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The breadth, depth, and frequency of risks have increased tremendously. Serving on risk committees is particularly challenging at present, making it important to take a fresh look at the risks, risk mitigation, regulatory scrutiny, and stakeholder complexities the risk committee must balance. 

In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner, is joined by Terri Duhon. Terri is an award-winning educator and TEDx speaker. She went from earning a master's degree at MIT to becoming a derivatives trader on Wall Street, and then an entrepreneur and author. Terri serves as a board member at Morgan Stanley, Wise, and Rathbone Brothers. She is also a guest lecturer at the LSE and Oxford University, where she's an Associate Fellow for the Saïd Business School. 

“I split the world between financial risks and non-financial risks.”

Terri sees the risk committee as working for the Board, even as the Board ultimately retains ownership of strategy and risk management. Within that work, she distinguishes between financial and non-financial risks.

Financial risks are a comfortable space for her, thanks to her background in trading and the cutting-edge approach to viewing risk she learned at JPMorgan. Yet non-financial risks – operational, cyber, regulatory, change, and so on – are an increasing part of the work in regulated fields. The non-financial risks are harder to quantify and require significant thought and engagement across different business lines to work through.

“As a chair, I say, ‘What are the big things I have to focus on today? ’”

Every company will have a big, long list of risks. For Terri, the real value of the risk committee is to narrow the focus to the big three or five things. 

As Terri notes, on the risk committee, you don’t have infinite time or infinite resources. In four to five hours a quarter, what are the most critical topics and challenges? Pushing for thoughtful consideration and risk weighing is a big part of how the risk committee supports and works for the Board. 

“We can either skim 1000 pages, or we can really think about 50 pages.”

Terri knows Boards face mountains of information. Quality discussions come down to ruthlessness around focus. Boards skimming tons of material are less valuable than Boards focused on the company's most significant challenges. 

“We challenge the robustness of the process, as opposed to challenging the decision itself or challenging the output.”

To Terri, quality in a risk committee means probing the processes and robustness of the discussions and decisions. Offering this challenge helps drive deeper discussion and prepares CROs for good conversations with regulators about how they are challenged by their risk partners. Plus, having Boards explain the rationale for decisions provides more space for high-quality deliberation on action plans, risk ratings, and accountability, so that all key stakeholders fully support final choices.  

The three top takeaways from our conversation for more effective boards are:

1.       The job of Board members is to challenge and oversee, asking for thoughtfulness on papers and accountability on actions.

2.     It is essential to manage the energy in risk meetings to ensure the most critical items are covered first.

3.     While the risk committee takes work, it can also be quite fun.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

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Cybersecurity is a core business risk that can impact the entire organisation. Boards are challenged to understand how cyber threats impact financial performance, reputation, and regulatory obligations. Boards need to build awareness of their organisation’s cyber security posture, protection measures, and incident response protocols. 

In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, is joined by Beatrice Devillon-Cohen. Beatrice has over 25 years of investment banking experience, having led traders’ teams across the UK, Europe, Asia, and the US. She has now developed a portfolio of non-executive positions, having recently served on the Audit Committee of the European Investment Bank and the Finance Committee at King’s College, London. 

“The Rule of Three is important when it comes to cybersecurity.”

As Boards seek to manage and survive cyber threats, the Rule of Three comes into play. On average, in a cyber event, there are three days of chaos, three weeks of systems rebuilding, and three months of constant IT problems. 

“What has been changing over time is the cyber-criminal groups. They are now running their operation as a business, selling cyber attacks as a service.”

The criminal ecosystem has gone professional. While there will always be bored teenagers or disgruntled employees, the more serious players run their operations like business ventures. They sell cyberattacks as a service, backed by deep resources, skilled talent, and vast networks.

“You need to work on mitigation, responding to an attack, and recovering. That's your battleground.” 

While cyber threats can’t be entirely avoided, Beatrice counsels Boards not to despair. There is plenty that can be done. It begins by understanding how threats work.

A primary attack path is through links in emails. One-click installs malware that hackers can use for access. Caution and education can help prevent this.

Another primary attack path is third-party providers. External suppliers are compromised and used as a bridge into your own internal system. 

“Never hope for the best when it comes to cybersecurity, because hope will not be a strategy.”

Boards are accountable for cyber risk oversight (see the UK Cyber Governance Code of Practice). They need to make it a strategic priority. Build relationships with IT heads, show curiosity, and build trust. 

Get a strong dialogue going. Educate within the organisation and with third-party partners. Create a no-blame culture so that if something happens, it is escalated immediately, which can limit its impact.

“It's our own duty to upskill, stay current, and think around the corner on that subject, like any other subject in the boardroom.”

Cyber culture starts at the top. It is not “too complicated” to pick up basic cyber safety skills or understand risk. Plus, with AI and quantum computing on the horizon, any actions Boards can take—and lead their companies to take—will help prepare for future risks.

The three top takeaways from our conversation for effective boards are:

1.      Cyber risk is a business risk. Own it as such. 

2.     Don't hide, as a Board member, behind “it's too technical and not for me”. Upskill, be curious, and engage with executives.

3.     Prepare for it. Run exercises and test regularly.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

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In this episode of the Better Boards Podcast, Professor Katja Langenbucher explores how boards can embrace AI to future-proof their decision-making.

Dr. Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Katja, a law professor at Goethe University in Frankfurt and affiliated with SciencesPo, Paris. She serves on the supervisory boards of BaFin and IEP, bringing extensive boardroom and academic experience.

AI is rapidly reshaping industries—from pharmaceuticals to finance—and boards can no longer afford to stand still. Katja outlines why boards must move past hesitation and actively integrate AI into their processes. She explains how leading organisations embed AI into strategy, what this means under the business judgment rule, and why AI should challenge—not replace—human insight.

AI isn’t a Trend—It’s Becoming a Legal Expectationisn’t a Trend—It’s becoming a Legal expectation. AI

AI may still seem opaque to some directors, but that view is increasingly out of step with governance expectations. In jurisdictions applying the business judgment rule, directors must demonstrate informed, reasonable decision-making. AI is becoming part of that expectation. “Very soon, you cannot claim to be well-informed without consulting an AI.” Boards have long leaned on expert input for board evaluations and strategic oversight. Going forward, AI must be part of that toolkit—or boards risk falling short of legal standards.

From Coffee Chains to Capital Markets: The Real-World Power of AI

Katja cites practical use cases—like how Starbucks applies AI to optimise store locations using behavioural, geographic, and competitor data. “You can use AI to identify an M&A target, spot a hostile takeover risk, or even test how markets might respond to your messaging.” Yet, she observes that AI is still rarely referenced in board evaluations or agendas, despite its ability to surface risks, run scenario models, and sharpen decision-making.

The New Role of Company Secretaries

Company secretaries are ideally placed to help boards adopt AI meaningfully. Katja is clear: directors don’t need to code—they need to ask better questions. “Nobody is asking directors to code—but boards must ask the right questions.”

Challenging Groupthink and Elevating Debate

Groupthink continues to undermine board effectiveness. Katja shares a compelling example of using AI to simulate press responses—ranging from neutral to harsh—on a sensitive issue. “Seeing a mock ‘nasty article’ on the big screen challenged the entire board’s thinking.”

AI as Induction, Humans as Interpretation

AI and human judgment are not competing forces—they are complementary. AI finds patterns. Humans interpret them. “A good strategic decision is always a combination of AI and human thinking.”

Three Key Takeaways

• Don’t Be Late to the Party - AI is fast becoming a market standard. Boards that delay their adoption risk strategic, legal, and reputational disadvantage.
• Blend AI with Human Judgment - Strategic decisions should integrate the pattern-finding power of AI with the contextual understanding of directors.
• Use the AI That Suits Your Board - Every corporation has a unique data pool. Boards must define the questions AI should answer—and then select the right tools.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

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During the pandemic, we all got used to working virtually. The business of Zoom has exploded and it is such a common feature in our lives that it has become a verb. We are all zooming. As restrictions are eased, the discussion is heating up about what the “new normal” looks like. The CEO of Zoom expects sales to rise more than 40% this year. Some organisations order there employees back into the office while others announce that their employees are free to work from anywhere. The future of work has arrived. What do boards need to think about? What does it mean for the controls of the business?

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with John Mongelard about Hybrid working and controls – What should boards think about?

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

John Mongelard leads ICAEW’s programme on financial services issues that have a risk or regulation theme. In his role, he looks at how financial services issues such as misconduct, crypto-currencies, corporate governance and IFRS 9 are influencing financial services firms, their regulators and lending to the real economy. 

John joined ICAEW from the Prudential Regulation Authority. John worked in various supervision roles and looked at the large UK banks, international banks and insurance companies. He has undertaken risk assessment work on bank capital, business models, risk management frameworks and corporate governance. 

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com.

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 10 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot.      

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

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The revised UK Corporate Governance Code places a great emphasis on the importance of culture within a business and is seen as a blueprint for corporate governance around the world.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Mike Gahir, Chair of the Board of Trustee at Steps to Work about "Culture, it all starts in the boardroom"

Mike was a winner at this year’s Non-Executive Director Awards in the UK as the ‘NED to watch’. He was praised by the judges for overhauling the leadership and transparency at Steps to Work.

Mike stresses the importance he himself places on culture in the work he has achieved so far.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com.

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 10 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot.     

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

There is a rising tide of investors, communities and talent caring about ESG issues. No longer is it surprising to see ESG feature more prominently on the agendas in boardrooms.

It is no longer acceptable to invest in a business for profits alone when those with poor practices can have such a profoundly negative impact on the world around us.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Margot Slattery, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at ISS A/S about "Putting the 'S' in ESG"

Born in Ireland, Margot was one of the key contributors to the country’s Same-sex Marriage Act, particularly in the business sphere. Before her current role with ISS, she was Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Sodexo.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com.

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 10 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot.    

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

M&A and transactions are no longer considered an add-on, but a pivotal part of a company's value creation process.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Nickesha Graham-Burrell, Head of Company Secretariat at OSB Group Plc about "The role of the Company Secretary in major transactions".

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

Nickesha is an experienced Company Secretary, who has previously worked within HSBC and Songbird Estates. This year she was a winner within the ‘Deal Maker’ category of the DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com.

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot.  

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

The role of the Company Secretary is evolving and is not clearly defined. Company Secretaries who are proactive and take the initiative can shape the role so that it really suits them, and help improve the board as a whole.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with John Mills, Company Secretary of Smiths Group plc about 'The role of the Company Secretary in increasing the effectiveness of Non-Executive Directors'.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

John joined Smiths Group in 2018 and has previously held senior roles in a variety of sectors, including at Anglo American plc, RSA Insurance Group plc and Cadbury plc.

This year, John was named a DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards winner in the category of Board Influencer. This category is for individuals that influence strategic decision making at the most senior level and are particularly adept at forging relationships with key stakeholders.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com.

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Good reporting is crucial for any high performing and effective board. But how can you ensure your reporting process is delivering for your board?

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with David Whincup, Deputy Company Secretary at Provident Financial Group, about 'Board Reporting; the indispensable part of effective Boards'

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

Before his role with Provident Financial Group, David previously held roles with the National Grid and Reckitt Benckiser. This year, David was named in the DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards as a winner in the ‘Governance Trailblazers’ category. This category recognised forward-thinkers who went beyond expectations to raise the standard of Corporate Governance.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Boards today face technological, geopolitical, demographic, and environmental changes at an incredibly rapid pace. How can Company Secretaries help ensure boards are ‘Future-fit’ to be able to tackle these changes effectively?

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Loren Wulfsohn, Global Head of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Governance & Secretariat at HSBC about ‘The role of the Company Secretary in creating future-fit boards’.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

Before her current role, Loren was Company Secretary of HSBC Bank plc and Regional Company Secretary for Europe. She has previously been Head of Shareholder Services at HSBC and was formerly Group Secretary and Head of Governance at Standard Bank Group for 10 years. Loren moved to Australia in 2012, where she consulted on strategic governance and board practice to a range of both financial and not-for-profit entities in Australia, the US and across Africa, prior to her move to the UK.  This year, Loren was also voted one of the Hot 100 for innovation by the DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards.  

Loren draws upon her experience from her governance career across HSBC and Standard Bank Group to provide real, practical advice for how Company Secretaries can ensure a board is ‘future-fit'. This includes insights into the behaviours and skills Company Secretaries should be prioritising to be at their most effective. 

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Much has been written and said about gender diversity and inclusion. Progress has been made, but we have still a way to go to achieve gender parity.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Sabine Kohleisen, member of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz AG, responsible for Human Resources and Director of Labour Relations, and Denise Wilson, CEO of the Hampton-Alexander Review. In this episode, we will be discussing “Diversity and inclusion, insights from the U.K. and Mercedes-Benz”.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards.

Sabine and Denise provide real-life insights into achievements, measures and practical tips for individuals and organizations about how to bring diversity and inclusion to life. Sabine is someone who has risen through the ranks of Mercedes and as a member of the Board of Management is responsible for achieving the next stage of diversity targets. Denise, who as the CEO of the Hampton-Alexander Review, shapes the debate about gender diversity with facts and figures like no other in the U.K.

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Studies provide clear evidence that boards with members of diverse backgrounds govern organisations that have better business results than those with less diverse leaders but it does not stop there.  We see similar patterns when it comes to innovation. The Hampton Alexander report in the UK highlights that we have come a long way in integrating women on the board, but there is still quite a way to go when we look at race and reviews like the Parker Review.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Chris Pirnie about “Punks in the boardroom.” Chris provides us with facts, figures and real-life insights into the challenges of integrating people with diverse backgrounds and what he has seen is working. 

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. 

Christopher Pirnie has been a company secretary and board member for over 20 years with organisations such as Swiss Re, E&Y, Clifford Chance and previously was Head of Secretariat and Director of Governance Operations and Policy at Fidelity International for over a decade.  Leaving Fidelity in 2020, Christopher joined Kuberno Consulting and has also set up his own governance professional coaching group, RPP NextStep Coaching, which provides tools and guidance to company secretaries, INEDs and executive directors with their career challenges and development needs.   This year, Christopher was also voted one of the Hot 100 for innovation by the DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards. 

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

The relationship between the Chair and the CEO is widely considered to be one of the most significant, if not the most significant, in any organisation. If the relationship is working well, it is a powerful alliance that can energise and uplift a whole organisation. But if the relationship is broken, the effects are felt throughout the organisation. What is more, the state of a broken relationship provides a good story for the media, resulting in broken careers and tarnished reputations. 

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Sir John Tusa.

Sir John is the most eminent chairman of cultural institutions in the UK. His illustrious career has included the likes of the National Portrait Gallery, the English National Opera, the Wigmore Hall and the British Museum.

Currently, he serves as Chairman of the British Architecture Trust Board and is Co-Chairman of the European Youth Orchestra. He is also the author of 'On Board: The Insider's Guide to Surviving Life in the Boardroom'.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the months, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us on info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

In an era marked by rapid change, technological disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, and economic volatility, understanding how analysts perceive boards is more important than ever. We turned to an analyst who operates independently of major financial institutions for a truly candid perspective.

In this episode of the Better Boards Podcast Series, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, speaks with Anke Richter, a seasoned credit analyst and strategist with nearly 30 years of experience in the bond markets. Based in London, Anke has held positions at JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, and Moody’s, and brings a unique vantage point shaped by her work on both the buy-side and sell-side, as well as in a rating agency. She holds both the CFA Charter and CIMA accountancy qualification.

A Two-Step Approach to Company Analysis

According to Anke, the fundamentals of analysing a company haven’t changed:
 “What you do when analysing a company is always the same.”

Step one involves scrutinising the company’s fundamentals—numbers, valuations, and performance indicators. Step two involves examining red flags in leadership or governance. Common issues include overly dominant founders in small firms or boards where everyone shares the same surname, particularly in family-run conglomerates in emerging markets.

Anke notes that although she doesn’t always request formal board evaluations, she views them as a missed opportunity for many firms. Proper board assessments and clear investor communication allow companies to spotlight their governance strengths and strategic priorities.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap Between Boards and Investors

Anke frequently observes significant knowledge gaps in how boards interact with capital markets. “We always find that people are sometimes not aware of how certain things are done or how things are perceived.”

Lack of familiarity with investor expectations can seriously handicap a company’s position. To mitigate this, Anke advocates for including individuals with capital markets expertise on the board. This experience ensures the board understands key market dynamics and investor sentiment.

Fixing Investor Relations: Easier Than You Think

Investor relations, Anke believes, is an area where companies can quickly improve.
 “This is something you can, as a company, very easily fix.”

Improvements don’t require massive budgets. What’s often lacking is not money but human resources and awareness. Clear communication, a well-maintained website, an accessible IR team, and informative roadshows are foundational but frequently overlooked.

Anke also points out two critical missteps:

1. Inconsistent messaging between equity and debt stakeholders—this discrepancy doesn’t go unnoticed.

2. Combative attitudes from executives during investor meetings can irreparably harm trust.

Beyond the Numbers: The Human Element

Anke acknowledges that while financial metrics are clear-cut, evaluating leadership is far more nuanced. “If I have an opportunity, I always want to meet management, but one also has to be realistic about whether you can assess whether they are good at running the company.”

Good marketing can mask weak fundamentals, and vice versa. Successful investor relations require a balance: numbers must align with consistent messaging and credible leadership behaviour.

Top 3 Takeaways for Effective Boards

1. Include Capital Markets Experience: Ensure that at least one board member brings direct market experience to guide strategy and communication.

2. Maintain Message Consistency: Align messaging for equity and debt investors. Mismatched narratives create confusion and erode trust.

3. Perception Is Reality: Be proactive in managing how the investor community perceives your strategies and governance.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

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I can not recall a single board evaluation nor a single event I attended in Pre-Covid times where the need for challenge in the boardroom was not stressed. At the same time, I know from hundreds of interviews with members of boards how hard it really is to challenge constructively. 

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Professor Karthik Ramanna.

Professor Ramanna is Professor of Business & Public Policy and Director of the Master of Public Policy Program at the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government.

Prof Ramanna recently produced a study for one of the Big 4 Audit firms entitled 'Building a culture of challenge in audit firms.' Lessons from this report can be applied to building a culture of challenge in the boardroom.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Recent board evaluations have laid bare how much Covid-19 has accelerated the digitisation and transformation of organisations.  Independent of the industry and independent of the country boards realise that they need different skills and behavioural traits in order realise their strategic ambitions. I thought that it is a good time to hear from two board search professionals what it takes and get a seat on the table and what dilemmas boards face.  

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Carol Leonard and Angela Hocter of the Inzito Partnership.

The Inzito Partnership is the UK's leading boutique executive search firm and Carol and Angela have been working together in the recruitment space for over 25 years.

Carol Leonard is CEO and Head of the Board Practice at the Inzito Partnership. She specialises in the recruitment of Chairmen, Chief Executives, Non-Executive Directors, Finance Directors, General Counsel and other main Board roles. Carol’s prowess and hands-on approach has contributed to her being dubbed the ‘doyenne of boardroom headhunters’ by the Financial Times.

Angela Hocter is Head of Research at the Inzito Partnership. Previously she led the research function within the Board Practice at Whitehead Mann. She was a director of Leonard Hull International before its acquisition in April 2004. She started her search career at Norman Broadbent where she spent four years, having previously worked with a French management consultancy based in Paris and London.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Covid-19 is causing economic havoc around the globe but the impact is different and depends on the industry. In this podcast we examine the impact the pandemic had on boardrooms of VC-backed organisations. I am delighted to bring our listeners a view from the frontline from  one of the most active VCs in the UK. 

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski talks to Alexander Leigh.  Alex is Investment Manager in one of the most active Venture Capital Firms in the UK. As part of his role, Alex sits on the board of young Tech companies that receive funding from the bank. 

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us on info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Chris McColgan, Managing Editor of the Business Scout, steps in as host to speak to Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards about "Creating Effective Boards,  the Seven Hallmarks of Effective Boards"

A lot has been said about the increasing challenges boards face – from governing an organisation through the pandemic to disruptive technologies, shifting demographics and geopolitical risks. Corporate failures have brought the importance of well-functioning and effective boards more to the fore. Dr Dembkowski is credited with having created the Seven Hallmarks of Effective boards, a framework for building more effective boards.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us on info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Many of our clients say early on in our discussions that they do have an aligned board. However, when we walk into the boardroom with high expectations of a relatively smooth board evaluation process, we usually find - usually during the one-to-one interviews we conduct - that there are deep and significant gaps in consensus.  With the pace of change dominating the agenda, it is unrealistic to expect every member of the board is on the same page. Still, unless the board is truly aligned, one cannot hope to align the rest of the organisation behind a strategic journey or a transformation programme. 

In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski talks to Rich Berens, CEO and President at Root, Inc and author of "What are your Blind Spots."

As CEO and Chief Client Fanatic, Rich Berens has had the opportunity to lead Root Inc. and its artists, designers, researchers, programmers, and MBAs in creating breakthrough approaches to change that have reached millions of people around the world.  Rich is a frequent author, thought leader, and speaker on leadership, transformation, and how to create lasting change. Rich’s latest project is a book called What Are Your Blind Spots?  that he co-authored with Root’s founder, Jim Haudan. It focuses on five key blind spots preventing leaders from effectively leading their organizations and engaging their people.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us on info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

A wide range of perspectives in the boardroom is critical to effective corporate governance. Multiple views on the possible outcomes of any action makes for a decision-making process that is more likely to take into account the various risks, consequences and implications of possible actions. Progress has been made in recent years and for example gender diversity has increased. We now see a shift and realisation that diversity is more complex and what really is needed is to go beyond the labels and achieve cognitive diversity. 

In this podcast I am delighted to talk with Stephen Page Head of the EMEA Board Engagement at the NASDAQ Centre for Board Excellence about Board Performance & Cognitive Diversity in the Boardroom.

Stephen is is Head of EMEA Board Engagement, Nasdaq Center for Board Excellence. He has been a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute for over 25 years. During his career, Stephen has acted as director, corporate secretary, head of legal, and independent advisor for many UK and non-UK public and private companies, including professional service firms, multinationals and a UK development capital concern. Stephen established his own successful corporate compliance services business in the early 2000s, which was eventually sold to a Hong Kong Bank. In recent years, Stephen has spoken on many governance topics at a number of international conferences.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us on info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

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Around the world, governments are struggling to address the immediate and long-term impacts of the pandemic. Governments are supporting key industries at an unprecedented level. Questions emerge about the role government representatives and politicians should play when an organisation receives public funds. We thought that it is a good time to contribute to the dialogue with a conversation about politicians in the boardroom and ask provocatively can they value or are they a nuisance? 

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Carwyn Jones, the former first minister of Wales.

Carwyn Jones trained as a barrister and was in the legal practice before becoming the First Minister of Wales. As First Minister, he was responsible for a budget of £16bn a year and led a government that introduced landmark legislation. He led bids to bring companies such as Aston Martin and CAF to Wales and the expansion of organisations like Airbus, GE and General Dynamics, led the team that brought the Champions League Final to Wales, the Rugby Union and League World Cups and Ashes Tests. Recently, Carwyn joined the law and criminology department at Aberystwyth University on a part-time basis, stepping down from his role as an assembly member in 2021.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us on info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

“The board should establish the company’s purpose, values and strategy, and satisfy itself that these and its culture are aligned. All directors must act with integrity, lead by example and promote the desired culture.” Corporate Governance Codes around the globe are clear and yet the root cause of many corporate failures points to a toxic culture. It is one thing to write down on paper and another to make it happen in the boardroom. 

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Alison Platt about Post-pandemic challenges: Purpose, values, strategy and cultural alignment.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that service boards about topics that are ranked high on the agenda.

Alison is on the Board of Tesco (FTSE 50), ‘Dechra’ (FTSE150) and Spectrum Life and is Chair of Legal & General’s business, LGFA. She is an advisor to Huntswood. She was previously on the board of Cable & Wireless Communications, Bupa Arabia, Max Bupa India and the FCO. She received a CMG in 2011. Alison was CEO of Countrywide plc between September 2014 and January 2018. Prior to that, she spent over twenty years in healthcare and financial services with Bupa. Alison is a member of the steering group of the Hampton Alexander Review and was previously the Chair of 'Opportunity Now’.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Social studies provide clear evidence that more diverse boards are more effective. Organisations that are governed by more diverse boards are less likely to get embroiled in scandals and are financially more successful. The business case is very clear and yet diversity is all but the start. What counts is the integration of people in the boardroom of different gender, different race, different colour, different religion and different background. 

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Yetunde Hofmann about Post-pandemic challenges: Integration – the elephant in the boardroom?

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the months, I speak with those that service boards about topics that are ranked high on the agenda.

Yetunde is a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the People, Culture and Remuneration Committee at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) where she is also Champion for the Middle East.  She is a Non-Executive Director of Treatt Plc, and a member of their Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees.  She is a Board Trustee at the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE), Board Trustee and Chair of the People, Culture and Remuneration committee of The Education Development Trust, a Visiting Fellow at University of Reading’s Henley Business School and a Board Mentor at Criticaleye, the peer to peer Board level Community.

How can we help you and your board? We at Better Boards are delighted to hear from you. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Many directors at the beginning of their directorial career often worry that they will not make the impact they want or that they expect to make. This trend is more pronounced with directors who are women and those from a minority background. But how can new board members find their voice in the boardroom?

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

In this podcast, I am delighted to speak to Orna NiChionna.

Orna spent 18 years at McKinsey’s London office, where she was the first woman to be elected partner. Since leaving McKinsey she has served on many boards including Bupa, HMV and Royal Mail. She has been an advisor to Apax LLP and to EdenMcCallum LLP. She is currently on the boards of Burberry and Saga and is Chair of Founders Intelligence. She was Chair of the Soil Association for 6 years and is currently Deputy Chair of the National Trust.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

In recent years, transformation skills have become increasingly important at the board level, with culture and talent rising high on the agenda. Yet, there’s still a noticeable absence of HR professionals in the boardroom. Why?

In this episode of the Better Boards Podcast Series, Dr. Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Devyani P. Vaishampayan, Remco Chair and NED at Norman Broadbent Plc and Supply Chain Coordination Limited, and Independent NED on the Audit Board of ForvisMazars. Devyani is a Fellow at Chapter Zero and a Board Mentor with Critical Eye. She recently exited her AI Innovation Hub, having spent seven years advising corporates on AI, leadership, and the future of work. Before that, she was a global FTSE 30 CHRO with a 30-year career leading complex, multi-billion-dollar organisations.

Devyani argues that HR leaders can earn their place at the board table by showing strong business insight—understanding financials, customer impact, and strategic goals. This may involve gaining broader experience outside HR or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures to deepen their perspective.

Boards have always dealt with change, but today’s pace, especially with AI and geopolitical shifts, is unprecedented. AI adds speed to transformation and presents both opportunity and risk. Boards must understand their potential while managing risks like bias, data privacy, and employee trust. Devyani warns against overregulation and urges boards to take a more informed, proactive approach.

According to Devyani, high-performing boards do three things well:

1. Engage specialists in culture and transformation to support the executive team.
2. Stay connected by engaging directly with employees—some boards spend two days in open forums to better understand workforce sentiment.
3. Lead by example, especially board chairs, who should champion values and culture, not just delegate to the executive team.

While some executives prefer boards to be hands-off, Devyani believes informed boards should act as sounding boards. Chairs can match board members with executives for mentoring, creating deeper support systems without overwhelming either side. Cross-committee conversations and subcommittees can also foster this dynamic.

Top 3 Takeaways for effective boards:

1. HR leaders—like CFOs—interact closely with boards and should use that access to build trust and position themselves for future board roles.
2. Broaden your skill set. Go beyond your core function to become more valuable and board-ready.
3. Get hands-on with AI. Understand its real-world implications for making informed decisions as a board member.

Subscribe to the Better Boards Podcast Series on Apple, Spotify, or Google to stay informed.

Want to participate or learn more about Better Boards’ solutions?
 Contact us at info@better-boards.com.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

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Building an inclusive and diverse workplace that draws on the talents of all of the people, is vital to any Economy. If companies are not recruiting from the whole of society, then they are missing out on talent. Back in 2017, Sir John Parker led a review into the ethnic diversity of boards in the UK. In the light of the new Parker Review report in February this year by EY, their sponsor, which revealed ‘slow progress’ suggesting it will be challenging for FTSE100 to hit the ‘One by 2021’ target set in 2017, we ask why does ethnic diversity matter in British boardrooms?

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Joëlle Warren and Khurram Hussain.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. 

Joëlle Warren MBE, DL is the Founding Partner and Executive Chair of Warren Partners which appoints Executive and Non-Executive Directors to boards and their senior leadership teams.  Joëlle is passionate about improving effectiveness in the boardroom through achieving the right balance of skills, diversity and experience and is a regular speaker on the business benefits of boardroom diversity in all its forms.  She was appointed MBE in 2016 for Services to Business. Her Non-Executive Director experience includes serving on boards in the university, charity and hospitality sectors and she is a member of the North West Business Leadership Team and the CBI’s SME Council.

Khurram Hussain is a Consultant Partner with Warren Partners and supports executive and Non-Executive appointments across a range of complex organisations, including established PLCs and high-growth ventures. He has a passion for identifying and engaging highly talented executives with the ability to transform businesses in the UK and internationally. He has a particular interest in empowering clients to build truly diverse and inclusive Boards and leadership teams that can collectively outperform and deliver sustainable change. Prior to joining Warren Partners, he was an associate with a global search firm. He started his career with IBM Integrated Technology Services in the Global Services division.

How can we help you and your board? We at Better Boards are delighted to hear from you. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Bankers around the globe are getting ready for a wave of corporate takeovers. Covid-19 has changed the position of many private and family-owned businesses and they are forced to exit earlier than expected. Others had to put plans on hold to see how Covid pans out. While it is easy to build the case for mergers and acquisitions on paper, most fail and destroy value for their shareholders.  

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

I am delighted to speak with one of the most respected Chairmen in the UK - Philip Aiken. Phil is the mastermind behind combining AVEVA and Schneider Electric’s industrial software business. The merger is widely regarded as a success. The story does not end there. This week it was announced that the firm is buying data company Osisoft in a deal expected to boost its market value to more than £10billion making Aveva Britains the most valuable software firm. Aveva plc is listed in London on the FTSE100. 

Phil Aiken has just under 50 years of experience in industry and commerce. He is Non-Executive Chairman at Aveva Plc, Chairman of Balfour Beatty plc and the Australian Day Foundation, Non-Executive Director of Newcrest Mining Limited and Director of Gammon China Limited. Previously Phil had numerous high-profile Executive and Board roles in the energy and utility industry in organisations like BHP Billiton, National Grid plc and Macquarie Bank (Europe).

How can we help you and your board? We at Better Boards are delighted to hear from you. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges. Companies around the world had to rise to the occasion at a speed they previously could not have imagined. Across industries, leaders in the governance profession had to adjust how they work - and what role they should play.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with David Press about “Resilience in the governance market.”

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda.

David has specialised in the recruitment of company secretaries since 1999 and is one of the founding directors of DMJ. He is widely recognised as a leader in his field and the recruitment partner of the ICSA/The Chartered Governance Institute. David’s expertise lies in senior hires, including executive search and the development of aspiring company secretaries as they seek to enter the profession. The annual salary survey for Company Secretaries serves as a reference point for the profession in the UK.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Governments around the globe are initiating mega projects to revive their economies. It is in all our interests that these megaprojects are well managed. I am talking with Prof Bent Flyvbjerg about Post-Pandemic challenges: Managing megaprojects.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that service boards about topics that are ranked high on the agenda.

In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Prof Bent Flyvbjerg.

Bent Flyvbjerg is the first BT Professor and inaugural Chair of Major Programme Management at Saïd Business School and a Professorial Fellow of St Anne’s College.

Flyvbjerg is the most cited scholar in the world in megaproject management. He serves as advisor and consultant to government and business, including the US and UK governments and several Fortune 500 companies. He is an external advisor to McKinsey and other consultancies. He has worked on some of the largest projects in the world, on all aspects from front-end planning, delivery, and rescue of failing projects.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that are at the serving boards about topics that are high on a board’s agenda.

In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Susan Hooper.

Susan is Chair of  Caresourcer.com and sits on the Boards of Uber UK, The Rank Group plc and Affinity Water Ltd.. Susan is also a Director of Chapter Zero, an organisation dedicated to providing education, insight and support on climate change to Non-Executive Board Directors and Chairs and actively involved in several start-ups in property and medical technology.

Prior to her plural life, Susan was Managing Director of British Gas Residential Services, Chief Executive of Acromas Group Travel Division and held senior roles at Royal Caribbean International, Avis Europe, PepsiCo International, McKinsey & Co, and Saatchi & Saatchi living in over 7 countries worldwide.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. I am talking with Mark Tennant about Post-Pandemic challenges: the role of the Chair in managing investor relations.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that serve boards - about topics that rank high on the agenda.

In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Mark Tennant.  

Mark has extensive experience chairing boards in the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. His experience ranges from small start-ups through plc boards to trade bodies and charities.

Mark is Chairman of BMO Private Equity Trust plc, Scottish Land and Estates, the trade body for landowning in Scotland, Centrica Pensions, a Non-Executive Director of Unit Trust of India International and a Trustee of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Previously he chaired the boards of Scottish Financial Enterprise, the trade body for financial services in Scotland, Scottish Stockbrokers Bell Lawrie White Ltd, Hill Samuel Unit Trusts and Hill Samuel Private Clients Ltd. 

Mark also has broad political experience, having stood for Westminster against Gordon Brown in 1992 and as a candidate for the Highlands and Islands in the European elections of 1994. 

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that are at the serving boards about topics that are high on a board’s agenda.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and NOT those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Laura McNeil.  

Laura is Assistant Company Secretary and International Share Plans Manager at Blue Prism Group plc, an AIM-listed robotic process automation software company. Prior to this, she has held company secretarial roles at FTSE250 retailer N Brown Group and AIM-listed NWF Group. Laura was named as an innovator on DMJ & Computershare’s Governance Hot 100 2020 list. She has spoken about automation and how company secretaries can embrace technology at ProShare, The Governance Institute, and AWCS events.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that are at the serving boards about topics that are high on a board’s agenda.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and NOT those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Frank Satterwhite, Founder and CEO of 1600 Cyber, an American-owned Pan-European Cybersecurity consultancy. 

Frank is a known, global cybersecurity expert and social influencer. A former NATO and US Military cyber consultant with roots in Silicon Valley and the EU, he has a purposeful vision that has driven his career: Making the world a better place, by protecting society through technology.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that are at the serving boards about topics that are high on a board’s agenda.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and NOT those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Ron Mobed.  

Ron has a history of success in growing and transitioning businesses through innovation and by focusing on customer needs. He has a wide range of U.S. and international experience in the energy and information industries, especially in digital transformation. He is a Non-Executive Director of Aveva PLC, an FTSE100 software company. From August 2012 to February 2019 Ron was CEO of Elsevier. Elsevier is the largest operating unit of RELX Group PLC (LSE: RELX) - a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers and one of the 20 largest public companies in the UK.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. 

Thank you for listening to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that are serving on boards about topics that are high on the board’s agenda.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and NOT those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Sarah Walker-Smith.  

Sarah Walker-Smith is the CEO of Shakespeare Martineau. She is the first female, non-lawyer CEO in the legal top 50.  

Sarah is a trained accountant having worked for PWC and Deloitte and Boots plc. She regularly speaks at national leadership events, is a governor at Nottingham Trent University, on the board of the West Midlands CBI Council and a member of the Society of Leadership Fellows at St George’s House - a society only open to 250 leaders worldwide. Sarah recognises the importance of life beyond work and enjoys writing, directing and performing in musical theatre productions.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionise boardrooms in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Still, this rapid change threatens to distance boards from the companies they serve if proper care is not taken in implementing both the technology and the governance around it.

In this podcast, Dr. Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses how AI can revolutionise boardrooms with Moya Hayhurst, a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute with over 25 years of experience in corporate governance across multiple industries, including mining, financial services, and insurance. 

“If we go back to the beginning as to why boards were created, they're there to protect and drive the value of companies”

Boards have a significant role to play in that discussion, but to lead the debate about future-proofing effectively, boards need to absorb and process a vast amount of information. 

 “The real value from AI and similar is about integrating into the ethos of the company and the core infrastructure, and whether we like it or not, whether executive boards, executive committees and such acknowledge it, the board is a key component of that”

Moya is currently involved in a voluntary project with the Centre for AI in Board Effectiveness (CAIBE), which aims to get boards excited and engaged with AI as a tool for improving their effectiveness and the quality of their conversations. To Moya, in an ideal future state, board members and directors will be able to be more effective by having AI bring forward the data and information they need, when they need it, in easily digestible formats. 

“Some boards are further along than others"

Moya realises this is a leap forward. It wasn't that long ago that boards were reticent to use board pack technology. They wanted their hard copies printed and couriered to wherever they were in the world, whereas now 90% of boards walk into a boardroom with an iPad. It’s an evolution in progress. 

“Through an interface like AI, you can bring the board back in alignment with the company”

To Moya, what AI is surfacing is not that different skills are needed in the boardroom. The boardroom is already full of incredibly skilled people, but those people are struggling with the data coming at them, and thanks to the time it takes to prepare board papers, not all of that data is up to date. Backward-looking reporting is leading to missed opportunities.

“AI is a toddler. They are excited, energetic, and bring such amazing potential, but they've got to have guardrails so that they grow up in the right way”

Moya understands that boards have concerns about new technology tools and their security, as well as the protection of sensitive information. Fortunately, most organisations have a governance framework in place to strike a balance between responsibility and innovation. She thinks of AI as a toddler loaded with energy and potential but in desperate need of guidance and thoughtful training. 

The three top takeaways for effective boards from our conversation are:

1.      Lean on governance professionals and IT professionals to help you investigate the technology and offer better intelligence for quicker decisions.

2.     Don’t be hamstrung by perceived risk. Think through it carefully, and then quantify and manage the risk so that you can empower and engage your directors to really be at the forefront of your industry.

3.    You must have a clear plan that understands the risk and governance frameworks of your organisation and its sensitive data, and that ensures your guardrails are in place. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we would like to give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and NOT those of Better Boards. 

New episodes are available every first and third Thursday of the month. In this episode, I am honoured to talk with Malcolm McKenzie.

Malcolm McKenzie is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal and Head of the European Corporate Transformation Services practice in London. He brings 30 years of experience in advising senior management and boards on improving top-line and bottom-line performance and has completed over 70 cost reduction, transformation, mergers and acquisitions and carve-out engagements across corporate and private equity-owned businesses. 

Malcolm has served on several boards and worked with Chairmen and Boards of Directors on evaluating and improving board and company performance. He has also led a series of research programmes into Board leadership and has served as a judge on the Non-Executive Director Awards in the UK since their inception.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to the Better Boards podcast series. I am Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with those that are serving on boards about topics that are high on the board's agenda.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and NOT those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Anthony Rose.  

Anthony is the serial entrepreneur and the man behind BBC iPlayer. Anthony has founded and sold multiple start-ups. He is co-founder and CEO of SeedLegals, the world's first legal automation platform for start-up funding. In less than 3 years, SeedLegals has become the largest closer of funding rounds in the UK.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us on info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to provide proven solutions for creating more effective boards. Our evidence-based board evaluations and board development programmes deliver tangible results.

To fulfil our mission, we listen and give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairs, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

I am honoured and humbled that Sir John Parker is joining me in this episode. 

Sir John has earned a reputation for his “tough” approach at the helm of the UK´s largest companies and is associated with a number of major Corporate turnarounds.

Sir John is Chairman of Pennon PLC and the Engineering and Construction Group Laing O’Rourke.  He is also Non- Executive Director of Carnival PLC and Carnival Corporation. He was President of the Royal Academy of Engineering 2011-2014. He stepped down as Chairman of Anglo American PLC in 2017, National Grid PLC in 2011 and as Non-Executive Director of Airbus in 2018.

His career has spanned the Engineering, Shipbuilding, Paper, Utility, Energy, Mining and the Defense industries.  He has over 25 years experience as a CEO including Harland & Wolff and the Babcock International Group. 

Sir John also chaired the Court of the Bank of England between 2004 and 2009. Sir John has Chaired the Government’s commissioned independent review into the ethnic diversity of UK boards since 2016.

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. As a note for your diary, new episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to provide proven solutions for creating more effective boards. Our evidence-based board evaluations and board development programmes deliver tangible results.

To fulfil our mission, we listen and give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairs, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

I am delighted that Lindsay Hooper is joining me on this episode. 

Lindsay is an Executive Director at the Institute for Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge. She leads the Institute’s Education and Advisory teams, which support major global organisations, boards and individual leaders to build the capability to align economic performance with the delivery of positive outcomes for society. 

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. As a note for your diary, new episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
   
You can subscribe to the Better Boards podcast series on Apple or Google Podcast to never miss an episode.
   
How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to provide proven solutions for creating more effective boards. Our evidence-based board evaluations and board development programmes deliver tangible results.

To fulfil our mission, we listen and give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairs, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

I am delighted that Philippe Joubert is joining. 

Philippe is Founder and CEO of Earth on Board, an ecosystem of sustainability actors dedicated to informing and helping Boards to put sustainability at the centre of the company’s strategy.

He is also Trustee of Client Earth, Senior Advisor and Special Envoy Energy and Climate for WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Advisor for International Development of World Energy Council (WEC), Chairman of HRH The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Fellow in this Institute. Philippe sits on various commercial boards and was previously President of Alstom Power and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Alstom Group.

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. As a note for your diary, new episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
   
How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to provide proven solutions for creating more effective boards. Our evidence-based board evaluations and board development programmes deliver tangible results.

To fulfil our mission, we listen and give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairs, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

I am honoured and humbled that Dr Emily Shuckburgh OBE is joining me this week. 

Emily is a world-leading climate scientist and gifted science communicator. She is also Reader in Environmental Data Science in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Cambridge. In her previous role at the British Antarctic Survey, she led a national research programme on polar climate change. She is the Director of Cambridge Zero, a bold and ambitious new climate change initiative of the University of Cambridge that is calling the world´s brightest and best to join in and create a zero-carbon future. 

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. As a note for your diary, new episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to provide proven solutions for creating more effective boards. Our evidence-based board evaluations and board development programmes deliver tangible results.

To fulfil our mission, we listen and give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairs, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

I am delighted that Steve Maslin is joining me this week. 

Steve is the immediate Past Chair of the Partnership Oversight Board of Grant Thornton -  the world's sixth-largest professional services network of independent accounting and consulting member firms that provide assurance, tax and advisory services to privately held businesses, public interest entities, and public sector entities. After almost three decades at Grant Thornton, Steven has established an impressive portfolio of roles on Commercial boards, Charity boards and committees that include Nuffield Health, Ark Schools, The Royal Collections Trust, The Gurkha Museum, and most latterly Chair of an unlisted building company.

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. As a note for your diary, new episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
 
How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to provide proven solutions for creating more effective boards. Our evidence-based board evaluations and board development programmes deliver tangible results.

To fulfil our mission, we listen and give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairpeople, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

I am delighted and honoured that for this episode, Prof Amy Edmondson from Harvard Business School is joining us. 

Amy C. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, a chair established to support the study of human interactions that lead to the creation of successful enterprises that contribute to the betterment of society.
 
Edmondson has been recognized by the biannual Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 and was honoured with the Talent Award in 2017.  She studies teaming, psychological safety, and leadership, and her articles have been published in numerous academic and management outlets,

Amy’s work on psychological safety has been groundbreaking and is the subject of this podcast. 

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. As a note for your diary, new episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
 
How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to provide proven solutions for creating more effective boards. Our evidence-based board evaluations and board development programmes deliver tangible results.

To fulfil our mission, we listen and give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairpeople, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, you’ll get exclusive insights from one of the most respected Chairman in the UK - John Barton. 

John is Chairman of EasyJet and Chairman of the Nomination Committee. He is also a Senior Independent Director of Luceco PLC and Non-Executive Director of SSP Group PLC and Matheson / Company Limited.

John has served for three decades on boards of numerous FTSE organisations as Chairman and Senior Independent Director. In the City of London, he is known as "Mr Chairman". Previously John was CEO of insurance broker JIB Group plc where he became Chairman after the merger with Lloyd Thompson.

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. As a note for your diary new episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we would like to give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairpeople, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, you’ll get exclusive insights from the doyenne of boardroom headhunters in the UK, Carol Leonard. 

Carol is one of the most experienced and trusted headhunters in the UK. She is CEO at The Inzito Partnership and Head of its Board Practice. Carol specialises in the recruitment of Chairmen, Chief Executives, Non-Executive Directors, Finance Directors, General Counsel, and other main Board roles. Carol’s prowess and hands-on approach are legendary. Before her career in headhunting, Carol was a financial journalist with The Times, The Evening Standard, and Channel Four. Carol is also a Fellow of Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford.

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. New episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

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Over the last decade, climate and sustainability have become more of a focus for boards and sub-committees. However, there is currently a lot of conflicting noise around this agenda. So, there is a lot for boards to digest around this topic, making it an opportune time to take stock of where we are and what boards should consider.

In this podcast, Dr. Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses climate/energy transition with David Harris, who has worked on these topics for over 20 years. He leads sustainable finance strategic initiatives at LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), having previously led sustainable finance for two of its divisions:  FTSE Russell in its index business, and its Data and Analytics division.

“20 years ago, this was regarded as quite a niche area. Today, that picture is completely different. It's one of the top issues for institutional investors.”

The data backs him up. In FTSE Russell’s annual survey of global pension funds, they ask if the funds are integrating sustainability issues into their investment strategies. Among the largest and most sophisticated funds, those with over 10 billion dollars in assets under management, 86 per cent do. 

“Of the different sustainability themes, climate change and energy transition rank in our asset owner survey as being the very top priority.”

Data from the International Energy Agency shows in 2024, annual investment into the energy sector was $3 trillion,  $2 that in 2024, annual investment in the energy sector was $3 trillion,  $2 trillion in clean energy, and $1 trillion in fossil fuels. In contrast, around five years ago, they were roughly on par at $1 trillion each. So, David says we are well into a substantial shift in the global economy, and boards and investors need to understand that.

“I think there has been some surprise.. from boards at the level of reporting requirements coming at them.”

Shifts of this magnitude come with many reporting requirements – requirements that have many boards less than thrilled. Some of the exasperation is at the newness of the requirements, and some is frustration with the scope. David feels this is a legitimate concern, as many boards find that keeping up with reporting can detract from focusing on the most material and relevant issues of running the business. 

“What's really important here is… sustainability standards are increasingly being set in a way which aligns them with the way companies are used to reporting on financial information.”

The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation has set up the International Sustainability Standards Board, which may be familiar to many listeners. It aims to get global sustainability standards set up in a way that aligns with how companies are used to reporting on financial information and in a format that’s easier for the investor community to use. 

The three top takeaways for effective boards from our conversation are:

1.      Don't get lost in all of the reporting regulations. Cut through that and focus on the material issues and what’s right for the business. 

2.     Make sure you're engaging your investors, not only the sell-side analysts but also the institutional investors who sit behind them, i.e. the pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, as well as the asset managers and understand their priorities.

3.     Build your expertise and lean on the resources available through Chapter Zero and similar networks.  

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we would like to give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairpeople, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, you’ll get insights from Alex Leigh, Investment Manager in one of the most active Venture Capital Firms in the UK, the Development Bank of Wales. As part of his role, Alex sits on the board of ten young Tech companies that receive funding from the bank. Before joining the Development Bank of Wales Alex worked for Private Equity firms and invested in firms in South Africa.

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. New episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we would like to give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairpeople, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, you’ll get insights into a study on information overload in the boardroom and practical tips about how you can overcome the issues from Zsuzsanna Schiff from the ICAEW, a world-leading professional membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports over 180,000 chartered accountants and students worldwide and Hitesh Patel who serves on boards of various Financial Services organisations. 

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. New episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Our mission at Better Boards www.better-boards.com is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we would like to give a voice to all who care about creating better boards - Chairpeople, CEOs, Senior Independent Directors (SIDs), Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), Company Secretaries, academicians, investors, and regulators.

All the views expressed in our podcasts are the views of our podcast partners and not those of Better Boards. 

In this episode, you’ll get insights from Company Secretary - Carolyn Ferguson. Carolyn is Company Secretary at FTSE250 organisation The Go-Ahead Group. 

Every time you tune in, we’ll help you to develop and reinvigorate your board know-how and practice with insights, data, and practical advice. New episodes are available every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at info@better-boards.com. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at info@better-boards.com.