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The Veblen Director Programme

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Veblen Global Advisory Board Program

Fast Track Your Business With An Advisory Board!

Introducing Veblen Global Advisory Board Program – Your Gateway to an advisory board with up to 5 dedicated business professionals powering your growth journey with expertise and accountability.

Successful companies know that the more people helping them the greater their chance of hitting their goals. Startups and small businesses need this level of advice and guidance more than any and yet very rarely do they have the support of a board.

A Global Advisory Board is an intermediate step that small businesses can take before they make the transition to a full Board. They typically will have monthly calls with the CEO and top team of the company to keep them accountable to their goals, ensure they are focusing on the most important elements and to offer advice, guidance and introductions to useful people from their own network

For resource constrained small businesses the biggest advantage of a Global Advisory Board provided by Veblen is that there is no cost associated. It is all only upside!

The Veblen Director Program takes successful business folks from around the world and trains them to be outstanding Board members. As part of their training, they will spend at least a year advising small businesses like yours. The insights and the contacts that you will make during this year could be the catalyst you are looking for to elevate your business to the next level!

Veblen Directors Program has been a Godsend for DRIVEN Systems! To meet and interface with top-notch leaders, accomplished professionals, and business development superstars from across the globe could never happen as easily as it has for us thru VDP

The Application Process

Apply to the Veblen Global Advisory Board program in the link below. Upon receiving your application, we will share it with the Veblen Community
We will return with a list of candidates that have expressed their interest and you will select 8- 12 members to have "get to know you" calls
Upon shortlisting your members, we will share a sample NDA or LOI upon your request and VDP will assist in producing a simple press release regarding the partnership

Looking to increase diversity on your Board but don’t want the disruption and cost of a new Board member?

The Veblen Apprentice Program allows you to tap into a diverse network of up and coming executives, thought leaders and established entrepreneurs  who are looking for Board exposure and are concurrently being trained by Veblen on everything from Investor Relations to ESG to the latest rules around Data Protection. 

Looking to increase diversity on your Board but don’t want the disruption and cost of a new Board member?

The Veblen Apprentice Program allows you to tap into a diverse network of up and coming executives, thought leaders and established entrepreneurs  who are looking for Board exposure and are concurrently being trained by Veblen on everything from Investor Relations to ESG to the latest rules around Data Protection. 

What to Expect

At Veblen, we recognize the challenges small businesses face in pursuing exponential growth and innovation. Our solution revolves around connecting you with a group of accomplished entrepreneurs and individuals within our network. These individuals undergo training and receive ongoing support from us, making them an invaluable resource for your business.

Expect your Advisors to engage in a monthly call, with the potential for additional interactions based on
mutual agreement

Foster an environment of honesty during discussions. The Advisory Board can provide valuable assistance only when presented with a complete and truthful overview, even if it contrasts with more optimistic portrayals to clients and staff.

Acknowledge that not all advice provided will be applicable to your business. While the Advisory Board strives to assist, it is ultimately your responsibility to evaluate & implement advice that align with your business goals.

It is OK to say, ‘I have thought about that, and I don’t think it’s right for the business at this time, I might look at it again in the future"

Understand that the Advisory Board is not a substitute for your team. Taking action on their
advice is your responsibility, and their role is to guide rather than execute tasks on your behalf.

Some Companies we have worked with

Apply for a Veblen Global Advisory Board today!

Looking to increase diversity on your Board but don’t want the disruption and cost of a new Board member?

The Veblen Apprentice Program allows you to tap into a diverse network of up and coming executives, thought leaders and established entrepreneurs  who are looking for Board exposure and are concurrently being trained by Veblen on everything from Investor Relations to ESG to the latest rules around Data Protection. 

Veblen Directors - Our Board Member Candidates

Marisa Agrasut

Marisa Agrasut

Veblen Director

Over the years Marisa has been blending management and leadership of strategic design and innovation for Fortune 500s, governments, national ministries, nonprofits and SMEs. She has a track record in creating business value; her remit has spanned research through to implementation, optimising the ongoing conditions, to increase value creation, pushing boundaries for problem solving and helping to uncover unmet needs and opportunities through cross-functional working. In 2015, relocating to Singapore, she found few-to-no organisations combining both sustainability and innovation. It was this that seeded her vision for The Inceptery. She is currently a managing partner at this sustainability-led innovation consultancy.

Ralph White

Ralph White

Veblen Director

Ralph is an accomplished business leader with more than two decades of experience in technology and sales, this candidate brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the boardroom. With a proven track record of driving revenue growth and building successful teams, they are a valuable asset to any company seeking to enhance their bottom line. Currently serving as an apprentice board member of a fast-growing European PLC, this candidate is poised to make a significant impact on any board they serve on.

Hetul Patel

Hetul Patel

Veblen Director

Hetul is a highly skilled and experienced Actuary with 20 years of experience in Financial Services. He has worked in and led teams across the US, Europe, and Asia, and is passionate about helping companies create value by making better decisions through data and analytics. Hetul's expertise in quantitative analysis and risk management makes him an invaluable addition to any board seeking to enhance its strategic decision-making process. His dedication to using data-driven insights to drive business outcomes has resulted in numerous successful initiatives and projects throughout his career.

Michael Ehlert

Michael Ehlert

Veblen Director

Michael has worked for 26+ years in different Financial Services sectors – wealth management, real asset investments, mutual funds, capital raising, payment services, financial licensing and corporate finance. Over the years he has raised in excess of €250m investor capital.

Punit Govind

Veblen Director

Punit is a seasoned business leader, investor, and digital transformation specialist with over 20 years of experience across multiple corporations. He is known for his entrepreneurial spirit and expertise in business strategy development, digital infrastructure transformation, mergers and acquisitions, and executive leadership. Punit's background in operations and business development make him a valuable asset to any board.

Angela Lauria

Angela Lauria

Veblen Director

Angela Lauria is founder and CEO of an Inc 500 company that has support over 1,500 authors in writing and publishing non-fiction books. An Internet marketing pioneer, Dr. Lauria has a deep background in direct response marketing, digital product development, and team optimization. She is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Make 'Em Beg to Work for You and 7 other books and she identifies as both Queer and Autistic.

Olukayode Akinbinu

Olukayode Akinbinu

Veblen Director

Kayode is an accomplished finance and business leader, specialising in strategic planning and financial analysis. With nearly two decades of experience advising and providing assurance to leading organisations, he currently spearheads the strategic initiatives of a top 500 bank with $30 billion in total assets. Kayode's expertise lies in corporate governance, revenue assurance, and cost optimization. He is also passionate about digital innovation and has participated in the retail transformation of a wholesale bank making him an invaluable addition to any board. Additionally, he brings a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all stakeholders are well-represented and heard.

Jonathan Stewart

Jonathan Stewart

Veblen Director

Jonathan Stewart is a seasoned Information Technology (IT) expert with over 25 years of experience. He is a proactive thought leader with a passion for change, and has led numerous large-scale projects and diverse teams. Jonathan's expertise lies in infrastructure strategy, network architecture, security, and compliance, and he has a proven track record of executing complex migrations. His approach is people-centric, and he has successfully positioned team members for success while achieving business outcomes through technology. Jonathan's extensive IT knowledge and leadership skills make him a valuable addition to any organization.

Nam Phong Ho

Veblen Director

Nam is a Swiss citizen with over 20 years of executive experience. He is currently the Chief Audit Executive of Glencore PLC, where he heads the internal audit function of the company. Apart from being experienced in reporting functionally to the Board and administratively to Senior Management, Nam has developed a sound understanding of governance, risk management and internal controls with a vast knowledge on compliance frameworks. Nam is not only a leader in the internal audit profession but is also a leader for ethics & integrity and a leader for innovation & change management. His most impactful and relevant achievement has been to transform the internal audit activity to make it fit for the digital future. With his expertise and experience, he is sure to create value and drive digitalization on any board.

Ronawati Wongso

Ronawati Wongso

Veblen Director

Ronawati, CFA is a highly experienced and accomplished business leader with over 30 years of experience, including 20 years as a CFO in various industries. With a proven track record of increasing profits substantially, turning companies around, and successfully raising funds.She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to any board. Her extensive experience and success in financial management make her a valuable asset to any company seeking to grow and thrive.

Uldis Karlovs-Karlovskis

Uldis Karlovs-Karlovskis

Veblen Director

Uldis has two decades of experience in software engineering and leadership as he is a skilled coach in Agile and DevOps practices. Known for seeing beyond the data and offering insights others may miss, he is often the voice of reason in the room. Apart from being the founder of a DevOps community in Latvia and a small theatre, he is also actively involved in non-profit organizations and is currently a member of Psychodrama Playwrite and other Theatre Associations. With his unique blend of technical expertise and creative interests, Uldis is an asset to any board seeking to innovate and stay ahead of industry trends.

Kristy Castleton

Veblen Director

Kristy Castleton is founder and CEO of the multi-award winning brand experience agency Rebel and Soul. The agency works with Publicly Listed Companies including Mastercard, HSBC and Diageo to apply their proprietary neuroscience methodology INVOLVE®, to transform their brands. Her pioneering work at the intersection of science and marketing has won Kristy multiple accolades from Entrepreneur of the Year and Innovator of the Year to a Woman Leading Change and she identifies as gay.

Cameron Clark

Veblen Director

Cameron Clark is an accomplished Aerospace Engineer with a reputation for being a strategic thinker and highly analytical problem solver. He has a demonstrated track record of success in directing complex, concurrent projects from inception to completion while working closely with diverse, multi-disciplinary teams. With extensive experience in planning, establishing, and leading efficient and dedicated teams, Cameron is equipped to consistently deliver exceptional results and drive profitable returns on investment. His expertise spans multiple areas, including systems engineering, stakeholder engagement, and R&D. Cameron's outstanding negotiation and communication skills enable him to interact effectively with all levels of management and align projects with organizational strategic goals.

Martin Fortier

Veblen Director

Martin is an accomplished global insurance executive and qualified actuary with extensive experience in financial oversight, risk management and stakeholder management, through Canada and Asia. Proven track record advising on and managing the strategic development and profitable growth of emerging businesses with sound financial and risk management practices.

Anthony Kirk

Veblen Director

Anthony Kirk Jr is a seasoned professional in the automotive industry with over 10 years of experience in various engineering functions. Currently, he serves as an Intellectual Property Agreements Manager at General Motors. Apart from having a BS in Manufacturing Systems Engineering and a JD, he is also a member of the California Bar with current pursuits of becoming a member of the Patent Bar this year. Anthony's interests include intellectual property management and its intersection with technology and corporate governance. With a strong desire to leverage his knowledge and experience, Anthony seeks to contribute to a board position. In his free time, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing chess.

Arvashni Seeripat

Veblen Director

Arvashni is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with over 25 years of experience in commercial strategy, sales, marketing, and drug development. With a successful track record of leading global organizations and managing large-scale P&Ls with over $7Bn in gross sales, she is recognized for her impactful strategies and execution excellence across 10+ therapeutic areas and geographically diverse locations. Arvashni's expertise in navigating complex healthcare landscapes, coupled with her learning mindset, enables her to offer thoughtful guidance to drive organizational stewardship and governance.

Scott Head

Veblen Director

Scott has over two decades of technical and management experience in a career covering several industries, Scott is an asset to any organization that he works with. Over the years he has brought many products to market with successful execution and launch. From start-ups to multinational corporations, Scott has applied his skills as a leader, an innovator, and a mentor in DevOps, Operations and Research and Development.

Mark Carter

Mark Carter

Veblen Director

Mark is an aspiring Board Member and Professional Engineering Manager with experience in Automotive, Biomedical, Communication, Commercial, Industrial and Military Applications. With over 20 years of experience in Electronics and electrical engineering functions in both startups and MNCs, he is a sharp individual who is a active, motivated, and willing to be challenged when it comes to bettering the society. Currently, apart from being a skilled consultant in managing the development of complex systems, he also run his own busines and partake in community organizations in which his goal is to help grow and scale start-ups

Diane Johnson

Veblen Director

Diane Johnson is an accomplished educator and instructional leader with extensive experience in both the corporate and educational worlds. After sixteen years in IT, she found her passion in the classroom and has since initiated STEM programs and served as the Academy Director of Engineering and Computer Science. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Principal at a high school in Fairfield, CA and teaches Computer Information Systems at the Peralta Community College District. Her dedication to education has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2022 Black Excellence Award for Impactful Educator from SOBE in Oakland, CA. Diane is also a Fulbright scholar who traveled to South Africa in 2022 to participate in the cultural exchange program and wrote the curriculum for the project, "Transforming Inequality." She believes in empowering students to choose their own path and is a proud mother of two accomplished sons.

Jeremy Zwiegelaar

Veblen Director

Jeremy has been working on and leading research projects which consider open innovation, business intelligence using Big data, well-being and measures social entrepreneurial performance. He has created value for businesses , government departments and has consulted on projects creating value with data. He is a current director of property related businesses in New Zealand. In 2015, he relocated to the UK where he has been developing and leading on research, and consultancy projects in enterprises as part of his role as senior lecturer. He currently works on projects considering digital transformation with a focus on business model innovation. The more recent project is a £12.4 million, 5 year project which is a Digit lab, focused on researching the digital transformation of enterprises.

Paul Chaytor

Veblen Director

Paul is a globally experienced leader, adept at executive and non-executive board positions in private companies and serving as a trustee on charity boards. With 25 years of expertise in FMCG, food, agriculture, and manufacturing, he is a skilled supply chain and procurement professional. Paul has successfully built supply chains, implemented systems, managed post-merger integrations, and led international expansions. A strategic thinker, analytical, and energetic team player, he excels at bringing people together, motivating teams, and fearlessly tackling tough questions. Paul's exceptional leadership and supply chain acumen make him a valuable addition to any board.

Ryan Nichols

Veblen Director

Ryan is an accomplished SaaS product leader with nearly 20 years of experience. He excels in guiding product development, leading cross-functional teams, and launching successful new products. He has served many high level executive positions such as Head of Product, Strategic Alliance Program Manager, Vice President of Operations, Global Head of Provisioning, among others. Ryan's expertise spans SaaS, Business Intelligence, Product Management, Business Development, and Technology. He has a strong track record of driving growth and establishing departments from the ground up. With extensive certifications and a proven ability to deliver results, Ryan is a valuable candidate for any organization seeking product-driven growth and expansion.

Mazen Elyas

Veblen Director

Mazen Elyas is an accomplished and growth-focused Business Development Executive, renowned for his expertise in positioning consumer products for significant revenue growth. With a keen eye for implementing effective business development strategies, Mazen possesses a unique blend of skills in sales, marketing analytics, and business operations. His extensive experience enables him to drive sales, expand profitability, and increase market share across diverse industries. As a forward-thinking visionary, Mazen is constantly inspired by the limitless possibilities that the future holds, always striving to unlock the full potential of businesses. With his strategic mindset and passion for innovation, Mazen Elyas is a driving force in shaping successful ventures for the future.

Mirenda Canady

Veblen Director

Mirenda Canady, an accomplished professional with a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained through decades of experience across diverse industries, is a true visionary. As the founder of a nonprofit organization committed to promoting Biblical literacy, Mirenda showcases her passion for making a meaningful impact on society. Additionally, she has developed an innovative app service that addresses the long-standing challenge of IEP communication, revolutionizing the way this vital information is shared. Mirenda's forward-thinking mindset is further evident in her provisional patent for a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) innovation tailored specifically for long Covid patients, demonstrating her dedication to finding solutions for pressing healthcare needs. With her unwavering commitment to social impact and her ability to develop groundbreaking solutions, Mirenda Candy continues to make a lasting difference in multiple fields.

Payal Walker

Veblen Director

Payal Walker is a highly skilled business mentor, communicator, and aspiring Non-Executive Director with a focus on digital business strategy, leadership development mentoring, and leveraging partnerships. With a deep understanding of emotional intelligence, Payal coaches entrepreneurs and leaders, equipping them to navigate complex situations and enhance their personal and social competences. She emphasizes the significance of fostering strategic collaborations and is well-connected in the business world. Payal's expertise in digital innovation, emotional intelligence, and leadership development will bring invaluable insights to Boards, enabling them to adapt to rapidly changing technological advances. Her mentoring and guidance will help Boards identify potential risks, capitalize on emerging trends, and seize opportunities, ensuring they remain agile and future-ready.

Kawaljeet

Kawaljeet Singh Bhurji

Veblen Director

Kawaljeet, known as KB, is a highly experienced industry professional and aspiring board member with a career spanning over two decades. His expertise encompasses various roles and levels of organizational hierarchy, showcasing exceptional business acumen and technical proficiency. With a portfolio of over 500 successfully delivered complex projects across the UK and Europe, KB has made a lasting impact on the industry. His unwavering commitment to achieving results, adaptability, and versatility sets him apart. KB excels in leading diverse cross-functional teams across international locations and collaborating with stakeholders to drive shared objectives. Renowned for his innovative solutions, KB consistently pushes boundaries and establishes new benchmarks for success. With a reputation for excellence, he is poised to make a significant contribution as a director.

Glenn Williams

Veblen Director

Glenn Williams is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in establishing and managing retail operations, including franchise operations. After retiring in 2014, he served as a Business Broker for three years and later became an Advisor involved in restructuring New Zealand's fire services. With more than 20 years of active involvement in the New Zealand Institute of Directors, Glenn completed the Company Directors Course and became a Chartered Director in 2016. He has served on not-for-profit boards for over 10 years, including a role on an Audit and Risk Committee and as Deputy Chairman. Glenn's expertise and passion for governance make him a valuable addition to public company boards, where he seeks to leverage his extensive background and experience to create value.

Sashidar

Veblen Director

Sashidar is an accomplished digital marketer with 11+ years of experience. He has led marketing teams globally and collaborated with government agencies, consistently driving revenue growth and ROAS. With a background in founding startups and working with various e-commerce brands, Sashidar excels in using data-driven insights, brand building, and increasing profitability. He currently runs his own startup and serves as a marketing consultant for other e-commerce brands. As an aspiring board member, Sashidar aims to leverage his expertise to drive growth and profitability for companies, utilizing his deep knowledge of digital marketing strategies and his ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities.

Susan Prohaska

Veblen Director

Susan is an accomplished biologic drug development professional with a strong track record in driving strategy, building cross-functional teams, leading programs, managing contracts, manufacturing, and alliances. With a strategic mindset and exceptional problem-solving skills, she excels at managing multiple priorities and stakeholders to meet aggressive deadlines. Holding a PhD in immunology and stem cell biology from Stanford University, Susan brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and entrepreneurial acumen to her role. Her experience includes providing strategic leadership, alliance and portfolio management, due diligence, writing, editing, and scientific guidance to early-stage biotech companies, as well as overseeing pre-clinical and clinical development programs. Susan's broad skill set extends to her involvement as a corporate board observer and as a member of non-profit boards, further showcasing her commitment to making a positive impact in the industry.

Rene Aafjes

Veblen Director

Rene is an accomplished sales and business professional with over two decades of experience in financial services and home services industries. With a strong track record of delivering exceptional results, Rene has honed expertise in sales, negotiation, and customer service, closing over $2.8 million in business with a 42% closing rate. Rene's commitment to exceeding expectations and delivering outstanding value stems from early entrepreneurial experiences. With a background in Business, Psychology, Event Management, and Marketing, Rene possesses a well-rounded understanding of the business landscape. As an aspiring board director, Rene brings a passion for sales, business, and personal growth, aiming to leverage expertise in driving growth and delivering outstanding results for organizations.

Nomonde Mabuya

Veblen Director

Zafer Najib

Veblen Director

Zafer is an accomplished International Executive Business leader with over 25 years of outstanding achievements in the global Energy industry, focused on delivering exceptional stakeholder value. Achieved by inspirational leadership, strategic thinking, strong relationship building at all levels, promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and inclusion. He has a proven track record of successfully delivering world-class multi-billion dollar transformation programs across North America, Europe, MENA, Asia, in diverse multicultural business environments with leading global private and public partners. Zafer has a deep understanding of international best practice and business excellence following significant Executive representation at the Board, Operational, Regulatory level, as well as Voluntary Charitable committees. Zafer is passionate about sustainability, digital technology, innovation and enhancing business models. He is presently providing international advisory & consulting to key major global players across multiple sectors, helping them to gain competitive advantage in the rapidly disrupting global market.

Dr. Veronica Anderson

Veblen Director

Dr. Veronica Anderson is a dynamic entrepreneur, author, and holistic healthcare expert renowned for her vast knowledge and experience. As a Kolbe Certified Consultant and Human Design Coach, she offers a unique perspective on health and well-being, drawing on her background in multiple industries, including healthcare, real estate, e-commerce, and auto exportation. Driven by her passion for holistic medicine and personal growth, she integrates her medical expertise with intuitive instincts to enhance understanding of the human body and mind. Dr. Anderson's exceptional talent lies in maximizing employee potential, reducing conflict, and facilitating talent acquisition. Her expertise in holistic medicine, combined with her ability to build high-performing teams, makes her a valuable asset to corporate settings and an esteemed addition to boards and director roles. With four published books and media features, she is a recognized authority in her field. Dr. Anderson resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Harlem, New York City, and Nice, France, and enjoys meditation, yoga, comedy, and traveling.

Gwarega Dambudzo

Veblen Director

Gwarega is a seasoned professional with 22 years of experience in the built environment sector. As the founder and managing director of a successful consulting practice, he has provided valuable assistance to governments in planning and delivering social and economic infrastructure. Gwarega's expertise lies in scenario planning, strategy development, stakeholder management, and operations improvement. With a strong focus on business development, governance, and financial management, he is well-equipped to serve organizations at a higher level. Additionally, Gwarega's dedication to entrepreneurial development in resource-constrained contexts has fueled his passion for applied research. He brings a unique blend of astute and compassionate leadership, understanding the intricate relationship between business, government, and society. As an aspiring director, Gwarega is poised to drive positive outcomes and contribute to the success of organizations.

Erin Ince

Veblen Director

Erin Ince is an accomplished Human Resources professional, specializing in Talent Acquisition. Erin has built and led global teams at private and public companies through various stages of their maturity, from early-stage startups through hypergrowth, including the leading Fortune 500 Human Capital Management SaaS. Erin has developed and executed comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion programs focused on talent attraction and employee retention. With a proven track record of executive stakeholder management and creating a culture of operational excellence, Erin consistently exceeds expectations of customers, partners, and investors.

Ramesh Nair

Veblen Director

Ramesh is an accomplished Certified Leadership Coach, Digital Partner, and C-Suite Advisor with a track record of leading successful transformations for F500 organizations. Earlier, Ramesh worked for over three decades in the IT industry across geographies, spending nearly a decade in the USA. He previously led business divisions with revenues exceeding $300 million and scaled technology delivery organizations to 4000+ associates. As a Leadership Coach, Ramesh excels in navigating volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) situations. His expertise in management practices and delivering impactful solutions make him a valuable partner for executives seeking to elevate their capabilities and navigate today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Ramesh is a passionate champion of DEI initiatives with a proven track record of coaching global leaders at the WILD Network, Engender Health, and TPH to drive positive change.

Jim Houlihan

Veblen Director

Jim is a highly accomplished engineer with over 30 years of experience in offshore oil & gas, specializing in international operations. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions in project and operations management, successfully overseeing multimillion-dollar construction and commissioning projects across diverse jurisdictions. In addition to his extensive background in the oil and gas industry, Jim has ventured into the renewable energy sector, franchising, and mergers and acquisitions, demonstrating his ability to develop sustainable businesses across various industries. He has served as a director in offshore drilling and risk management companies in Ireland, Brazil, South-East Asia, and Mozambique, and has held a non-executive director role with a shark conservation charity in the UK. Jim's expanding skill set includes expertise in digital marketing, data analytics, air-to-water systems, waste-to-energy technologies, hybrid and off-grid power solutions, and investments in the energy transition. Currently residing in Ireland, he is flexible to travel or take on hybrid roles based on the requirements.

It costs nothing for your PLC to join the program and we will send you a selection of candidates to select for a Board Apprentice.  

Your only requirements are:

  • Invite the Veblen Apprentices to attend your Board meetings (normally by Zoom)

  • Involve the Veblen Apprentices in all Board communication

The Veblen Apprentices will be under strict NDA’s and will not interrupt any Board meetings unless invited to do so.  However, you still retain the right to ask a Veblen Apprentice to step out of the meeting if you have confidentiality reasons for doing so.

Whilst you may choose to have existing Board members connect with the Veblen Apprentice outside of the meetings for 2 way learning, there is no obligation to do so.

Veblen will put out a Press Release to our investor base announcing that your PLC has joined the program.

There are several benefits for a small cap PLC that participates in our board apprentice program:

Additionally opportunities exist for your senior team to receive the Veblen Training to become functional Board members in the future.

We encourage you to have a call with one of our team to discuss whether the Veblen Apprentice Program would would be right for your Board.

Veblen Expert Panel

Stephanie J Batot

Stephanie J Batot

Communications lead | Content strategy and management | Diversity & Inclusion advocate

Neil Fachie

Neil Fachie OBE

14 x World Champion Cyclist | Performance Business Coach | Author |Speaker

Ralph White

Ralph White

Investor | Business Mentor | Performance Consultant

Victoria Sylvester FIEP

Victoria Sylvester FIEP

Founder | CEO | Board Director | ESG Lead

Tom Lazell

Tom Lazell

Executive Director at Gallagher

Franziska Grobler

Franziska Grobler

Digital Marketing | Marketing Automation | Business Consultant

Andrew McGregor

Andrew McGregor

Diversity & Inclusion Consultant

Joanne Flinn

Joanne Flinn

Sustainability for Business: Environment, Social and Governance | Author | Speaker

Darren Finkelstein

International Accountability Coach

Jeremy Harbour

Jeremy Harbour

A global leader in the field of small business Mergers & Acquisitions. Founder of Unity Group and Harbour Club.

All Veblen candidates have gone through a training program and received expert tuition on different Board related topics from the following and many others:

The syllabus is extensive and is designed to give Veblen members a broad knowledge as quickly as possible.

Financial Literacy
Raising Capital. What you need to know.

The Investor Escalator
How to Due Diligence a Board

What is Investor Relations and how to do it well
Handling Bad news

Understanding Capital Allocation
Dealing with Conflict

Using Diversity Correctly
Effective written & spoken presentation skills

Building out the right network
First 100 days on the Board

Using M&A in your journey
Leadership & High Performance Mindset

Board Subcommittees and how they work
Board Culture

Your Values & Theirs
Ethics. Upholding & dealing with breeches.

Understanding Governance
Board Best practice – pros & cons

And much more including live case studies of companies in the media and how their boards are handling situations.

Programme Host

Callum Laing

Founder | CEO | Investor | Author | Speaker

Callum Laing has been Chair, CEO & Director of multiple PLC’s.  He has taken more than 40 companies public, hired many directors and rejected hundreds more.

Callum is an entrepreneur of more than 20 years. He has also held positions as World Business Angel Forum High Commissioner to Singapore and an Ambassador to DealGateway.com

Callum is the best selling author of 3 business books, has published over 2000 interviews with Entrepreneurs and Investors around the world, founded EnterpriseZone.cc and hosts the daily ‘CallumConnects’ micro-podcast.

Looking to increase diversity on your Board but don’t want the disruption and cost of a new Board member?

The Veblen Apprentice Program allows you to tap into a diverse network of up and coming executives, thought leaders and established entrepreneurs  who are looking for Board exposure and are concurrently being trained by Veblen on everything from Investor Relations to ESG to the latest rules around Data Protection.