George Popescu – Get to know our VAB member
We would like to introduce our member George Popescu, who joined the VAB community from Geneva, Switzerland. George is very active in the tech space focusing on all aspects of digital transformation and what that means for organisations of all sizes.
With 17+ years of experience across business-IT strategy, IT governance, digitalisation, enterprise architecture and analytics, he has advised and contributed to over 100 organisations: from multinationals such as Procter & Gamble, Deloitte, Allianz, L’Oréal, Oracle, Siemens and others to SMEs and start-ups. He has provided these entities counsel on high-impact tech initiatives and programmes.
George is keen to connect with VAB members who have engaged with boards on IT-related priorities, having himself also explored issues such as transformative tech and the rise of AI and other advanced technologies. Feel free to contact him to learn more about his board journey.
What inspired you to become a member of the Virtual Advisory Board community?
I joined the Virtual Advisory Board (VAB) with a mission to prepare myself for a portfolio career in the governance and advisory board space.
In what area do you feel board advisors can add the most value for Boards of Directors (BoDs) and executive teams?
Board advisors increasingly have a valuable role to play in helping align the use of new, advanced technologies with business strategy and mission. As a tech enthusiast and a long-term IT consultant, I feel that skilled board advisors in the technology space can help businesses better gain true value from technology purchases and integration with operating processes; whether it be skilling for AI usage, implementing solutions to get knowledge and power from company or organisational data, or replanning HR strategy for increasingly tech-human blended workforces.
What would be your dream company/organisation to work with as a board advisor/NED?
With my background in IT and tech consultancy, I would love to work with a Fortune 500 company that specialises in transformative IT and/or with up to two Healthcare leaders. I believe that this is currently a space that offers a lot of interesting challenges and consists of organisations very keen on innovation and IT service evolution.
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 certainly recommend The Phoenix Project written by the trio of Gene Kim, Kevin Behr and George Spafford. This is a fun look into the world of IT, DevOps and the pursuit of business growth and how a prospective board member with an IT background and a new philosophy arrives to change things for the better.
