Elbow Beach and KNiON hosted a breakfast for senior women in technology considering Non-Executive Director roles, sharing practical insights into board appointments and opportunities across the climate tech sector.

Elbow Beach and KNiON, the Executive Search & Leadership Consulting firm, brought together a group of senior women in technology, investors and experienced board members for a breakfast on pathways into Non-Executive Director (NED) roles within venture-backed climate tech companies.

The event aimed to provide greater transparency around the route to a first board appointment and explore how experienced commercial and operational leaders can support the next generation of climate tech businesses as they scale.

Over breakfast, attendees heard first-hand perspectives from investors and experienced NEDs on how board opportunities arise, the networks and relationships that can help open doors, and the realities of serving on the board of an early-stage company. The discussion was entirely interactive, with participants encouraged to exchange experiences, ask questions and reflect on the skills and expertise they could bring to a board.

The discussion also highlighted the growing need for diverse perspectives in climate tech. While many businesses are founded by scientists, engineers and technical specialists, experienced commercial and operational leaders can bring valuable expertise in areas such as commercial strategy, organisational leadership, scaling teams and business growth.

Chaired by Elbow Beach Investment Director, Liz Intsiful-Zwicky, the discussion drew on insights from across the room. Participants spoke openly about the realities of a NED role, the skills early-stage companies need as they scale and the routes into a first board appointment. Together, the group explored several key themes around board opportunities in climate tech, including:

·      The skills and expertise early-stage climate tech companies need as they scale

·      The practical realities, responsibilities and time commitments of a NED role

·      The value experienced operators can bring to founders, investors and growing businesses

·      The motivations for pursuing a board position, from impact and personal development to career progression

·      The routes into a first NED appointment, including investor networks, advisory roles and personal introductions

·      How to articulate commercial and operational experience in a way that resonates with founders and investors

What we heard

Sector Experience vs Domain Skills. The strongest message of the morning was that commercial and operational skills transfer. Founders need people who have scaled teams, sold to customers and run P&Ls. Deep climate knowledge is a bonus, not an entry ticket. As one participant put it: don’t be modest about what you bring.

Technical founders benefit from commercial challenge. Many climate tech companies are led by scientists and engineers. A recurring theme was that perfectionism can be the enemy, and that customer conversations often come too late. Experienced NEDs can open doors to future customers and help founders get to market.

Independent NEDs fill a gap investors can’t. Investor directors naturally focus on the capital journey and runway. An independent NED brings the long-term strategic view, asks whether this is a sustainable business, and acts as a bridge between founders and investors.

The role is built on trust. Good NEDs challenge on the right things, raise difficult issues before the board meeting rather than in it, and never ambush the founder. They also need to be ready for the hardest conversation: that what got the company here may not get it to the next stage.

The role gives back. Several participants stressed how much a board seat teaches you, and how directly that learning feeds back into an executive career.

Getting in is a numbers game. The practical advice on routes in was to maximise the top of the funnel: speak to multiple headhunters, approach several funds rather than one, and go direct to founders and chairs to offer your expertise.

Participants also discussed the challenges that can prevent experienced leaders from outside the sector from engaging with climate tech businesses and explored how founders and boards can benefit from a broader range of commercial perspectives and experiences.

At Elbow Beach, we are committed to supporting clearer pathways for experienced female leaders to contribute to the next generation of climate tech businesses. By bringing diverse perspectives and expertise into the boardroom, we can help founders build stronger companies and accelerate their growth.

Thank you to everyone who joined the discussion and shared their insights. We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting more diverse leadership across the climate tech ecosystem.

If you are an experienced leader interested in a climate tech board role, we would like to hear from you: info@elbowbeach.com

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