Daniel Lehmann – Get to know our VAB member

We would like to introduce our member Daniel Lehmann, who joins the VAB community from Zürich, Switzerland. Daniel has over 20 years of business leadership experience. He has led companies across various industries (textiles, retail and distribution, packaging, manufacturing, OEM electronics) and has a passion for supporting businesses, specifically SMEs, scale and grow market share. Daniel is keen on advising medium-sized enterprises in the DACH (Germany, Austria & Switzerland) region on issues such as growth strategy planning and transformation. If you are interested in learning more about his board and portfolio career journey, feel free to connect with him. 

What inspired you to become a member of the Virtual Advisory Board community?

I joined VAB because I value the exchanges it offers with people who are engaged in the challenges of SMEs and mid-sized organisations. Sharing perspectives and discussing topics such as governance, digital and commercial transformation, talent sourcing and succession planning are key to me. The community also helps me prepare for a wider set of advisory and non-executive responsibilities while contributing my own experience in a meaningful way.

In what area do you feel board advisors can add the most value for Boards of Directors (BoDs) and executive teams?

Many SMEs and mid-sized groups struggle to balance growth, risk, digitalisation and sustainability with limited resources. Board advisors can help sharpen strategic focus, translate it into clear priorities and support management in making tough trade-offs.

What would be your dream company/organisation to work with as a board advisor/NED?

I am interested in working with owner-led or investor-backed SMEs and mid-sized companies in the DACH region that are entering a new phase of growth, professionalisation or transformation. This includes industrial B2B, manufacturing, packaging, wholesale and personal protective equipment. I am also open to selected start-ups that face similar strategic challenges. In addition, I see strong opportunities to support organisations in the elderly-care and nursing-home sector, where demographic shifts, digitalisation, AI and operational excellence are becoming increasingly critical.

What book or podcast would you recommend to VAB members that might improve their skills in corporate governance, board advisory or boosting board-to-executive team communications?

I would highlight two recent books that I find particularly relevant: The Upside of Uncertainty by Nathan Furr & Susannah Harmon Furr (2022) – a very useful guide to navigating uncertainty and taking decisions in volatile environments. It is highly relevant for boards and executives facing transformation and disruption. And then, I also enjoyed reading AI Leadership for Boards – Leading Responsible AI for Value Creation by Fernanda Torre, Liselotte Engstam and Robin Teigland (2025). That book focuses on how boards should lead, guide and govern organisations in an era of AI and big data. It provides a practical AI Governance framework and helps inspire boards when AI becomes a core strategic factor.