Hi

Most small business owners don’t have a board of directors.

And for good reason. They’re expensive, time-consuming, and often focused on governance, not growth.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have access to sharp thinking, fresh perspectives, and structured challenge.

In fact, you should - and you can.

Thanks to AI, it’s now possible to create your own virtual board of directors—custom-built, available 24/7, and designed to help you think 

more clearly and make better decisions.

Why build a virtual board?

When you run a business, you wear multiple hats.

You’re the strategist, operations lead, finance director, marketer… all rolled into one. And while that’s part of the job, it can also be a liability.

Because no matter how experienced you are, you can’t see your own blind spots.

That’s where good advisors help. But if you don’t have a board—or don’t want one—you can still get the benefits of strategic input using AI.

A virtual board of directors gives you:

• A structured way to think through decisions
• A range of perspectives, without hiring a team
• Instant access to challenge and ideas, on demand

And the best part? You shape it around your business and your needs.

What is a virtual board of directors?

It’s a set of AI “personas”, each with a specific role, mindset, and way of thinking.

These aren’t generic chatbots. They’re deliberately designed to play a role—marketing strategist, operations lead, growth advisor, devil’s advocate… whatever you need.

Each one helps you think better in that domain.

You give them a role. You define how they think. And you use them to improve your own decision-making.

How I’ve built mine

In my own accountancy and advisory practice, I’ve created three virtual directors who help me think across key areas:

1. Maria Cole – Marketing & Lead Architect

Maria helps me attract ideal clients—owner-managed businesses that value tech, want financial clarity, and are proactive about growth.

She focuses on content, positioning, lead generation, and partnerships.

She challenges me with questions like:

“Why would your client pay attention to this?”
“What’s the purpose of this activity?”
“Where’s the next step or call to action?”

She makes sure I stay focused on results, not just visibility.

2. Oliver Techwell – Operations & Tech Integrator

Oliver is obsessed with systems, efficiency, and scale.

He helps me automate processes, streamline workflows, and adopt tools like Xero and AI in ways that save time without losing control.

His questions include:

“What manual task are you repeating that could be automated?”
“Is your tech stack working together—or creating more admin?”
“If this process broke, how quickly would you know—and what would happen?”

He doesn’t chase shiny objects. He wants process clarity and operational leverage.

3. Dr Alex North – Strategic Growth Advisor

Dr Alex helps me think long-term. He brings the rigour of Michael Porter (strategy through trade-offs and positioning) and the discipline of Jim Collins (hedgehog concept, flywheel, Level 5 leadership).

He challenges me to focus:

“What can you be the best in your niche at?”
“What should you deliberately say no to?”
“Where’s the constraint in your business model—and are you addressing it?”

Dr Alex helps me avoid distractions and stay focused on building a business that lasts.

How to create your own virtual board

You can start with three roles—Marketing, Operations, and Strategy. That’s more than enough to sharpen your thinking. Here’s how to set it up:

Step 1 – Define the role

Be specific. “Marketing expert” is vague. “Helps me attract design agencies using content and referrals” is better.

Step 2 – Write a short prompt

This tells the AI how to think and behave. For example:

“You are Maria Cole, my Marketing & Lead Architect. You help me attract ideal clients using messaging, content, and referral strategies. You ask tough questions and focus on what works. You avoid fluff.”

Step 3 – Use it regularly

Open a chat, paste the prompt, and ask questions.

Example:

“@Maria, how should I position this workshop to attract early-stage creative founders?”
“@Oliver, how do I reduce manual steps in our onboarding process using Make and Xero?”
“@Alex, I’ve got three growth options—how do I prioritise without diluting focus?”

What’s the value?

Used well, a virtual board gives you:

✅ Better decision-making
✅ More strategic clarity
✅ Faster progress
✅ Sharper content and messaging
✅ Leaner, more scalable operations

And most importantly, it creates space to think—when everything else in your business is pulling you into the weeds.

Good businesses aren’t built by accident. They’re built through clear thinking, consistent action, and the ability to focus on what matters most.

AI won’t run your business for you. But it can challenge you to run it better.

So don’t wait until you’re “big enough” to have a board. Build one now—virtually.

It’s one of the smartest moves a small business owner can make.

Noel Guilford

PS Want help creating your virtual board? Send me a message or comment - I’ll share the exact prompts I use and help you get started.

Let’s build businesses that think better.