About Board Enhance

Board Enhance was founded with a single purpose - to give executives in the UAE and GCC the tools, knowledge and network they need to succeed at board level.

Every programme is built specifically for this region, drawing on our team's experience to deliver content that reflects the boards, regulations and business culture of the Gulf.

Since 2014, our team has trained more than 1,500 executives and board members to deliver leadership excellence in the boardroom.

Philip Bäck

Founder & Managing Partner

"Board members in the GCC are being asked to do more than ever - on governance, ESG, liability. I started this programme to give executives the tools and the network to perform in the boardroom and find their way into one."

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Our story

How Board Enhance came to be

2014

Where it began

Philip Bäck began developing and training board members and CEOs across Northern Europe. From the outset, the focus was on practical boardroom experience - equipping leaders with the tools, frameworks and confidence to make an immediate impact in the boardroom. The foundation built during these years would shape everything that followed.

2019

Leading board development in Scandinavia

Philip co-founded the leading provider of board development programmes in the Scandinavian countries, cementing the team's position at the forefront of boardroom education in Northern Europe. The organisation quickly became the go-to destination for executives seeking to step into, or perform better within, board roles - training thousands of leaders across the region.

2022

Board Enhance founded in the UAE

Recognising the growing demand for board-level development in the Gulf, Board Enhance was established in the UAE. The programme was developed in collaboration with Spencer Stuart, Clyde & Co and Grant Thornton - three of the region's most respected advisory firms - to ensure the content reflected the specific governance structures, regulatory environment and business culture of the GCC. From day one, it was built for this region, not adapted from elsewhere.

2026

Alumni network & digital offering launched

Board Enhance launched its alumni network and introduced its digital programme offering, extending access to board education across the wider MENA region. A survey among alumni shows that 68% now serve on boards after completing the programme - a result that speaks to the practical, applied nature of everything we do. With over 1,500 executives trained by the team behind Board Enhance, the network continues to grow.

Our values

What we stand for

Built for the UAE & GCC

Every aspect of our programme is designed for the governance context, regulations and business culture of the Gulf, drawing on relevant insights from other markets where they add value.

Practical over theoretical

All teaching is conducted by active board members and practitioners. The content is based on real board work experience - the dilemmas, decisions and dynamics that actually matter in the boardroom.

Quality over volume

We keep cohorts deliberately small. The quality of the room matters as much as the quality of the content. Every participant is selected for their experience and the value they bring to the group.

Our partners

Developed with the best in the region

Executive search

International law firm

Audit & advisory

About Board Enhance

Frequently asked questions

What is Board Enhance?

Board Enhance is a board education company based in Dubai, founded by Philip Bäck. We run intensive programmes that prepare senior executives across the UAE and GCC for board and non-executive director (NED) positions. Our flagship Board Diploma Programme is a 3-day in-person course in Dubai, developed in partnership with Spencer Stuart, Clyde & Co, and Grant Thornton.

Alongside our open-enrolment programmes, we also design and deliver customised, curated programmes for organisations that want to develop their leadership teams, executives or board members in a tailored format.

How long has the Board Enhance team been training board members?

The Board Enhance team has been developing board leaders for over 10 years. In that time we've delivered board education to more than 1,500 senior executives across the UAE, the wider GCC, and Europe. Of our Board Diploma alumni specifically, 68% now hold board or non-executive director positions.

Does Board Enhance help place graduates onto boards?

The Board Enhance alumni network is the primary way graduates access board opportunities. Much of this happens through the connections built during the cohort itself: peers, faculty and guest speakers in the room with you across the three days often become a direct source of board introductions. Beyond the cohort, alumni become part of our candidate list, a curated pool we draw on when companies engage Board Enhance to search for board members or NEDs. Confidential opportunities are shared with alumni first, and the network's introductions, gatherings, and referrals are how most of our graduates have moved into their board roles.

More about our programmes? See our full FAQ →