Erwin Feldhaus – Get to know our VAB member

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

In recent years, I have gradually moved from executive to non-executive roles. I have been lucky to have had a very rich career path so far; one that includes lots of international exposure, working in multiple cultures and industries and at all stages of the company lifecycle. Along with that experience, my having worked in the public and private sectors has allowed me to build a large, eclectic and strong network. I see VAB as a logical continuation of my efforts to further grow my network, having participated in many VAB events over the past couple of years. I find that through VAB I always meet interesting people with impressive profiles. That is what makes VAB a great forum for practitioners from all over the world who wish to exchange ideas and learn from each other. I am excited to be able expand my network via VAB and engage with fellow members in tackling the challenges that boards (governance or advisory) will face in the future.

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

Advisors, when chosen smartly, provide fresh angles for exploring and solving problems, to going up against challenges and to addressing realities. Independent advisors and NEDs allow organisations to generate better outcomes due to the wider range of experiences summoned in the process of creating strategies. This helps them complement and strengthen the work of Boards of Directors who have a very important role in creating the right governance structures to enable sustainable development and positive impact for a business.

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

I would love to work with an organisation that has recognised and understands that the challenges facing our planet and our civilisation have to be addressed now. I would also want the organisation to have a strong ethical foundation and a clear sense of purpose. And it should be both diverse and human- or people-centric as well. Provided these criteria are met, I am willing to work as and advisor or NED across different types of industries.

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 definitely suggest Focus on the “G” in ESG published by Harvard Business Review and also Cynefin - Weaving Sense-Making into the Fabric of Our World, written by Dave Snowden and edited by Riva Greenberg and Boudewijn Bertsch.

Follow Erwin Feldhaus on LinkedIn.