Elizabeth Gunner Schermer, head of Maersk Growth, is one of the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2025 Powerlist.
Elizabeth Gunner Schermer is an 18-year veteran of Maersk and had worked across 13 roles at the Danish shipping company, before taking on the challenge of leading the company’s corporate venture unit last year. “I look for jobs where I am afraid I am going to fail,” she says, “otherwise I am not excited or at my best.”
Schermer joined Maersk Growth at a time when the unit had pivoted to a new model and was looking to build a closer working relationship with the parent company’s business units. While Schermer had no investment experience, she brought her extensive internal network to the unit. When interviewing for the role, the team told her: “What we need the most support with is navigating Maersk, opening doors internally, growing our network internally, understanding the strategy and where we can add most value.”
Maersk Growth has a two-pronged strategy on venturing. One is developing venture clienting relationships with startups that can solve immediate business problems, mostly on the logistics side.
“We’re not looking for moonshot ideas but startups that can solve everyday problems or close critical gaps,” says Schermer. At the same time, the unit makes long-term investments in startups developing solutions for the maritime energy transition, where Maersk has the ambitious goal of reaching net zero by 2040, 10 years ahead of competitors.
“We’re not looking for moonshot ideas but startups that can solve everyday problems or close critical gaps.”
Schermer is focused on finding internal champions for Maersk Growth across the business and creating early wins that will build enthusiasm for the unit’s mission. Some of the venture clienting projects are moving from pilots to full commercial contracts, she says, helping fuel internal buy-in.
Schermer also brings a structured, strategic approach to corporate innovation, challenging the notion that “innovation is equal to chaos.” Her management philosophy is encapsulated in a quote from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits: “You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.”
Schermer’s aim is to make sure Maersk Growth has a long-term future inside Maersk. “My ultimate goal,” she says, “is making sure we have tangible impact and are a sought-after partner for the business.”
The Global Corporate Venturing Powerlist represents the 100 individuals spearheading the future of the corporate venturing industry.
These individuals excel in terms of their venturing approach and structure, number and quality of portfolio companies and in their contributions to the corporate venturing profession.
