Board work is year-round. Case in point: Planning for the next proxy season starts when the current annual meeting ends.

In this episode, board member Anne Sheehan talks with NACD advisor Susan Paley. Together, they
discuss why companies hold annual shareholder meetings. They also dive into a typical annual
meeting agenda, the board’s role in reviewing proxy statements, and what a successful meeting
outcome looks like.

Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisor 

Guest: Anne Sheehan, chair, nominating and governance committee, Victoria’s Secret & Co.; board
member, Janus Henderson Group; senior advisor, PJT Partners; former chair, Investor Advisory
Committee, US Securities and Exchange Commission; former director of corporate governance,
California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) 

Related NACD Resources:   

• Director Essentials: Annual Meetings and Proxy Voting
• “Developing a Response Plan to ‘Against’ Recommendations”
• “Proxy Firms Are Under the Microscope. How Should Boards Adapt?”

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

Directors are no strangers to volatility. But how can boards learn to separate signals from noise as the economic playbook they have relied on for years is rewritten? 

In this episode, Yolanda Daniel, a director on the boards of Leslie’s and Valtir and an experienced finance executive, and Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, talk with NACD vice president of strategic engagement Marcel Bucsescu. Together, they discuss the forces reshaping the economy. They also explore the economic indicators directors should be watching, how boards can work with management to evaluate risk and opportunity, and what drives sound capital allocation decisions in an uncertain environment.

Host: Marcel Bucsescu, NACD vice president of strategic engagement

Guests: Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board

Yolanda Daniel, director, Leslie’s and Valtir; former vice president of finance, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; former chief financial officer, Grainger Canada

Related NACD Resources:

• Navigating Changing US Policy
• “Focusing on the Future in Uncertain Times”
• “How Boards Help Businesses Navigate Uncertainty”

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

Physical threat actors now bypass the “let’s talk about it” stage and go straight to acting on their grievances, says cybersecurity expert and board member Ron Green. That’s why directors must take their physical security seriously.

In this episode, Green talks with NACD program manager of digital and cybersecurity content Dylan Sandlin. Together, they explore physical security for board members. They also discuss the connection between cybersecurity and physical security and how directors can anticipate and prepare for physical security risks.

Host: Dylan Sandlin, program manager of digital and cybersecurity content, NACD

Guest: Ron Green, NACD.DC®, partner in the CISO/CSO advisory practice, 5OH Consulting; board member, SailPoint, Santander Bank; former chair, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, US Secret Service Cyber Investigations Advisory Board

Related NACD Resources:   

• “Strengthening Trust and Reputation in a World Impacted by Social Media”
• “Protecting Corporate Leadership: A Call to Action for Corporate Boards”

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

As high–net-worth individuals with access to sensitive company information, board members are increasingly targeted by cyber-threat actors. Awareness of these threats—and personal vigilance—are essential to stay protected.

In this episode, cybersecurity expert and board member Ron Green talks with NACD program manager of digital and cybersecurity content Dylan Sandlin. Together, they discuss personal cybersecurity for board members and the cyber risks they face. They also dive into how directors can be targeted and best practices for personal digital hygiene.

Host: Dylan Sandlin, program manager of digital and cybersecurity content, NACD

Guest: Ron Green, NACD.DC®, partner in the CISO/CSO advisory practice, 5OH Consulting; board member, SailPoint, Santander Bank; former chair, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, US Secret Service Cyber Investigations Advisory Board

Related NACD Resources:

• Director’s Handbook on Cyber-Risk Oversight
• “A Director’s Digital Life May Be a Liability”
• Personal Cybersecurity Protection Guide for Corporate Directors

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

“Business is easy. Family business is hard,” says Charlie Bitzer, chair and CEO of ABARTA. The relationships and dynamics within family-owned companies present distinct challenges for their boards.

In this episode, Bitzer talks with NACD senior member engagement advisor Kait Armstrong about the governance of family-owned businesses. They discuss the difficulties of generational transitions, the importance of aligning culture between the board and the family, and how independent directors can engage family leaders in tough conversations.

Host: Kait Armstrong, NACD senior member engagement advisor

Guest: Charlie Bitzer, chair and CEO of ABARTA 

Related NACD Resources:  

·  “Steering a Family Business Through Ownership Transitions”

·  “How Family Businesses Actually Make Governance Work”

·  Director Essentials: Family Business Boards and Family Dynamics

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

Culture is often described as the “operating system” of an organization. But what role does culture play in the boardroom, and how does it shape the way boards make decisions?

 In this episode, Beth Albright, president and CEO of Saidia and a director on the board of the NACD Philadelphia chapter, speaks with NACD advisor Susan Paley. Together, they explore why board culture matters. They also discuss the board chair’s role in managing dominant voices, how structured onboarding and “board buddies” help reinforce cultural norms, and why even informal moments outside the boardroom can strengthen governance.

 Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisor

Guest: Beth Albright, NACD.DC®, president and CEO, Saidia; director, NACD Philadelphia Chapter

Related NACD Resources:  

· “Championing a Culture of Innovation”

· Report of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Culture as the Foundation: Building a High-Performance Board

· “Starting the Dialogue on Board Culture: A Discussion Guide”

 Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

For CEOs, a board’s support can make all the difference. But knowing what kind of support to ask for isn’t always obvious.

In this episode, Wayne Peacock, vice chair of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the former CEO of USAA, and Dona Young, a director on the boards of USAA, NACD, and Spahn & Rose, spoke with NACD director of governance content Mallory Bucher. Peacock and Young are cochairs of the NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission. Peacock and Young are cochairs of the NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission. Together, they discuss how boards can work with CEOs to create the conditions where both parties can thrive. They also explore the ways directors can provide guidance without micromanaging and why transparency is central to a high-functioning board-CEO relationship.

Host: Mallory Bucher, director of governance content, NACD

Guests: Dona Young, NACD.DC®, director, USAA, NACD, Spahn &; Rose; cochair, NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission

Wayne Peacock, vice chair, Elizabeth Dole Foundation; former CEO, USAA; cochair, NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission

Related NACD Resources:  

• Building a High-Trust Board-CEO Relationship
• “Beyond the Appointment: Communicate CEO Transitions for Long-Term Success”
• “The Evolution of the C-Suite and Its Impact on Board Dynamics”

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

Boards have high expectations for CEOs, but what do directors truly want beyond the numbers and reports?

In this episode, Wayne Peacock, vice chair of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the former CEO of USAA, and Dona Young, a director on the boards of USAA, NACD, and Spahn & Rose, spoke with NACD director of governance content Mallory Bucher. Peacock and Young are cochairs of the NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission. Together, they unpack what directors expect from CEOs. They also discuss how to establish trust early and maintain it through disagreement and disruption, and why steady leadership and transparency matter most when the stakes are high.

Host: Mallory Bucher, director of governance content, NACD

Guests: Dona Young, NACD.DC®, director, USAA, NACD, Spahn & Rose; cochair, NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission

Wayne Peacock, vice chair, Elizabeth Dole Foundation; former CEO, USAA; cochair, NACD 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission

Related NACD Resources:  

• Building a High-Trust Board-CEO Relationship
• “Making CEO Succession Plans Stick”
• “A Director’s Responsibility to the CEO”

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information. 

For some directors, networking may feel like a chore. But it can be one of the most valuable practices for deepening governance insights and staying current in the boardroom.

In this episode, Katrinka McCallum, a director on the boards of ACI Worldwide and Intrusion, and NACD advisor Susan Paley explore the value of board networks. They also discuss practical strategies for making networking purposeful rather than transactional, ways to balance time and resources, and how a network evolves over the arc of a director’s board career.

Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisor

Guest: Katrinka McCallum, NACD.DC, director, ACI Worldwide and Intrusion

Related NACD Resources: 

·  “You Joined a Board. Now What?”

·  NACD Chapters

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.

Building governance from the ground up at early-stage companies is Jack Lazar’s specialty—and his favorite kind of challenge.

In this episode, Lazar and NACD advisor Susan Paley explore Lazar’s extensive Silicon Valley career. They also discuss the nuances of private company board service, what it takes to work with visionary founders, and why effective governance always comes back to people and relationships.

Host: Susan Paley, NACD advisor 

Guest: Jack Lazar, 2025 NACD Directorship 100™ Private Company Director of the Year and a director at Astera Labs, Box, GlobalFoundries, Resideo Technologies, and Tonal Systems

Related NACD Resources:

• The Growth Catalyzer: Jack Lazar (link TK)
• Building a Board for Start-Up Success
• Documenting Governance (Boardroom Tool)

Visit nacdonline.org for further research and information.