The Better Boards Podcast Series

Send us Fan Mail Creating A Sustainability-Savvy Board From both a risk and opportunity perspective, boards must ensure they fully engage with the impact of sustainability: Board members are challenged to take bolder and more transformative action.  A recent study revealed that nearly 75% of European board directors believe that ignoring sustainability will affect their organisations’ ability to c...

Send us Fan Mail Much is written and said about governance, but most is heavily skewed towards the developed world, while good practice is happening (or should be happening) in every country.  But what matters to Company Secretaries and boards in both the developed world and developing world, and how accessible is good practice? What has been done to break down silos?  In this podcast, Dr Sabine D...

Send us Fan Mail Boards only see what they’re presented with and can easily become passive recipients of agendas created by CEOs and senior executives. But board members can play a transformational role in a company by asking questions that create space for reflection and strategic change, not simply responding to what they are presented with.  In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski discusses proac...

Send us Fan Mail Sustainability is an issue that affects us all, with investors and consumers alike challenging the status quo. However, the issues surrounding ESG are multi-layered and complex, with no straight answers. It can be overwhelming and daunting. In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski discusses environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues with Anna-Marie Slot from global law firm As...

Send us Fan Mail The subject of this episode of the Better Boards Podcast Series is "The changing role of CEOs and their relationship with their boards."  Dr Sabine Dembowski talks to Dr Kati Najipoor-Smith, who leads the Global CEO practice of Egon Zehnder. Complex and rapid changes are reshaping the role of the CEO. A recent study found that less than half of CEOs feel fully aligned wi...

Send us Fan Mail The Role of the Board in the Age of Digital Transformation The subject of this episode of the Better Boards Podcast Series is " The role of the board in the age of digital transformation. "  Lisa Harrington speaks with Dr Sabine Dembkowski. The digital world has impacted the world of the boardroom significantly.  Board members now need to adapt to the threats and challen...

Send us Fan Mail As a blind man, David has faced many different challenges, while at the same time overcoming them to have an impressive career in banking, as Director of Service of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, and as a Non-Executive Director on the board of the British Paralympic Association, the St Albans and District Chamber of Commerce as well as being a member of the FA Counc...

Send us Fan Mail The speed of change in digitisation is ever-increasing, but not all Directors feel at ease with new, digital ways of working in their boardrooms.  However, boards simply must adapt as digitisation does not stop at the boardroom door.   Maddie is a Chartered Secretary who has supported various companies, from FTSE 100 to small private companies. In her current role as UK Managing D...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Better Boards Podcast Series we look at the challenges of responding to the ESG agenda, point towards the legal challenges and highlight what good looks like.   Dr Sabine Dembkowski spoke with Anna-Marie Slot and Will Chalk. Rapidly developing legal and voluntary frameworks, stakeholder demands and increasing environmental concerns all mean that ESG is fast...

Send us Fan Mail Awareness grows that we need people around the table that bring in different perspectives to tackle the challenges of today. However, let´s face it, different perspectives in the boardroom can also be challenging and difficult to handle. Not seldom have I heard that a Directors who bring different perspectives to the table is are perceived to be “difficult”, “annoying”, and “hard...

Send us Fan Mail The role of an Executive differs from that of a Non-Executive on a board. The hands-on qualities that are appreciated in an Executive setting might be experiences as interference by management if applied in a board role. Some CEOs make a move to chairman without missing a beat. They understand how to leverage their executive experience and won't interfere with their decisions...

Send us Fan Mail The Parker review displayed the status of racial diversity on board in the UK and set targets. Progress in appointing Directors with an ethnical background is slow and targets set by the Parker Review for the UK are missed. A group of senior leaders has come together and is committed to taking action to increase racial and ethical diversity in their businesses.  What are their mot...

Send us Fan Mail We are all clear that we want to create effective and high-performing boards. A whole industry has developed around board evaluations. Some are cynical about this. Academics and consultants propose different models and solutions. In my view, there is no right or wrong. Different approaches work in a different context. We find that the most crucial part is that board have data, gai...

Send us Fan Mail Much has been written about the roles of executives and non-executives on boards and mostly from a pure governance perspective. What is often missing is the clarity and the practical relevance. Alignment comes before effectiveness. Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Jim Haudan about “Going beyond governance – The art of talkin...

Send us Fan Mail Much has been written about the roles of executives and non-executives on boards and mostly from a pure governance perspective. What is often missing is the clarity and the practical relevance. Alignment comes before effectiveness. Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Ken Schuetz about "The Alignment of Executives and Non-E...

Send us Fan Mail 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 employee...

Send us Fan Mail 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&...

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 s...

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 Dembkowsk...

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 rol...

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&apos...

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,...

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 D...

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 sti...

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 br...