The Better Boards Podcast Series
The Better Boards podcast series is the podcast for Chairs, CEOs, Non-Executive Directors, Company Secretaries, and their advisors.
Every episode is filled with practical insights and learnings from those inside the boardrooms. We tease out what really matters and highlight actionable steps you can take to enhance the performance of your board.
Episodes
125 episodes
Crisis & the Board: How to prepare for “Anything"
There are many different types of crises, and how boards deal with them, so it is prudent to be aware of typical mistakes, what works, and what boards can do to deal well with these situations. Are there any ‘golden rules’ that can serve...
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Season 5
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Episode 122
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24:00
The Boardroom Awakening: Can Corporate Governance Survive the Sustainability Reckoning? | Frederik Otto, Director of Advisory and Head of Europe, AccountAbility
The ESG narrative has become familiar but does not yet confront the challenges of a world where interest in sustainability is waning in some regions, political and economic divides are widening, and technology is reshaping the rules of the game...
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23:21
On the crucial relationship between the Chair and the CEO | Sir David Norgrove, Chair
The board is responsible for appointing the CEO, and the relationship between the Chair and the CEO is crucial - but often not easy. So what matters when selecting a CEO, and how can we establish and develop a good relationship between th...
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Season 5
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Episode 121
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21:12
Being on the Board – Keeping it Simple | Sir John Tusa
Amid global uncertainty, are boardrooms needlessly complex? Is It possible to thrive in the boardroom by keeping things simple? In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Director of Better Boards www.better-boards....
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23:39
The Joy Of Working On Boards In Five Continents | Christof Kutscher, Chair & CEO
Most Directors serve on boards in one or two countries. The argument often is that one Most Directors serve on boards in one or two countries. The argument often is that one has to understand the legal requirements and the cultural context. Is ...
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24:03
Tech Boards – What matters to investors | Irene Arias Hofman, CEO, IDB Lab
In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses tech boards with Irene Arias Hofman, CEO of IDB Lab, the innovation and venture laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group.
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Season 4
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Episode 120
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17:00
Insights into the German Corporate Governance Debate - learnings, changes and implications for Directors | Dr Cordula Heldt, Head of Corporate Governance and Company Law at the German Share Institute (Deutsches Aktieninstitut)
Every country has its fair share of corporate failures. Afterwards, It is easy to point towards governance. Reflection and learning are essential. In this podcast, you hear from someone who has a critical governance role In Germany. You gain in...
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Season 4
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Episode 119
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17:46
Is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion bad for business? | Prof Grace Lordan, London School of Economics
Recently, there has been a surge on social media stating that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are bad for business. Some of the world’s largest firms have also significantly reduced their investment in diversity and inclusion. ...
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Season 4
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Episode 118
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20:04
How to master internal board evaluations that generate real insights for Directors | Chloe Barry, Company Secretary Kingfisher
Corporate Governance Codes worldwide state that an internal board evaluation shall be conducted in years one and two after a fully facilitated external evaluation. It is one of those tasks on a Company Secretariat's calendar that has to b...
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Season 4
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Episode 117
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14:54
How to get creativity and innovation into the boardroom | Sir John Tusa
Many Directors have positive intentions, want to leverage their experiences, support executives, and discuss the big picture in the boardroom. But many quickly become disillusioned, stuck in detail, ticking off boxes and agenda items rather tha...
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Season 4
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Episode 116
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21:39
AI and Advanced Analytics – delivering value for directors and the board | Prof Bernardo Almada-Lobo, University of Porto & LTPlabs
As board members gain awareness of the possibilities and power of AI and analytics, an almost unlimited array of potential projects, questions, or scenarios where analytics could improve outcomes arises. The challenge is how to prioritise...
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Season 4
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Episode 115
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19:42
The death of the ESG Committee | Vicky Moffatt, CEO Chapter Zero
Climate change is not just a distant threat, but an urgent and immediate reality that is forcing fundamental change for organisations, often transforming their business models. The role of governance in enabling and guiding the urgent tra...
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Season 4
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Episode 114
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23:08
Mastering the Company Secretariat | Jason Wright, Society Secretary Nationwide
Managing an ever-growing agenda, Company Secretaries today face a plethora of issues that can pull their focus in countless directions. It's truly challenging to work effectively with the board and keep on top of the ever-changing economic, tec...
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Season 4
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Episode 113
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20:58
A balancing act: where should EMEIA boards focus for long-term success? | Andrew Hobbs, Partner EY
Managing an ever-growing agenda, boards today face a plethora of issues that can pull their focus in countless directions. How can boards maintain clarity and focus amidst their expanding scope of responsibilities, especially when it comes to t...
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Season 4
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Episode 112
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17:16
Increasing productivity through inclusion | Belton Flournoy, Managing Director, Technology Consulting practice Protiviti
Diversity and inclusion are not evenly distributed throughout an organisation, and the view at the board level may not correspond with reality further down. This creates missed opportunities and prevents companies from unlocking the true potent...
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Season 4
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Episode 111
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25:16
Experience of working with a board as a first-time CEO | Daphne Mavroudi-Chocholi, Managing Director RNIB Enterprises
Boards are complex structures, and it can be overwhelming for a first-time CEO to navigate them successfully. In this episode, we dive into the experiences of a first-time CEO, discussing the challenges she encountered and the strategies she us...
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Season 4
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Episode 110
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21:21
How can boards convert sustainability from a wish to a winning reality? | Andrew Hobbs, Partner EY
When companies face increasing uncertainty, they need to lean in and embolden management to do what is right for the business's long-term health. Nowhere is this more pertinent than on the topic of sustainability. In this podcast, Dr ...
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Season 4
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Episode 109
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16:03
U.S. and U.K. – Two countries separated by common corporate governance practices? | Susan Skeritt, Non-Executive Director
What are the key differences between the U.S. and the U.K. in their approaches to corporate governance? How do these differences impact an independent/Non-Executive Director in their duties?In this podcast, with Susan Skerri...
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Season 4
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Episode 108
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20:43
What do board members need to think about to avoid being sued by the climate movement? | Donald Pols, Director Friends of the Earth, Netherlands
Climate change has transitioned from a distant environmental concern to a pressing business issue. The rhetoric between business and climate activists has hardened. Friends of the Earth in the Netherlands have sued Shell and are now in the proc...
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Season 4
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Episode 107
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18:29
Behind close doors of tech start-up Boards | Yael Banjamin, CEO Snapshot and Zack Weisfeld, Vice President & General Manager Intel Ignite
The board is a powerful asset for tech start-ups. Yet, since the interaction takes place behind closed doors, there is a lot of uncertainty about how the CEO and director dynamics play out. How open is the communication between both sides? ...
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Season 4
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Episode 106
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25:47
Can accounting save the world and your company? | Mike Mahoney, CEO E-liability Institute
Environmental risks make up half the Top 10 risks over the next ten years. Climate change remains one of the most urgent challenges confronting boards in their oversight capacity. How can boards improve their oversight of climate-related risks?...
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Season 4
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Episode 105
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17:45
AI - What questions do Directors need to ask? | Prof Joe Fuller, Harvard Business School
Generative AI will profoundly impact how we work and how organisations operate. My podcast partner has said that it is the most dramatic change we have seen since controllable electricity. Yet, in our board evaluations, we see little abou...
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Season 4
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Episode 104
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22:14
Leading an effective board | Andreas E.F. Utermann, Executive Chair Vontobel Holding AG
What does good look like? What does it mean to lead an effective board? These are probably two of the questions I most often hear. In our board evaluations, we see vast differences in how Chairs and boards perform.In this podcast, I, Dr ...
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Season 4
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Episode 103
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20:39
Why a good story is mission critical for boards | Jyoti Gupta, Story teller and award winning author
A crucial yet often overlooked aspect of board effectiveness: stories. Imagine a world where numbers and strategies come alive, painting a vivid picture of your company's future. When it comes to decision-making and leadership, how can compelli...
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Season 3
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Episode 102
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17:52
Executive Pay - Striking the right balance between Executives and stakeholders | Paul Norris, Senior Partner MM&K Limited
Executive pay attracts attention and scrutiny as companies and society at large face the challenges of rising prices and interest rates. It is a true challenge to strike the right balance between executives and stakeholders. The big question is...
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Season 3
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Episode 101
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17:05