EGN is definitely a great platform for business networking, and sets itself apart from the usual social get-togethers that often lack depth in discussions.  It has been a good one year where I have had the opportunity to share knowledge and discuss with fellow executives, pressing issues and latest developments in the business world. The 'formal' quarterly meetings were not only well organized, the chairman did a great job in facilitating open and meaningful discussions.  The ad-hoc cross-functional sessions, in addition to the regular group meetings have also been very enriching and enjoyable for me.
New Hai Peng, Regional Financial Controller, ESAB Asia/Pacific Pte Ltd, Member of  CFO Group in Singapore

Much more than a networking group
I have been very impressed with the high quality of the network group meetings, fellow members, speakers, venues and the overall organization which has been first class. EGN is much more than a networking group - it opens doors to a wealth of useful and current information, encourages co-operation and support between fellow members and has provided great variety and purpose in a significant number of business, networking and social aspects.
Martin Garner, CEO, Member of  Directors’ Group in Singapore

Talk with trust and confidentiality

We talk in the group with trust and confidentiality. I think that is extremely important because we need to discuss issues that are touching our way of leading our companies and also gets us to know more about how the different companies are run. Without any kind of confidentiality we wouldn’t touch the nerve, so to speek, in the discussions.
Jon Urdal, CEO Media Norge Trykk AS, member of a CEO Group in Norway

Good to have a professional facilitator
“When you have a room full of directors it’s good to have a professional facilitator in there to make sure everybody gets their time, everybody gets to join in the discussion and participate, and that the meeting runs sufficiently. I was quite new in the position as managing director when I joined it, and it’s given me a lot of inside into how other managing directors and other organizations are thinking and working. It has helped me prepare a lot of situations and think through a lot of situations that I have not been yet in.
Håvard Ellefsen, CEO, Affecto Norway AS, member of a CEO Group in Norway

The chair makes a huge difference
“EGN has a personal touch. What sets it apart from other networks is the well-qualified, interesting and innovative person employed to facilitate the meetings. A person who is not only an administrator but who also possesses leadership skills and the ability to facilitate, provoke and put things into perspective. The chair of my group makes a huge difference. He is adept at coming up with the right ideas, bringing the right people to the meetings, and good at creating flow and bringing people together.”
Niels Korsholm, Group Vice President, Devoteam Group A/S, member of a group for managing directors in Denmark

Invest time from the outset
“It really pays to invest time from day one of the group, as the real dividends are reaped once you have got to know a few people really well. I always come away with tools or inspiration which I can use in my everyday work.”
Ulrich Høgsted, IT Manager at Paul E. Danchell A/S. Member of a group for IT managers in Denmark.

Save time and money

“It is important to be able to show your company that it is a good idea to be part of a network. There is of course a membership fee to pay, and you spend a lot of time at the networking meetings. But networking really pays off, financially and time-wise. When we are together in the group, we save a lot of time and money – because we don’t have to re-invent the wheel by ourselves every time. If you work it out in terms of time and money spent on consultants, or on mistakes that could have been avoided, you are on the bottom line immediately.”
Per Helmark, Divisional Director, Brock & Michelsen A/S. Member of a group for sales and marketing directors in Denmark.

A good balance

“EGN has the ability to find people adept at facilitating meetings. It has the right balance, which enables busy business people to participate in and prioritise meetings – it is neither too much nor too little. The networking meetings are of a high quality.”
Henrik Priergaard Nielsen, Managing Director, Nordea. Member of a group for managing directors in Denmark

Fast access to information and knowledge
“There was a time when I had to formulate an IT strategy. I asked around in the group and straightaway found two or three others facing the same challenge. We sat ourselves down in a small forum over a cup of coffee and, in the space of a morning, put together a framework which all three of us could use.”
Lars Knudsen, IT Manager Flügger A/S, member of a group for IT managers in Denmark.

Practical in-service training
“You get the chance to discuss best practice with a number of colleagues based on experience, as well as the opportunity to discuss future prospects and visions. I have been a member now for several years without it becoming trivial. What better proof of its success?”
Leif Jensen, Managing Director, VKR Holding A/S, member of a group for managing directors in Denmark