“The amount of unknowns that I had on the table, I joked with my CEO at the time that we needed a bigger table.”

This week's guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast is Mark Williams, Chief Revenue Officer at Datasite Group, a company providing secure software solutions for managing the full spectrum of financial transactions.

Mark has years of experience as a senior sales leader and, unlike our previous guests, Mark doesn't sit on a board, but his experiences in the boardroom have often come at the most crucial times for a business.

He shares with us the boardroom stories that have shaped his career, including being thrust into a high-stakes board meeting at just 28 years old when a single deal could materially impact quarterly results for a public company.

He talks about overcoming imposter syndrome through meticulous preparation, using preparation as a tool to overcome boardroom unknowns, the "one build rule" that transformed how he approaches board communications, and why understanding the people in the room is just as important as knowing your numbers. 

He also shares his views on how AI is enhancing rather than replacing human connection in business, and why he is “bullish” about the positive impact the technology can have on business dealings in the near future.

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:31) Evolution of Data Rooms

(04:39) Preparation and Support

(06:15) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

(09:03) The One Build Rule: Effective Communication in the Boardroom

(16:53) The Future of AI in Board Meetings

This week's guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast is Margaret Heffernan, author, entrepreneur, and professor at the University of Bath's School of Management.

She shares with us the boardroom stories that have shaped her career, including running software companies during the dot-com boom, managing conflict at the top, and how a star of the screen showed great bravery to jolt a board into action.

Margaret has been CEO of five businesses, served on numerous boards, and now chairs boards herself. She's authored seven books on business and leadership and has mentored chief executives for the past 15 years.

Her TedTalks have attracted millions of views, including ‘Dare to Disagree’ and ‘Forget the Pecking Order at Work’.

She talks candidly about being the only female in the boardroom, the systemic issues women still face in boardrooms today, and her disappointment that progress has stalled. 

She also shares her thoughts on how to get the best from introverted board members, and her belief that executive teams flourish when allowed to take responsibility for making decisions.

Links:

Ted Talk: Dare to Disagree

Ted Talk: Forget the Pecking Order at Work

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:49) Early Internet Era Challenges

(07:05) Repositioning the Business

(16:41) Gender Dynamics in the Boardroom

(24:16) Listening and Communication Skills

(26:44) Crisis with a Hollywood Twist

“Match the board and the exec team with the level that you are at, it’s really important to have that chemistry and understand what you need from the board.”

This week’s guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast is Roei Samuel, CEO and founder, as well as non-executive director and advisor to multiple boards.

Roei says one of the biggest lessons he’s learned in the boardroom is that chemistry is more important than credentials: “At times it was really clear that although we may have had someone on the board early on who had been there and done it, it didn't necessarily mean they were right fit for the specific board that we had.”

He also tells us how he thinks his behaviour when sitting on a board has developed over the years, saying he now “aggressively” tries to see things from other people’s perspective.

And he talks about the “brutal” experience of sitting on a board where the CEO was engaged in illegal activity, and what it was like selling his first company at the age of 26.

Roei says he is on a mission to lower the barriers to entry for those who want to build and scale a business.

He's now the CEO and founder of Connectd, a platform that connects startups with experienced executives and advisors.

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:35) Forming the First Board

(09:43) Challenges as an Angel Investor

(12:04) Dealing with Boardroom Issues

(16:36) Building Effective Boards

“I've learned the discipline of preparation. I put a lot of prep into any big meeting.”

This week’s guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast is Daphne Mavroudi-Chocholi, Managing Director of RNIB Enterprises, the for-profit arm of the British charity that serves people with visual impairments.

She’s also sat on a number of boards at startups as an observer.

Her previous roles include managing director of Vetz Petz, Head of Organisational Change at Barclays Bank Technology, and Chief Revenue Officer at Machine Vantage.

Daphne has many years experience in working at the forefront of applying new technologies to marketing and communications. 

Having relatively recently joined a board fulltime, she is the perfect guest to talk about what that transition is like and share the stories that are shaping her approach to board membership.

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction 

(03:37) Transitioning to a Full-Time Board Member

(07:36) Balancing Information and Decision-Making

(12:25) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

(16:37) Navigating Boardroom Dynamics

“You can't bring your view from 10 years ago and think that that's still the right way of working.”

This week’s guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast is Nigel Toon, CEO of the British semiconductor company, Graphcore.

He’s previously been CEO at two successful venture capital-backed proces­sor companies, and co-founded Icera - a 3G cellular modem chip company, sold to US technology giant NVIDIA in 2011.

Nigel shares the boardroom experiences that have shaped his career, including battling conflicted interests during a proposed sale, why it’s crucial to keep up to date with market developments, and the times emotions have risen in the boardroom.

He has served as a board member and chairman for several technology businesses and currently sits as a non-executive direc­tor on the board of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – a UK public body that directs research and innovation funding.

In 2019, he was ranked #1 on Business Insider's UK Tech 100 and was later named as one of the 'Top 100 entrepreneurs in the UK' by the Financial Times.

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:18) Conflicted Boardroom Interests

(08:13) Scenario Planning and Decision Making

(11:59) Pivoting in Times of Crisis

(20:31) The Role of the Board and Committees

“In moments of crisis, great boards are always available.”

This week’s guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast is Monica Collings OBE, the former CEO who led retail energy companies through the Covid pandemic and the energy crisis brought on by the war in Ukraine.

She shares with us the boardroom stories that have shaped her career, including an insolvency, threats from members of the public, and personal tragedy.

Monica is also a champion of diversity in the workplace, leading to her being awarded an OBE in 2025, and shares her experiences of overcoming misogyny in the boardroom.

With her vast experience in the energy sector, she now sits on a number of boards as Non-Executive Director, and as Chair of the electric vehicle charge point operator Plug N Go.

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:35) Handling the Energy Crisis

(05:23) Personal Threats and Public Perception

(10:17) Tragedy at Plug and Go

(14:02) Navigating Insolvency at Swarm Energy

(18:33) Female Representation in the Boardroom

“ I think the relationship between the CEO and the chairman is essential, always.”

This week’s guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast is Jorge Titinger, former CEO of SGI – one of the leading global companies in high-performance computing – and prior to that, CEO of Verigy.

He shares with us the boardroom stories that have shaped his career, including being on the receiving end of a “near-hostile” takeover in Silicon Valley, managing egos in the boardroom, and the time a senior leader was convicted of a crime. 

Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained that one relationship needs fostering above all others in the boardroom, that of the chairman and the CEO.

He also shares his views on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, succession planning and why being prepared for board meetings is crucial for success.

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:19) Boardroom Pressure: A High-Stakes Takeover

(13:27) Lessons in Board Recruitment

(15:50) Handling Crisis Situations

(19:00) Succession Planning Challenges

(21:54) The Role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

”We would never have got the Nissan Leaf to market had it not been for the unwavering support of the CEO. He gave us the air cover.”

This week’s guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast is Andy Palmer, dubbed ‘The Godfather of Electric Vehicles’, he is the former Chief Operating Officer at Nissan and the former CEO of the iconic car maker, Aston Martin. 

He shares with us the boardroom stories that have shaped his career, including persuading Nissan’s board to invest in the first mass-market electric vehicle, and taking on a heritage company, Aston Martin, that was facing bankruptcy. 

Andy introduces us to the Japanese concept of Nemawashi, the process of building consensus and gathering support for a decision before a formal announcement. He compares that to what he calls  ”a typical, more confrontational, western board”.

He also talks about the importance of making sure board members are properly prepared for meetings, nervousness in the boardroom, and why he believes every FTSE chairman should sit on a startup board.

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:32) Boardroom Pressure at Aston Martin

(04:27) Launching the DBX SUV: Overcoming Internal Resistance

(14:23) The Nissan Leaf Story

(20:46) Self-confidence

“Any board can get rid of one chief executive, some boards can get rid of two, no board can get rid of three… we had to resign. Which we did.”

Our first guest on the Broadroom Confidential podcast is Sir John Tusa, who has been involved in arts management and leadership for more than 30 years.

He shares with us the boardroom stories that have shaped his career, including boardroom resignations at the English National Opera and balancing risk and opportunity at the British Museum.

He talks about the importance of getting your board composition right, and why worrying too much about risk can affect a board’s effectiveness.

John previously ran the Barbican Centre and sat on some of the major British arts boards including the British Museum, the English National Opera, and Wigmore Hall.

He also served as Chairman of the Board at the University Arts London for six years and co-chaired The European Youth Orchestra.

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.

Connect with Sherpany on LinkedIn

Want to know more about us? Visit our website here: sherpany.com/en

This is an 18Sixty production for Sherpany.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Introduction
(01:53) Crisis at The English National Opera
(07:24) The Importance of Physical Board Meetings
(11:46) Grayson Perry on the Board
(13:35) What Makes an Effective Board Committee?
(21:44) The Crucial Chair and CEO Relationship

Introducing Boardroom Confidential, a brand new podcast where journalist and board member Emily Sheffield takes senior business figures through three big agenda items: the boardroom pressure that tests every leader, the lessons learned around the table, and the dynamics that can make or break organisations. Discover the stories leaders usually only share with their peers. Brought to you by Sherpany, the meeting management solution for board and executive teams.

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