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 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 vulnerabilities for executives and board members, and why cybersecurity must extend beyond the corporate perimeter He currently serves as the board director of Aware Inc. and is a trustee of Dedham Savings Bank.
Key takeaways
- People are the primary cybersecurity risk
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Most breaches target individuals and start in simple ways with phishing emails, password reuse, or compromised personal devices.
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In cybersecurity, people are the weakest links and organizations often lack in providing continued digital protection for executives once they step outside the company’s firewalls
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Home networks and personal accounts often lack even basic security controls and so cybersecurity is a risk for anyone that works remotely, travels, or brings their work home from the organization. It can even impact your family.
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Aprivé: Personal and enterprise-grade cybersecurity
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The company offers a white-glove services that protect individuals, their home network, devices and digital footprint
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Aprivé is unlike other cybersecurity companies and proactively helps people get the protection they need in places outside of the enterprise
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Aprivé’s services cover six pillars
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Password and credential security
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Home network hardening
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Mobile and personal device security
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Online identity and digital footprint management
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Financial and account monitoring
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24/7 concierge support and incident response
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- Boards and executives are high-value targets with outsized exposure
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Even the best board portals don’t flag when a non-authorized user logs in with stolen credentials taken from a phishing malware or compromised device
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When an attacker gets access, they can gather information that could lead to reputational damage
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Aprivé’s services ensure everyone within the enterprise is protected, assessing the vulnerability of each individual — especially the C-suite
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The company also serves high profile and public figures
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Quotes
“People continue to remain the weakest link.”
“ What we found was [people-C-suite leaders and High-value individuals] oftentimes have no one thinking about protecting them once they left the organization.”
“Even the best board portals assume that the person that's logging on is legitimate.”
“If I steal your credentials through a phishing malware, a compromised personal device, the system doesn't see me as an attacker, it sees me as a trusted user.”
Links
Guest Bio
Gary Evee is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and cybersecurity leader dedicated to redefining how the world’s most influential people safeguard their digital lives.
As the founder and CEO of Aprivé, he is pioneering the next frontier of personal cybersecurity, Executive & Lifestyle Defense, a model that blends technology, concierge service, and intelligence to protect executives, high-net-worth individuals, and families from the evolving digital threat landscape.
With more than 25 years of experience spanning technology, cybersecurity, and business transformation, Gary is known for his rare ability to bridge innovation and trust. Before founding Aprivé, he served as an executive leader in IBM's Cybersecurity Business Unit, helping Fortune 500 CEO's and global enterprises navigate emerging threats while scaling IBM's security portfolio worldwide. In addition to his work with Aprivé, Gary founded Evee Security Consulting Group, advising corporations and public institutions on cyber risk management, identity protection, and incident response. He also founded CyberTrust Massachusetts, a pioneering public-private initiative that develops the next generation of cybersecurity professionals through education, workforce development, and real-work defense programs.
Gary erves as a Board Director at Ware Inc. (NASDAW: AWRE), a leading biometrics and identity authentication company, and as a Trustee of Dedham Savings Bank and Charlesbridge Bank. He is also a Visiting Fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University, contributing to national discussions on cybersecurity, policy, and technology innovation.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Gary regularly shares insights on executive risk, digital identity, and the future of cybersecurity, empowering leaders to safeguard what matters most in an increasingly complex digital world.