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The revised UK Corporate Governance Code places a great emphasis on the importance of culture within a business and is seen as a blueprint for corporate governance around the world.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Mike Gahir, Chair of the Board of Trustee at Steps to Work about "Culture, it all starts in the boardroom"

Mike was a winner at this year’s Non-Executive Director Awards in the UK as the ‘NED to watch’. He was praised by the judges for overhauling the leadership and transparency at Steps to Work.

Mike stresses the importance he himself places on culture in the work he has achieved so far.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected].

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 10 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot.     

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

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There is a rising tide of investors, communities and talent caring about ESG issues. No longer is it surprising to see ESG feature more prominently on the agendas in boardrooms.

It is no longer acceptable to invest in a business for profits alone when those with poor practices can have such a profoundly negative impact on the world around us.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Margot Slattery, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at ISS A/S about "Putting the 'S' in ESG"

Born in Ireland, Margot was one of the key contributors to the country’s Same-sex Marriage Act, particularly in the business sphere. Before her current role with ISS, she was Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Sodexo.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected].

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 10 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot.    

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

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M&A and transactions are no longer considered an add-on, but a pivotal part of a company's value creation process.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Nickesha Graham-Burrell, Head of Company Secretariat at OSB Group Plc about "The role of the Company Secretary in major transactions".

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

Nickesha is an experienced Company Secretary, who has previously worked within HSBC and Songbird Estates. This year she was a winner within the ‘Deal Maker’ category of the DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected].

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot.  

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

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The role of the Company Secretary is evolving and is not clearly defined. Company Secretaries who are proactive and take the initiative can shape the role so that it really suits them, and help improve the board as a whole.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with John Mills, Company Secretary of Smiths Group plc about 'The role of the Company Secretary in increasing the effectiveness of Non-Executive Directors'.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

John joined Smiths Group in 2018 and has previously held senior roles in a variety of sectors, including at Anglo American plc, RSA Insurance Group plc and Cadbury plc.

This year, John was named a DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards winner in the category of Board Influencer. This category is for individuals that influence strategic decision making at the most senior level and are particularly adept at forging relationships with key stakeholders.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected].

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Good reporting is crucial for any high performing and effective board. But how can you ensure your reporting process is delivering for your board?

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with David Whincup, Deputy Company Secretary at Provident Financial Group, about 'Board Reporting; the indispensable part of effective Boards'

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes.

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

Before his role with Provident Financial Group, David previously held roles with the National Grid and Reckitt Benckiser. This year, David was named in the DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards as a winner in the ‘Governance Trailblazers’ category. This category recognised forward-thinkers who went beyond expectations to raise the standard of Corporate Governance.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected]. 

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Boards today face technological, geopolitical, demographic, and environmental changes at an incredibly rapid pace. How can Company Secretaries help ensure boards are ‘Future-fit’ to be able to tackle these changes effectively?

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Loren Wulfsohn, Global Head of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Governance & Secretariat at HSBC about ‘The role of the Company Secretary in creating future-fit boards’.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who care about creating better boards.

Before her current role, Loren was Company Secretary of HSBC Bank plc and Regional Company Secretary for Europe. She has previously been Head of Shareholder Services at HSBC and was formerly Group Secretary and Head of Governance at Standard Bank Group for 10 years. Loren moved to Australia in 2012, where she consulted on strategic governance and board practice to a range of both financial and not-for-profit entities in Australia, the US and across Africa, prior to her move to the UK.  This year, Loren was also voted one of the Hot 100 for innovation by the DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards.  

Loren draws upon her experience from her governance career across HSBC and Standard Bank Group to provide real, practical advice for how Company Secretaries can ensure a board is ‘future-fit'. This includes insights into the behaviours and skills Company Secretaries should be prioritising to be at their most effective. 

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected]. 

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Much has been written and said about gender diversity and inclusion. Progress has been made, but we have still a way to go to achieve gender parity.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Sabine Kohleisen, member of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz AG, responsible for Human Resources and Director of Labour Relations, and Denise Wilson, CEO of the Hampton-Alexander Review. In this episode, we will be discussing “Diversity and inclusion, insights from the U.K. and Mercedes-Benz”.

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards.

Sabine and Denise provide real-life insights into achievements, measures and practical tips for individuals and organizations about how to bring diversity and inclusion to life. Sabine is someone who has risen through the ranks of Mercedes and as a member of the Board of Management is responsible for achieving the next stage of diversity targets. Denise, who as the CEO of the Hampton-Alexander Review, shapes the debate about gender diversity with facts and figures like no other in the U.K.

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected]. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Studies provide clear evidence that boards with members of diverse backgrounds govern organisations that have better business results than those with less diverse leaders but it does not stop there.  We see similar patterns when it comes to innovation. The Hampton Alexander report in the UK highlights that we have come a long way in integrating women on the board, but there is still quite a way to go when we look at race and reviews like the Parker Review.

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, I am delighted to talk with Chris Pirnie about “Punks in the boardroom.” Chris provides us with facts, figures and real-life insights into the challenges of integrating people with diverse backgrounds and what he has seen is working. 

I am Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards. We make the boards of the most ambitious organisations more effective. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. 

Christopher Pirnie has been a company secretary and board member for over 20 years with organisations such as Swiss Re, E&Y, Clifford Chance and previously was Head of Secretariat and Director of Governance Operations and Policy at Fidelity International for over a decade.  Leaving Fidelity in 2020, Christopher joined Kuberno Consulting and has also set up his own governance professional coaching group, RPP NextStep Coaching, which provides tools and guidance to company secretaries, INEDs and executive directors with their career challenges and development needs.   This year, Christopher was also voted one of the Hot 100 for innovation by the DMJ Recruitment Governance Hot 100 awards. 

The Better Boards Podcast has been selected as one of the Top 15 Corporate Governance Podcasts by Feedspot. 

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected]. Thank you for listening.

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

The relationship between the Chair and the CEO is widely considered to be one of the most significant, if not the most significant, in any organisation. If the relationship is working well, it is a powerful alliance that can energise and uplift a whole organisation. But if the relationship is broken, the effects are felt throughout the organisation. What is more, the state of a broken relationship provides a good story for the media, resulting in broken careers and tarnished reputations. 

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Sir John Tusa.

Sir John is the most eminent chairman of cultural institutions in the UK. His illustrious career has included the likes of the National Portrait Gallery, the English National Opera, the Wigmore Hall and the British Museum.

Currently, he serves as Chairman of the British Architecture Trust Board and is Co-Chairman of the European Youth Orchestra. He is also the author of 'On Board: The Insider's Guide to Surviving Life in the Boardroom'.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfil our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the months, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us on [email protected]. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

I can not recall a single board evaluation nor a single event I attended in Pre-Covid times where the need for challenge in the boardroom was not stressed. At the same time, I know from hundreds of interviews with members of boards how hard it really is to challenge constructively. 

Welcome to the Better Boards podcast series. In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Professor Karthik Ramanna.

Professor Ramanna is Professor of Business & Public Policy and Director of the Master of Public Policy Program at the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government.

Prof Ramanna recently produced a study for one of the Big 4 Audit firms entitled 'Building a culture of challenge in audit firms.' Lessons from this report can be applied to building a culture of challenge in the boardroom.

Our mission at Better Boards is to contribute to creating better boards. We do this by providing clients with an evidence-based approach for board evaluations and board development programmes. 

To fulfill our mission, we give a voice to all who are care about creating better boards. Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, I speak with insiders that have a seat on the table and those that provide professional services about topics that rank high on the agenda of boards.

How can we help you and your board to become more effective? We at Better Boards are always delighted to hear from you. Get in touch. You can best reach us at [email protected]. 

Better Boards goes beyond box‑ticking. We bring together chairs, directors and governance leaders who want board effectiveness grounded in independent research and external benchmarks. Our proprietary, peer‑reviewed methodology shows how your board truly compares across all dimensions of effective boards.

If you would like to join the community, experience our research‑based approach to board evaluations, explore ways to work with us, or share ideas for The Better Boards Podcast, we would be glad to hear from you at [email protected].