In international organisations, the role of the corporate secretary is becoming increasingly strategic. This is not only due to the growing complexity of legislation and regulations, but also to the need to streamline global governance. Whereas the focus used to be on minute-taking and agenda management, it is now about maintaining control over decision-making, compliance and legal structures in multiple countries simultaneously. This requires overview, speed and digital clout.

A small example: a board decision has to be made this week. The chair is in Singapore, the CFO in London, and the lawyer in Frankfurt. With the right tools, you can share documents securely, have decisions signed digitally and keep everyone informed without even needing a single physical or online meeting. Without technology, such a process would be delayed by days or even weeks.

Support or direct?

Digital tools not only make this work faster, but also safer and more transparent. Think of tools for entity management, AI tools that generate minutes and ESG dashboards that report in real time. But technology is only valuable if you know how to use it. That is the difference between supporting and directing.

Take the helm

Today's corporate secretary is not the silent force behind the scenes, but the link that makes everything possible. Those who embrace this role accelerate decision-making, reduce risks and increase transparency. And the technology used is not a replacement for expertise, but rather a reinforcement of it. You reduce risks, accelerate processes and support directors even better. And the corporate secretary is at the helm!