These interviews give you a unique opportunity to get to know our talented board candidates, who are ready to bring their expertise and insight to the boardroom.
We have handpicked a selection of experienced leaders with a broad range of backgrounds and expertise. They represent a diversity of perspectives, and all share an understanding of the importance of good governance in achieving strategic and operational goals.
Through these interviews you will gain insight into what motivates them, their views on board work and, not least, the personal qualities and skills they can offer. We hope this will give a fuller picture of each candidate and inspire engagement and discussion about the role of the board in modern business management.
Anne Gro Gulla is an experienced leader and board member with extensive experience of different corporate and international cultures
She holds a Diplom Kaufmann (Master of Science in Business) from Universität Mannheim in Germany and has accumulated 23 years’ experience outside Norway, where she has worked for prominent global companies including Unilever, Coca-Cola, McCann, Telenor, Telia, Ericsson and London Business School. Gulla has also founded two companies and today works as an adviser in strategic marketing for leading Nordic companies
Her extensive board experience spans a range of company structures, including ASA, private equity, family-owned and start-up companies. Her past and present board positions include Gresvig ASA, Codfarmers ASA, Swix AS, David-Andersen AS and Feddie Ocean Distillery, where she has been involved since the start-up.
I want to make a difference and use my background and professional expertise to help the company achieve its long-term goals. In addition to meeting financial targets, it is crucial for companies today to actively involve all stakeholders in a sustainable value creation process.
In board positions, understanding your role is of great importance. A board member is not an integrated part of the operational management team, but rather a representative of their specialist area of expertise, with shared responsibility for the whole.
As a board member you must be thoroughly prepared. That means not hesitating to ask relevant questions and expecting concrete answers. The ability to pick up on what is left unsaid and to challenge what does not necessarily come across clearly in the board papers is also important. You must be active and analytical, proactive and curious, and in that way help ensure that decisions are made on a solid basis.
It is important to understand the consequences that today’s decisions have for the future and the long-term strategy. In addition to sound governance, the board must also see the challenges and opportunities that exist across the entire organisation.
Board meetings and sessions must be put in the calendar and well planned so that the board has enough time for strategic discussions.
I would like to be described as engaged, sensible and a clear communicator, even when the matter is complex. At the same time, I want to help ensure that the board receives valuable input that stimulates reflection and paves the way for constructive discussions on the board.
It is absolutely crucial for a board to have a forward-looking perspective, and in my experience customer focus is unfortunately often underestimated in board work.
The chair plays a crucial role, and the best chair I have worked with was exceptionally good at ensuring that all views around the board table were heard.
My international experience will be of benefit to companies that want to establish themselves in new markets or that already export. After a long career in several countries, there is one thing I know for certain: You don’t know what you don’t know. Without that understanding, it is easy to make significant mistakes.
As a marketer I will contribute customer focus, and my experience from technology and telecommunications companies is valuable for businesses undergoing transformation.
Do you need new board members? Get in touch!