Boardrooms' Best

Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Nick Williams, CEO, The Inspirational Learning Company, Ltd. UK

In recent months, we’ve all faced challenges that previous generations would never have imagined. In doing so, we discovered new ways to lead. Although we’ve drafted new roadmaps, some led to places with solid footings, others not so much. Many of us also found opportunities to reassess our own personal and professional vulnerabilities. As such, one can expect that new leaders will arise from some unexpected places. In this episode, Nick Williams and I discuss where some of these leaders have already started to show up. It will be up to us to adjust our understandings of who we want to follow in the future and why.

Nick Williams:

Nick has spent over three decades exploring the themes of inspiration, leadership, courage, and what makes a natural leader, through thousands of conversations with people, many of whom hired him. He evolved from an IT salesman to an entrepreneur, leadership coach, and inspirational speaker. In following his calling and inspired to keep growing, he is, today, the author of 18 books, has spoken to leaders in seventeen countries, been part of hundreds of broadcasts, and worked with many household- name companies. He has guided many people in leadership, some who already were, or became, the best in the world at what they do.

For more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page.

Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show Guest and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of BoardBench Companies, LLC. (c) Copyright 2020 BoardBench Companies, LLC all rights reserved. BoardBench is a registered trademark of the BoardBench Comanies, LLC. http://www.boardbench.com

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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Jim Estill, CEO, Danby Appliances, and director emeritus Research in Motion/Blackberry, and multi-board director of public and private companies.

In this episode my guest, Jim Estill and I discuss how innovators can successfully utilize their talents in the boardroom. You’ll learn the differences among directors who lead, who advise, and who direct, and when to correctly apply each skill at key moments in a company’s history. You’ll also hear when and how good boards provide value and when others become ball and chains. Jim has led good companies over some incredibly bumpy roads, and also known when was the right time to get out of the way. Knowing how to do this well is a talent that few have perfected. 

Jim Estill and I cover these points and a lot of other ground in this next show. Our conversation should give you new insights into the early warning signs about when directors may be losing their edge.

Jim Estill is CEO of both of Danby Appliances and  ShipperBee a new venture that is revamping outdated shipping channels into a system that is better for consumers, retailers and the environment.

Jim is a Canadian technology entrepreneur, executive, and philanthropist. He started his first computer distribution business from the trunk of his car while in university and grew that business to $2 Billion in sales.

Jim has invested in, mentored and advised many technology companies including Blackberry. He joined their board before they went public and served for 13 years.

Over the past few years Jim has been involved in sponsorship efforts to settle over 100 refugee families in Guelph. The Financial Times, BBC News, The Guardian, and CBC, have all covered his story.

In 2018 Jim Estill was awarded the Order of Canada. Jim is the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 Ontario winner.

For more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page.

Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show Guest and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of BoardBench Companies, LLC. (c) Copyright 2020 BoardBench Companies, LLC all rights reserved. BoardBench is a registered trademark of the BoardBench Comanies, LLC. http://www.boardbench.com

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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Terri Kelly, President and CEO, Emeritus W.L. Gore & Associates (“Gore”). She is a member of the Board of Director of Nemours, and United Rentals, and a Supervisory Director of ASML based in Veldhoven, Netherlands, and others.

Ah, the culture of a company. It flows down from the top by example and with actions that stick to strong principles. It takes root slowly, and becomes that something that feeds employees’ drive, loyalty, and enthusiasm. It can sustain a company through tough events. Few CEOs and Boards can define it, yet all employees see it and feel it. A strong culture can also unravel in a flash, by the rash actions of just a few.

In this episode I discuss culture as one of the most important assets to a company, yet one of the least understood by the board, and mostly unappreciated by investors. 

• What are the characteristics of good culture in the boardroom?
• How do you build values to be proud of and propagate them successfully company-wide? 
• How do you maintain the company’s culture?
• When and how do you make the tough decisions?

Listen in on the discussion Terri Kelly and I have on this elusive, but critical asset. 

Terri Kelly retired as President and CEO of W.L. Gore & Associates in 2018, a multi-billion dollar, privately-held, global enterprise. Gore specializes in fluoroploymer-based materials that are utilized in a wide array of high-value products, including GORE-TEX® fabric, medical devices, filtration and venting products and many other advanced technology solutions. Gore is as well known for its unique management philosophy and culture, as for its multitude of unique products.

Ms. Kelly joined Gore in 1983 after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. She earned the title of President and CEO in 2005, and also served as a Director of Gore's Board. Ms. Kelly is passionate about creating a collaborative and empowered work environment to achieve successful business outcomes. Her areas of expertise include new product development, innovation, portfolio management, brand management, compensation oversight, associate engagement and leadership development.

For more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page.

Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show Guest and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of BoardBench Companies, LLC. (c) Copyright 2020 BoardBench Companies, LLC all rights reserved. BoardBench is a registered trademark of the BoardBench Comanies, LLC. http://www.boardbench.com



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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Larry Bossidy, Chairman emeritus Honeywell International, AlliedSignal, and director at GE, JP Morgan Chase, Merck & Co., Berkshire HIlls Bancorp and others.

In this podcast, I speak with the world- famous Larry Bossidy, former CEO and Chairman of the $24 billion diversified technology company Honeywell International, which merged with Allied Signal. Larry is director emeritus of JP Morgan Chase and Merck & Co, The Business Roundtable and is active with many other high-growth and innovative companies today. A respected leader throughout his career at the helm and in boardrooms, Larry and I discuss the practical side of boardroom operations, some of which are often overlooked.  There may be surprises here, too, as he reveals some of his personal side and current interests. This will touch on his involvement with the Peace Love organization, which deals with teen suicide. 

Larry Bossidy is chairman and former CEO of Honeywell International, a $40-billion Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader. Earlier in his career he was chairman and CEO of AlliedSignal, chief operating officer of General Electric Credit (now GE Capital Corporation), executive vice president and president of GE's Services and Materials Sector, and vice chairman of GE. He has served at the helm of seven companies during the course of his career.   He and his wife Nancy are proud of their six daughters, three sons, and 31 grandchildren.

For more information about the Peace Love Organization please go to https://peacelove.org/

For more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page.

Disclaimer: This program is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the guidance and advice from a licensed attorney on the matters discussed in this show. The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show Guest and not directly those of BoardBench Companies, LLC. (c) Copyright 2020 BoardBench Companies, LLC all rights reserved. http://www.boardbench.com



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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: John S. Griswald, Founder & Senior Advisor, Emeritus, CommonFound Institute emeritus.

Senior Consultant, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (ABG)

Universities, large trusts, and foundations are better able to fulfill their responsibilities under the leadership of strong, competent boards. Critical to these organizations’ continued sustainability are the skills, values, and financial competence of those who serve on these boards.

Far too many institutions, large or small, rely on the criterion; "who can write a check" in their director selection process. Exceptional universities, healthcare groups, trusts and foundations know that having the strength, competency, and constitution to make the right financial decisions is what keeps the doors open…and more! Learn more about how the smart boardrooms of prominent institutions lead in this podcast with Nancy May and John Griswold.

John S. Griswold 

As head of the Commonfund Institute, John Griswold directed investor education and market research activities for this nonprofit investment management company. His current work with AGB involves consulting with boards and committees regarding governance, endowment investment, and fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities.

He initiated and supervised the Commonfund Benchmarks Studies® of the performance of educational endowments, foundations, operating charities, and healthcare institutions. These studies collectively surveyed the investment performance and practices of hundreds of nonprofit institutions each year. In addition, he supervised and has spoken at the Commonfund’s Annual Endowment Institute at Yale University, the Commonfund Forum, and nonprofit and investment industry conferences in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Canada.

John is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on endowment management,board and committee governance, and managing investment committees. He has been a respected member or trustee of numerous non-profit boards and investment committees, including BoardSource (former Chair), The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and the Regional Plan Association of New York, among other well respected organizations.

He is currently a Member-at-Large of the U.S. Advocacy Advisory Committee of the CFA Institute and is engaged in public pension board training with CFAI, CalPERS and the Council of Institutional Investors.

For more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page.

Additional Notes:

ABCs of Governance: How increased complexity in the world of NFP and mission-driven governance is impacted by legal, compliance, and other regulatory issues.

Endowment Investing: CIO Roundtable discussion about the past, present and future of endowment financial leadership.

Disclaimer: This program is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the guidance and advice from a licensed attorney on the matters discussed in this show. The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show Guest and not directly those of BoardBench Companies, LLC.

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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Andrea Gordon, JD

Have you ever thought that you could write a modern day crime novel based on what you’ve seen, with your own eyes, as a public company director? Or, like so many others, do you simply deny that “questionable” events ever occurred or dread whether they will ever come to light? Real life boardroom mysteries are unraveling in the world now, as you’ll hear in this next episode of the Boardrooms’ Best. My guest, Andrea Gordon, and I will reveal and discuss some real life board-based situations that would seem improbable but are being played out right now. We’ll dive deeper into some of the things that could be happening right under your nose, and how they might be examined by others through the lens of the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act.  

Listen in as we unveil real-life director experiences involving murder, mystery, intrigue, and hopelessly entangled situations that even involve well-known celebrities. 

Andrea Gordon, JD, Eversheds, Sutherland, LLP.

Andrea Gordon advises clients on US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) matters, including related investigation, litigation and arbitration. Her experience includes counseling corporate and individual clients in connection with SEC and FINRA investigations, internal investigations and complex litigation. She also has experience in FCPA-related matters, including cases involving a compliance monitor. 

To ask for more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page.

Additional Notes:

CEOs Under the Criminal Spotlight 

Usbek princess Gulnar Karimova who's accused of a $2B corruption scandal.

Gulnara Karimova's Music Video: You can't make this stuff up!

Disclaimer: This program is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the guidance and advice from a licensed attorney on the matters discussed in this show. The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show Guest and not directly those of Eversheds, Sutherland, LLP.

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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Perry Granof

Show: Part 2 of 2

There’s so much more than what you might expect is need to ensure that you, a director of a Public, Private, PE/VC, family-owned, or not-for-profit firm, are properly protected, right up until the end game. In this show you’ll learn how to access indispensable resources, some simply right at your fingertips! In addition:

Have you heard of the risks associated with GDPR exposures? No? Are you among those who haven’t taken any action on this front? You may be in good company as more than 50% of companies haven’t done so either. But the risks may be more than you might imagine: international penalties could be as much as 4% of your company’s annual revenues! 

As for Non-Profits, even having the best intentions could impact your wallet. NFP issues are often more sensitive, emotional, and personal, and the desire for some to “teach directors a lesson” could come to hit you, in more way than one, unless dealt with early on.  Always be careful when the heart is not in sync with the head.

On the Cyber frontier… Ignorance is no longer a defense like it might have been before! Directors are expected to be smarter, so do the work upfront that makes you so. 

Last in our lineup – but not least on the topic – are intellectual property, R&D assets, and trade secrets. These can protect your future profits and success, yet the door is still wide open for international intrusion, theft, and “accidental” vulnerabilities in markets where you might be less familiar. Hiccups on this front can easily catch you, leaving you with only lint in your pocket. What do you do? Where do you turn to cover both you and the companies you serve?  Caught off guard and you could face criminal violation charges, prison, or maybe even a death sentence! So how do you put your mind at rest? Listen and learn as Perry and I show you what’s beneath the surface.

Perry S. Granof JD  is the Managing Director at Granof International Group LLC, where he provides insurance consulting, expert witness, and claims resolution services specializing in international and domestic Professional Liability Insurance, having previously served as Vice President and Claims Counsel with The Chubb Corporation. He is the principal editor of and contributor to The Global Directors and Officers Deskbook published by the ABA in September 2014, authored the chapter on “International ADR” for the book entitled Resolving Insurance Claim Disputes Before Trial, published by the ABA in June 2018, and has spoken on Professional Liability Insurance throughout the world.

Mr. Granof is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Washington State Bar, the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, where he attained his Fellowship designation in International Arbitration (FCIArb). He is also an Illinois Licensed Property and Casualty Producer. Mr. Granof graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin, was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honors society, and completed his training in Mediation Skills through Northwestern University.

He currently serves on State Bar of Wisconsin Dispute Resolution Section Board and the CIArb-North American Executive Board, having previously served as Chair of the Torts Trial and Insurance Section (TIPS) Dispute Resolution; Professionals’ Officers’ and Directors’ Liability; and International Committees of the American Bar Association (ABA). He is a designated Elite Expert with IMS Expert Services. He also sits as a Public Arbitrator for the Financial Institution Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a certified ARIAS Arbitrator, and a member of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Commercial and Consumer Panels.

To ask for more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page.

Disclaimer: This program is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the guidance and advice from a licensed attorney on the matters discussed in this show.

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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Perry Granof

Show: Part 1 of 2

New directors, typically, have the best intentions to do what’s right in their roles as directors. Despite good intentions, things sometimes happen beyond anyone’s control.  Your duties as a board member, whether they be on a public, private, family-owned, venture-backed, investment fund, or not-for-profit board, can vary widely. Regardless, at a base level, your main responsibility is to ensure that the entity that hired you remains financially healthy and able to serve its articulated purposes. Doing this requires organizations to determine and understand the risks they face, and to manage them properly through sound controls, practices, and/or cost-effective insurance coverage. Prudent directors tend to apply these considerations to their own personal and professional welfare, too.

In this first of a two-part series, Nancy May and Perry Granof , discuss the basics that every director should know about Directors and Officers Liability Insurance , from understanding your coverage to what to consider to ensure you’re adequately protected.

Perry S. Granof is the Managing Director at Granof International Group LLC, where he provides insurance consulting, expert witness, and claims resolution services specializing in international and domestic Professional Liability Insurance, having previously served as Vice President and Claims Counsel with The Chubb Corporation. He is the principal editor of and contributor to The Global Directors and Officers Deskbook published by the ABA in September 2014, authored the chapter on “International ADR” for the book entitled Resolving Insurance Claim Disputes Before Trial, published by the ABA in June 2018, and has spoken on Professional Liability Insurance throughout the world.

Mr. Granof is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Washington State Bar, the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, where he attained his Fellowship designation in International Arbitration (FCIArb). He is also an Illinois Licensed Property and Casualty Producer. Mr. Granof graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin, was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honors society, and completed his training in Mediation Skills through Northwestern University.

He currently serves on State Bar of Wisconsin Dispute Resolution Section Board and the CIArb-North American Executive Board, having previously served as Chair of the Torts Trial and Insurance Section (TIPS) Dispute Resolution; Professionals’ Officers’ and Directors’ Liability; and International Committees of the American Bar Association (ABA). He is a designated Elite Expert with IMS Expert Services. He also sits as a Public Arbitrator for the Financial Institution Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a certified ARIAS Arbitrator, and a member of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Commercial and Consumer Panels.

To ask for more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page.

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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Dr. Martha Rogers

In this episode, Nancy May and Dr. Martha Rogers discuss how trust can make or break a company. Most board members would say that building trust is part of their responsibilities, yet how many really understand the economic consequences of lost trust, until it’s too late. 

Learn how gaining and keeping trust, combined with honest and transparent execution should form the backbone of your corporate strategy. Ms. Rodgers focuses in on how trust should be at the core of how boards, audit committees, and CFOs lead.

Dr. Martha Rogers is known as one of the world’s most influential customer experience leaders.  Her counsel and insights are sought by top corporate executives trying to crack the code on customer measurement and value, trust, innovation, and the effect emerging technologies will have on their companies and industries.

She has published nine international best-sellers in 18 languages with her business partner, Don Peppers.. Her most recent books, Extreme Trust: Turning Proactive Honesty and Flawless Execution into Long-Term Profits, and Managing Customer Experiences and Relationships shows how rising customer expectations in this more transparent age have permanently altered the competitive landscape.  

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Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies

Guest: Kevin Silva, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer, Voya Financial,

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and member of the Board, New York Institute of Technology

Companies that build their backbones on wisdom, judgment and character and use them to conduct their business seem to be the ones able to come out on top in any fray. Doing what’s right doesn’t happen by accident, but doing so consistently needs the right talent at the top and in the boardroom.  

Learn the five key elements needed to get the right talent boards need to keep their companies at peak performance. 

Kevin Silva is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources officer for Voya Financial®, responsible for Human Resources, Corporate Responsibility and Voya Foundation. In this role, Silva directs a strategy aimed at building the organization’s human capital by attracting, retaining and developing world-class employees and incenting them to deliver superior performance. Silva also serves on Voya Financial’s Executive Committee.

Mr.Silva has also served in senior human resources leadership roles as head of human resources Argo Group International, MBIA Insurance Corporation, Merrill Lynch Capital Markets, as well as chief human resource officer for MasterCard International; and as the executive director for PepsiCo Management Institute/PepsiCo.

In addition, he is Chairman of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Board, New York Institute of Technology.

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