How to Be an Effective Board Member (Build Breakout Companies)
April 30, 2026
In this episode of Mission One: The Executive Edge, Gerard Miles and Dan Hampton welcome back Nick Button-Brown, Chair of the UK Video Games Council, to unpack what it really takes to serve as a board adviser or non-executive director, especially at early-stage startups.
Mission One: The Executive Edge is brought to you by Mission One. They ensure founders and senior leaders make the most important hires they’ll ever make across consumer tech, AI, gaming, and entertainment.
If you’re building your leadership team or considering your next move to the C-suite, connect with Gerard Miles or Dan Hampton on LinkedIn, or visit missionone.io/contact-us.
In this episode of Mission One: The Executive Edge, Gerard Miles and Dan Hampton welcome back Nick Button-Brown, Chair of the UK Video Games Council, to unpack what it really takes to serve as a board adviser or non-executive director, especially at early-stage startups.
What You’ll Learn
What You’ll Learn
- How to shift from “I know the answer” to “here's one perspective”
- When to stay silent and when to be the voice challenging assumptions
- Why you should never accept executive action items as a board member
- The three core expertise areas that qualify you for board roles
- How to assess cultural fit when selecting board members or advisors
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This episode is brought to you by Mission One, an executive search and advisory firm helping leadership teams make high-stakes hires with clarity, precision and long-term impact.
To learn more about how we support senior hiring beyond the podcast, visit our website (https://missionone.io/) and connect with us.
FAQs
Q: How much equity should a startup adviser expect?
A: Around 0.5% of share capital for a pure early-stage startup where there’s no cash compensation. Once a company has raised £10M+, a director's fee for your time is more appropriate.
Q: What's the biggest mistake new advisers make?
A: Taking on action items. The moment you own a task, you become the bottleneck. Your job is to review, guide, and give frameworks. The founders execute. If you leave a board meeting with a to-do, something went wrong.
Q: How do you give a founder tough feedback without destroying their confidence?
A: Use the 5-to-1 ratio: five positives for every negative. When you do need to challenge something, don’t declare it wrong. Ask questions instead. If they can't explain it after several attempts, they'll usually reach the conclusion themselves.
Q: When should a startup formalize its board?
A: When you take your first institutional money. Angel round? A casual advisory setup is fine. But the moment VC money comes in, you need proper records, formal decision-making, and a small board.
Q: What's the best way to break into board work?
A: Angel investing. Put a small check into a company in a space you’re curious about, then show up and be useful. Over 12 months, you'll build a real relationship with the founders, learn the sector, and naturally earn the conversation about a formal role.
Episode Resources:
- Nick Button-Brown on LinkedIn
- UK Video Games Council Website
- The Games Angels Website
- Gerard Miles on LinkedIn
- Dan Hampton on LinkedIn
- Mission One: The Executive Edge on Apple Podcasts
- Mission One: The Executive Edge on Spotify
- Mission One: The Executive Edge on YouTube
Mission One: The Executive Edge is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so