Board and Product Advisory
Standing product judgement for founders and boards, without an operating commitment.
Who this is for
- A founder with no peer to test product decisions against
- A board that lacks product literacy and cannot challenge what it is shown
- An internal product leader who needs external coaching
What it addresses
Board and Product Advisory exists because the most consequential product decisions are usually taken without challenge. The people best placed to challenge a chief executive's product decisions typically report to that same person, which removes any real check on the decision before it is made.
Board and Product Advisory provides judgement and challenge rather than operating support. RuleSimple carries no accountability for outcomes and undertakes no team management as part of this engagement.
How it works
Founder session
Two hours on the decisions in front of the business, scheduled in advance.
Board attendance
Attendance at one board meeting, with review of the product material beforehand.
Review and challenge
Written commentary on strategy, roadmap and board materials on request.
Founder session
Two hours on the decisions in front of the business, scheduled in advance.
Board attendance
Attendance at one board meeting, with review of the product material beforehand.
Review and challenge
Written commentary on strategy, roadmap and board materials on request.
What is delivered
- Monthly founder sessions
- Quarterly board attendance
- Written commentary on materials submitted for review
What is required from you
- Materials shared in advance of each session
- Willingness to be challenged on decisions already taken
What is not included
- Operating responsibility or accountability for outcomes
- Team management or delivery work
- Any formal appointment as a director
Common questions
What does a product advisor do for a board?
A RuleSimple product advisor provides standing product judgement to a board, including attendance at one board meeting per quarter and review of the product material beforehand. Board and Product Advisory is intended to give a board the ability to challenge product decisions it would otherwise be unable to assess.
How often does a product advisor meet the founder?
Under Board and Product Advisory, the RuleSimple product advisor meets the founder monthly for a two hour session scheduled in advance. The session focuses on the product decisions in front of the business at that time.
Is a product advisor the same as a non executive director?
No. Board and Product Advisory does not include any formal appointment as a director, and RuleSimple carries no accountability for outcomes or team management as part of this engagement. A product advisor provides judgement and challenge on product decisions, not the governance duties or legal responsibilities of a non executive director.
When should a founder engage a product advisor rather than a fractional CPO?
A founder should engage Board and Product Advisory when the business needs an external sounding board for product decisions rather than an operating role. A Fractional Chief Product Officer suits a business that needs the product leadership role actually held on a weekly basis, while Board and Product Advisory suits a founder who has product leadership in place already but no peer to test decisions against.