BoardVision

You don’t discover how prepared the board is for a crisis when all is well. You find out when the pressure is on.In this special episode, live from NACD Directors Summit® 2026, Michael Montelongo and Vincent Brooks join NACD's Mohamed Younis to explore what effective board leadership looks like when the stakes are high. Drawing on their experience across military, government, and corporate leadership, they discuss how boards can prepare for crises, make decisions with imperfect information, and build organizational resilience before it’s tested.Host: Mohamed Younis, senior vice president of content, NACDG...

What worked in the past won’t always lead a company forward. To guide effective transformation, boards should be less impressed by yesterday's success.In this special explainer episode featuring NACD strategic content partner Russell Reynolds Associates, Constantine Alexandrakis explores the ways boards can enable, rather than slow, change.Guest: Constantine Alexandrakis, CEO, Russell Reynolds Associates; author, The Catalyst CEORussell Reynolds Associates is a NACD strategic content partner, providing directors with critical and timely information, and perspectives. Russell Reynolds Associates is a financial supporter of the NACD.Related Resources:   The...

A sale or divestiture is more than a financial transaction. For the board, there’s also the strategic alignment between asset and buyer and what value can be created after a deal closes.In this episode, RSM’s Joe Goldberg and Bethany Sensenig, a member of multiple boards, talk with NACD’s Mohamed Younis. Together, they discuss the board’s role in evaluating and guiding sales and divestitures, as well as in ensuring transaction readiness.Host: Mohamed Younis, senior vice president of content, NACDGuests: Joe Goldberg, partner and deal services leader, RSMBet...

Many companies don’t have procedures for offboarding directors. So, how can boards approach a conversation that's often overdue—and uncomfortable?In this episode, Evelyn Dilsaver, a director on the board of Bailard, Health Equity, and Somnigroup International, and NACD advisor Susan Paley unpack director offboarding. They discuss what may cause a director to step down, how boards can handle departures with care, and why succession planning is crucial.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Evelyn Dilsaver, audit committee chair, Somnigroup International; director, Bailard, Healthy Equity, PACS Group, QuidelOrtho; advisory board member, Protiviti<p...

Board refreshment may seem like a numbers game at some companies: years served, age reached. But curiosity, not tenure, is a key factor that determines whether a director still contributes effectively.In this episode, Evelyn Dilsaver, a director on the board of Bailard, Health Equity, and Somnigroup International, and NACD advisor Susan Paley discuss board refreshment strategies. They explore the mechanisms used for board refreshment, how to safeguard institutional knowledge, and why board culture and refreshment go hand in hand.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Evelyn Dilsaver, audit committee chair, Somnigroup International...

Board work is year-round. Case in point: Planning for the next proxy season starts when the current annual meeting ends.In this episode, board member Anne Sheehan talks with NACD advisor Susan Paley. Together, theydiscuss why companies hold annual shareholder meetings. They also dive into a typical annualmeeting agenda, the board’s role in reviewing proxy statements, and what a successful meetingoutcome looks like.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisor Guest: Anne Sheehan, chair, nominating and governance committee, Victoria’s Secret & Co.; boardmember, Janus Henderson Group; senior adviso...

Directors are no strangers to volatility. But how can boards learn to separate signals from noise as the economic playbook they have relied on for years is rewritten? In this episode, Yolanda Daniel, a director on the boards of Leslie’s and Valtir and an experienced finance executive, and Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, talk with NACD vice president of strategic engagement Marcel Bucsescu. Together, they discuss the forces reshaping the economy. They also explore the economic indicators directors should be watching, how boards can work with management to evaluate risk and opportunity, and what dr...

Physical threat actors now bypass the “let’s talk about it” stage and go straight to acting on their grievances, says cybersecurity expert and board member Ron Green. That’s why directors must take their physical security seriously.In this episode, Green talks with NACD program manager of digital and cybersecurity content Dylan Sandlin. Together, they explore physical security for board members. They also discuss the connection between cybersecurity and physical security and how directors can anticipate and prepare for physical security risks.Host: Dylan Sandlin, program manager of digital and cybersecurity content, NACDGuest...

As high–net-worth individuals with access to sensitive company information, board members are increasingly targeted by cyber-threat actors. Awareness of these threats—and personal vigilance—are essential to stay protected.In this episode, cybersecurity expert and board member Ron Green talks with NACD program manager of digital and cybersecurity content Dylan Sandlin. Together, they discuss personal cybersecurity for board members and the cyber risks they face. They also dive into how directors can be targeted and best practices for personal digital hygiene.Host: Dylan Sandlin, program manager of digital and cybersecurity content, NACDGuest...

“Business is easy. Family business is hard,” says Charlie Bitzer, chair and CEO of ABARTA. The relationships and dynamics within family-owned companies present distinct challenges for their boards. In this episode, Bitzer talks with NACD senior member engagement advisor Kait Armstrong about the governance of family-owned businesses. They discuss the difficulties of generational transitions, the importance of aligning culture between the board and the family, and how independent directors can engage family leaders in tough conversations. Host: Kait Armstrong, NACD senior member engagement advisor Guest: Charlie Bitzer, chair a...

Culture is often described as the “operating system” of an organization. But what role does culture play in the boardroom, and how does it shape the way boards make decisions?  In this episode, Beth Albright, president and CEO of Saidia and a director on the board of the NACD Philadelphia chapter, speaks with NACD advisor Susan Paley. Together, they explore why board culture matters. They also discuss the board chair’s role in managing dominant voices, how structured onboarding and “board buddies” help reinforce cultural norms, and why even informal moments outside the boardroom can strengthen g...

For CEOs, a board’s support can make all the difference. But knowing what kind of support to ask for isn’t always obvious.In this episode, Wayne Peacock, vice chair of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the former CEO of USAA, and Dona Young, a director on the boards of USAA, NACD, and Spahn & Rose, spoke with NACD director of governance content Mallory Bucher. Peacock and Young are cochairs of the NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission. Together, they discuss how boards can work with CEOs to create the conditions where both parties can thrive. They also explore the...

Boards have high expectations for CEOs, but what do directors truly want beyond the numbers and reports?In this episode, Wayne Peacock, vice chair of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the former CEO of USAA, and Dona Young, a director on the boards of USAA, NACD, and Spahn & Rose, spoke with NACD director of governance content Mallory Bucher. Peacock and Young are cochairs of the NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission. Together, they unpack what directors expect from CEOs. They also discuss how to establish trust early and maintain it through disagreement and disruption, and why steady leadership and...

For some directors, networking may feel like a chore. But it can be one of the most valuable practices for deepening governance insights and staying current in the boardroom.In this episode, Katrinka McCallum, a director on the boards of ACI Worldwide and Intrusion, and NACD advisor Susan Paley explore the value of board networks. They also discuss practical strategies for making networking purposeful rather than transactional, ways to balance time and resources, and how a network evolves over the arc of a director’s board career.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Ka...

Building governance from the ground up at early-stage companies is Jack Lazar’s specialty—and his favorite kind of challenge.In this episode, Lazar and NACD advisor Susan Paley explore Lazar’s extensive Silicon Valley career. They also discuss the nuances of private company board service, what it takes to work with visionary founders, and why effective governance always comes back to people and relationships.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisor Guest: Jack Lazar, 2025 NACD Directorship 100™ Private Company Director of the Year and a director at Astera Labs, Box, GlobalFoundries, Resideo Technologies, and Tonal SystemsRel...

How do investors assess the quality of boards? To start, they look for well-defined and transparent director roles and responsibilities, says Aeisha Mastagni, a CalSTRS senior portfolio manager.In this episode, Mastagni and NACD’s Marcel Bucsescu look at the investor’s perspective on board effectiveness. They explore the importance of clear disclosures, board quality red flags, and the ways in which Mastagni and other investors interact with and influence boards.Host: Marcel Bucsescu, NACD vice president of strategic engagementGuest: Aeisha Mastagni, senior port...

Boards don’t always need a well-known, “rock star” chair; sometimes, individuals who simply possess strong leadership qualities are more successful in the role. In this episode, board member Virginia Gambale and NACD advisor Susan Paley explore the role of independent chairs. They discuss the difference between board leaders and other board members, the relationships to prioritize in the role, and the qualities of effective chairs.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Virginia Gambale, chair, Nutanix; board member, Consumer Edge, Evertec, Virtu Financial, and 10x Banki...

An executive coach is not typically an advisor, a problem solver, or a performance corrector. Rather, a coach is someone who helps with self-discovery, Dawn Zier says.In this episode, Zier, an executive leadership coach and board member, and NACD advisor Susan Paley discuss the role of coaches in the governance ecosystem. They explore when and why a CEO or C-suite coach may be necessary or desired; why this is a positive thing for executive leadership, the board, and the company; and the board’s role in establishing and supporting the success of a CE...

It can feel impossible to distinguish between reality and hype when it comes to new technologies. But that’s exactly what strategic boards are doing, says Grant Thornton’s Adam Bowen.In this episode, Bowen and NACD’s Dylan Sandlin discuss the board’s role in tying digital transformation to strategy, how technology executives can work with the board, and how directors can stay current on new technologies.Host: Dylan Sandlin, program manager of digital and cybersecurity content at NACDGuest: Adam Bowen, managing director...

Am I as good as my board peers? Do they think I’m a fraud? If you’ve found yourself asking such questions, you may be experiencing impostor syndrome.In this episode, board member and author Keith Dorsey and NACD advisor Susan Paley discuss impostor syndrome and self-doubt in the boardroom. They define what “impostor syndrome” is, how it manifests among directors, and how to tackle it individually and with peers.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Keith Dorsey, NACD.DC®, senior advisor, United States, B...