the Community
asUgo Voices of the Community: Social Impact
At asUgo, we regularly shine a spotlight
on the social-profit organisations we have the privilege to work alongside
Through open and honest
conversations, we explore their challenges, ambitions, and the impact
they strive to create Today, we sit down
with Isaline Desclée from
BoardCompanions Belgium to discuss
her organisation’s mission, journey, and
vision for change
What does BoardCompanions do?
We connect experienced C-levels with
Boards of social organisations to
reinforce societal impact of those social organisations
The social profit sector has a vital place in society. Social profit organizations play a significant role in our economy, accounting for over 10% of GDP and 5% of employment The sector also drives innovation and addresses issues that governments may not be able to fully tackle
Bridging experience with
societal value is the core of what we do
What do you like most in your
organisation?
I am General Manager since January, working at least 3 days per week for
BoardCompanions I absolutely love the
mission. BoardCompanions already
showed its impact since a long time
Now, we want to structure it more We
will go beyond the organisation of our
meetups We will create a stronger
governance structure. We want to create
real moments for companions and SPO’s
Everything is possible!
How did your organisation get where it is now?
7-8 years ago, the organisation was
launched by 3 alumni of INSEAD, Erik
Weytjens, Jean-Charles Uyttenhove and Xavier Bedoret, inspired by the
baseline that business is a force for
good Quickly, other alumni wanted to
join to help social profit organisations
From the beginning, we did receive a
strong support from King Baudouin
Foundation, in particular for the
organisation of the speeddates and
the outreach
It is important to remind that our
philosophy remains one from open
guidance We connect executives with
Boards of social profit organisations But
we never push They need to explore a
potential collaboration together Having
a fit is key
We connect executives with Boards of social profit organisations
Where does the passion and energy of people in your organisation come from?
What brings people to
BoardCompanions is not just a desire to
“give back” It is a desire to contribute differently.
Our members, the Companions bring
extensive board and/or senior
management experience What they are looking for is a way to use that
experience where it truly matters - at the level of decision-making They want to bring perspective, challenge thinking, and help organisations make better long-term choices.
There is also a strong alignment of values People join because they believe that strong governance is essential for organisations that aim to create lasting social impact
According to you, what drives volunteers to help you a hand?
We attract people who are motivated by meaningful engagement rather than ad
hoc volunteering
In Belgium, we focus on building a
strong and diverse pool of Companions who are ready to take on board roles
with commitment and responsibility
What matters to them is not only the
cause, but also the quality of the contribution they can make
To support this, we have developed
initiatives such as governance
bootcamps, where future board
members can reflect on their role,
sharpen their understanding of governance in social-profit sector, and prepare for impact at the right level
At the same time, we work closely with
partner organisations through
governance journeys, helping
participants clarify their needs,
strengthen their board dynamics, and create the right conditions for board effectiveness
The strength of BoardCompanions lies
in the match: aligning expectations, needs, and ways of working This is
where the real value is created
What is your look on the future?
Our ambition is clear: to make strong
governance more accessible accros the social-profit sector
This means going beyond matchmaking alone
We want to further develop what we
have started with our governance
programmes and bootcamps, to support
both individuals and organisations in a
more structured and lasting way
By strengthening boards, we help
organisations become more resilient,
more strategic, and ultimately more
impactful If we succeed, these
organisations will not only do good they will be able to sustain and scale their
impact over time
We also want to continue structuring what we do, without losing what makes
it meaningful: the quality of the relationships, the care put into each
match, and the sense that every engagement truly matters
Isaline Desclee
General Manager, BoardCompanions
For more information on BoardCompanions visit: https://www boardcompanions be/
