Board Readiness and Director Development

Board Readiness and Director Development is a 5-day course delivered by Mars Training Centre in London, Dubai, Geneva, Amsterdam, and Manama — designed for senior leaders preparing for an executive board seat, a non-executive directorship, or a step up into a chair role.

The shift from senior executive to board director is one of the largest in any leader's career. The work is different. The information is different. The accountabilities are different. Leaders who arrive at the board table without this shift in mindset tend to operate too tactically, lose strategic perspective, and fail to use the levers that a board actually has.

Across five days, you will work through the duties, dynamics, and effectiveness of modern boards — drawing on UK Corporate Governance Code practice, real cases of board behaviour, and the practical disciplines that distinguish strong directors from ineffective ones.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this programme, you will be able to:

• Distinguish the role of the board from the role of management.
• Understand the legal and fiduciary duties of UK directors.
• Read board papers and management accounts with executive scrutiny.
• Participate effectively in strategy, risk, audit, and remuneration committee work.
• Build and contribute to board dynamics that surface real debate.
• Hold management accountable without crossing into management itself.
• Prepare for a non-executive director role and the search process around it.
• Build a personal board-readiness plan for the next 12 months.

How You Will Benefit

You will leave with clarity on board-level expectations and a structured plan to prepare for a board seat, and a Mars Certificate of Completion.

Your organisation will gain a senior leader equipped to engage productively with the board — and to one day join one.

Who This Programme Is For

This programme is designed for:

• Senior executives shortlisted or aspiring to executive board seats
• Senior leaders preparing for first non-executive director roles
• General managers preparing for CEO appointments
• Heads of function on the executive-board track, including CFO, COO, CHRO, and CIO
• Family-business principals taking formal board roles
• Senior public-sector officials preparing for non-executive appointments

The seniority floor is director level and above, with substantial executive experience.

How the Course Is Delivered

• Facilitator-led interactive sessions, balancing teaching with discussion and applied exercises.
• A balanced mix of theory, regional case studies, and applied exercises.
• Validated diagnostic and self-assessment tools.
• Applied exercises and personalised coaching throughout the week.
• A personal action plan built progressively across the week.
• Continuous personal feedback from your lead faculty.

The course runs in two separate single-language editions: an English edition delivered in English, and an Arabic edition delivered entirely in Arabic by native-Arabic faculty at every host venue. Sessions are scheduled in London, Dubai, Geneva, Amsterdam, and Manama.

Your Mars Certificate and Fee

On successful completion of Board Readiness and Director Development you will receive a Mars Certificate of Completion, issued by Mars Training Centre, our London-headquartered training provider. The certificate confirms the programme attended, the dates, the host city, and the lead faculty, and is presented to delegates on the final day of the course.

The standard fee is £4,950 per delegate for this 5-day programme, quoted and invoiced in pounds sterling. The fee covers all training and faculty time, course materials in digital and printed form, the Mars Certificate of Completion, daily refreshments and a buffet lunch, and a complimentary airport pickup and return transfer for delegates flying in to the host city. Group and early-booking discounts are available. Flights, visas, and hotel accommodation are not included, though Mars provides booking guidance and preferred-rate partner links.