Wiebe Boer

Senior executive and entrepreneurial leader Wiebe Boer, in brief.
Home: Grand Rapids, MI and Atlanta, GA. Age: 50. Birthplace: Jos, Nigeria. Profession: Business strategy consultant. Organization: Vanbach LLC. Title: Partner. Pronouns: He/Him/His. Significant other: Joanna Boer. Alma mater: Calvin University; Yale University. Languages spoken: English, French, Hausa.
Current project: Supporting an effort to fund raise for a venture capital fund in the Caribbean. Recent recognition: 2021 Impact Investor of the Year from the Nigeria Impact Investing Foundation. Recent professional development: Aspen Institute Justice and Society Seminar. Latest accomplishment: Significant enrollment growth two years in a row at Calvin University. Hobbies: Travel, playing drums, soccer/football. Recent travel or adventure: Visited Budapest for the Athletics World Championships in 2023; recently visited three islands in St Vincent; have traveled to 71 countries. Last book read: The Peacemaker, by William Inboden. Recently viewed and recommended: Onward, a delightful family movie.
Personality profile: Entrepreneurial, innovative, and execution oriented. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Leader. Moral compass: The Bible. How do you define a perfect friendship? Unconditionality. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Transparency. What is your greatest joy? My family. What is your guilty pleasure? English Premier League binge watching. What natural talent have you neglected? Music. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Political leaders. What is your favorite place to spend money? Trinidad. What is your favorite way to spend money? Travel. What is at the top of your bucket list? Visit every country in the world. How do you relieve stress? Long walks. What is your go-to workout? Long walks. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? With my family and not over planned.
What was your first paying job? Painting houses with my brother. What was your favorite college course? History. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Dara. What book have you repeatedly read? The Bible. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Avengers. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Art from Lagos, Nigeria. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? Lamin Sanneh. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Stay out of trouble. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Take leadership risks. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Air travel. What is your favorite app? BBC Sport. What is your go-to source of news and information? BBC. What company or organization do you most admire? Tesla. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? World War II.
What is your big idea?
A lot more needs to be done to link Africa with the Caribbean.
What change would you like to see in the world? Peace. What mega-trend most excites you? AI. What mega-trend most concerns you? Also AI.
What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Daniel Craig. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? Jesus. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? Birth certificates and passports. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? At home with my wife and sons, talking, playing soccer, and planning their future. What advice would you give your younger self? Do a more practical university degree. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? My forties. I would be less career focused and more family focused.
Personal mission: Eradicating poverty in Africa. Favorite quote: “It is better to speak your own nonsense than someone else’s sense. In the first case you are a man, in the second, just a parrot” (Dostoyevsky).