Stepping into a director's chair changes what you are legally and personally accountable for, not just your job title. This Arab British Fellowship Training Academy programme starts from that reality, giving current and aspiring directors a clear, practical grounding in what the role actually demands at board level.

The programme covers strategic planning, corporate governance and compliance, financial management, risk management, negotiation and stakeholder communication, and shaping a culture that gets measurable results. Attendees leave ready to operate with more confidence and impact at board, C-suite or senior executive level.

Objectives

• Clarify the legal obligations, personal liabilities and duties that come with a director role.
• Strengthen strategic planning and decision-making at board level.
• Apply corporate governance principles and compliance best practice.
• Read financial statements and manage organisational finances responsibly.
• Identify and mitigate risk before it becomes a crisis.
• Negotiate and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Shape organisational culture and monitor performance through clear KPIs.

Who Should Attend?

• Current directors developing their leadership capabilities further.
• Senior executives preparing to move into director-level roles.
• Entrepreneurs and business owners seeking board-level management skills.
• Professionals responsible for corporate governance or strategic decision-making.

Module 1: What the Board Actually Expects From You

• Legal obligations, personal liabilities and expected duties of a director
• How these responsibilities connect to your day-to-day role

Module 2: Strategic Thinking at the Top

• The director's role in shaping strategy
• Aligning organisational goals with market opportunities

Module 3: Governance, Compliance and Accountability

• Principles and frameworks of corporate governance
• Legal and ethical responsibilities of directors

Module 4: Reading the Numbers: Financial Management for Directors

• Reading and analysing financial statements
• Budgeting and financial planning strategies

Module 5: Anticipating and Managing Risk

• Identifying potential risks in business operations
• Developing risk response strategies

Module 6: Influence, Negotiation and Stakeholder Communication

• Building influence through strong communication
• Negotiating with stakeholders for mutually beneficial outcomes

Module 7: Shaping Culture and Measuring What Matters

• Developing a positive, inclusive workplace culture and leading change initiatives
• Setting KPIs and using performance metrics to track business success