consulting and fractional, delivered in one focused day
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02
Live teaching from Adrian Knight - 11 years of executive transition experience, condensed into a practical blueprint
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03
Live Q&A panel with 2-3 accelerator alumni whoâve secured NED seats, advisory roles and consulting engagements using this approach
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The 40+page FastTrack handbook... your reference guide covering every framework from the workshop
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Frameworks you can start implementing the same week... not âcome back in three monthsâ
In-person attendees also get: a full day at a premium London venue, extended networking over coffee, lunch, and breaks, and face-to-face time with Adrian and the alumni panel.
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"I had recently updated my LinkedIn profile; a better version of my CV and experience, but when I uploaded my CV into Adrianâs tool, I was staggered at how quickly it came back with something sharper - just better than what Iâd got through previously. Since updating my profile, the difference has been clear. The number of connections and reach-outs Iâm getting has really increased and the type of questions Iâm getting are much clearer and better. Iâm getting 20 to 30 good connection requests every week."
Janet Markwick, former Global VP
Steve Goodwin, Former European CEO:
"The updates to my LinkedIn profile have made a huge difference. The new headline and about section are punchy and clear - they say exactly who I help and how I help them. The experience section now really reflects what Iâve been doing and the profile as a whole feels much sharper and more professional. The logo and layout tie it all together so that when someone visits, they see an up-to-date, representative picture of me and the value I bring."
Mark Rattley, Former VP Sales:
"The LinkedIn profile work has been transformative. Itâs no longer about me - itâs about what I can do for others - and that shift makes it so much clearer and more compelling. The feedback Iâve had from experienced NEDs has been great, which gave me real validation that Iâm heading in the right direction. The profile now feels professional, client-facing and positioned exactly where it needs to be. I actually love it - Iâm pretty modest, but Iâm really pleased with how itâs turned out."
Your Investment
And there is more!
When you enroll, you'll also get these brilliant bonuses:
Bonus #1
LinkedIn Content Kickstart Mini-Course
Struggling with what to post? This mini-course gives you a ready-to-use library of proven LinkedIn post templates, prompts and content ideas designed specifically for executives. Youâll be able to start showing up with confidence, build authority quickly and attract the right decision-makers without staring at a blank screen.
Bonus #2
Executive Visibility & Influence Scorecard
Not sure how well youâre positioning yourself online? This diagnostic scorecard reveals exactly where youâre strong, where youâre invisible and what steps to take next. Itâs a fast, practical way to measure your LinkedIn impact and know how to increase your visibility and influence with the people who matter most.
Bonus #3
Executive Opportunity Call Script
When the right opportunity comes your way, you need to know exactly what to say. This step-by-step call script shows you how to introduce yourself, communicate your value clearly and guide conversations toward paid board or consulting opportunities. No waffle, no guesswork - just a professional framework that makes every call count.
Hi, I'm Adrian
Over the past decade, Iâve worked with hundreds of senior executives who, like you, were ready to take control of their careers and build something on their own terms. Many were leaving decades of corporate leadership behind - stepping out of the safety of big titles, big teams and big brands - and into the uncharted territory of board roles, consulting and independent work.
I know firsthand how complex that transition can feel. On one hand, youâve built a track record of results, influence and leadership at the highest level. On the other, translating that into a compelling independent identity - one that resonates with SME founders, investors and decision-makers - isnât always straightforward.
Thatâs where I come in. I specialise in helping senior leaders reposition themselves for this new chapter: balancing financial security with strategic positioning and professional success with personal fulfilment. My approach is practical, hands-on and designed to give you the confidence, clarity and tools to move forward - not just with a polished profile, but with a powerful new identity that opens doors.
This is possible for you too.
Your path to repositioning yourself for high-value opportunities
01
Enrol in the Revamp
Click the enrolment button and complete checkout. Youâll get instant access to the programme and AI drafting tool.
02
Create and refine your profile
Work through the self-paced lessons, build your first draft with the AI tool, then refine it in your 1:1 session with me.
03
Launch your new positioning
Walk away with a polished LinkedIn profile and refreshed CV that open doors to board roles, consulting, and senior leadership opportunities.
Our Satisfaction Commitment
Confidence in your new positioning - guaranteed
If, after completing the Executive LinkedIn Revamp, you donât feel your LinkedIn profile and CV are sharper, more compelling and better aligned to your goals, Iâll personally provide an additional round of refinements at no extra cost.
This is for you if:
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Youâre a senior executive who knows your LinkedIn profile is underselling your experience and credibility.
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You want to reposition yourself for board roles, consulting projects, or senior leadership opportunities.
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Youâre ready to take action now and want a clear, structured process that delivers results in 14 days.
This is not for you if:
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Youâre happy with a generic LinkedIn profile that doesnât reflect your true value.
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Youâre not prepared to invest a little time into refining your positioning and engaging with the process.
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Youâre looking for someone to do ongoing outreach or job-hunting on your behalf (thatâs not what this programme is for).
Jo Ann Sweeney, Executive Mentor:
"Once I got the outputs from Adrianâs LinkedIn profile work, I thought, âOh wow - this person sounds really amazing.â I wasnât sure it was me at first, but then I realised it absolutely was. I could never have articulated it like that on my own. The new About section really captures me and makes me sound incredible, while still authentic. Most importantly, I now feel confident about what to say when reaching out on LinkedIn â previously I wasnât sure of the most effective ways of building connections and relationships."
Matthew Wallis, Former VP Sales Europe:
"The updates to my LinkedIn profile have really helped make a difference to the positioning and summary of my business experience and current aspirations. The new headline is clear, professional and to the point. The About section captures my years of  experience in B2B growth and transformation far better than I could have written myself and it aligns perfectly with the type of SMEs I want to work with. Overall, it now feels concise, confident and structured in a way that connects with my target audience."
Are you ready to reposition yourself for high-value opportunities?
In just 14 days, youâll walk away with a LinkedIn profile and CV that finally reflect your true value - opening doors to board roles, consulting projects and senior leadership opportunities.
START YOUR REVAMP NOW âFrequently Asked Questions
How long does the process take?
Is this only for executives looking for board roles?
Do I need to be active on LinkedIn already?
What if I donât like using AI?
What if I already have a LinkedIn profile?
Whatâs included with the CV refresh?
Can I use the ÂŁ499 credit towards the Accelerator at a later date?
Is there a guarantee?
Letâs be honest
Turn Your Experience Into Opportunity
Itâs your time to step out from behind a corporate title and finally position yourself as the leader decision-makers are searching for. Your experience deserves more than a generic LinkedIn profile - it deserves to open doors.
No more underselling yourself. No more blending into the noise. With the right positioning, youâll stand out immediately to the people who matter most.
Hereâs whatâs waiting for you on the other side:
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A LinkedIn profile that makes decision-makers stop and pay attention.
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A refreshed CV that backs up your new positioning with clarity and authority.
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The confidence that your career story is being told in a way that creates real opportunities.
