The Better Boards Podcast Series

Send us a textIf you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textWhen organisations face a need for transformation, Boards must become catalysts for change. This requires specific behaviours so that Boards can successfully go beyond oversight to provide strategic leadership when it is needed most.In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner, is joined by Lan O’Connor, a global transformation leader with deep experience in enterprise change. Lan helped lead Capgemini from a European to an international footprint. Today, she serves on a number of high-profile Boards. “Change is part of life, part of business life. But transformation, thinking about transformation with a capital T, it's not a change.”For Lan, transformation goes beyond routine change. It is a fundamental rewiring of a company’s centre of gravity while retaining the cultural core. It requires four things:  agreement that the current state is not viable, an articulated future state, a watertight business case, and a scale so immense that the transformation is the singular agenda for the executive team and Board for the duration of the transformation.“For a board, often a transformation with a capital T is perceived as a risk with a capital R.”The role of the Board when it comes to a proposed transformation is one of active strategic engagement. To Lan, in the first Board meeting about a transformation, the role of the Board is to vet the necessity of acting. The second step is to approve the business case. The third step is to scrutinise the approach and execution plans, as Lan believes the execution plan is where failure often hides, and Boards can make a significant difference. “It's the Board's role to make sure that it has a good beginning, a powerful middle, and that the end point allows the company to breathe at the new level.”Lan sees the Boards as the Executive Producers of a blockbuster movie. Boards must thus address rational, political, and emotional elements in play. The rational element is the business case. The political element ensures the Board and management team can act, make tough decisions, and escalate issues. Emotional elements reflect the level of buy-in needed for the transformation.“One critical element to have at a board level is an ally versed in the psychology of transformation.”Many Board members have experience with transformations, but not necessarily as the leader accountable for the change. They need supporting perspectives. A transformation guide can provide support in tough moments, fight process fatigue, and give insights into the pace of change. “I always say to Board members or even Executive Board members … to adopt a kind of an interview mindset.”Lan believes that Board members benefit when they can explain what is happening and why in terms that an outsider could understand. This minimises jargon and boosts transparency. The top three (plus bonus) takeaways from our conversation for effective boards are:1.      Understand the rational, political, and emotional elements.2.     Transformation is not a one-and-done exercise. Be attentive to the experience of the beginning, middle, and end.3.     Mark the official beginning and end of the transformation.4.    Seek out external perspectives to support the transformation experienIf you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textGovernance professionals are no longer the quiet scribes in the corner. Today, they are critical voices at the heart of boardroom decision-making. In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Erika Eliasson-Norris, CEO of Beyond Governance and author of The Secret Diary of a Company Secretary, to explore how the role has evolved and why it remains misunderstood.Through candid reflections and practical examples, Erika unpacks the challenges governance professionals face – from ethical tensions to boardroom politics – and shows how the role is changing as boards come under growing scrutiny.“We’ve moved from record-keeping to future-shaping.”In the past decade, governance professionals have shifted from the edges to the centre of organisations. They now help anticipate regulatory change, manage stakeholder expectations, and act as the ethical compass of the business. Erika emphasises this shift is less about technical skill and more about soft skills—the ability to demonstrate value, build trust, and step into an advisory role.Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is central. Working in grey areas requires integrity, influence, and buy-in across the organisation. EQ allows governance leaders to express ethical standards and help boards make sound decisions under pressure.“Organisations that do governance well avoid scandals and disasters.”Yet, Erika believes the profession is still underutilised. Many boards lack dedicated governance leaders, missing opportunities to prevent crises rooted in governance failures. She sees a major opportunity for boards to embrace governance professionals as strategic advisors rather than administrators.Technology is accelerating this shift. AI can now handle much of the administrative load—board packs, decision logs, registrars—freeing governance professionals to focus on strategy: ethics, risk foresight, regulatory impacts, and shareholder alignment.“A great governance advisor flexes as needed while keeping an ethical compass – their North Star.”Strong governance is about clarity of decisions, anticipating downstream impacts, and communicating choices transparently to stakeholders. Erika calls this “governance with grit”: standing up to powerful leaders, holding firm to values, and ensuring boards don’t sacrifice trust for expediency.“The biggest myth about Company Secretaries is that they just take minutes.”In reality, governance professionals leave fingerprints on major board decisions—though often invisibly. Erika’s book highlights hidden stories from eight Company Secretaries at high-profile firms, showing how their decisions impact thousands of stakeholders worldwide.With technology creating more space for strategic work, Erika believes it’s a fascinating time for new professionals to enter governance. Success requires comfort with uncertainty, listening skills, and a strategic, advisory mindset. Governance is not about ticking boxes—it’s about helping steer the organisation with courage, clarity, and trust.Top takeaways:In just a decade, governance professionals have become trusted strategic partners, helping boards navigate uncertainty with clarity and courage.Good governance isn’t about compliance—it gives boards confidence to act decisively and ethically, turning governance into a competitive advantage.Boards should treat governance as the steering wheel, not the brakes, to navigate complexity with vision and integrityIf you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textWhen organisations face a need for transformation, Boards must become catalysts for change. This requires specific behaviours so that Boards can successfully go beyond oversight to provide strategic leadership when it is needed most.In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner, is joined by Lan O’Connor, a global transformation leader. Lan helped lead Capgemini from a European to a global footprint. Her board experience spans Trinity Business School, Landmark Transformation, and Commercial Policy at the UK Cabinet Office during COVID-19. “Change is part of life, part of business life. But transformation, thinking about transformation with a capital T, it's not a change.”For Lan, transformation goes beyond routine change. It is a fundamental rewiring of a company’s centre of gravity. It requires four things:  agreement that the current state is not viable, an articulated future state, a watertight business case, and a scale so immense that the transformation is the singular agenda for the executive team and Board for the duration of the transformation.“For a board, often a transformation with a capital T is perceived as a risk with a capital R.”The role of the Board when it comes to a proposed transformation is not passive oversight. It’s active strategic engagement. To Lan, in the first Board meeting about a transformation, the role of the Board is to vet the necessity of acting. The second step is to approve the business case. The third step is to scrutinise the approach and execution plans, as Lan believes the execution plan is where failure often hides, and Boards can make a significant difference. “It's the Board's role to make sure that it has a good beginning, a powerful middle, and that the end point allows the company to breathe at the new level.”Lan sees the Boards as the Executive Producers of a blockbuster movie. Boards must thus address rational, political, and emotional elements in play. The rational element is the business case. The political element ensures the Board and management team can act, make tough decisions, and escalate issues. Emotional elements reflect the level of buy-in needed for the transformation.“One critical element to have at a board level is an ally versed in the psychology of transformation.”Many Board members have experience with change, but not necessarily as the leader accountable for a transformation. They need supporting perspectives. A transformation guide can provide support in challenging moments, fight process fatigue, and give insights into the pace of change. “I always say to Board members or even Executive Board members … to adopt a kind of an interview mindset.”Lan believes that Board members benefit when they can explain what is happening and why in terms that an outsider could understand. This minimises jargon and boosts transparency. It also helps manage Executive Team perceptions and keeps a forward focus. The top three takeaways from our conversation for effective Boards are:1.      Understand the rational, political, and emotional elements.2.     Transformation is not a one-and-done transaction. Be attentive to the experience of the beginning, middle, and end and seek out external support from subject matter experts.3.     Mark the official beginning aIf you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textOwner-led organisations are the backbone of economies worldwide. Yet when the primary stakeholder is in the room, Boards must navigate a unique set of dynamics to be effective with governance, strategy issues, and advising.In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, is joined by Tina Mavraki, who brings 27 years of board finance and natural resources experience to the conversation. A Chartered Portfolio Director, Tina held senior roles at Morgan Stanley, Citi, and Noble Group, where she scaled up multi-billion-dollar businesses. Her board portfolio spans FTSE100 candidate Metlen Energy & Metals S.A. and First Bauxite. “Invariably, owners invite a Board into their structure because they're looking to make a transformation.”In Tina’s experience, the biggest reason owner-led companies establish a Board is for help with a significant change or transformation. They anticipate this development and aim to expand the pool of expertise and guidance available to them.“What owners get out of this is perspective.”Owners have a vision, but a Board provides perspective. This offsets an owner’s personal limitations and helps expand a vision into a coherent and workable plan. Boards also provide the emotional, mental, and tactical support for major transformations.“Boundaries are the most beautiful tension you can get.”For Tina, the way the Board and the owner define, expand, and refine boundaries is a significant experience. Figuring out lines and limits, understanding how those need to evolve to fulfil future ambitions, and creating workable succession, continuation, and growth plans are all places where Board members can have a measurable impact It begins by building trust. This is especially important in owner-led firms. In most cases, the owner will know vastly more about the organisation’s operational details. So, Tina recommends that Board members make extra effort to understand the organisation and its structure, how it generates profits, and all its key players. “You need to understand very intimately the founders themselves. What are the key attributes that have brought this person here?”In owner-led organisations, the Board and the owner have a more personal relationship. To make effective interventions, provide mentoring, or offer quality advice. Tina believes that Directors must first gain a deep understanding of the owner, including their strengths and areas for growth. Then, for best results, coordinate with the Board as a whole on sensitive conversations or strategic interventions.“I like Advisory Boards very much… they are a beautiful forum.”For owner-led companies where a full, formal Board is not a fit, Tina likes Advisory Boards. To her, they can bring in guest experts to dive into issues. This rotation of minds also brings access to senior-level experts who may not have the time for a Board role, but who are willing to come and share their knowledge. The three top takeaways from this conversation for effective boards are:1.      Make time to understand the operating environment, the priorities, the players, and when and how to intervene. 2.     Lean into the Board process. 3.     Board impact is visible, critical, and direct, with immediate feedback.If you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textWhen pressures mount, Boards often default to easy narratives. Yet, today more than ever, it is important for Boards to pursue the uncomfortable truths. Critical thinking, discernment, and strategic dissent are key advantages Boards want to cultivate and celebrate.In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, connects with Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at London Business School. Alex holds a PhD from MIT and was previously a tenured professor at Wharton and an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. An in-demand speaker, Alex also serves as a Non-Executive Director of various high-profile organisations and a Fellow of the British Academy and of the Academy of Social Sciences. “Rather than making broad claims … what I try to do is be more granular and look at the specific … dimensions that pay off.”Alex sees Boards falling into common traps by failing to appreciate and acknowledge the nuances. Is sustainability universally and unequivocally the right path forward in all situations and at all times? Stated in this way, it is clear that the answer is no, yet boardrooms around the world hesitate to raise even slight amounts of dissent or debate.It is the same with other situations Boards face. A lack of consideration for specificity, nuance, and the latest peer-reviewed research sets Boards up to be victims of trendy thinking, unprofitable generalities, and unproductive solutions.“Think critically. If there is a study, think about “Are there alternative explanations for that result?”Alex believes boards can avoid intellectual traps by engaging in critical thinking and intentional questioning. Look for alternative explanations to prevent being misled by industry headwinds or tailwinds, to avoid confusing rare talent with repeatable success, and to guard against internal biases. Imagine the opposite of the result presented in any given study – would the reaction be the same? Even this simple challenge can be enough to reawaken discernment and activate critical thinking pathways. It helps separate signal from noise.“Actively seek dissent, reward it, and be wary of the fact that you as Chair … might unintentionally reduce dissenting opinions.”Chairs play a special role in fostering debate and discernment. Alex advises Chairs to refrain from giving their opinion first, create space for other views and avoid anchoring topics on “approved” outlooks. Further, when dissent or objections are overruled, reinforce that there was value in the conversation even if the decision went in a different direction. “Every company says we value a diversity of opinion, but when the rubber hits the road, how many of them act in that way?”Alex sees some companies treat dissent like a luxury reserved for good times. Yet, tough times are when honest debate and differing viewpoints matter most. He acknowledges this is not easy. Simple to say, but not easy to do. Still, defaulting to the status quo is the ultimate risk. You want to be different from your competition.The three top takeaways from our conversation for more effective boards are:1.      Academic research matters. 2.     Critical thinking matters. Question the things you want to be true. 3.     Encourage dissent within others.If you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textAs complexity grows and time shrinks, Board Directors are wondering how to stay ahead. AI is proving to be a performance accelerator – not just a support tool – but Boards must make an effort to incorporate it into workflows, governance, and their ongoing strategy.In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, connects with Jamie Green, Co-Founder and CEO of Tutaki, an AI platform built specifically for Board Directors. Drawing on his experience at McKinsey and extensive conversations with Chairs, Directors, and governance leaders, Jamie created Tutaki to transform how Board members prepare, engage, and act. With a strong foundation in strategy, governance, and AI product design, Jamie is at the forefront of a new era of “augmented directorship.”“The purpose of companies overall is to create value, and arguably the place where a lot of that value is created is the Board.”Increasing effectiveness at the Board level is massively essential for a company’s overall success. It enables a company to move faster and make better, more accurate decisions. Thus, AI tools that parse information and surface key insights can improve strategic planning and shift Board outcomes. The only thing stopping all Boards from doing this is the Boards themselves.“I think every Board should embrace AI at some level.”Jamie feels Boards should embrace AI. If they don’t, they will be left behind by others who do use it, including graduates who have been raised in an AI-native world. By leading the way, Boards can create the right frameworks and guardrails to make AI an asset to the organisation. “The best directors are using it to supplement their own insight. ... They're not using it to replace themselves.”There are very real fears around output quality, data privacy, and over-reliance. Jamie freely admits this is an evolving space and that these concerns are valid. Savvy Directors are mitigating this by being intentional about AI use, asking the right questions, having guardrails for privacy, and continuing to apply their own discernment to what the AI generates.“It's riskier not to be using AI than to be using it.”Jamie reports the risk that sticks with people most is, “What's happening to my data?” He says that with the proper guardrails in place – such as turning off the training on the models, creating a private model, or hosting the AI on-premises – it’s no different than storing documents on Google Drive. To him, it’s a much bigger risk to let the competitors gain an advantage with AI tools. What Jamie sees successful Boards doing now, in 2025, is mainly two things. First, they are having AI analyse things for them by asking tools like ChatGPT questions. Secondly, they are using AI to automate chains of events or tasks into workflows.In the future, Jamie feels there will be AI Directors. Later, that may evolve into entire AI Boards. He doubts these will ever replace true human Boards. Instead, these will fill expertise gaps, manage processes, provide a sounding board, and create intellectual sparring partners for Directors and CEOs. The three top takeaways from our conversation for effective boards are:1.       Not using AI is the riskiest option.2.     The best Directors and the best Boards are already using AI.3.     It can be hard to get the best out of AI tools. Remember to focus on discrete problems that need to be solved and find soluIf you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textTraditionally, the role of a board secretary has been seen as a guardian of governance, the keeper of the minutes, and the facilitator of board processes. Now, with the rise of AI, conventional expectations are being challenged. The question is how those in it will choose to respond.In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, is joined by Moya Hayhurst, a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute. Moya has over 25 years of experience in corporate governance across multiple industries, including mining, financial services, and insurance. She is also a member of the Centre for AI in Board Effectiveness research team, helping progress AI’s role in board ecosystems.“Board secretaries are caught in the middle of that [AI] transformation.”AI is everywhere, including boardrooms. Many board members already use and benefit from AI applications. They want to know how secretaries plan to make AI a part of their role.For Secretaries in purely administrative roles, this is an opportunity for a change. By becoming familiar with AI tools and utilising them to streamline administrative tasks and parse data more efficiently, Secretaries can provide more strategic analysis and insights. They can move into a leading position on governance issues, risk management, and proactive guidance.“They know where to find everything, and they know the dangers of what is at their fingertips.”Moya notes Secretaries listen and gather input from all parts of the organisation, often speaking little but influencing quietly in the background. With AI, Boards and Secretaries have the chance to surface more of the institutional knowledge Secretaries contain, do it efficiently, and do it in a way that brings key insights forward when they are needed most. “You have to step out of the shadows and make your voice heard.”For Secretaries to succeed, Moya recommends leaning on networks and peers. She advises doing what the Company Secretary has always done best: asking questions, understanding the risks and dynamics, and then looking internally to figure out how to help the company navigate the situation. For her, the biggest thing is not to say no. Ask how. Connect with individuals who, in many cases, will be more than happy to talk and share their knowledge and insights. Secretaries don’t have to know how to do everything, just how to step out and ask. “If we continue to justify ourselves as administrators and write a good set of minutes, we will not have a future.”For Moya, the choice is clear. Secretaries can choose to be pure administrators and be replaced by AI tools, or they can embrace change. By leaning into the shift in mindset and leading by example in embracing new tools, Secretaries can create a very interesting role for themselves for years to come. The three top takeaways from our conversation for more effective boards are:1.      This is not a task shift. It's a role shift. The role needs to evolve in purpose, not just process.2.     The Board Secretary must step forward. If they don't, someone else will. It's not a competition, but a necessity.3.     For new Secretaries, there’s a need to be very intentional about developing capabilities. Secretaries must become digitally fluent, interpret data, reexamine governance design, and take on If you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textIn this episode of the Better Boards Podcast, Professor Katja Langenbucher explores how boards can embrace AI to future-proof their decision-making.Dr. Sabine Dembkowski speaks with Katja, a law professor at Goethe University in Frankfurt and affiliated with SciencesPo, Paris. She serves on the supervisory boards of BaFin and IEP, bringing extensive boardroom and academic experience.AI is rapidly reshaping industries—from pharmaceuticals to finance—and boards can no longer afford to stand still. Katja outlines why boards must move past hesitation and actively integrate AI into their processes. She explains how leading organisations embed AI into strategy, what this means under the business judgment rule, and why AI should challenge—not replace—human insight.AI isn’t a Trend—It’s Becoming a Legal Expectationisn’t a Trend—It’s becoming a Legal expectation. AIAI may still seem opaque to some directors, but that view is increasingly out of step with governance expectations. In jurisdictions applying the business judgment rule, directors must demonstrate informed, reasonable decision-making. AI is becoming part of that expectation. “Very soon, you cannot claim to be well-informed without consulting an AI.” Boards have long leaned on expert input for board evaluations and strategic oversight. Going forward, AI must be part of that toolkit—or boards risk falling short of legal standards.From Coffee Chains to Capital Markets: The Real-World Power of AIKatja cites practical use cases—like how Starbucks applies AI to optimise store locations using behavioural, geographic, and competitor data. “You can use AI to identify an M&A target, spot a hostile takeover risk, or even test how markets might respond to your messaging.” Yet, she observes that AI is still rarely referenced in board evaluations or agendas, despite its ability to surface risks, run scenario models, and sharpen decision-making.The New Role of Company SecretariesCompany secretaries are ideally placed to help boards adopt AI meaningfully. Katja is clear: directors don’t need to code—they need to ask better questions. “Nobody is asking directors to code—but boards must ask the right questions.”Challenging Groupthink and Elevating DebateGroupthink continues to undermine board effectiveness. Katja shares a compelling example of using AI to simulate press responses—ranging from neutral to harsh—on a sensitive issue. “Seeing a mock ‘nasty article’ on the big screen challenged the entire board’s thinking.”AI as Induction, Humans as InterpretationAI and human judgment are not competing forces—they are complementary. AI finds patterns. Humans interpret them. “A good strategic decision is always a combination of AI and human thinking.”Three Key TakeawaysDon’t Be Late to the Party - AI is fast becoming a market standard. Boards that delay their adoption risk strategic, legal, and reputational disadvantage.Blend AI with Human Judgment - Strategic decisions should integrate the pattern-finding power of AI with the contextual understanding of directors.Use the AI That Suits Your Board - Every corporation has a unique data pool. Boards must define the questions AI should answer—and then select the right tools.If you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.

Send us a textIn an era marked by rapid change, technological disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, and economic volatility, understanding how analysts perceive boards is more important than ever. We turned to an analyst who operates independently of major financial institutions for a truly candid perspective.In this episode of the Better Boards Podcast Series, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, speaks with Anke Richter, a seasoned credit analyst and strategist with nearly 30 years of experience in the bond markets. Based in London, Anke has held positions at JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, and Moody’s, and brings a unique vantage point shaped by her work on both the buy-side and sell-side, as well as in a rating agency. She holds both the CFA Charter and CIMA accountancy qualification.A Two-Step Approach to Company AnalysisAccording to Anke, the fundamentals of analysing a company haven’t changed: “What you do when analysing a company is always the same.”Step one involves scrutinising the company’s fundamentals—numbers, valuations, and performance indicators. Step two involves examining red flags in leadership or governance. Common issues include overly dominant founders in small firms or boards where everyone shares the same surname, particularly in family-run conglomerates in emerging markets.Anke notes that although she doesn’t always request formal board evaluations, she views them as a missed opportunity for many firms. Proper board assessments and clear investor communication allow companies to spotlight their governance strengths and strategic priorities.Bridging the Knowledge Gap Between Boards and InvestorsAnke frequently observes significant knowledge gaps in how boards interact with capital markets. “We always find that people are sometimes not aware of how certain things are done or how things are perceived.”Lack of familiarity with investor expectations can seriously handicap a company’s position. To mitigate this, Anke advocates for including individuals with capital markets expertise on the board. This experience ensures the board understands key market dynamics and investor sentiment.Fixing Investor Relations: Easier Than You ThinkInvestor relations, Anke believes, is an area where companies can quickly improve. “This is something you can, as a company, very easily fix.”Improvements don’t require massive budgets. What’s often lacking is not money but human resources and awareness. Clear communication, a well-maintained website, an accessible IR team, and informative roadshows are foundational but frequently overlooked.Anke also points out two critical missteps:1. Inconsistent messaging between equity and debt stakeholders—this discrepancy doesn’t go unnoticed.2. Combative attitudes from executives during investor meetings can irreparably harm trust.Beyond the Numbers: The Human ElementAnke acknowledges that while financial metrics are clear-cut, evaluating leadership is far more nuanced. “If I have an opportunity, I always want to meet management, but one also has to be realistic about whether you can assess whether they are good at running the company.”Good marketing can mask weak fundamentals, and vice versa. Successful investor relations require a balance: numbers must align with consistent messaging and credible leadership behaviour.Top 3 Takeaways for Effective Boards1. Include Capital Markets Experience: Ensure tIf you would like to become part of the Better Boards community, learn about our distinctive approach and explore opportunities to work with us or contribute to The Better Boards podcast series, get in touch at info@better-boards.com. We love to hear from you.