96. Board Matchmaker: Building Global Networks with Mark Hamill
On Boards Podcast
In this episode, Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Mark Hamill, CEO of The Naked Headhunter and co-founder of the Virtual Advisory Board (VAB). Mark shares the origin story of VAB from its start during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it scaled into a global network of over 1,300 members spanning 4,000 boards. The conversation dives into the power of peer-to-peer networks, the mechanics of building effective boards, and the tangible ROI that strong boards can deliver. They also unpack the realities of board recruitment, what it takes to land a first board seat, and why clarity of expertise...
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95. Curiosity, AI, and the Future of the Boardroom with Rod Adkins
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh speak with Rod Adkins, board chairman, former IBM executive, and author of Curiosity Redefines the Limits. Rod shares insights from nearly 25 years of board experience, focusing on how directors can effectively oversee risk in an era of rapid technological disruption. The conversation explores how boards are evolving their governance structures to address increasingly complex risks tied to technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Rod explains why traditional audit committees are often no longer sufficient on...
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94. Bringing Good Governance Home: Inside Co-op and Condo Boardrooms with Tina Larsson
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh speak with Tina Larsson, a former Wall Street analyst, co-founder of The Folsom Group, and author of Living The High Life. Tina works with co-op, condo, and other HOA boards to improve governance to reduce costs, manage major building projects and oversee their shared residence effectively. Tina shares how she and her husband became involved in board governance after discovering that their New York City co-op board was poorly managed and incurring significant unnecessary expenses. After organizing their co-op neighbors...
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93. Multi-generational family businesses with David Karofsky
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome David Karofsky, a principal consultant with The Family Business Consulting Group and co-author of So, you're in the Family Business: A Guide to Sustainability. David brings both professional expertise and personal experience to the discussion, having grown up in a multi-generational family business and later building a family business consulting practice alongside his father. Most recently, his son Adam has also joined David in his consulting practice. He shares how family businesses operate at the unique intersection...
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92. AI vs. Humans in the Boardroom: Whom Do You Trust, with Babs Ryan.
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh speak with Babs Ryan, an innovation executive, board director, and AI strategist with experience spanning global technology, marketing, consumer products, and financial services. Ryan discusses the evolving role of artificial intelligence in governance, the future of AI on boards of directors, and realistic scenarios for AI adoption, in a discussion about the possible ways AI can be integrated into boardrooms. The episode also explores broader governance issues, including board refreshment and oversight responsibilities, and how AI...
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91. Reinforcing Board Cybersecurity with Gary Evee
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Gary Evee, cybersecurity leader and founder and CEO of Aprivé. His company is pioneering a concierge approach to cybersecurity protection, providing services that protect high-value individuals and families from the digital threat landscape. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across IBM, cybersecurity leadership, and board service, Gary explains how breaches increasingly originate through individuals rather than systems. He highlights how personal devices, home networks, and online data exposure create...
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90. Building an effective board for post-restructured companies with Jon Weber
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Jon Weber, founder of the Jon F. Weber advisory firm and an experienced board leader in operationally intensive, post-restructured companies. Jon has served on over 50 boards. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience at institutional investors, including Icahn Enterprises, Goldman Sachs, and Elliott Investment Management, Jon shares what distinguishes a board that genuinely drives change. The conversation explores how boards are rebuilt following restructurings, why these roles demand significantly more engagement...
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89. Building early stage boards with Firas Raouf
On Boards Podcast
In this episode, Joe and Raza speak with Firas Raouf, co-founder and general partner at Companyon Ventures, a Boston-based VC firm specializing in early-stage B2B software and AI startups. Firas shares insights from 25 years as a founder, operator, and venture investor—helping companies transition from founder-led sales to scalable, operationally disciplined organizations. The conversation focuses on how early-stage founders should think about creating their first board, the mistakes to avoid, and why great board dynamics depend heavily on execution. Key takeaways Career beginnings 25...
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88. Global board leadership with Linda McGoldrick
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh speak with Dr. Linda McGoldrick, an international board director, strategy leader, and policy expert in healthcare and life sciences. With 30 years of global experience across the U.S., U.K., and European boards, Linda shares what defines high-performing boards, the importance of trust and diversity of thought, and how geopolitical and technological shifts are transforming governance today. Key takeaways Traits of high performing boards Regardless of size or geography, effective boards are well-prepared, prioritize...
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87. The Boardroom Blind Spot with John Rose
On Boards Podcast
In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh speak with John Rose, an international marketing executive, entrepreneur, and board advisor who has led businesses across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. John discusses his global career—from founding the first ad agency in Russia to relocating his company to Dubai and his recent research project, “The Boardroom Blindspot," a global survey exploring why marketing expertise is underrepresented on boards. He also shares insights from his work with the Virtual Advisory Board and Board Brothers,...
info_outlineIn this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Raffaela
Rein, a seasoned entrepreneur and board member with expertise in frontier
technology and innovation-driven leadership. Raffaela began her career as an
analyst at BlackRock, and launched three companies for the world's largest
incubator, Rocket Internet, across China, Australia, and Taiwan before becoming
an entrepreneur.
She serves on multiple corporate and private equity-backed boards, including
Porsche, Mutares and International University IU. As the founder of
WildWildVentures and CareerFoundry, she has scaled startups to 120-plus
employees and advised many venture-backed businesses. Raffaela serves as a
board member for the German startup Verband, where she helps improve
legislation for startups.
Raffaela was named one of Forbes top women in tech, and she is among Europe's
most influential women in startups and venture capital. She has built a career at the
forefront of business reinvention.
Raffaela discusses her entrepreneurial journey as founder of BoardLens
a new AI tool she is developing and how it will transform the future of board
meetings and excellence in board members.
Key Takeaways
1. Board effectiveness
- Only 30% CEOs rate their boards as effective. With an expectation that
board members come to meetings well prepared, Rein recognizes that
board members are tasked with consuming hundreds, and often thousands, of pages of information in preparation for meetings. It is an almost impossible task to complete a thorough review especially if you are if you have a full time job. - In Germany, it’s common for board members to hire consultants or a ‘chief of staff’ that will help them with their board responsibilities. Raffaela is creating a tool that will serve a similar role for board members worldwide.
2. How BoardLens can transform board meetings
- Raffaela anticipates launching BoardLens in mid-2025. It is an AI driven
tool that is built to aid board members with meeting preparation,
research, executive summaries, questions and risk analysis. It is meant to
support board members while enabling members to fulfill their fiduciary
duties and make a meaningful contribution in board meetings. - Raffaela likens BoardLens to hiring a personal Goldman Sachs analyst. It
is trained with proprietary data and that will enable it to act, think and
analyze like a board director.
3. Human edge is still crucial
- While AI can process vast data and respond quickly, human directors can
provide intuition, pattern recognition, and emotional intelligence—skills
developed through lived experience that are essential in nuanced
decision-making. - As technology advances, AI is bound to replace some human roles but to
maintain the balance between AI and humans, Rein suggests thinking
about how people are able to provide a unique and individual perspective
to issues on a board’s agenda.
4. Privacy and confidentiality concerns
- Uploading board packets into non-enterprise AI tools can be a
confidentiality risk. BoardLens, however, will be trained to only read one
organization’s board materials and will not cross share data. Rein
explains that the company's IT department will be able to access the
software’s security suite.
Quotes
”Here in Germany we have this system that you can get a consultant or chief of staff who actually helps you, not just with your preparation, but also with thinking things through deeply, doing deep market research, basically doing weeks and weeks of work to help you prepare for a board meeting.”
“I don't like the word 'Copilot' for BoardLens because it feels too passive. I like the word “analyst” because if you think of a Goldman analyst, they will do their best to really make you shine and to prepare you, so you should think of it as an analyst that fights for you.”
”The breadth of expertise and the breadth of knowhow you need to have and need to gain very rapidly as a director these days is significant and has accelerated dramatically in the last five years.”
Links
raffaelarein.com
https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/governance-insights-center/library/board-
effectiveness-and-performance-improvement.html
Raffaela Rein Bio
Raffaela Rein is a seasoned entrepreneur and board member with expertise in frontier technologies and innovation-driven leadership.
She serves on multiple corporate and private equity-backed boards, including
Porsche, Mutares, and the International University IU.
As the founder of WildWildVentures and CareerFoundry, she has scaled startups to
120+ employees and advised venture-backed businesses.
Named one of Forbes’ Top Women in Tech, Capital’s 40 Under 40, and among
Europe’s most influential women in startups and VC, Raffaela has built a career at
the forefront of business reinvention and innovation driven leadership.
She began her career at BlackRock and launched three companies for Rocket
Internet across China, Australia, and Taiwan before becoming an entrepreneur.