Abstract:

“To ensure adequate diversity of thought, gender and ethnicity, it’s critical that companies look beyond the traditional experience to recruit board members.”

- Kim Williams

To what extent has there been progress around inclusivity, diversity, and gender parity at the leadership level and in the corporate world in general? How do boards and oversight practices need to evolve to further progress and meet the challenges facing global companies today? In this episode of the Principled Podcast, Marsha Ershaghi Hames, Partner at Tapestry Networks, guest hosts a conversation about board diversity and how directors can ensure their companies do business the right way with Kim Williams, board member of Weyerhaeuser, Xcel Energy, MicroVest, and the E.W. Scripps Company. Listen in as Marsha and Kim discuss the critical role of boards in shaping ethical corporate culture, and how Kim’s experience as the only woman in the room shaped her roles as a corporate leader and board director.

 

What you'll learn on this episode:

[1:45] Kim’s background, education and career.

[4:45] - How being a woman has impacted Kim’s career path.

[8:20] - The responsibility held by corporations in shaping progress and change. 

[12:02] - Instrumental figures and mentors who impacted the trajectory of Kim’s career.

[13:54] - How Kim landed her first board role and how the recruitment landscape has changed.

[17:03]  - Emerging challenges boards of large global companies are facing today.

[20:23] - What role do boards play in influencing the shape of culture?

[25:25] - Cultivating society to support authenticity.

[28:16] - Board oversight of safety culture in cultivation ethical culture.

 

Featured guest:

A 26-year career in the Investment Management business allowed Kim Williams to develop important skills which included strong analytical abilities, significant financial and strategic awareness, leadership and communication capabilities, which are always reflected in a professional and proactive attitude. This extensive business and analytical experience has translated into an active participant in the boardroom. As a corporate board member, Kim has been required to address important issues including challenging business conditions, changing business models, corporate restructuring, asset divestitures, management succession, activist shareholders and proxy battles. 

Kim is currently a director of Xcel Energy, EW Scripps, and Weyerhaeuser Company. At Xcel, she serves on the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee and Chairs the Finance Committee. At E.W.Scripps, she serves as Lead Director, Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee. At Weyerhaeuser, she serves as a member of the Audit Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee.

 

Featured Host: 

Marsha is a partner with Tapestry Networks and a leader of our corporate governance practice. She advises non-executive directors, C-suite executives, and in-house counsel on issues related to governance, culture transformation, board leadership, and stakeholder engagement.

Prior to joining Tapestry, Marsha was a managing director of strategy and development at LRN, Inc. a global governance, risk and compliance firm. She specialized in the alignment of leaders and organizations for effective corporate governance and organizational culture transformation. Her view is that compliance is no longer merely a legal matter but a strategic and reputational priority. 

Marsha has been interviewed and cited by the media including CNBC, CNN, Ethisphere, HR Magazine, Compliance Week, The FCPA Report, Entrepreneur.com, Chief Learning Officer, ATD Talent & Development, Corporate Counsel Magazine, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics and more. She hosted the “PRINCIPLED” Podcast, profiling the stories of some of the top transformational leaders in business.

Marsha serves as an expert fellow on USC’s Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Dec