What It Takes to Be a Board Leader

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 Banking Technology; managing partner, Azimuth PartnersRelated NACD Resources:Director Essentials: Board Leadership StructuresDirector Essentials: Succession Planning for Board and Committee LeadersVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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 CEO-coach relationship.Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisorGuest: Dawn Zier, executive leadership coach, The ExCo Group; chair, Hain Celestial Group; board member, Acorns and Prestige Consumer Healthcare; former CEO, NutrisystemRelated NACD Resources:Making CEO Succession Plans StickSurvey Analysis: Board-CEO RelationshipVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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 in the Business Consulting practice at Grant Thornton Advisors LLCGrant Thornton is a NACD sponsor, providing directors with critical and timely information, and perspectives. Grant Thornton is a financial supporter of the NACD.Related NACD Resources:“A Guide to Energizing Technology Governance”The 2024 NACD Blue Ribbon Commission report: Technology Leadership in the BoardroomVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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, Boyden; board member, Continu, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business SchoolRelated NACD Resources:Redesigning Your Life: The Transition to a Portfolio LifestyleCulture as the Foundation: Building a High-Performance BoardVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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. Williams, director, American Funds/Capital Group; trustee, Public Storage, George Jackson AcademyRelated NACD Resources:Redesigning Your Life: The Transition to a Portfolio LifestyleDemystifying the Path to Board ServiceVisit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

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.