Candidate Success Stories, Board Member Testimonials, and Endorsements

Carol Gray | Canada | Board Member and Risk Committee Chair | Qualified Risk Director®

"The Certificate in Risk Governance® is the most relevant program for a director to advance their fiduciary responsibility in governance and risk management skills. The program gave me not only insights and a better understanding of risk management best practices, but it also sharpened my critical thinking skills at the boardroom."  

Bill Yeargin | United States | Board Member and Chief Executive Officer | Qualified Risk Director®

 “I have served as a CEO for nearly 20 years and served on innumerable boards. Even with this experience, the DCRO program significantly expanded my understanding of risk. I highly recommend it."   

Lale Saral Develioglu | Türkiye | Board Member and Risk Committee Chair | Qualified Risk Director®    

 "I found this to be a very enlightening and refreshing experience. Throughout the course, I gained a wealth of knowledge and great frameworks on value creation and risk management, as well as invaluable first-hand insights from experienced risk directors and experts. I feel more empowered about positive risk governance and look forward to carrying these learnings to my boards."   

 James P. Dunigan | United States | Board Member and Risk Committee Chair | Qualified Risk Director®

"I highly recommend the courses of the Certificate in Risk Governance® to all board and risk committee members. The program exceeded my expectations in terms of content, insights, subject matter, and supporting materials. I came away with a better understanding of all aspects of risk and an appetite to continue to learn more."    

Yvonne Stillhart | Switzerland | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director® 

“What a great course this was. I enjoyed every minute of it. Very valuable insight and impressive faculty. I was planning to take the course over several months, but I was so excited about the lectures that I could not wait to dive into the subjects further. Thank you for putting this great program together.”

Eren Güra | Türkiye | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

 “The Certificate in Risk Governance program of DCRO Institute opens a window with a view of positive risk-taking for value creation versus a primarily loss minimization approach. Furthermore, it gives important insights into risk governance in today's changing business landscape that a board director should be aware of and manage."   

 Willie Maddox | United States | Chief Risk Officer and Distinguished Lecturer of Law | Qualified Risk Director®  

“I highly recommend The Board Members' Course on Risk® for those seeking to expand their knowledge in risk governance and/or with aspirations of joining a board. The course of study has sharpened my abilities to build a strong governance structure at my organization and evolve my perspectives on risk management strategies."  

Maria Hallack| Brazil | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®
 

“The Certificate in Risk Governance® program exceeded my expectations in terms of content, insights, and best practices. It’s an outstanding program led by exceptional risk experts with large experience on boards. I highly recommend it for board members and executives that want to expand their knowledge in risk governance”.  

Alina Ursache | Romania | Board Member and Global Business Control Officer | Qualified Risk Director®

“The Certificate in Risk Governance® program was a great learning experience. I would recommend it to any board member or senior executive looking to expand their risk governance knowledge. It gives comprehensive insights into the risk leadership needed to thrive in current times.”  

Ram Mahidhara, Ph.D. | United States | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

"It has been many years since I've done and enjoyed a course so much. It was a rich experience in learning, re-learning, and broadening my thinking.  The lecturers and speakers were outstanding - with deep experience and expertise in their fields. The structure and sequencing of the course were excellent! Thank you to the DCRO Institute for a superb experience!”  

Elif Ates Ozpak | United Kingdom | Board Member and Sustainability and Audit Committee Chair | Qualified Risk Director® 

"I highly recommend the DCRO Risk Director Program to all fellow board members. Each module was extremely informative and introduced me to new ways of thinking about risk. The program was an exceptional opportunity to expand my knowledge and expertise in risk at the board level, and I believe it is an essential course for any director seeking to add risk strategy to their skill set. Thank you, DCRO Institute, for providing such a valuable program."

Louis Adande | France | Board Member |   

Qualified Risk Director®

"I found the DCRO certificate to be an extremely valuable journey for any director, risk management specialist or corporate leader. In particular, the course helps reframe risk issues, beyond their immediate technical aspects, within the broader framework of how corporate value is created and preserved. And by doing so it helps board members and leaders make better decisions."

Hania Sadek | Egypt | Board Member |   

Qualified Risk Director®

"An excellent program that helps directors to focus on the right elements of risk and enrich board discussions around risk.  The program equips directors with the right mindset and the relevant questions to bring to the Board table to fulfill their fiduciary roles. The way the program is structured makes self-study both easy and enjoyable."

Rebecca Brosnan | Hong Kong | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

"I loved the Certificate in Risk Governance® course. The depth of expertise shared from such a wide variety of disciplines is the perfect foundation for any Board Director or senior leader working with boards."

Michele Wucker | United States | Best Selling Author and Advisor | Qualified Risk Director®
 

“The DCRO Institute’s philosophy of positive risk-taking rightly emphasizes value creation, not just the potential for loss that comes to mind for many people when they think of risk. The Certificate in Risk Governance® requires holistic, forward-thinking across legal, environment, financial, technology, sustainability, and other areas that are essential to risk management and business success.”  

Domenica Lista | Italy | General Counsel and Board Member | Qualified Risk Director® 

"Sharing different experiences and backgrounds and having the testimonial of such important experts in the governance, ESG, and risk fields around the world is a unique opportunity. Thank you to the DCRO Institute."

Raza Shaikh | United States | Board Member and Venture Capitalist | Qualified Risk Director®

"The DCRO Risk Governance Institute provided me with this exceptional and comprehensive set of sessions that allowed me to know about all aspects of risk governance that, as a board director, I am likely to come across."

Nada Awad Rizkallah | Lebanon |  Board Member, Group Head of Risk Management and Strategy | Qualified Risk Director® 

 “The best takeaway from this program is to learn how to think like a director, how to embrace risks and transform them into a source of opportunities and corporate value creation. I would strongly recommend to any executives or board members to enroll in this program.”  

Pamela Lamoreaux | United States | Board Member
 

“What a great course! I learned so much about the various types of risks and how to mitigate them. The information was very practical and useful in my journey as a board nominee. In many cases, it made me think of ways I could approach risk in ways that are relevant in my various roles. The course is well worth the time and effort.” 

Marios Demetriades |  Cyprus | Board Member and Chief Executive Officer, Former Minister of Transporation | Qualified Risk Director®

“This is an excellent program that enhances, in a practical way, the knowledge that a director needs to have in today's complex environment!” 

Elissar Farah Antonios | United Arab Emirates | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

“The Certificate in Risk Governance program provides valuable insight for both existing board members and for those embarking on their board journey and truly enriching the understanding of risk management in a governance context. I would highly endorse and recommend this program to anyone looking to enhance their expertise in risk governance.”

Kathleen Barclay | Chile | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®    

"The DCRO course helped me to connect many challenges I have been facing in Board Governance and will enable me to be a more effective director with a broader view of the opportunities offered through effective risk management."

Curtis Stephens| United States | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®   

“Being awarded the prestigious Certificate in Risk Governance® continues my journey for knowledge-building proficiency focused on top-level governance of risk in practice. The DCRO Institute curriculum is designed to address a 360-degree view of the governance framework in a changing environment.” 

Antigoni Fakonti | Cyprus | Board Member and General Counsel | Qualified Risk Director®    

"What makes this program special is that, in addition to very interesting reading material, it is an opportunity to peek into the brains of notable people of diverse backgrounds on risk and take their advice on how to mitigate it and how to apply better risk governance!"

Ursuline Foley | United States | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

“The Board Members' Course on Risk® is truly a superb course that I would highly recommend to any board director or Chief Risk Officer. It’s an outstanding, comprehensive program that is extremely well presented by exceptional risk experts from across the globe. The focus is on the upside and downside of taking risk to increase all stakeholder value with supporting realistic business cases and state of the art risk  frameworks."

Varabott Ho | Cambodia | Board Member

“This course provided a refreshing and insightful learning experience. I particularly enjoyed how it delved into new topics and presented them with clear and practical explanations. This approach helped me gain a much deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of risk. I highly recommend this course to current and aspiring board members looking to strengthen their risk management skills." 

Oluwatobi Boshoro | Canada |Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

"This has been a valuable learning experience, bringing a 360-degree perspective to the very important discipline of value creation albeit through the risk lens; particularly at this time when the recognition of risk as a positive contributor to goals delivery, stability, and continuity of businesses is heightened. I look forward to deploying this perspective in my role both as an executive and a board member." 

James L. Wilkinson | United States | Board Member

“The DCRO Certificate in Risk Governance® program gives board members the tools and insights to turn risk into opportunity. Its holistic approach effectively bridges the gap between risk management and value creation, empowering boards to lead with confidence and foresight.”

Cristina Martínez García, Ph.D.  | Spain | Board Member and Chief Risk Officer | Qualified Risk Director® 

"A Qualified Risk Director® in the boardroom can help companies to bring a unique perspective to the strategic dialog among the group. As a faculty member and study cohort leader for this program, I could not be prouder of what we have done so far and look forward to the growing positive impact of getting more Qualified Risk Directors® worldwide."   

Teodoro Kalaw IV | Philippines | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director® 

“The Certificate in Risk Governance® program is comprehensive and fit-for-purpose for corporate directors in different firm contexts. It is well worth the investment.”

Susan Harnett | United States | Board Member and Entrepreneur | Qualified Risk Director®

"From the very beginning, the focus of the Certificate in Risk Governance® program is on optimizing risk, realizing fully that risks can be opportunities."

Hart Brown | United States | Chief Executive Officer | Qualified Risk Director®

"The Board Members' Course on Risk® was extremely well done and exceeded expectations. Thank you for developing such an important governance education ecosystem." 

Dominique Delporte-Vermeiren, Ph.D. | France | Board Member| Qualified Risk Director®

“The DCRO Institute’s Certificate in Risk Governance® program is more than just a course; it's an investment in building resilience, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth.” 

Chris Bridges-Taylor | Australia | Board Chair | Qualified Risk Director®

“I highly recommend the DCRO Institute Certificate in Risk Governance® course to anyone committed to their organization's long-term success. This course offers a robust curriculum that tackles essential risk management components crucial in today's complex business environments. It seamlessly integrates strategy, positive risk governance, and trust as fundamental elements that help organizations achieve their goals and fulfill their mission."

David Fernandez Whipple | Dominican Republic | Board Member and Chief Executive Officer | Qualified Risk Director®

“This is a great credentialing program with excellent instructors, and it is super well organized. I would recommend it to anyone interested in increasing their knowledge in risk governance and risk management.”

Yeşim Güra | Belgium and Türkiye | Board Chair | Qualified Risk Director®

“The DCRO Institute Certificate in Risk Governance® program has been a very deep and impactful experience, full of learning, challenge, and support of a cohort group's high-level discussions. My initial expectations have been overachieved, thanks to the great design, rich content, and rewarding teamwork.”

Jigisha Desai | United States | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

“Embarking on and completing the Certificate in Risk Governance® program has been a transformative journey, offering me a profound understanding of risk governance and its strategic implications.  As a board director, the comprehensive program and course materials have elevated my capacity to align financial strategies with corporate goals while ensuring effective risk management.” 

Gerry Smith | United States | Board Member and Former Chief Executive | Qualified Risk Director®

"I would definitely recommend the DCRO Institute Certificate in Risk Governance® program. The speakers have tremendous knowledge and shared many best practices from their extensive experiences. Completing the program will certainly enhance your ability to serve in a board or risk management executive position."

Susan Holliday | United States | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

“This is a very comprehensive program with excellent presenters. As I joined a guided study cohort with live discussions, I also benefitted from different perspectives that deepened my understanding and furthered my interest in collaborative work with other board members.” 

Sigal Zarmi | United States | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

“In this period of rapid change, every board director has to deeply understand how multiple risk factors might impact their company’s growth, operation, and culture. The DCRO Institute’s risk governance course focuses on value creation and positive risk management at a comprehensive, detailed, and global level with impressive subject matter experts.”

Sanchit Maini | Singapore | Board Member, Chief Financial and Operational Risk Officer |
Qualified Risk Director®

"I found the DCRO Certificate in Risk Governance® comprehensive and enjoyable. The course has brought to bear so many leading experts in the field of risk management and to be able to learn from them and gain insights from the experiences they share, was the most valuable part of the program. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort in curating this program!"

Heidi Hunter | United States | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

 “The Certificate in Risk Governance® course connected all the dots and provided multiple frames for assessing corporate risk. Throughout the course, I thought of situations and people who could benefit from the learnings provided in the lessons. In my view, all board members should find a way to continually educate themselves to provide more relevant support to the companies they serve, and this course is an excellent start.” 

Enrique Diaz Ortega | Peru | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

“The Board Members’ Course on Risk® gives you a comprehensive and current perspective on understanding the risk that companies face, as well as the approaches to analyze and manage them. It is different from a traditional course because it opens your vision on various fronts and provides very useful skills and tools to function as a board member who promotes the assessment of risk in its correct dimension. Highly recommended.”

Becky Pratt | United States | Board Member and Former Chief Risk Officer | Qualified Risk Director® 

 “Absolutely the best risk governance curriculum I've encountered! This is essential guidance for current and future organizations to achieve goals and create long-term, sustainable value.”  

Christopher Tapererwa | Zimbabwe |  Group Risk Manager

“This is a very intensive yet practical and inspiring program that has greatly enhanced my knowledge on positive risk-taking and risk oversight roles expected of board members and senior executives. The delivery of the program by highly experienced experts, authors, and chief risk officers of globally renowned organizations is just exceptional. I strongly recommend any board member or senior executive operating in the country to enroll in this prestigious risk governance program.” 

Jared Siddle | United States | Chief Risk Officer | Qualified Risk Director®

"The Certificate in Risk Governance is an excellent course for Chief Risk Officers and board members to grasp and understand the full array of risks and governance matters facing organisations today. There is no better risk investment for yourself, your stakeholders, and the Boards you serve."

Kemi Adewole | Nigeria | Board Member | Qualified Risk Director®

 “Thank you to the DCRO Institute for this excellent program on risk governance for board members. This program has deepened my understanding of risk and changed my approach to board-level risk governance. The boards I serve on will definitely benefit from this new knowledge.”

Hesham Elbosaty | Egypt | Board Member |  Qualified Risk Director®

 "I was privileged to have participated in this program; the materials and lecturers are of top quality and provide a global perspective. I certainly believe that this was beneficial and would therefore recommend it to all new board members who want to expand their knowledge on risk topics of today." 

Bolormaa Luvsandorj  | Mongolia |  Board Member | Qualified Risk Director® 

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the DCRO Institute for the excellent and well-structured program with invaluable insights and a wealth of knowledge in risk and board governance from the peer community of board members around the world. The program provided me with effective tools to apply in my work as a board member. “I also would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the IFC and their Nominee Director Program for empowering board members from emerging countries through this program.” 

Ruchika Gauba | Canada | Chief Risk Officer

 "This course provides a 360-degree view of risk governance - looking through the lens of folks who are and will be present in the board room, be it the independent directors or risk stalwarts representing the mind and management of the organization. There can be no better way to get insights from leaders who have not only experienced but also influenced the evolution of risk management and governance over the past decades!" 

Yesim Pinar Kitapci  | Türkiye | Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer | Qualified Risk Director® 

“In our roles as CEOs and directors, we frequently encounter corporate risks, empower or are empowered to take risks, and manage the aspects of the business that are affected by various risks. This program successfully provides theoretical and practical guidance to recognize better, evaluate, and manage risk in all dimensions. It is done with renowned subject matter experts and very relevant use cases.  Highly recommended if you strive to better contribute to boards as a director equipped with a very valuable risk knowledge and a ready-to-be-used tool set.” 

Hicham El Amrani | Morocco | Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer | Qualified Risk Director® 

“I really enjoyed going through the program’s case studies that present- the overall risk- with a “positive approach”; very good insights that I recommend for existing or future Board Members. The cybersecurity part of the program is a must that is highly recommended, especially with today’s VUCA World and the increased fiduciary responsibility of the Board members, particularly in financial institutions.” 

Sondra Radcliffe  | United States | Board Member and Global Executive | Qualified Risk Director® 

“The Certificate in Risk Governance® program provides a thorough foundation on risk governance and equips global executives and board members to have a more robust and strategic discussion around risk. As a former practicing attorney and current global business leader guiding businesses in highly regulated industries, I especially appreciated the DCRO Institute’s comprehensive and balanced discussion of risk governance as both a tool to mitigate risk but also to create value and increase trust.” 

Mutisunge Zulu  | Zambia | Board Member and Chief Risk Officer

 “The DCRO institute is exemplary and will reshape how you view risk management. It gives risk management the respect it deserves at the table and packages it as a value creation tool as opposed to sending loss shivers to executives, C-suite executives, and board members. The lineup of global speakers is top-notch, and doing this prestigious certificate makes me proud because clearly, I was taught by the world's best! I am a totally different executive than I was before I enrolled in this program.”  

Edna Kanabahita  | United States and Uganda |  Board Member and Chief Risk Officer

“Participating in the Certificate in Risk Governance® program has been a transformative experience in my risk management career. The training has reframed my view of risk as a potential loss to considering risk management as a positive risk-taking tool for achieving goals. The comprehensive curriculum and insights from exceptional risk experts and the Middle East/Africa guided study cohort members have equipped me with the essential skills to ask the right questions about confident risk-taking in today's dynamic environment. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to enhance their risk governance capabilities and drive effective risk management strategies.” 

Aku Pauline Odinkemelu | Nigeria | Independent Director, Risk and Audit Committee Chair, and Monetary Policy Committee Member

 "The DCRO’s Board Members’ Course on Risk® is a real journey of discovery! It provides deep insights that help one to meaningfully evaluate both the overall perception of risk and how positive governance of that risk can unlock sustained long-term value with foresight for organizations! I strongly recommend it to board directors and C suite executives.”  

Amal Haruna  | Nigeria | Deputy Director and Chief Risk Officer

“An amazing experience! I’ve gained a stronger foundation in risk governance and risk management. Some of the highlights include the trainers who are all experts in their fields, the invaluable networking opportunities, the constant emphasis on available support from the Institute, access to additional materials, the new concepts, and the broad range of topics made easy with practical and real-life case studies. All these and more have improved my capacity and confidence for bigger roles in risk management.”

Emmanuel Asare  | Ghana |  Chief Risk Officer

“This program goes beyond the fundamentals, providing a comprehensive understanding of risk governance that is critical for effective board leadership. The sessions on governance around increasingly relevant and critical areas like intangible risks (ESG, ethics, and reputation), cyber security risks, and value creation were very instructive.” 

  John McMurray | United States | Board Member and Former Chief Risk Officer | Qualified Risk Director®

“This is an excellent and relevant program! The curriculum is tailored to board directors and covers a comprehensive range of important risk subjects. Highly recommended for those interested or engaged in risk governance roles.”  

  Willem A. Hazeleger | Hong Kong | Board Member and Former Chief Executive Officer | Qualified Risk Director®

“This is an amazing course that I thoroughly enjoyed! Rich in content delivered by an outstanding faculty. Highly recommended for every board member, c-suite executive, and anyone else who wants to better understand risk and learn how to embed risk governance to create a strategic competitive advantage."