WELCOME TO A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK FOR BUSINESS LEADERS

 

Life as a business leader is demanding and sometimes lonely. Professional networks, offering a forum for discussion with colleagues from other business sectors, can be a real lifeline. They offer inspiration and help generate new ideas and are an effective way to follow and understand developments in the wider corporate and business arena.

BrainTrust is a network dedicated to help business leaders and entrepreneurs in their efforts to develop their businesses. We do this by forming small, interactive groups of executives (carefully selected) from different industries and non-competing organizations. In doing so, we create forums giving decision makers an opportunity to share concerns and ideas in a confidential environment with no conflict of interests.

These BrainTrust groups meet regularly over a period of time. Currently, 100 business leaders are active in BrainTrust groups in Sweden. Over the years (since 1985) more than one thousand executives have participated.

Participants in BrainTrust groups benefit from:

• access to peers who are willing to offer support and advice. In doing so they break the isolation often experienced by people in top management positions
• a platform to discuss new thoughts, concepts and ideas at a professional level
• insight into other companies and industries and an opportunity to follow developments in the wider corporate and business arena;
• and a useful network of new professional and personal contacts.

Participation in a BrainTrust group helps develop you and your business

We organise the BrainTrust groups in such a way that each group is made up of like-minded individuals from different, non-competing companies or organisations having high-ranking positions and key responsibilities. We match the participants by carefully examining the role they play in their respective organisation, and the similarity between size, organisational structure and complexity of the companies.

Taking part in a BrainTrust group is not time-consuming. But it does require an open mind, inquisitiveness and commitment. You must be able to accept constructive criticism from your peers and never fail to contribute your own opinions. In fact, participation in a BrainTrust group demands the very same qualities of flexibility and open-mindedness that set successful business leaders apart from less successful ones.

Work in a BrainTrust group is based on some fundamental principles

A BrainTrust group is:

Confidential
With regard to all matters discussed.

 

Focused on Business
The groups focus on business and management issues of significance to the participants at all times. The way we work attempts to reflect and predict changes and trends in the business environment.

 

Continuous
Participants have access to each other and to their BrainTrust leader/facilitator (and the entire BrainTrust organisation) for advice and support at all times

 

Highly Qualified
Each group consists of six to eight senior (at times also junior) executives or entrepreneurs, who meet under the guidance of an experienced and highly qualified BrainTrust leader. Collectively, the group provides experience, knowledge and a wide network of contacts.

 

Dynamic
All meetings focus on discussion and experience-sharing. Topical issues are being discussed at all times.

 

Selected
Participation in a BrainTrust group is not for everyone. It requires an open and inquisitive mindset and the intention to actively use the advice of others for new professional input.

 

Compatible
All participants in BrainTrust groups hold high-ranking positions in companies or organisations. Each group is carefully put together and matched for smooth interaction between the members (each member selects the other members for maximum mutual benefit)

 

Time efficient
Participation in a BrainTrust group creates an opportunity to reflect on future business objectives in an intimate and confidential environment together with knowledgeable and experienced peers.

The way we work

 

A BrainTrust group consists of six to eight high-ranking executives from different, non-competing companies or organizations who meet regularly to exchange experiences and ideas. The group operates in strict confidence.

 

Setting the structure
The first meeting of a BrainTrust group is an introductory one, giving the members a chance to get acquainted and setting the scene for the activities of the coming year. The participants are invited to take part in all additional BrainTrust activities such as seminars and conferences.

 

Open internally; confidential externally
Group members discuss professional problems and concerns openly and in a constructive spirit, providing advice in a supportive and generous fashion. Discussions are open and free in the knowledge that strict confidentiality applies at all times. Group members are encouraged to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the respective organization of each member and to propose improvements and suggestions for new business opportunities.

 

Scheduled meetings and regular contacts
BrainTrust groups meet regularly for about half a day every six weeks. Each meeting follows an agenda which is based on issues raised by the group members themselves in advance of the meeting.

 

Competent leadership
The facilitators (leaders) of the various BrainTrust groups are themselves highly experienced business or organisation leaders. However, whenever required, the group may also seek advice from BrainTrust-connected academic and business experts on specific issues.

 

The agenda
The main concern of a BrainTrust group is the development of the businesses involved and the professional development of the group members. The professional needs of the participants are in focus at all times. Participants take turns to act as hosts. This gives everyone an opportunity to introduce and discuss his/her unique business-related problems in detail.

 

Each group is unique
No BrainTrust group is alike, they all differ based on the personalities and perspectives of the individual participants and the diverse problems that face the different companies. Since the issues being discussed derive from problems and questions presented by the group members themselves, it is the companies/organisations that will benefit first and foremost from the process.

A BrainTrust group is a network, not a team

Teams work towards a common goal, whereas networks strive to meet its members' individual needs. In an efficient team, the members are expected to be able and willing to subordinate their own professional ambitions for the common good. In an efficient network, each participant is expected to focus on his/her own individual needs. The more the participants make use of the group's collective experience in dealing with their own professional problems, the more effective the group becomes. It is the job of the leader/facilitator of the group to optimize this process.

Do you have BrainTrust potential?

BrainTrust groups are open to both senior and junior corporate executives, business leaders, managing directors and business area managers, entrepreneurs, politicians and civil servants

To reap the full benefit of participation in a BrainTrust group, the members need to have an inquisitive and open-minded attitude, being prepared and willing to learn from the experiences of others and to share ones own. Under these circumstances, participation in a BrainTrust group can be a rewarding and time-saving experience.

Welcome with your application to a useful and rewarding network!

Contact

Inger Mansfeld, CEO, BrainTrust Europe

inger.mansfeld@braintrusteurope.com

+46 46 151080, +46 705 929577