BoardVision

The transition from an executive to a board career, or a portfolio lifestyle, is more than it appears; the change can be seismic, in fact.In this episode, board member Paul Williams and NACD advisor Susan Paley discuss how Williams transitioned away from his full-time career toward a portfolio lifestyle. They cover the value he finds in board service, his shift in mindset from outward achievement to inward fulfillment, and the day-to-day changes he’s experienced.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Paul S. Wi...

When faced with disruption, companies may feel compelled to pause business plans. To the contrary, RSM tax partner Karen Galivan believes, they must continue to innovate.In this episode, Galivan speaks with NACD advisor Susan Paley about how boards and companies are handling disruption amid geopolitical uncertainty, including tariff impacts. They define what a “disruptor” is and discuss the practices and structures that can be put in place to create resilience.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Karen Galivan, tax partner, RSM US LLP; boar...

Under the leadership of next-gen directors, the future boardroom will be more agile, tech-enabled, and engaged, predicts board member Caroline Tsay.In this episode, Tsay and NACD advisor Susan Paley discuss the next generation of board members. They cover Tsay’s journey as both a next-gen and an experienced board member, how the current business and geopolitical environments influence director selection, and how board culture shifts when next-gen directors are in the room.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Caroline Tsay, board member, The Co...

Service is Bob McDonald’s—and a nonprofit board’s—way of life.In this episode, McDonald and Mary Jacobson dive into McDonald’s journey from military to government to board service. They also discuss the nuances of nonprofit governance, how to approach finding nonprofit board roles, and what it takes to be an effective nonprofit director.Host: Mary T. Jacobson, senior regional director of the NACD chapter networkGuest: Hon. Robert A. McDonald, chair, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, West Point Association of Graduates; board member, Ev...

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a board member?In this episode, Rob Galford and Susan Paley examine what a typical year looks like for public company directors. They discuss board calendars, agenda setting, best practices to avoid asymmetric information, and how to improve the experience of being a board member.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Robert M. Galford, lead independent director, Forrester Research; managing partner, Center for Leading OrganizationsNACD Resources:Modernizing the Boardroom: Re...

It’s one thing to be smart and curious. But to truly differentiate yourself as a leader requires processing time to look for patterns, lessons, and insights, says Adam Bryant.In this episode, Bryant and Susan Paley discuss the difficulties of and the motivations behind modern leadership, including the importance of listening, the paradoxes of leadership, and how the best leadership wisdom is also life wisdom.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Adam Bryant, senior managing director and partner with the ExCo Group, former Co...

Mentorship should be a two-way street, according to board member Barbara Adachi, NACD.DC.Adachi, Lori N. Mackenzie, and Raquel Suarez discuss the role of mentorship in the boardroom, including what defines an effective mentor-mentee relationship, whether and how to formalize mentorship programs, and how mentees, mentors, and the board can benefit from the engagement.Host: Raquel Suarez, NACD senior manager of diversity, equity, and inclusionGuests: Barbara Adachi, board member at Atlas Technology Solutions, Old Republic International Corp., and VSP Vision; Lori Mackenzie...

There’s one major rule for executives to lay a strong foundation with the board: no surprises, says board and C-suite member Peggy Foran.Foran and NACD advisor Susan Paley discuss the who, what, when, where, why, and how of executive engagement with the board, including what boards expect from executives, how executives can effectively prepare for board and committee meetings, and the key elements that foster a strong board-management relationship.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuests: Peggy Foran, chief governance officer, senior vice pr...

Directors should focus on purpose, not partisanship, says Bruce Haynes. Haynes, who works in crisis communications and reputation management, and board member Anne Alonzo chat with NACD advisor Susan Paley about strategies for boards to prevent controversial issues from escalating into crises and how they can facilitate effective conversations on difficult topics, especially in the context of the upcoming US election. Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisor Guests: Anne Alonzo, board member at PotlatchDeltic Corp. and Until Corp.; Bruce Haynes, senior vice president of corporate and external affairs at...

Why should global governance trends matter to US boards? Board member Mary McDowell and Russell Reynolds’s Rich Fields join NACD’s Friso van der Oord to discuss the themes dominating boardrooms around the world and how US governance compares to governance in other countries, with a close look at the United Kingdom.Host: Friso van der Oord, NACD senior vice president of contentGuests: Mary McDowell, nonexecutive director at Arrow Electronics and Autodesk and senior independent director at Informa; Rich Fields, head of the Russell Reynolds Board Effectiveness Prac...

Despite social and legal tensions around DE&I initiatives, the board continues to have an important role to play to not only advance nondiscrimination, but also proactively engage in ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce. Cari Dominguez, chair of the NACD Center for Inclusive Governance, and Natalie Chan, a partner at Sidley Austin, join Tracy Gee, NACD chief people officer, to discuss these tensions, the DE&I business imperative, and the role of corporate directors in supporting DE&I in the boardroom and beyond.Host: Tracy Gee, NACD chief people officer<...

You’re contacted about a board opportunity. What happens next?Mary Beth Vitale, a director on multiple boards, and Chuck Gray, coleader of Egon Zehnder’s US CEO and Board Practice, join NACD’s Susan Paley to chat about what candidates can expect from the recruitment process, how to prepare for board interviews, and what role search firms play.Host: Susan PaleyGuests: Mary Beth Vitale, board member at Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) and Luna Innovations, and an NACD faculty member; Chuck Gray, colead...

You’re contacted about a board opportunity. What happens next?Mary Beth Vitale, a director on multiple boards, and Chuck Gray, coleader of Egon Zehnder’s US CEO and Board Practice, join NACD’s Susan Paley to chat about what candidates can expect from the recruitment process, how to prepare for board interviews, and what role search firms play.Host: Susan PaleyGuests: Mary Beth Vitale, board member at Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) and Luna Innovations, and an NACD faculty member; Chuck Gray, colead...

It’s all about self-discovery.Lisa Shalett, cofounder of Extraordinary Women on Boards, joins Susan Paley, NACD vice president of the chapter network, to discuss how anyone can start on their path to board service through networking, continuous learning, and self-investigation.Host: Susan Paley, NACD vice president of the chapter networkGuest: Lisa M. Shalett, cofounder of Extraordinary Women on Boards, a board member at MPower Partners and PennyMac Financial Services, and a former partner at Goldman SachsNACD re...

Listen and learn before you speak or lead—that’s Oscar Munoz’s motto. Oscar Munoz, former chair and CEO of United Airlines, joins Susan Paley, NACD vice president of the chapter network, to talk about his journey to the C-suite and the boardroom, as well as his early influences and the importance of empathy and authenticity. Host: Susan Paley, NACD vice president of the chapter network Guest: Oscar Munoz, former chair and CEO of United Airlines; board member at Archer Aviation, CBRE Group, Salesforce, and TelevisaUnivision; a trustee...

Corporate boards are no longer simply a legal structure, but a body of humans in the spotlight.Peter R. Gleason, NACD president and CEO, joins Friso van der Oord, NACD senior vice president of content, to discuss how governance has changed over Gleason’s time in the field and how it will change in the future.Host: Friso van der Oord, NACD senior vice president of contentGuest: Peter R. Gleason, NACD president and CEONACD resources:The Future of the American Board: A Framework for Governing Into the FutureIt’s Time...

You’ve been invited to join a board. Now what? Rose McKinney-James, a board member at ioneer, MGM Resorts International, Pacific Premier Bancorp, Toyota Financial Savings Bank, and the NACD Pacific Southwest Chapter, and cochair of the chapter’s Nevada Advisory Board, sheds light on how a director can prepare for their first day in the boardroom, what is expected of new directors, and the general ins and outs of onboarding, including both the board’s role and the individual’s role. Listen to McKinney-James discuss her personal experience with onboarding and how onboarding practices are changing to move...

Shareholders increasingly have a voice in how companies operate. How can boards better listen to and work with shareholders to improve corporate value? This episode features a conversation with Nell Minow, vice chair of ValueEdge Advisors, prior president of Institutional Shareholder Services, and an attorney who has worked for the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Management and Budget, and the US Department of Justice. A leading voice in corporate governance and a prolific author, Minow shares her insights on how understanding the shareholder’s perspective is critical in the boardroom as well as her thoughts on...

Many C-suite leaders think they have what it takes to join a board, while others don’t consider directorship as an option. Joanna Burkey, the former chief information security officer at HP and a board member at Beyond, formerly Overstock.com and Bed Bath and Beyond, and ReliabilityFirst Corp., clarifies the role of the board as she discusses finding her path to the boardroom and how her perspective as a C-suite leader changed along the way. Tune in to hear what Burkey wishes aspiring board members, current C-level executives, and the public in general knew about how boards work....

Karina Litvack, the former founding chair of the Climate Governance Initiative, launched in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, and a director on the board of Terna, offers her perspective on the state of climate governance. With the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s final climate disclosure rule expected this spring, it is an ideal time for boards to reconsider how they can provide the best ESG oversight with a focused lens on climate. Listen and determine what your board can do to improve the governance of climate-related risk and opportunity as well as enact change....