Board Shorts Podcast

Education and development for aspiring and emerging board members. Helping you to get on board and thrive in the boardroom.

Finding Your Perfect Fit: Understanding Board Roles and Structures | Ep. 107 02/25/2025

Boardroom Insider of the Month with Genevieve Gregor | Ep. 106 02/18/2025

Boardroom Insider of the Month with Genevieve Gregor | Ep. 106 A Chair of an ASX-listed company, Genevieve Gregor joins me to share insights from her Board journey. We look at Genevieve’s journey to the Boardroom, starting with work-related Boards, to becoming Deputy Chancellor at the University of Western Sydney, to now the Chair of Noumi Limited. Genevieve shares how her professional skills combined with her interests and passions, along with some help from some professional friends, supported the Board career decisions she made. Genevieve shared her biggest Board challenges – including something that ALL Board Members need to be attuned to – and the strategies she uses to overcome them, including how she has developed a knack for seeing around corners. She shares her key words of advice for aspiring and emerging Board Members and her vision of the future of Boards. You can find Genevieve’s full bio in the notes to this episode, along with a link to her LinkedIn profile where I invite you to connect with her there. About Genevieve Gregor Genevieve is an experienced Non-Executive Director (NED) across public and private companies. She is a NED and Chairman of Noumi Limited (ASX:NOU) a food and beverage manufacturer in dairy and plant based beverages, consumer nutritionals, and specialty ingredients. In 2024, she joined TPG Capital, Australia as a Senior Advisor, and as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit and Risk of Eternal Holdco Limited (Invocare.) Her previous NED roles include Moneytech Group Limited, a specialist Australian SME lender providing trade, debtor, and equipment finance products, and Monoova Limited a B2B real time digital payments provider. In 2017 she co-founded Colinton Capital Partners, a mid-market private equity firm investing in Australian growth companies. Prior to June 2017, she was the co-head and Managing Director of the Asia Special Situations Group in Australia for Goldman Sachs for eight years. In this role she ran a lending and investing business which provided capital to fast growing companies and turn around capital to distressed situations. Genevieve earned a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Western Sydney University. She was the Deputy Chancellor of Western Sydney University (WSU), Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee and Trustee at WSU for 12 years. Connect with Thanks to our sponsor Visit and use the promo code boardshorts – all one word, lowercase – to get a 30-day free trial AND 20% off the price of your first year on any plan. If you have a question or a topic that you’d like covered in a future episode, please . /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/35325970

Governance Life Lately | Ep. 105 02/11/2025

Break into the Boardroom: Strategic Networking to Unlock Board Opportunities | Ep. 104 12/15/2024

Break into the Boardroom: Strategic Networking to Unlock Board Opportunities | Ep. 104 In this final episode of the "Break into the Boardroom" podcast series, I delve into the power of strategic networking to achieve your Board goals. While simply signing up for board vacancy emails and attending governance courses may be a start, true success lies in proactive networking. Why Strategic Networking Matters: Hidden Opportunities: Many Board positions are filled through networks, not public advertisements. Building Your Brand: A strong network can amplify your visibility and credibility. Leveraging Your Network: Your network can become your most valuable asset in your Board search. Effective Networking Strategies: Be Clear on Your Board Goal and Board Value Proposition: Clearly articulate your desired Board roles and the value you offer. Build Authentic Relationships: Cultivate genuine connections with people in your network. Leverage Your Existing Network: Tap into your personal and professional relationships. Expand Your Network Strategically: Identify key individuals and organisations that align with your goals. Provide Value: Offer help and support to others in your network. Stay Connected: Maintain regular communication through various channels. Actionable Tips: Reframe Your Approach: Shift from passive waiting to active engagement. Ask for Specific Help: Clearly articulate what you need from your network. Leverage LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn to connect with potential Board Members and recruiters. Attend Industry Events: Network with like-minded professionals. Join Professional Organisations: Engage with industry leaders and experts. Volunteer: Gain valuable experience and expand your network. By implementing these strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of securing a Board position. Remember, networking is a continuous process that requires effort and dedication. Links Mentioned in This Episode Fast Company Article: Sign up to the SpringBoard priority waitlist at /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/34454515

Break into the Boardroom: Understanding your Board Value Proposition | Ep. 103 12/08/2024

Break into the Boardroom: Understanding your Board Value Proposition | Ep. 103 Understanding your unique Board value proposition is a critical step in your Board journey. By clearly defining what you bring to the table, you can effectively position yourself for the right Board opportunities. What is a Board Value Proposition? Your Board Value Proposition is a strategic positioning statement that highlights your unique blend of skills, experience, and passion. It's about showcasing your value to potential Boards and differentiating yourself from other candidates. Key Components of a Strong Board Value Proposition Professional Expertise and Accomplishments: Technical skills, industry knowledge, and proven track record. Career Experience: Diverse roles, leadership positions, and transferable skills. Network and Connections: Strong relationships within your industry and beyond. Board Experience: Previous Board roles, contributions, and experiences. Personal and Lived Experience: Unique perspectives and experiences that can benefit the organisation and Board. Wealth and Financial Acumen: Financial resources and access to these (yours or others). Passions and Interests: Alignment with the organisation's mission and values. Identifying Your Unique Value Proposition To uncover your unique value proposition, ask yourself: What are my core strengths and skills? What unique perspectives can I bring to the boardroom? What industries or sectors am I passionate about? What kind of board would be a good fit for my experience and goals? Leveraging Your Board Value Proposition Once you've identified your unique Board value proposition, you can use it to: Craft a compelling Board resume: Highlight your key qualifications and achievements. Build a strong personal brand: Develop a strong online and in person presence and share your expertise through thought leadership. Network effectively: Connect with potential Board members and other influencers and connectors. Prepare for Board interviews: Articulate your value proposition clearly. By understanding and effectively communicating your Board Value Proposition, you can increase your chances of securing a coveted Board seat and making a meaningful impact. References to textbook quotes in episode: Lovelock, Patterson, and Wirtz (2011) Services Marketing: An Asia-Pacific and Australian Perspective (5th ed.). Pearson Australia. Pages 79-80. Links to Resources Mentioned in this Episode Sign up to the priority waitlist below. /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/34338875

Break into the Boardroom Series: Set a Board Goal | Ep. 102 12/01/2024

The Diverse Boardroom: A Guide for Boards and Aspiring Board Members | Ep. 101 11/26/2024

The Diverse Boardroom: A Guide for Boards and Aspiring Board Members | Ep. 101 In this episode, we're tackling a crucial topic: diversity in boardrooms. But I wanted to take a slightly different angle with this conversation. Yes, I wanted to explore how to create more inclusive boards, but I also wanted to empower diverse individuals to take their seat at the Board table. It takes action from both sides to build and leverage a diverse Board. Joining me today is the incredibly knowledgeable and passionate Christal Cherry. With her wealth of experience in the nonprofit sector, Christal is a true expert in board development and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this episode, we'll delve into these key questions: What exactly is a diverse candidate, and how can boards prepare themselves to welcome and support them? How can diverse individuals position themselves to become board-ready and navigate the unique challenges they may face? And what can we do as individuals and collectively to foster a more inclusive board culture? About Christal Cherry Christal M. Cherry is a nationally acclaimed nonprofit board consultant and certified leadership coach. With over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has supported higher education institutions, human services organizations, and faith-based missions. Her extensive career as a full-time consultant includes working with the Boys and Girls Club USA, Habitat for Humanity, DeKalb, the Ahmaud Arbery Foundation, the Junior League, YWCA USA, Emory University, United Negro College Fund, Spelman College, Scholarship America, Nicholas House, Florida A&M University, and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. With passion and extensive experience, Christal assists clients in establishing a clear path to success in board development. Her style is electrifying, inspiring, and energizing. Christal holds a MA in Counseling from Hampton University, a BA in Liberal Arts from Hofstra University, and professional development certifications in nonprofit leadership, social media fundraising, and nonprofit management. She is also certified as a Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach. She currently serves on the board of directors for Atlanta-based nonprofits, the Villages of Carver YMCA, Fabulous Female Fundraisers, Nicholas House, and Lift to Enrich Inc. She is a sought-after guest presenter on topics such as equitable board governance, recruitment, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Christal has been featured on multiple podcasts and serves as an expert on board matters. /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/34153825

Data, AI, and the Law: A Board's Balancing Act with Sonja Read and Sam Burrett | Ep. 100 11/19/2024

Governance as a Strategic Competitive Advantage with Dr Dean Blomson | Ep. 99 11/12/2024

Governance as a Strategic Competitive Advantage with Dr Dean Blomson | Ep. 99 In an era of rapid technological advancements, shifting regulatory landscapes, and evolving stakeholder expectations, traditional governance models may no longer suffice. It's time to rethink our approach and ensure that our governance practices are aligned with our organisation's unique needs and strategic goals. My guest today is Dr Dean Blomson. Dean is a highly experienced strategy and transformation advisor, having previously served as a consulting partner with several global consulting firms. He has a strong interest in improving decision quality (and the probabilities of success), having been involved in leadership and governance over major capital commitments (M&A, capital projects, transformations), program disciplines and delivery. Dean has a PhD in board governance of mergers and acquisitions, operates his own independent strategic advisory business, is a board director, and a part-time professor and regular teacher of executive MBAs. Our conversation in this episode centres around the findings of a collaborative, thought-provoking research project in 2021 that Dean led and co-authored with EY’s Global Centre for Board Matters into Board Governance Models of the Future. Specifically, we'll delve into the following questions: What is fit-for-purpose governance? How does it differ from the often adopted "governance by default"? What factors make governance "fit for purpose" or not? What are the key attributes of effective governance? How can we identify the signs that our governance practices are outdated or ineffective? What are the warning signals that should prompt us to take action? How can boards and organisations evolve their governance practices to be more fit for purpose? What are the best practices and strategies to adopt? What are the common pitfalls to avoid when modernizing governance? How can we navigate the challenges and ensure a successful transition? By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear understanding of fit-for-purpose governance and be equipped to assess your Board's current practices. Join us as we explore how to build a strong foundation for long-term success. Links Mentioned and Useful Resources ) For an overview of Dean’s fit-for-purpose governance model, I recommend watching the following webinars and downloading the slide resources. Thanks to our sponsor Visit and use the promo code boardshorts – all one word, lowercase – to get a 30-day free trial AND 20% off the price of your first year on any plan. /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/33894622

Ingredients of a Board UVP | Ep. 98 11/05/2024

How I prepare for a Board Interview | Ep. 97 10/22/2024

Not getting on a Board? Here's what you might be doing wrong | Ep. 96 10/15/2024

How to Get Started with your Board Career | Ep. 95 10/09/2024

How to Make your Board Resume Boardroom-Worthy | Ep. 94 10/01/2024

Gender, Diversity, and the New ASX Principles: A Balancing Act | Ep. 93 09/24/2024

AI for Board Secretaries: A Game-Changer or a Gamble? | Ep. 92 09/17/2024

Can AI Write a Better Board Resume Than You | Ep. 91 09/10/2024

Boardroom Insider of the Month with Giselle McLachlan | Ep. 90 09/03/2024

The ROI of Well-being: How to Make Workforce Wellness Profitable | Ep. 89 07/23/2024

The ROI of Well-being: How to Make Workforce Wellness Profitable | Ep. 89 Wellbeing in the workplace is a topic that has been around for a while. But with new positive duties for company directors in Australia, psychosocial safety in the workplace is the latest evolution in workplace health and safety obligations. Board Members are well-aware of their responsibilities to the physical safety of their work force. However, directors now must proactively manage hazards that could create harmful levels of psychological injury. These injuries may include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sleep disorders. It will help boards to see these positive duties as an opportunity to embed a strategic workforce wellbeing program; one that moves the needle for employees and for the business bottom line. How an organisation does this is the domain of Dr Clint Strahan, a Partner at Exsona, where they help organisations elevate the human experience at work. Clint has spent his career in consulting and senior leadership roles applying the principles of organisational psychology to help businesses, and the people within them, perform at their best. His PhD research on accountability and employee engagement in Australian mining provided a foundation for effective strategies and interventions designed to develop leadership capability & drive business performance. He led high-performing Talent Acquisition and L&D departments in the insurance industry for 7yrs and brings that internal, real-world perspective to his consulting work with clients. Clint and I discuss Workforce wellness and wellbeing: what it is and what it isn’t. How workforce wellness addresses psychosocial hazards. How to best address poor performance and incentivise high performance. Ways to measure employee wellbeing to understand how your organisation is performing with psychosocial safety and workforce wellbeing. Simple strategies that all organisations (even small organisations) can introduce to leverage psychosocial safety and workforce wellbeing for a tangible ROI. How to create the business case for investment into workplace wellness and wellbeing programs. Experimenting with workplace wellbeing activities to find what works and moves the needle forward. Clint’s views on recent comments about employees literally taking up arms for their early-stage tech company employer. This isn’t a soft and fluffy wellbeing conversation. There’s a lot of valuable information in this conversation; I took a page of notes and made some key points to ask at my next board meeting. Enjoy this conversation with Dr Clint Strahan. Useful and Mentioned Links For regulatory codes and guides for psychosocial hazards/management, refer to and your industry peak body. /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/32256277

Aligning Your Board for Maximum Impact | Ep. 88 07/10/2024

Aligning Your Board for Maximum Impact | Ep. 88 Creating and sustaining an engaged and motivated group of individuals is critical in any business context. The boardroom is no different. What is often the case, though and I’ve experienced this first-hand, is we expect board members to show up, but what we get are human beings. Human beings that are very smart, used to being in charge, and leading other humans. But, when placed in the context of the boardroom, lack of board experience, board dynamics, and internal politics influence how well those humans can collaborate and produce valuable outcomes for an organisation. These forces are unique to the boardroom, but not unique across all boards. It takes a special toolkit to effectively work with and leverage value from the individuals who make up the board of directors while at the same time minimising the impacts of negative board dynamics and politics. It also takes a special leader to utilise this toolkit consistently; preferably proactively, yet sometimes reactively. Effectively and efficiently integrating, activating, and motivating board members is much easier through the appreciation and use of – what I call – people-first principles and a purpose-focused board. Using this I AM framework, this episode shares smart and practical techniques that all boards can introduce to create and maintain an engaged, empowered, and energised board. Specifically, I will share: · Techniques to integrate and onboard new board members so they deliver value fast. · Methods to activate board members and ensure they are working on the right things at the right time. And, · Approaches to tap into board members’ motivations to sustain their board participation. Webinar and WhitePaper Creating and Sustaining a High-Performance Board Board Induction Resources New board members - the first 100 days: Conscious Governance TV: /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/32076032

Boardroom Insider of the Month with Anna Hurley | Ep. 87 06/27/2024

Leading Up and Down: A CEO and Their Board | Ep. 86 06/05/2024

Governance Education: When and What to Invest In | Ep. 85 05/01/2024

How High Performers can Articulate their Value to Potential Boards | Ep. 84 04/17/2024

How High Performers can Articulate their Value to Potential Boards | Ep. 84 Most aspiring and emerging board members would describe themselves as a high performer. If you’re listening to this podcast, I would suspect that you would lean more towards high performing than not. All this to say, this episode is for you if you’re an aspiring board member (whether you want to join your first board, or you’re looking to take the step up to larger organisations, more sophisticated Boards, or into a paid board role). My dear friend, , has spent many years of his career working with high-performers like you; supporting them to transition into roles that they aspire to be in, whether as a student looking for their first career move, an elite athlete transitioning into life after sport, or supporting a seasoned professional into their next career evolution. I invited him onto the Board Shorts Podcast to talk about the process he uses to help people ‘see the label from inside the jar’, as he puts it. Like most of our conversations, we like to break up the seriousness with the occasional joke or segue into a totally different topic. Nonetheless, Mark always brings us back to the main point and makes it clear with colourful stories and analogies that we can all relate to. About Mark Gregory From a foundation in the UK Banking / Finance sector, with forays into Outdoor Pursuits and Expedition Training, his experience is strongly focused on the assessment and development of both individuals and groups. Since arriving in Australia, in 1996, Mark has developed links across community and commercial networks, assisting and managing a range of innovative programs. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology), from Flinders University, Mark is able to draw from robust frameworks whilst reflecting on extensive workplace experience. His Career Development roles continue his passion for navigating individuals through career decisions, ensuring they have tools and resources tailored to their chosen field. Working across high school and tertiary contexts gives Mark a full understanding of education and employment pathways, in a complex and dynamic labour market. Supporting Students from equity groups provided an opportunity to collaborate with both student support services and Employers. Since 2015 Mark has supported over 250 elite Athletes across two Olympic/Paralympic cycles, a home Commonwealth Games, and multiple World Championships. Links Mentioned in the Episode Get on Board Australia Courses /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/30862463

Finding the Right People for your NFP Board with Sabrina Walker-Hernandez | Ep. 83 03/27/2024

Finding the Right People for your NFP Board with Sabrina Walker-Hernandez | Ep. 83 Where do I find the right people for my NFP Board? How do I build a Board that is generous? Why can’t I find any good Board Members? I often hear these questions from exasperated not-for-profit leaders, Chairs, and Board Members. It turns out that there is a better way to define, find, and recruit non-profit Board Members and Sabrina Walker Hernandez is an expert on this topic. She has previously been on the Board Shorts Podcast, and I invited her back to speak about finding the right people for your NFP Board. This conversation with Sabrina covers all facets of defining and finding the right board members for your not-for-profit board, including how to switch-on Board Member giving, how to best recruit future Board Members to ensure generosity with their time, talent, and treasure, and the CEO and Chairs’ responsibility when it comes to building and maintaining a giving culture on the Board. This is a short but jam-packed conversation with lots of takeaways for NFP leaders and Board Members. Grab your notebook or notes app and settle into this conversation with Sabrina Walker Hernandez. About Sabrina As a consultant and coach, Sabrina specializes in helping small businesses and nonprofits thrive by fostering meaningful relationships that directly impact revenue growth. Using the B.U.I.L.D. framework, Sabrina specializes in strategic planning, leadership retreats, board development, staff empowerment, and resource optimization. Her track record includes consistently delivering a remarkable 30% increase in revenue for the organizations that she works with. She is a bestselling author with over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership. Among her successes is that she increased operation revenue from $750K to $2.5M and completed a $12M comprehensive capital campaign in the 3rd poorest county in the United States. She has facilitated numerous workshops with hundreds of nonprofit and business professionals. She is certified in Nonprofit Management by Harvard Business School. Links Mentioned in this Episode /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/30542218

Leading with Emotional Intelligence in the Boardroom | Ep. 82 03/05/2024

Leading with Emotional Intelligence in the Boardroom | Ep. 82 Emotional intelligence encompasses a set of skills that enable individuals to recognize, understand, and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others. Current thinking points to emotional intelligence (or, EQ) as being more important for leaders than raw intelligence (or, IQ) alone. In the Boardroom, the soft skills or EQ skills that the individual Board Members bring are critical to Board performance. They make the difference between an OK Board (one where the individuals may bring high IQs and low EQs) and a great Board (where individuals bring a power mix of IQ and EQ and use them to reach high-quality decisions). How and why Boards can benefit from its members and the Board as a collective having greater emotional intelligence has been revealed in the recently-published book ‘’. The author of that book Sanela Osmic is my latest podcast guest. Sanela is the founder and Managing Director of Ethical Governance, helping organisations cultivate a culture of ethics and ensure sustainable success. Sanela’s journey from Bosnia to global impact, is one of triumph over adversity, culminating in her unwavering commitment to creating meaningful change in communities worldwide. With nearly twenty years of professional experience across multiple industries (including finance, professional services, disability, government and education), Sanela recognised the critical role that good governance plays in the success of an organisation. Over the years, Sanela has served on a number of Boards and committees, and has worked as a consultant and educator in the governance space. Her book, ‘’ provides practical advice on how Boards can develop and use emotional intelligence to navigate difficult situations, build stronger relationships, and make better decisions. My conversation with Sanela gets into the heart of emotional intelligence in the Boardroom setting, clarifying what it is and what it isn’t, the five elements of emotional intelligence (starting with Self Awareness), how we can avoid false harmony and use emotion to reach better decisions as a group, the role each of us plays as individuals to contribute to a highly emotionally-intelligent culture, and, importantly, the role of the Chair in leading with emotional intelligence. /episode/index/show/12d2ec64-c110-4ebc-b0ae-8dac5c4902f8/id/30217688

The A-Z of Corporate Governance: N to Z | Ep. 81 02/20/2024

The A-Z of Corporate Governance: A to M | Ep. 80 02/07/2024

What To Do Before Seeking A Board Role | Ep. 79 12/06/2023

Using Events To Build Your Board Career | Ep. 78 11/21/2023

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