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Heiko Borchert
Borchert Consulting & Research AG
Professional Background
Heiko Borchert is a distinguished advisor, strategist, and concept developer with a career spanning over two decades at the pivotal intersection of politics, strategic affairs, and technology. Since 1997, he has been dedicated to advising a diverse array of clients, including corporate entities and military as well as national security organizations throughout Europe. His breadth of expertise allows him to navigate complex landscapes, providing insightful guidance and innovative strategies tailored to the unique needs of each organization he partners with.
Heiko's core competencies encompass the definition of robust public policies and corporate strategies, alongside the provision of comprehensive (geo-)strategic assessments. His skills in developing detailed scenarios further bolster the formulation of policies, strategies, and product/technology roadmaps, ensuring that his clients are equipped with the foresight necessary for success in a dynamic environment. One of his standout achievements has been the orchestration of multinational consortia, uniting companies, research organizations, technology developers, and end-users specifically aimed at enhancing European defense capabilities and fostering technology development.
Heiko's analytical acumen is reflected in his extensive experience, which includes over 100 study and consulting projects. These projects cover a vast array of subjects including but not limited to armaments cooperation, Arab Gulf defense industrialization, critical infrastructure protection, public-private partnerships, and energy security. His expertise extends into various domains such as foreign direct investment, national security, geostrategy, geo-economics, and cross-sector partnerships, thereby solidifying his reputation as a leading thinker in defense planning and security.
Education and Achievements
Heiko Borchert holds a PhD from the esteemed University of St Gallen in Switzerland, where he immersed himself in the study of international relations, security policy, economics, law, and business administration. His rigorous academic background has provided a strong foundation for his consulting career, allowing him to blend theoretical insights with practical applications effectively.
Throughout his career, Heiko has contributed significantly to the literature surrounding defense and security issues, regularly publishing in prominent journals such as "Comparative Strategy," "European Security," and "European Journal of Risk Regulation." His articles have also appeared in popular magazines including "Defense News," "The Diplomat," and "East Asia Forum," making complex topics accessible to broader audiences. Additionally, his work has been featured in respected academic books published by notable presses such as Lynne Rienner, Palgrave, and Stanford University Press. His ongoing commitment to contributing to scholarly discourse is further emphasized by his role as a board member with the "Zeitschrift fuer Aussen- und Sicherheitspolitik" and the "Defence Horizon Journal."
Notable Contributions
Heiko Borchert is not only recognized for his advisory roles but also for his leadership positions in various esteemed organizations. As the Owner and Managing Director of Borchert Consulting & Research AG, he spearheads initiatives that drive strategic development and innovation within defense and technology sectors. Prior to this, he served as the Co-Director at the Defense AI Observatory at the Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Federal Armed Forces, where he led research efforts focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence in defense strategies.
His prior roles include Senior Research Fellow at the German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies (GIDS), where he delved into critical issues affecting European security frameworks. Additionally, he has served as an Associate Partner at Verocy and Wise Pens International, playing pivotal roles in shaping the strategic narratives of involved organizations. Heiko's rich history with various think tanks and advisory boards underscores his deep commitment to the fields of international relations and strategic policy, as well as his ability to contribute to complex discussions on security and technology.
Heiko Borchert's professional journey exemplifies a dedication to fostering collaborative relationships that span across sectors and borders. His efforts have not only advanced corporate strategies but have also played a vital role in enhancing national security frameworks in Europe and beyond. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, he remains a sought-after expert, mentor, and thought leader in defense affairs, technology integration, and security policy development.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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