From crisis consultant to board member.

Blog post written by Jennie Zetterström.

As a crisis consultant and media expert, I have often helped boards when times were really tough. My job has been to give advice, bring order to the communication and help the board act with clarity and trust. When I signed up for deb’s programme, it was to become an even better adviser. I wanted to understand how boards really work so I could support them even more when the decisions are hardest.

Along the way I discovered something unexpected. I fell in love with the role itself. Being a board member is not only about handling communication in a crisis. It is also about helping to shape the direction of a whole company or organisation. It means adding experience and perspective to the big decisions that decide success. Often it even means avoiding crises altogether, because risks are dealt with in time.

What attracted me to deb was just as much what they are not. Not a traditional programme with old ways of thinking, but a place where diversity, real-world knowledge and solid expertise come together. For me it was important to choose a programme that is rooted in today’s reality and at the same time gives a deep understanding of board work. That is what I found here.

I now take with me practical tools and a strong sense that board work is one of the most meaningful ways I can use my skills. Helping to make decisions that strengthen companies and organisations, while also creating stability when times are rough, is something I truly look forward to continuing.

Jennie Zetterström
Crisis consultant, adviser, author and certified board member