01
Board governance & advisory
Govern the consequential.
Independent counsel for boards setting the conditions for sound, accountable decisions.
- Board-level strategy
- Technology and risk oversight
- Governance rhythm
- Accountability
Independent board & executive advisory
Strategy for a world that refuses to stand still.
Clear counsel for boards and senior leaders navigating technological disruption, governance, and growth.
BOARD GOVERNANCEAI + CYBERSECURITYSTRATEGYEXECUTIVE EDUCATION
Credibility, in brief
30+years of international leadership
Nearly 27years at Cisco
Boardand Audit Committee experience
4 regionsUSA · EMEA · Greater China · Asia Pacific
Point of view
The capacity
to adapt.
“The organizations that thrive are not those with the best plans, but those that continuously adapt faster than their environment changes.”
That requires more than a strategy document. It requires decision architectures, operating models, leadership mechanisms, and organizational capabilities that improve the quality and speed of decisions over time.
Working internationallySingapore · APJC
Advisory areas
Four places where judgment matters.
Independent, principal-led counsel for decisions that shape how an organization moves.
02
AI, cybersecurity & digital transformation
Adopt with intent.
Connect adoption, trust, security, and leadership accountability so transformation earns its place.
- AI adoption and trust
- Cybersecurity posture
- Operating model
- Leadership accountability
03
Strategy, growth & operating models
Turn direction into movement.
Translate strategic intent into choices, organization, and execution that can move together.
- Strategy and growth
- Go-to-market choices
- Organizational effectiveness
- Execution
04
Executive education & leadership
Build judgment at scale.
Equip leaders to make better calls through practical briefings, scenarios, and custom learning.
- Board briefings
- Custom programs
- Scenario learning
- Leadership development
Engagement approach
Senior attention,
from question to capability.
A simple working rhythm, shaped around the context and decision in front of you.
01
Frame
Define the consequential question, context, and decision criteria
02
Align
Surface assumptions, risks, accountabilities, and stakeholder trade-offs
03
Design
Shape the strategy, governance, operating model, and execution mechanisms
04
Embed
Build the leadership rhythm and organizational capability to adapt
The founder
Experience across markets, functions, and inflection points.
Fernando Gil de Bernabé y Varela is a board director, strategic advisor, and executive educator with more than three decades of experience leading strategy and transformation across Europe, the United States, Greater China, and Asia Pacific. He spent nearly 27 years at Cisco, including 12 years as Vice President of Sales and Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China. Earlier, he served as an independent director and Audit Committee member at eLong and as an equity partner at Arthur D. Little in Silicon Valley. His work brings together board governance, strategy, AI, cybersecurity, operating models, growth, and leadership.
UC Berkeley Haas — MBA and Management of Technology · Singularity University — Exponential Executive Program · Telecommunications engineering education at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Fernando on LinkedIn
Fernando Gil de Bernabé y VarelaFounder, De Bernabé Advisory
Arthur D. LittleAssociate Director / Equity Partner, Silicon Valley
CiscoEMEA advisory leadership
CiscoGreater China business development leadership
eLongIndependent Director and Audit Committee member
CiscoVP Sales & COO, APJC
De Bernabé AdvisoryStrategic Advisor & Executive Educator
Themes in focus
Questions worth staying with.
A working set of questions for boards and leaders navigating the next decision.
01
How do you build a three-year strategy when the world changes every three days?
—02
AI beyond the pilot: trust, governance, and organizational change
—03
Cybersecurity as a boardroom and business decision
—Request an executive briefing tailored to the question in front of your team.
Request a briefingA direct conversation
A consequential decision deserves a direct conversation.
For board advisory, strategic mandates, and custom executive education, contact Fernando directly.
Singapore · Working internationally