Senior Advisor - Challenging strategies and measures
My WHAT
As trusted senior advisor I provide advice and guidance to
Start-ups, mid-sized and family-owned companies. I challenge
strategies and measures, coach management on leadership and management issues and make my business
network available to the company. As a
supervisor and guardian of corporate governance, I demand the guidelines and
principles of long-term and sustainable corporate management. In addition, I share
valuable specialist expertise and experience
on topics such as strategic planning, risk management, transformation, business development,
digitalization, ESG, and stakeholder engagement.
It is of great importance to
embrace change or initiate transformation. The world is radically
changing, and the company has to react on relevant megatrends long
before it is necessary. The challenge is to reinvent the
company for the future while things are going well, and the organization is strong.
In this case we have to insist on performance and transformation at the same time.
My tasks as a senior advisor vary depending on the industry, organization, and specific role, but some common tasks may include:
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Providing strategic guidance:
I am responsible for providing strategic advice and guidance to senior executives, boards of directors, and other key stakeholders. I am involved in developing and implementing business strategies, identifying growth opportunities, and addressing operational challenges. -
Risk management:
In entrepreneurship, you also have to take risks. I help companies identify and manage risks. I challenge risk assessment tools, such as risk matrices, to identify and evaluate potential risks and develop risk mitigation strategies. -
Mentoring and coaching:
I may be tasked with mentoring and coaching junior staff members, providing guidance and support to help them develop their skills & capabilities and advance their careers. -
Building and managing relationships:
I am responsible for building and maintaining relationships with clients, partners, and other stakeholders. This may involve networking, attending industry events, and engaging in business development activities. -
Conducting research and analysis:
I may be tasked with conducting research and analysis on market trends, industry developments, and competitive landscapes. This may involve identifying key issues, and providing recommendations based on my expertise and experience. -
Representing the organization:
I represent the organization in meetings with clients, investors, and other stakeholders. I may also speak at industry conferences and events and participate in media interviews.
As a result, the company gets independent strategic guidance and support to achieve its goals and objectives. Personally, I do not pursue any corporate-political self-interests but am only focused on the well-being of the company.
My HOW
I use a range of tools and methods to help companies make informed decisions and achieve their goals. The specific tools and methods I use will depend on the nature of the advisory work they are performing and the needs of the company.
Many issues must also be evaluated from a business ethics and compliance point of view. This perspective has always been important to me and that is why I have been a member of the DNWE (German Network for Business Ethics) and EBEN (European Business Ethics Network) since 1996.
All development begins with the recognition that things need to improve. Adding value begins with challenging key assumptions and asking the essential questions. Concrete questions could be:
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Situation
- How will megatrends affect us in the coming years?
- What are the greatest opportunities?
- How resilient are our supply chains?
- How solid is our talent pipeline?
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Strategy
- What is our ambition?
- What will be our direction the coming years?
- To get there, which mindset and inspiration must guide us?
- What will characterize the culture of the company and its leadership?
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Performance
- Where are we doing well and where do we need to improve further?
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Transformation
- What metrics will be critical to win next season?
- What new competencies and skills do we need to develop and train?
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Stakeholders
- How do we add value to society?
- What are the unique value propositions to our various stakeholders?
Overall, my goal is to challenge strategies and measures with a systematic approach and communicate with clear statements.