What makes a truly great board? And what defines a life well-led? In Episode 24 of the Brilliant People Podcast, host Linnea Jungnelius sits down with Peter Browning, one of the most respected governance voices in America. With over 14 public company boards under his belt—including lead director roles at Nucor, Acuity Brands, and ScanSource, plus 16 years on the board at Lowe’s—Peter brings a rare depth of experience and perspective to the conversation.

He shares the board-level decisions that matter most, from CEO succession to crisis leadership, and the personal stories that shaped his approach to communication, transparency, and resilience. It’s a deep dive into how leadership is built through pressure, listening, and connection—long before the boardroom.

What You'll Learn:

– The 3 questions every board must answer

– What most boards get wrong about CEO succession

– How to lead through bankruptcy, crisis, and culture change

– Why the best directors listen more than they speak

– How climbing mountains and running plants shaped his edge as a leader

Timecodes:

00:00 Intro

00:11 Peter Browning: Corporate Legend

01:35 Living Life as a Contact Sport

14:57 Inside the Boardroom: ScanSource, Lowe’s & More

16:42 Sales Trainee to CEO: Sonoco, Continental Can, National Gypsum

22:18 Earning Trust Across 300 Plants, 36 Countries

24:38 Bankruptcy Playbook: Reinventing National Gypsum

29:59 Listening as a Leadership Advantage

35:16 Modern Boardroom: From Rubber Stamp to Strategy Engine

40:46 Great Lead Directors Influence Without Authority

43:36 CEO Succession: Making the Hardest Calls

47:32 Board Chemistry: Trust in High-Stakes Rooms

51:49 When, Why & How to Replace a CEO

54:58 Earning Your Seat as a New Director

01:04:07 Favorite CEOs, Leaders & Books

01:08:31 Lightning Round: Family, Focus & Living Fully

Resources:

Peter Browning:  

Website: www.peterbrowning.com 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/peter-browning-4421454/  
 
Linnea Jungnelius: 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/linneajungnelius/ 

X: www.x.com/itsLinnea  

Explore the Podcast: 

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4q2SyG7jTqV109lC37RtOV  

Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brilliant-people-podcast/id1582636185  

Blog: acertitu.de/peter-browning-blog  

Subscribe and rate the show: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/brilliantpeoplepodcast

Stay Updated on Acertitude: 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/acertitude/  

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCaRywuMZMbDfHR77TyzEQZQ  

X: www.x.com/acertitude  

Instagram: www.instagram.com/acertitude  

Website: www.acertitude.com