In this episode of the VAB Podcast, host Andrea Iorio explores why diversity in boardrooms truly matters — and how to ensure it becomes a driver of performance and culture, not just a buzzword. The conversation tackles some central questions related to corporate governance today: why do so many highly qualified women still struggle to secure their first board seat, and what needs to change for inclusion to be real and lasting?

Joined by VAB members Sanja Tomovska and Carla Westphal, the episode offers a rare, multi-regional perspective on the evolution of women’s roles in board advisory and governance.

More than a conversation about representation, the episode reframes diversity as a strategic advantage: it examines why inclusive boards outperform, how current board members can actively open doors for others, and what an effective, future-ready board should look like five years from now. The takeaway is clear: meaningful diversity isn’t about compliance — it’s about better decisions, stronger governance and leadership that reflects a wider range of perspectives at the boardroom table.

In this episode of the VAB Podcast, host Andrea Iorio sits down with Babs Ryan, global board director, strategic advisor and former Chief Innovation Officer at GE Capital’s largest division, to discuss why, in 2025, women still face barriers to board roles — and what it takes to overcome them.
Together, they explore the realities of gender representation in corporate governance: from tokenism and pay disparity to the hidden networks that shape access to power. Drawing on lessons from Babs’s remarkable career across finance, fintech, marketing and innovation, the conversation reveals how women can secure board positions, gain influence in male-dominated environments and pave the way for the next generation of leaders.
The episode highlights how progress toward true board diversity requires more than representation — it demands cultural change, mentorship and leadership that values every voice at the table.

In this episode of the VAB Podcast, host Andrea Iorio discusses the critical underrepresentation of marketing professionals in boardrooms with VAB members and  guests John Rose and Jon Stamell. They explore the findings of a global study they ran, revealing that while 71% of board members acknowledge the importance of marketing, few marketers hold board positions. The conversation delves into the reasons behind this disconnect, the need for marketing to be recognized as a strategic discipline, and practical steps that both companies and marketers can take to bridge the gap. The episode emphasizes the importance of diversity in board composition and the necessity for boards to adapt to modern challenges in a rapidly changing business landscape. You can access the full report here: www.virtualadvisoryboard.co.uk/boardroomblindspot.

In this episode of the VAB Podcast, Andrea Iorio sits down with Shefaly Yogendra, an experienced non-executive board director who has sat on the boards of 2 FTSE 250 companies and served as a university governor. She is also ranked on the FTSE 100 Women to Watch. Shefaly and Andrea talk about what we can learn about risk management and governance from recent developments in the banking industry. She highlights how fintech and edtech can work together to drive innovation in the financial sector and explains why teaching decision-making is a crucial skill for surviving in the business world.

In this episode of the VAB Podcast, Andrea Iorio sits down with Peter Thommen, the founder and CEO of the Global Strategist & Sparring Partner, a company that gets your organisation ready for the future and helps it establish true sustainability. Peter is a former IKEA executive , having worked for 30 years in roles across Poland, Russia, Japan and elsewhere. Both men talk about how to become future-ready, the skills of a future-proof Board member, and how companies can stay ahead of the curve. 

In this episode of the VAB Podcast, Andrea Iorio sits down with Brian Hayward, President of Aldare Resources, a company that advises clients on governance, strategy, and business development. Brian was previously CEO of Agricore United - a $5 billion, publicly-traded agri-business - and Chair of the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange. He is also author of the book The Great Chair, A Window on Effective Board Leadership. In their chat, both men talk about the 3 main functions of a Chairperson, the latest trends in governance, and how to be an effective Board member.

In this episode of the VAB Podcast, Andrea Iorio sits down with Mike Stenson, Head of Innovation for Kingspan Group and board member at Invicara and Synthesia Technology. For many years, he was responsible for the development and execution of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Strategy for a number of operations centres across Central & Eastern Europe and in Russia. We spoke about "Digital Twins" and why they are important for any company’s digital transformation. We also touched upon why decarbonisation should be a hot topic for any Board and the importance of using Big Data for better decision-making.

In this episode of the VAB Podcast, Andrea Iorio sits down with Amancio Sampaio, who has been at Philip Morris International for more than 25 years. For 15 of them, he served as President - CEO/Managing Director in highly-regulated and competitive environments such as Central America, Brazil, and France. He is now a board member, business advisor, and investor, and he provides regular commentary for BSmart, a French business TV channel. There, he speaks about new, disruptive trends and developments in ESG, addressing emerging consumer and societal expectations. Andrea and Amancio talked about the importance of the G (Governance) in ESG; about how to respond quickly to consumer trends; and also on how to develop new skills and not just rely on past experience.