NEW SEASON TIME!

I hope you all enjoyed the Future Boards Forum 2024 episode. That essentially acts as a break in my mercurial podcast. Now, I mix things up again. I can be like a magpie and shiny objects!

This season will be ALL interviews with cool people talking about corporate (and board) governance topics that don't get as much air time. 

First up, the founder and MD of The Governance Collective, Lisa Coletta. She is obsessed with systems, frameworks and human nature's impact of board dynamics. She's also an expert in the critical administrative and strategic role of the Company Secretary. 

Enjoy this, and the rest of the new season!

Links:

• Join Future Directors for FREE (also access Lisa's exclusive courses)
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)
• Follow and Connect with Lisa (LinkedIn)
• Check out The Governance Collective

What are the Governance Trends for year ahead?

In this special episode, we bring you the highlights from the Future Boards Forum (held in December 2024), where I was joined by a panel of governance geeks to explore the biggest trends shaping board governance for the next 12 months.

It's a bit of a longer episode (and sorry about the sound quality), but stick with it and you'll hear insights on emerging challenges, innovative solutions, and the evolving role of boards in navigating an uncertain world. Topics include:

• The intersection of AI and governance
• Fostering stakeholder trust
• Building resilient board cultures.

Tune in to hear from Erin Essenmacher (former Head of Strategy at the NACD), Lisa Coletta (MD of The Governance Collective) and my old mate Matt Fullbrook (the one trying to redefine corporate governance).

Links

• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

In my last episode before a brand new (very special) season kicks off, I literally sit down and riff with my Governance Geek friend Matt Fullbrook to chat about good people and good governance.

This short episode was totally unplanned. We were working in his Brisbane AirBnB during our recent "Experimental Mindsets Tour" of Australia in October 2024. More on that next year.

For now...judge for yourself whether people make a difference.

Enjoy!

Links

• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)
• Matt's OMG Podcast

Much of board education likes to zero in on technical knowledge—keeping up with regulatory updates, sharpening financial skills, risk management, and staying on top of industry trends. 

These are crucial, no doubt. But they're only one part of the picture.

The often overlooked part is the necessary human skills...and for me, the real heart of what makes a board effective.

So, here's another little short podcast which describes the harmonic balance that any good boardroom needs...

Have a listen and see what you think. 

Podcast links

• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

Commentary on corporate governance commonly focuses on what is wrong or missing. The mistakes, the downfalls, the ‘bad stuff’. Admittedly, I'm not immune to this. 

With the world seemingly in increasing turmoil - divisive politics, endless wars, clashing ideologies… and just trying to keep up with the cost of living - it would be easy to keep focusing on the negative.

So, here's a little short podcast from me which brings a bit of love and positivity into the world of the boardroom.

Have a listen and see what you think. 

Podcast links

• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

Diving into the heart of what makes or breaks the boardroom is not just a pastime for me—it's a mission. Some time ago, a few of my fellow future-focused enthusiasts and I went down a rabbit hole to talk about the most unpopular governance opinions.

I thought I would reflect on and summarise the themes in the podcast. Please note. Not all of these are mine, but I fully support how unpopular they might be :)

Have a listen and see what you think. 

Podcast links

• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

A poorly executed board recruitment strategy can be the silent saboteur of a board’s success.

Quality board recruitment processes are the cornerstone that ensures the right mix of expertise, experience and vision exists to govern with confidence. Unlike executive recruitment, it’s also a process that most boards only engage in occasionally, so boards need a robust and repeatable process embedded in their culture. 

This episode features a recent conversation between Paul and Tom Mutch, Partner, Board & Public Sector Practice at leading international recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson. 

Their chat deep dives into board recruitment, succession planning, candidate assessments, and the pivotal role of nomination committees....and might also feature some references to British humour. Sorry!

Some links:

• Tom's written interview with Future Directors
• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)
• Check out Tom and Odgers Berndtson

What type or style of board member are you? Are you the Stakeholder Champion, Data Chaser, Status Hound, Unprepared, or even the Narcissist?

These are the types identified in a recent article from Harvard Business Review, and in another bite-sized episode from Paul, he gives you a few more to play with. Then, Paul asks how can we harmonise so many different people into an effective team or board?

Have a listen and see what you think. 

Podcast links

• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

Yes, 100 episodes!  Wow.

Almost 70 hours worth of conversation about boards, directors, technology, diversity, education, careers, challenges and more.

It's been a blast. 

To welcome us into the next century, you have a new host, Matt Fullbrook. Amongst his claims to fame he's the single most repeated guest on Paul's podcast and one of the few others governance podcasts to hit 100 episodes.

In this episode, the tables are turned and Matt interviews Paul about his journey.

And, it gets super embarrassing for Paul...

Some links:

• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)
• Matt Fullbrook's podcast
• Matt Fullbrook's website

As we near our ONE-HUNDREDTH episode, Paul shares his favourite episode of all time. It also happens to be one of the most downloaded episodes in the podcast's history. 

Featuring repeat offender Matt Fullbrook, alongside younger directors Nurain Janah and Hannah Stenning, this replay of Ep57 dives into why we need intergenerational diversity in the boardroom.

This is the first part of an eventual two-parter, so feel free to drop back to Ep58 straight afterwards.

See you next time for EPISODE 100!

Some links:

• Join Future Directors for FREE
• Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)
• Nurain Janah's website
• Hannah Stenning on LinkedIn
• Matt Fullbrook's podcast
• Matt Fullbrook's website