Therese Gedda – Get to know our VAB member
This month we would also like to introduce you to our member Therese Gedda, who joins the VAB community from New York City in the USA. She is the founder and CEO of Reimaginez, a firm focused on helping businesses design and scale high performance, thriving companies and cultures. Therese is an acclaimed keynote and motivational speaker and the founder of the Be Brilliant Academy, a platform of courses designed for High Achievers covering entrepreneurship, public speaking, willpower and negotiation. She previously served on the board of directors for Silicon Vikings, a not-for-profit building bridges between Silicon Valley and the Nordic countries. Feel free to reach out to Therese to discuss culture, leadership, innovation and achieving peak performance.
What inspired you to become a member of the Virtual Advisory Board community?
Joining the VAB community was a natural extension of my mission to guide, inspire and empower High Achievers to reach their full potential. Over the past 20 years, I have been an active member of various communities and have had the privilege of working with thousands of founders, CEOs, and investors; helping them design and scale high performing company cultures where High Achievers thrive. I have been called "Yoda", "Founder Therapist" and "Master Teacher" by brilliant founders and CEOs while also holding the title of CEO advisor. Through various powerful and insightful experiences, I have been able to understand the unique challenges leaders face in their entrepreneurial journeys. Being part of the VAB community allows me to keep amplifying impact. It also represents a space where High Achievers seeking guidance and support can be reached. I am excited to collaborate with like-minded individuals as well as to exchange insights and experiences on building high performing, thriving companies.
In what area do you feel board advisors can add the most value for Boards of Directors (BoDs) and executive teams?
Board advisors are valuable sources of wisdom and experience. They offer insights and expertise that may not otherwise be accessible. Whether they focus on specific goals, projects or broader strategies, they play an essential role as guides for making the decisions that matter; namely, those relating to desired growth and development. Experienced advisors bring clarity to difficult decision-making processes and alleviate burdens created by challenging experiences or projects. My added value comes from my expertise in entrepreneurship: scaling growth and driving performance; developing high achieving leadership; strategic planning and direction; and transforming cultures into thriving, high performing ones. My journey as a founder and CEO has also allowed me to experience negotiations from all sides of the table. I have advised other founders and business leaders, invested in companies, guided investors, taught entrepreneurship and served as a judge in business plan competitions. The wisdom I have collected over the years allows me to provide continuous guidance and advice through actionable wisdom that helps companies reach their desired growth and profitability.
What would be your dream company/organisation to work with as a board advisor/NED?
My primary focus is on high growth companies, startups and scaleups while occasionally collaborating with corporates. My experience has shown that I have the greatest impact on mission-driven companies; particularly, those in industries such as Health (including Life Sciences, Medtech, Biotech, Digital Health and Healthtech), Impact (including Climate Tech, impact investing and similar fields), SaaS and FinTech. My experience spans advising companies from Series A funding to a strategic sale/IPO. My primary focus is on high-growth companies whose revenue starts from 2-5 million USD and goes all the way up to 100-200+ million USD. What matters most to me is not just the industry or stage of the company, but also the philosophy and values of its leadership.
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?
While designing my professional path, I focused on the importance of learning as a daily ritual to expand my knowledge and understand different perspectives. Here are a couple of books with valuable lessons: The Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann (the power of living as a giver); Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss (valuable skills for successfully negotiating); and Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson (a comprehensive guide that demystifies the venture capital deal process).
