Making Room For Disruption

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; board member, RSM US, Junior Achievement of ChicagoRSM is a NACD sponsor, providing directors with critical and timely information, and perspectives. RSM is a financial supporter of the NACD.Related NACD Resources:Navigating Changing US Policy: Key Board Implications (landing page)How to Tackle Organizational Blind Spots and DisruptionVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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 Coca-Cola Co., Morningstar; cofounder and former CEO, Compute SoftwareRelated NACD Resources:Mentoring Needs a Collective PushTwenty-First–Century Board Oversight of Talent and SuccessionVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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, Every Cure; former secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs; former chair and CEO, Procter & Gamble Co.; US Army veteranNACD Resources:Hon. Robert A. McDonald: Committed to Helping OthersDo Nonprofits Need Board Governance? (recorded event)Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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: Rethinking Meetings for Real Impact (event)Director FAQ: Setting the Board Calendar and Meeting AgendasVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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 Corner Office columnist for the New York Times, author of The Leap to Leader, and coauthor of The CEO TestNACD Resources:Twenty-First–Century Board Oversight of Talent and SuccessionSummer Reading: The Evolving Nature of LeadershipVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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, cofounder of the VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab at Stanford University and advisor to August PublicNACD Resources:Board Mentorship Program Guidelines SampleNACD Blue Ribbon Commission Report, Culture as the Foundation: Building a High-Performance BoardVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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 president, and corporate secretary of Prudential Financial and a board member at Orion Group HoldingsNACD Resources:How Boards and CEOs Can Establish a Strong Relationship10 Steps to a Better Board PartnershipVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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 Charles River Laboratories NACD Resources:·      Election Insights·      Boardroom Diplomacy: Mastering the Art of Difficult Conversations Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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 Practice and a member of the firm’s Board and CEO Advisory Partners NACD Resources:Global Risks Are Intensifying: Here Is What Boards Should KnowDigital Transformation: How to Unlock Innovation and Growth With Emerging Technologies—A GNDI Quick GuideVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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, coleader of Egon Zehnder’s US CEO and Board PracticeNACD resources:How to Prepare and Interview for a Private Company Board SeatDirector FAQ: Finding Your Next Board SeatVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.