Daniel McCarthy – Get to know our VAB member

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

I'm keen to share my experience working with founders with other organisations across the globe. I would be willing to advise and help free founders from the often overwhelming tasks of running their businesses so they can focus on what they truly love – vision and entrepreneurship; particularly, by showing them how advisory board services can help. I’m driven by my dad’s experience as a founder who only left his business through ill-health rather than a planned and orderly exit!

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

My specialty is working alongside founders to give them a more visionary and less operational role in their businesses. I feel that as a board advisor, NED or governance board director I could advise founders in enabling and shaping a leadership team to form and grow the business with the founder’s vision at the helm.

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

I’m keen to advise 50+ person founder-led businesses that are on a growth journey and where the founder is looking to exit the business in the medium term (3-5 years).

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 Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business by Gino Wickman and Mark C Winters. This is a book that easily explains how Founders (Visionaries) can, and need to, work with their 2IC (Integrators) to launch and nurture successful businesses.  It radically changed my approach to working with founders and finding a management-rhythm in the business that all staff appreciate and engage with.

Follow Daniel McCarthy on LinkedIn.