Explore every episode of the podcast The Boardroom Company Live - Naomi Kent

Meet Dennis Cagan. He has been on 75 boards - public, private, VC, family...

He has seen it all.

He shares his experience and advice. Also, how do you fire a board member? 

Find out in this episode! Check out the video on my YouTube as well.

It's not very often I get to meet a 4 star Admiral. At age 95, Admiral Bobby Inman is a legend. If you don't know him yet, you will. He joined me in Austin for an interview about board service, leadership, his career, his mentors, and he shared his predictions for the years ahead. Hear our entire interview on Monday and you'll find out what my "Oops" was referring to! At the end of the interview he said he had to rush home. Why? He had a dinner date with his wife. They have been married for 68 years 🥹 💗

I interviewed Linda Fonner, CFO and Board Member, to find out why CFOs make great board members but why some of them do not get on boards.

This is a frank conversation on board positioning from someone who has done it multiple times!

 

 

I get asked this a lot - which professional network should I join to increase my chances of getting on a board. I break down how to evaluate a professional network, how many to join and what to do with them.

 

 

Born and raised in New York City but now living in London, UK. Dorothy is a Partner at FGS Global and she landed her first public co board seat in 2020, then another one 2 years later: Post Holdings and Pennon Group Plc.

She is an expert in crisis communication, enterprise communication, PR and reputation. Live from St Louis in May 2026!

May - Learn what are the 3 things you should NOT be doing this month.

Find out how you can avoid failing as a board member! And, find out if you are currently failing or succeeding in board meetings.

Israel Rollins, governance expert, CEO, Board Member, VC Investor and BoardKit CEO talks about what boards need to do to avoid failing.

 

There are 3 things you should not be doing if you want to land a corporate board in the next 12 months. I see people doing these 3 things all the time when they are seeking corporate boards... Here is what you should NOT be doing...

Here are 3 things you need to remove from your board bio or board resume NOW in order to level up to the board of directors. Adjectives and phrases can kill your reputation and create the wrong impression. 

Find out what they are here.

 

Cybersecurity has evolved from a technical issue into a core business risk. Boards are now responsible for overseeing cyber risks, which sit alongside financial, operational, and reputational risks. A ransomware attack can halt operations overnight, and a data breach can lead to regulatory investigations, lawsuits, and long-term reputational damage. Listen to Christine Baird from Clarus Tech Partners when she shares her advice for board members. She shares the top 5 questions to ask your board today.

Join me in and my guest - Andre de Freitas - who has championed for sustainable development and business practices his entire career. 

A board member and leader, he gives his perspective of the role of the board in sustainability and how shifts in consumer and government interest impact businesses. He also talks about AI and the minerals, water and power needed to generate the technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-de-freitas/

Find out in my short podcast about the difference between the 2 docs and when to use one over the other.

 

Picture uploaded!

Steve Song is the former CFO and Board Member at Luke's Lobster and served on multiple boards. He worked in PE and served on boards that were PE backed. Find out the story behind one of his tattoos and also how he landed the CFO role at Luke's Lobster!

Mary E. Landry is an American disaster-management official and retired rear admiral of the United States Coast Guard.

She currently serves on the boards of USAA and Norwegian Cruise Lines. 

She talks about the workforce committees, how she was chosen to serve on these boards and what she enjoys most about board service.

 

What is the toughest interview question?

It's a question that gets asked in probably every interview, and it is usually the first question, but everyone makes the same mistake, especially when they are nervous in an interview environment.

Find out what it is and how to answer this question to make an impact.

Jim O'Malley, Managing Director at Kensington International Executive Search, speaks candidly about what candidates can do to impress recruiters during calls or Zooms.

How to prepare for the meeting, what to do/say in the meeting and how to follow up. 

It's not rocket science but very few people actually do all these things.

This is a MUST-LISTEN episode if you are seeking a job or a board where recruiters cover your target market...

What is a mushroom board?

What do you need to do to get on a board?

What makes a great board member?

 

Find out in my latest episode with Dennis Cagan, board member and former CEO.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/denniscagan/

Whenever I meet board members they ALL have presence. But it is more than executive presence. It is BOARD presence. 

 

Find out exactly what this is in my short podcast

In celebration of Veteran's Day on November 11, I will be on location in sunny Naples, Florida meeting LIVE with Board Director and retired U.S. Army Colonel and the Army’s first Cyber Operations Colonel J. Carlos Vega, CISSP discussing his board career, and his advice to other veterans who want to serve on boards. Please dial in to learn insights about how to be an effective board member and what attributes you need to build from my guest - JC Vega...

CEO departures are at record levels. As a board member, how do you minimize the risk associated with terminations at the top?

I sat down with an expert on this topic, Elisabeth Constantin, to find out why it is important that businesses invest in their departing C-Level Executives to mitigate risk.

Buy her book: https://www.amazon.com/Like-Boss-Executives-Elevate-Downside/dp/B0F6K8Y2LQ

It's not what you think it is...

 

 

I sat down with Frank Jaehnert, corporate board member and former CEO and asked him about his advice for aspiring board members and also lessons learned from his time on boards…

Whether you are networking or in an interview, here is a short recording of some advice I would like to share about questions you will get asked, AND, how to prepare for them.

Preparation is key for board discussions and interviews!

Susan Holliday, board member and insurance industry expert shares her opinion on the innovation and risks taking place in the marketplace.

She explains why boards need to know more about cryptocurrencies and what you need to do right now to increase your chances of landing a board seat.

 

I will share some advice you won't hear about - what to do when networking for a board position.

 

This is part of a chapter in my upcoming book!

And how to improve the interactions that you have with influential people...

Scott specializes in the lower-middle market. He is former Deloitte, an entrepreneur, corporate board member, board chair and started serving on not-for-profits in his 30's which gave him the training and confidence to build a corporate board career later on.   He currently serves on a number of private company boards... Check out his story and when he had to bring his baby into the board meeting!  

Join me and Nicole Wallace Ardiet to discuss how to use LinkedIn to build your brand for board opportunities.

No, it is not about the profile, it is about what you post and how you show up on LinkedIn. Be memorable, be visible and do it with style and professionalism.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nmwallace/

Hugh Campbell is a CEO, Founder, Board Member and public speaker.

He attended West Point, and served our country for 15 years in the Army, National Guard and Air Force Reserve. He shares what skills he brings to the boardroom that his military experience has taught him, and he gives advice on how to prepare yourself to find board opportunities.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughcampbell1/

Archita Fritz is only 40 years old and is already on her 4th board.

She says that discipline, grit and being active as well as leveraging her reputation and relationships have been instrumental in getting her ahead.

Learn from someone who has no fear and no excuses for getting her board career started!

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/architafritz/

He provides advice for those who are thinking about a board career, all the way through to those who are actively pursuing them.

Bill and I have known each other for a while. He resides in Kentucky and is a wealth of advice and information about the topic of boards. Enjoy!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/billjonesky/

Janice describes how she built her career at technology giant Hewlett-Packard, and then her rise onto corporate boards. She currently serves on multiple corporate boards in tech. She provides advice for people building a board career and shares her own personal story.

What do boards look for in board members? If you are a CMO what do you have to develop in order to be competitive in the board market? And what are some of the traits and skills you need to be successful? Karen Hung - KeHe Distrbution board member explains....

Interim CFO and Board Member - Richard Janney talks about working with board members, fraud, tips on how to get on a board and all about audit committees...

Don DeLoach - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dondeloach/ is the Managing Partner of Rocket Wagon Venture Studios, an Adjunct Faculty at Illinois Tech, a Managing Director at Smart City Works Venture Labs, and is passionate about helping startups and turnarounds. 

Hear from successful CEO and corporate board member, Terry Keating about his experience serving on nonprofit (civic and community) boards. How the roles at nonprofits taught him valuable leadership skills and helped him build networks that served him well into his career.