Becoming a non-executive director

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I want to work on boards as a non-executive director. Having worked as an executive (SAP) and now as an advisor, I see board and advisory work sitting very close together.

Pressure on companies is increasing. In the miasma of distrust that now surrounds governments, business leaders are expected to stand for much more than just their organisation’s financial and strategic success. 80% of the population expect leaders to be visible and take a stand on societal issues (Edelman Trust Barometer, 2022).

Where governments have failed, society expects leaders to step in. Companies now need to spearhead societal change, while also making sure they have the culture and systems in place to be future proof. This is where the board is critical.

For ten years, I worked with and observed the SAP executive board at close quarters. I’ve run a large global function (executive and employee communications) and global teams, built an exceptional culture, developed leaders and created innovation in the communications function. I enjoy working with executives, collaborating and making decisions that help to improve a business’s chances of success. I have a bias towards change and am energized by helping an executive team find ways to overcome their challenges.

I understand the transformative power of software and the digital challenges that every company faces. The challenge now for leaders is how to lead, communicate and motivate humanely for asynchronous, distributed and digital teams. This niche is the focus of my advisory work.

I’m intellectually curious and always learning. I’m currently studying for an MSc in change leadership through HEC Paris and Oxford Saïd Business School. I completed the Oxford Saïd Business School Digital Marketing: Disruptive Strategy course in 2020, the MIT Executive Program on Digital Transformation in 2019 and the UK Institute of Directors’ certification on The Role of the Non-Executive Director in 2018.

If you want to talk to me about board roles, feel free to DM me on LinkedIn or contact me via the website: www.otteradvisory.com

Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash