Carolina Gil – Get to know our VAB member
It’s our pleasure to introduce our member Carolina Gil, who joins the VAB community from Bogotá, Colombia. She has worked over the past 20 years with a number of multinational corporations including The Coca-Cola Company and McKinsey & Company, where she served in roles addressing strategic planning, commercial strategy, business development, as well as professional development. She most recently held the role of Chief People Officer at Sophos Solutions, an IT services and consulting business acquired by GFT Technologies. Carolina is keen to connect with, and learn from, VAB members involved with businesses that need support in transformation efforts or looking to address growth challenges and talent strategy issues. She is specifically interested in connecting with fellow members in Latin America. Feel free to reach out to her to speak about her board journey and learn more about her professional evolution.
What inspired you to become a member of the Virtual Advisory Board community?
After 20 years in regional roles within multinational corporations, I am now exploring opportunities as an independent consultant and board member. I joined VAB to expand my network, deepen my expertise in corporate governance and engage in peer-to-peer collaboration and knowledge exchange.
In what area do you feel board advisors can add the most value for Boards of Directors (BoDs) and executive teams?
I believe board advisors add the most value in two key areas where they can leverage their external perspective and expertise: 1) Future Readiness - Ensuring the company is prepared for what’s ahead by continuously scanning economic, political, industry and consumer trends and fostering strategic discussions about these issues, while analysing potential scenarios and their impact; 2) Talent Strategy: Guaranteeing the organisation has the right executive team, leadership pipeline and culture to execute its strategy effectively.
What would be your dream company/organisation to work with as a board advisor/NED?
My ideal company or organisation to serve as a board advisor/NED would have three key characteristics:
Clarity of Purpose: A mission-driven company whose objectives go beyond profit generation, with a well-defined vision of the problems it seeks to solve.
Thirst for Transformation: I believe in continuous learning and the need for constant adaptation to changing environments. Given my experience, I add the most value to organisations eager to evolve—typically mid-sized companies experiencing growth challenges, businesses in highly disruptive industries or visionary-led companies shaping the future.
Healthy Organizational Culture: A company where leadership fosters trust, collaboration and long-term success through strong values and a people-centred approach.
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 two books: How Will You Measure Your Life? by the late Clayton Christensen. It is a powerful reminder of how our decisions shape our impact, emphasising the importance of values and integrity. This book serves as a valuable guide for leaders seeking to uphold ethical decision-making and avoid "Enron-like" pitfalls. Then, I would also suggest Radical Candor by Kim Scott. This book is a must-read for any leader. It offers practical strategies for fostering open, honest and constructive communication. I consider its insights especially relevant for enhancing board dynamics and strengthening relationships between the board, management and shareholders.
