Michael Kogeler – Get to know our VAB member
It is our pleasure to introduce Michael Kogeler, a valued member who joined VAB earlier this year. Based in Dubai, UAE, Michael previously served as co-founder and CEO of Nedamco Africa, where he established and grew a climate technology company for a family office. Before his tenure at Nedamco Africa, Michael held senior leadership roles with globally recognised tech giants such as Oracle, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Currently, he is exploring new opportunities. He is deeply passionate about driving organisational digital transformation and helping businesses leverage AI to enhance their operations and services. If you’re interested in learning more about Michael’s board aspirations or his expertise in the tech industry, don’t hesitate to reach out to him.
What inspired you to become a member of the Virtual Advisory Board community?
I wanted to meet and learn from like minds and to network. I am curious about finding potential board roles and building new business relationships where there might be a possible new role for me.
In what area do you feel board advisors can add the most value for Boards of Directors (BoDs) and executive teams?
It is hard to say since I am fairly new to this space and to working with the VAB community. But I think that board advisors can add true value by leveraging their expertise and potentially their networks to help find solutions to strategic decision-making issues. Also, their ability to share objective views through experience and from their professional and industry knowledge are probably key assets they have.
What would be your dream company/organisation to work with as a board advisor/NED?
Either a fast-growing company: one looking for innovation, new markets, customers and partners, or a company that is "stuck" and looking to reinvent themselves in any direction. I am interested in all company-sizes: from startups to larger enterprises. Even within the public sector. All with some flavour of tech in them as that is my background.
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 am not a big believer in the "one book" that changes someone’s life. I read a lot, both short and long publications, and typically have 3-5 books going at the same time. Some that I have recently read and can recommend include Start With Why by Simon Sinek and the Kremlin School Of Negotiation by Igor Ryzov. These are ones I enjoyed and learnt from.
