Hanne Torp Brodersen is project and communications manager at Færchfonden, a commercial foundation that distributes fund funds for non-profit purposes within entrepreneurship, business, culture and education. She has also recently been appointed as deputy chairman of Museum Salling – a state-recognised, municipal museum organization that covers archaeology, cultural history, art history and natural history.

“A large part of my daily work is about serving the board. Among other things, it is at all times the board that makes the decision about who should receive donations. This work combined with the fact that I recently became deputy chairman of Museum Salling meant that I wanted to supplement my practical experience with some theoretical perspectives within board work, says Hanne Torp Brodersen about her motivation for participating in the Executive Board Program INSEAD.”

Intensive – but totally worth it

According to Hanne Torp Brodersen, the level was high – both professionally, but also in relation to the other participants.

“The program was intensive and required a lot of preparation – but it was all worth it. And it was clear that in order to get something out of it, it was important to have some prior knowledge of how the interaction between the board and the management works. he other participants were razor-sharp, and there was a particularly good atmosphere in the team, where it was clear that they wanted each other and everyone put in the effort to contribute as best as possible.”

She highlights three important learnings in particular, which she can take directly home and apply in her board work.

“One of the learnings for me was that it may happen that you have not been appointed to the board of directors because of, for example, strong financial and economic skills, but that does not absolve you from familiarizing yourself with the material here as well and contribute in relation to this aspect. Another relevant key-learning relates to the role one takes as a board member. That you, as part of the board, must ensure good processes that help the administration to find the answers – but that you, as a board, do not necessarily have to provide the answers. In conclusion, it was good to refresh that we were already reminded in module 1 to always make sure that board liability insurance has been taken out”, she says, before concluding:

“All in all, the training means that I have become stronger in terms of theoretical knowledge in relation to acting as a board member. I will bring this into play in relation to my current work, and in the long term, perhaps more board work can be linked to my profile.”