Jean-Paul Sacy – Get to know our VAB member
We would like to introduce you to our member Jean-Paul Sacy who joined VAB from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this year. He currently serves as Head of MEA at Wand, a leader in AI research and enterprise-grade systems: a company committed to developing reliable, safe and interpretable AI technologies to automate core workflows and tasks using a unique agentic technology to solve complex, high-value tasks, boosting organisational productivity and improving efficiency. Prior to Wand, Jean-Paul held leadership roles at Baker Hughes, C3.ai, Lummus Digital and DuPont Sustainable Solutions. He is currently looking to leverage his experience in the space intersecting AI and Education, so feel free to connect with him if you share similar interests or wish to learn more about his board aspirations.
What inspired you to become a member of the Virtual Advisory Board community?
I had heard only good things about the folks who launched the network. I have built mutually beneficial relationships in similar networks before and looking to replicate this at VAB!
In what area do you feel board advisors can add the most value for Boards of Directors (BoDs) and executive teams?
Advisors’ work has value in their providing trusted expertise across a large array of complex topics. I believe that board advisors add clear value in their ability to see the bigger picture from outside the day-to-day of business operations. They can give insights not only on systemic or operational concerns for the company, but also deliver a bird’s eye view of how a business thinks strategically vis-à-vis its competitors and market-shifting forces like AI.
What would be your dream company/organisation to work with as a board advisor/NED?
I am really keen on supporting GenAI companies in the Education sector. Tech enablement in education is one of my greatest passions and I try to support initiatives in this space as much as possible. I helped set up an organisation called 42Beirut, which is a tuition-free coding school based in Lebanon.
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 recommend one book I read recently: A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains in which Max Bennett bridges the gap between neuroscience and AI to tell the brain’s evolutionary story, revealing how understanding that story can help shape the next generation of AI breakthroughs.
