Securing your first NED role
About us
Over 35yrs executive leadership & board experience in private and public sectors
Over 10yrs experience as remunerated NEDs
Over 15yrs as accredited executive coaches
Our story
Having connected through our professional network, we shared our passion for creating portfolio careers. We reflected on the highs and lows of transitioning from our executive roles to becoming successful non-executive directors.
What we missed was a critical friend with the expertise to guide, challenge and support us. If only we’d known then what we know now...
The creation of NEDfit
Our shared experiences of becoming NEDs sparked the creation of NEDfit - a tailored coaching programme, delivered by us, accredited executive coaches and active NEDs. Offering flexible solutions, including small group workshops, and/or individual coaching sessions to accelerate aspiring NEDs to secure their first NED role.
We will expertly guide and support you every step of the way.
Hear from Nikki
Meet Nikki Marsh
Nikki has an active successful portfolio career as a qualified executive coach, NED and co-founder of NEDfit.
Nikki is a highly experienced executive coach and NED, with an extensive executive career as Chief Digital Officer, Chief Brand & Marketing Director, as well as being a Senior Civil Servant. Her career has been marked by a commitment to driving business growth, fostering customer-centric cultures and leading transformative digital strategies. Her expertise spans a wide range of sectors including financial services, utilities, ecommerce, retail, consulting and professional services, travel & leisure, public sector, not-for-profit, and marketing and PR sectors. At the heart of her career lies a deep curiosity about what drives human behaviour, shaping her approach to leadership, strategy, and personal development.
Executive coaching expertise
“My role as an qualified executive coach is to help you discover your own strategies, capabilities, and competencies so you can shine in your career. I believe that you have all the answers within you, my role is to help you find them and act upon them”
Nikki specialises in coaching senior executives, founders, and board members, helping them to unlock their full potential and navigate complex leadership challenges with clarity and confidence. Her coaching focuses on enhancing leadership capabilities, driving team and business performance, and fostering strategic resilience.
Nikki’s approach is grounded in self-awareness, empowering clients to think critically, tackle difficult business scenarios, and seize opportunities for growth. While emphasising personal well-being and career fulfilment, she creates a transformative coaching experience that balances ambition with mindfulness.
Inspired by her own transformative coaching journey, she brings extraordinary passion and insight to her work, knowing first-hand the profound value coaching delivers.
Portfolio career and non-executive director expertise
Nikki maintains an active portfolio career as a Non-Executive Director and Board Sub-Committee Chair alongside her role as an executive coach and co-founder of NEDfit. Her work as a NED, and previous experience as a trustee, spans organisations of various sizes and sectors, particularly values-driven and purpose-led companies. This breadth of experience ensures that she stays closely connected to evolving industry trends and gains current insights into the myriad of dilemmas, opportunities and solutions facing senior leaders today. This unique perspective ensures her coaching is both practical and transformative, helping leaders and businesses thrive in today’s dynamic, fast-paced environment.
“Becoming a NED was a natural step for me, enabling me to stay actively involved in organisational success while working with diverse, purpose-driven companies. It’s deeply rewarding to bring fresh perspectives to different sectors and challenges, developing my own skills while contributing to meaningful outcomes.”
Coaching style and approach
Nikki’s coaching philosophy emphasises creating a supportive and constructively challenging environment. She provides a safe, focused place for clients to explore their goals, wrestle with challenges, and navigate pressure with confidence. Her approach is client-led, allowing people to shape their development agenda while unlocking their full potential.
She is known for helping senior leaders identify actionable next steps to achieve their goals, injecting a sense of clarity, purpose, and when appropriate, a touch of humour into their journeys.
Personal passions
I'm an avid explorer of the outdoors and new cultures, often found hiking through epic landscapes or soaking in the beauty of some stunning architecture. I enjoy spin, HIIT and yoga classes, primarily to offset my love of dining out.
Qualifications
- Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) Level 7 Executive Coaching & Mentoring
- Member of the Institute of Leadership & Management
- BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance
- Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM) Diploma in Direct Marketing
- European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC) & International Coaching Federation qualified coach
Hear from Pauline
Meet Pauline Vickers
Pauline enjoys a successful portfolio career as an executive coach and non-executive director (NED) and is a co-founder of NEDfit.
She brings decades of leadership and commercial experience gained from working at board level in customer focused organisations in the public and private sector, including a FTSE100 company with over £12bn turnover and a Times Top 50 Employer of Women. She has held international and commercial leadership roles at executive and board level and led transformational change programmes. She adopts a values-based approach with a commitment to trust and integrity.
Her track record as an executive and non-executive director (NED), means she understands the leadership and people challenges of being an effective board member and successful NED.
Executive coaching expertise
"I believe that if you take a leap, a net will appear, and with an effective coach you can work together to embrace and manage change".
As a highly experienced executive coach, she works with senior leaders, directors, and aspiring talent across a wide range of organisations, multiple sectors, and functions, including clients in the FTSE100.
Her areas of expertise include managing career transitions, enhancing networking, influencing and stakeholder management skills, building self confidence and resilience, and enhancing personal brand.
During her personal leadership journey, she experienced executive coaching to build her inner confidence to thrive as an authentic, values-based leader.
Portfolio career and non-executive director expertise
Pauline has been a NED and Senior Independent Director whilst working full-time as an executive, and is currently a NED in the NHS as part of her portfolio career.
As well as being a member of boards, she has experience of both chairing and being a member of board sub-committees. Chairing the Finance, Digital and Estates Committee and Charitable Funds Committee and being a member of the People & Organisational Design, Audit, Commissioning and Remuneration Committees.
As part of her portfolio career, she works with two universities as an end point assessor for their business degree apprenticeship programmes to support the development of future business leaders.
“It is a privilege to be able to use my leadership skills and experience to make a difference as a NED. I seek to bring a strong independent voice to the boardroom and challenge constructively. I enjoy shaping strategy, being a catalyst for change and critical friend to guide the board to make better decisions. I work with the most amazing people with great values; enabling me to continue to learn and grow as a leader.”
Coaching style & approach
"I believe leaders lead from within”
Pauline enables leaders to fulfil their potential “to be the best they can be” to achieve a shift in mindset and performance.
By blending her coaching skills with her leadership, commercial and board experience, she explores new choices and insights with her clients, whilst focusing on what matters to them. She enjoys helping clients build their personal brand, aligned to their strengths, values and purpose to accelerate their careers, whilst maintaining a work life balance.
Her trademark is being fully present, creating a collaborative space with a pragmatic and results-focused approach based on mutual trust and honesty.
Personal passions
I love walking my dog in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, along with pilates and yoga to support my positive energy. I enjoy time with good friends to engage in great conversations and create treasured memories.
Qualifications
- Advanced Diploma in Transformational Coaching - certified by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) at Senior Practitioner level
- Accredited Executive Coach - Middlesex University
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Certificate – Regent’s University London
- Executive Development Leadership Programme – Said Business School, University of Oxford
- Institute of Direct Marketing Diploma - Manchester Metropolitan University
- Chartered Member Institute of Personnel Management (MICPD)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Training & Development – Leeds Beckett University
- BSc (Hons) Management Science, UMIST
Let us help you secure your first NED position
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