Beyond the Boardroom: Build an AI-Powered Advisory Board for Growth

As an executive or independent consultant, you're constantly making high-stakes decisions. The value of a strong advisory board is undeniable. This collective of seasoned minds offering guidance, challenging assumptions, and sparking innovation is powerful. But let's be honest: assembling and managing such a group is a significant undertaking that feels out of reach for us and a burden on seasoned leaders in our field. What if you could bottle that collective wisdom, personalize it, and access it anytime, anywhere?

Welcome to the future of strategic counsel: the AI-Powered Digital Advisory Board.

I recently felt stuck in "vision land" and needed a nudge to break through to execution. I built my own GPT-powered advisory board, and the insights it’s provided have been helpful as I build my business. This isn't just a gimmick; it's a strategic tool designed to simulate diverse, expert perspectives on your most pressing challenges. And the best part? You can build one too.

Why a Digital Advisory Board?

In today's dynamic business environment, agility and diverse perspectives are paramount. A digital advisory board offers:

• Instant Access: No scheduling conflicts, no waiting for the next meeting. Get insights exactly when you need them.

• Diverse Perspectives on Demand: Curate a 'board' with minds from various industries, philosophies, and leadership styles.

• Safe Space for Exploration: Test out audacious ideas or explore sensitive topics without real-world risk or judgment.

• Cost-Effective: Achieve a high level of strategic input without the overheads associated with traditional boards.

Your Roadmap to Building a Digital Advisory Board:

Ready to craft your own personal think tank? Here's the step-by-step process I followed:

Step 1: Curate Your Dream Team – The Minds You Admire

This is where the fun begins! Think about the leaders, thinkers, and strategists whose opinions you genuinely value. What kind of wisdom do you need? A blend of critical thinking, entrepreneurial grit, innovative vision, and perhaps even a touch of playful skepticism can be incredibly powerful.

• My Picks (Examples):

  • Simon Sinek: For purpose-driven leadership and understanding the 'why.'

  • Steve Jobs: For disruptive innovation and challenging the status quo.

  • Barbara Corcoran: For sales acumen, straight talk, and entrepreneurial drive.

  • Kevin O'Leary: For no-nonsense financial analysis and a dose of reality.

  • (Pro-Tip: Don't limit yourself to business leaders. Consider authors, philosophers, or even fictional characters known for strategic brilliance!)

    
    

Step 2: Define Your Personal & Professional Goals

Your advisory board needs a mission! Before you engage your AI, get clear on what you want to achieve. Pull together a document (Google Sheets, Word, or even just detailed notes) outlining your personal and professional goals for the coming year and beyond. These objectives will be the context for your board's advice.

• Crucial Reminder: While this is a powerful tool, anything you input into a public LLM like ChatGPT is not entirely secure or private. Be extremely mindful of using personal or highly confidential information tied to your organization. Focus on strategic challenges that can be discussed without revealing proprietary data.

Step 3: Provide Your 'Board' with Your Story – Your Background & Accomplishments

For your digital advisors to give relevant advice, they need to know you. Provide your personal resume, a written outline of your professional journey, key accomplishments, and even a brief overview of your current role and business. The more context you provide, the more tailored and insightful their responses will be.

Step 4: Set the Rules of Engagement – Define Your Board's Objectives & Dynamics

This is perhaps the most critical step. What do you expect from your board?

• Cheerleaders or Critics? Are you looking for validation and encouragement, or do you need a critical group to poke holes in your strategies and push you to refine them?

• Unified Voice or Diverse POVs? Do you want your advisors to synthesize their thoughts into a single, cohesive response, or do you want to hear each independent voice, perhaps even with conflicting opinions?

• The Right Number of Voices: How many perspectives do you want to hear at a time? Sometimes three diverse opinions are more manageable than six.

• Interaction Style: Do you want to ask one question at a time, or do you expect them to follow up on previously agreed-upon actions, simulating a longer-term engagement?

Write down exactly your expectations for how they will respond to your questions. This clarity will be invaluable when you build your GPT.

Step 5: Build Your GPT (or GEM, etc.)

Now, bring it all together using your LLM of choice. Whether it's ChatGPT's Custom GPTs, Gemini GEMs, or another platform, you'll input:

• Your Chosen Advisors: Describe their personas, their known philosophies, and how they typically approach problems.

• Your Goals (from Step 2)

• Your Background (from Step 3)

• Your Engagement Rules (from Step 4): This is key for steering the AI's output. For example, "When asked a question, please provide independent advice from [Advisor A], [Advisor B], and [Advisor C], highlighting any potential disagreements or different angles."

• Link to ChatGPT How-TO, Create a custom GEM

Step 6: Test, Refine, and Iterate!

Like any good strategy, your digital advisory board will evolve. Start testing it with your real-world questions (again, minding confidentiality!).

• Did the advisors respond as you expected?

• Was the advice insightful?

• Did they maintain their distinct personas?

Refine your instructions, add more background, or tweak the persona descriptions until you have a tool that truly serves your strategic needs.

My Digital Advisory Board in Action:

The ability to quickly simulate a strategic discussion with some of the greatest minds in business has been an incredible accelerant for my decision-making process. I've been using my GPT Digital Advisory Board to

• Brainstorm new service offerings

• Refine my marketing messages

• Hold monthly business reviews

• Evaluate strategic partnerships

  
  

Ready to Build Yours?

This innovative approach to strategic thinking is perfect for independent consultants aiming to scale, or executives seeking an additional layer of insight without the traditional overhead.

Curious to see what I’ve built? You can interact with my Digital Advisory Board here: ➡️ https://chatgpt.com/g/g-68b705450a788191bb2cff2821bf85b1-digital-advisory-board

Imagine the possibilities when you can tap into diverse, expert opinions on demand. This isn't just about efficiency. It's about working on the right things, articulating strategy in a compelling way, and honing my growth story.

What visionary leaders would you invite to your digital table? Share your thoughts in the comments below!