Boardroom Hustle

How easy is it to up the impact and influence in your board role?  In this episode, Paul is joined by upcoming Future Directors Faculty Member, former-NACD President, award-winning documentary filmmaker, and talented human of other governance things Erin Essenmacher. Together we look at how positive psychology can help you navigate common but tricky human dynamics in the boardroom. We explore how to leverage your strengths to foster a more positive and influential boardroom culture.  NOTE: This is a recording of one of our Directors Circle sessions that we put on live for our Future Directors members (see link to join below). The sound quality is not our usual. Also in this episode: Learn how to identify and leverage your strengths for greater impact and influence. Understand how to navigate and manage complex boardroom dynamics. Develop strategies to enhance collaboration and move towards a stronger, more inclusive leadership group.   Links: Connect With Erin Essenmacher: LinkedIn  Join the Future Directors Community: Join for FREE Connect with Paul Smith: LinkedIn

Many people think you have to be an accountant or finance professional to sit on a board. Nope! But, you do need to know how to navigate financial statements AND, more importantly, ask all the right questions of the numbers...often with a bit of skeptisicm. In this episode, Paul is joined by new Future Directors Faculty Member and sports nut, Dr David Bond. He also teaches this finance stuff to uni students, via his popular YouTube channel, and gets to live and breathe it too inside the multiple boards he serves on. NOTE: This is a recording of one of our Directors Circle sessions that we put on live for our Future Directors members (see link to join below). The sound quality is not our usual. Also in this episode: Learn how to leverage real-time financial data to enhance decision-making. Explore modern approaches to financial governance beyond static board papers. Gain insights on the future of financial literacy for board directors.   Links: Connect With David Bond: YouTube | | LinkedIn  Join the Future Directors Community: Join for FREE Connect with Paul Smith: LinkedIn

What a coup! Famed author Bob Burg joins Paul for a rare podcast interview.  Bob Burg is a world-renowned author who has sold over 2 million books. In this episode, Bob shared the timeless principles behind this influential work, The Go-Giver (co-authored with John David Mann) and explained why shifting your focus from GETTING to GIVING can transform your business (and your board) and also your life. Together, we also explored the profound idea of "providing immense value to others" and how this mindset leads to better board performance. Also in this episode: The foundational principles of The Go-Giver and why it's more relevant than ever. How focusing on value creation builds trust in any organisation. The Five Laws of Stratospheric Success and how apply in the boardroom. Shifting from a transactional mindset to a relationship approach in governance. Best quote from Bob: "To rationalize is to tell ourselves 'rational lies,' creating a justification for something we know deep down may not be right."   Links: Bob's book: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann Learn more about Bob Burg: BobBurg.com Join the Future Directors Community: Join for FREE Connect with Paul Smith: LinkedIn      

We love a good crossover episode! In late 2024, your host Paul Smith featured on The Jasper Blueprint podcast with Bessi Graham. It was so relevant for Future Directors' listener...that we decided to add it to our episode list. In this episode, Bessi and I explore governance as a competitive edge in small to medium-sized businesses. Focusing on future-fit boards that manage responsibilities across ALL stakeholders, our conversation went beyond the traditional view of governance as mere compliance.  The episode highlights the pivotal role governance plays in decision-making, particularly in privately-owned businesses where it is often overlooked.  Also in this episode:  Effective governance includes diversity of thought, curiosity, and ongoing education for all involved participants in board settings. Stakeholder mapping reveals overlooked perspectives that significantly influences decision-making and strategic direction. Emphasising fit-for-purpose governance structures significantly improves the functionality and inclusivity of board and decision-making processes. Links: Subscribe to the Jasper Blueprint podcast: Apple Podcast | YouTube | Spotify Connect With Bessi Graham: Website | | LinkedIn  Join the Future Directors Community: Join for FREE Connect with Paul Smith: LinkedIn

NEW SEASON TIME! I hope you all enjoyed the Future Boards Forum 2024 episode. That essentially acts as a break in my mercurial podcast. Now, I mix things up again. I can be like a magpie and shiny objects! This season will be ALL interviews with cool people talking about corporate (and board) governance topics that don't get as much air time.  First up, the founder and MD of The Governance Collective, Lisa Coletta. She is obsessed with systems, frameworks and human nature's impact of board dynamics. She's also an expert in the critical administrative and strategic role of the Company Secretary.  Enjoy this, and the rest of the new season! Links: Join Future Directors for FREE (also access Lisa's exclusive courses) Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Follow and Connect with Lisa (LinkedIn) Check out The Governance Collective

What are the Governance Trends for year ahead? In this special episode, we bring you the highlights from the Future Boards Forum (held in December 2024), where I was joined by a panel of governance geeks to explore the biggest trends shaping board governance for the next 12 months. It's a bit of a longer episode (and sorry about the sound quality), but stick with it and you'll hear insights on emerging challenges, innovative solutions, and the evolving role of boards in navigating an uncertain world. Topics include: The intersection of AI and governance Fostering stakeholder trust Building resilient board cultures. Tune in to hear from Erin Essenmacher (former Head of Strategy at the NACD), Lisa Coletta (MD of The Governance Collective) and my old mate Matt Fullbrook (the one trying to redefine corporate governance). Links Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

In my last episode before a brand new (very special) season kicks off, I literally sit down and riff with my Governance Geek friend Matt Fullbrook to chat about good people and good governance. This short episode was totally unplanned. We were working in his Brisbane AirBnB during our recent "Experimental Mindsets Tour" of Australia in October 2024. More on that next year. For now...judge for yourself whether people make a difference. Enjoy! Links Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Matt's OMG Podcast

Much of board education likes to zero in on technical knowledge—keeping up with regulatory updates, sharpening financial skills, risk management, and staying on top of industry trends.  These are crucial, no doubt. But they're only one part of the picture. The often overlooked part is the necessary human skills...and for me, the real heart of what makes a board effective. So, here's another little short podcast which describes the harmonic balance that any good boardroom needs... Have a listen and see what you think.  Podcast links Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)  

Commentary on corporate governance commonly focuses on what is wrong or missing. The mistakes, the downfalls, the ‘bad stuff'. Admittedly, I'm not immune to this.  With the world seemingly in increasing turmoil - divisive politics, endless wars, clashing ideologies… and just trying to keep up with the cost of living - it would be easy to keep focusing on the negative. So, here's a little short podcast from me which brings a bit of love and positivity into the world of the boardroom. Have a listen and see what you think.  Podcast links Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

Diving into the heart of what makes or breaks the boardroom is not just a pastime for me—it's a mission. Some time ago, a few of my fellow future-focused enthusiasts and I went down a rabbit hole to talk about the most unpopular governance opinions. I thought I would reflect on and summarise the themes in the podcast. Please note. Not all of these are mine, but I fully support how unpopular they might be :) Have a listen and see what you think.  Podcast links Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

A poorly executed board recruitment strategy can be the silent saboteur of a board's success. Quality board recruitment processes are the cornerstone that ensures the right mix of expertise, experience and vision exists to govern with confidence. Unlike executive recruitment, it's also a process that most boards only engage in occasionally, so boards need a robust and repeatable process embedded in their culture.  This episode features a recent conversation between Paul and Tom Mutch, Partner, Board & Public Sector Practice at leading international recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson.  Their chat deep dives into board recruitment, succession planning, candidate assessments, and the pivotal role of nomination committees....and might also feature some references to British humour. Sorry! Some links: Tom's written interview with Future Directors Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Check out Tom and Odgers Berndtson      

What type or style of board member are you? Are you the Stakeholder Champion, Data Chaser, Status Hound, Unprepared, or even the Narcissist? These are the types identified in a recent article from Harvard Business Review, and in another bite-sized episode from Paul, he gives you a few more to play with. Then, Paul asks how can we harmonise so many different people into an effective team or board? Have a listen and see what you think.  Podcast links Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn)

Yes, 100 episodes!  Wow. Almost 70 hours worth of conversation about boards, directors, technology, diversity, education, careers, challenges and more. It's been a blast.  To welcome us into the next century, you have a new host, Matt Fullbrook. Amongst his claims to fame he's the single most repeated guest on Paul's podcast and one of the few others governance podcasts to hit 100 episodes. In this episode, the tables are turned and Matt interviews Paul about his journey. And, it gets super embarrassing for Paul... Some links: Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Matt Fullbrook's podcast Matt Fullbrook's website

As we near our ONE-HUNDREDTH episode, Paul shares his favourite episode of all time. It also happens to be one of the most downloaded episodes in the podcast's history.  Featuring repeat offender Matt Fullbrook, alongside younger directors Nurain Janah and Hannah Stenning, this replay of Ep57 dives into why we need intergenerational diversity in the boardroom. This is the first part of an eventual two-parter, so feel free to drop back to Ep58 straight afterwards. See you next time for EPISODE 100! Some links: Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Nurain Janah's website Hannah Stenning on LinkedIn Matt Fullbrook's podcast Matt Fullbrook's website

Hello, fellow governance geeks, director dorks and boardroom boffins! This special technological episode features your host Paul Smith - founder of Future Directors - chatting with the hugely popular Generative AI tool, ChatGPT 4.0. Having crowdsourced some questions from his network, Paul ask Chat questions, follow-up questions, agrees to disagree and more with a voice-enabled version of the revolutionary tech.  Learn what ChatGPT says about governance, diversity, decision-making and more Learn how boards can use tools like this to support critical thinking and decisions Hear how it copes with some real-world boardroom scenarios (Please do note that this episode was recorded in February 2024. Technology moves fast, so who knows what it will be capable of when you listen). Some links: Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Image generated by DALL-E (actually by Matt Fullbrook - yes, him again!)

In this episode, Paul takes a backseat to his colleague Aisling Blackmore who recorded this webinar with William Rae and Elaine Crichton from Inspiring Scotland in late 2023.  (Please note, there were some sound issues during this recording) Inspiring Scotland is a UK-based charity that identifies and solves problems on a national scale, working together for a Scotland without poverty or disadvantage. The episode brings together lived experience leadership, models for inclusive decision-making, and stakeholder-focused governance. Prepare to challenge conventional thinking by exploring both personal growth and crucial changes within the boardroom environment to foster inclusivity and safety.  William is a board director and Chair who brings lived experience of learning disability. Elaine, from Inspiring Scotland, delivers inclusive governance training.  Here are some links: Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Connect with Aisling Blackmore (LinkedIn) Check out Inspiring Scotland Connect with William Rae Connect with Elaine Crichton

Can you believe we are four episodes away from the Magic 100?!? This is a wonderful in-depth chat between two people obsessed with board governance.  Jess Bulger is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Tumut in NSW, Australia. She is the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute and Co-Chair at Outward Bound Australia. She cares deeply about indigenous leadership, capacity building and seeing communities thrive.  In this wide-ranging conversation between two governance geeks, Paul and Jess cover: The importance of language. Is it First Nations, Indigenous, or Aboriginal? Is Indigenous Governance singular or does it take many forms? What can companies do to engage their indigenous stakeholders better? Here are some links: Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Connect with Jess (LinkedIn) Check out AIGI (Australian Indigenous Governance Institute) 

Are you looking to build a board of directors from scratch or enhance your existing board composition? If so, then this episode is the one for you.  This ep features a recent conversation between Paul and special guests, Rosie and Lucy Thomas from Project Rockit. A few years ago, these two sisters worked with Paul to enhance the board composition of their social enterprise.  The chat dives deep into their thinking, their blindspots, the Future Director's process and how it all came together. We also touch on the lessons learnt and how it's all going in the boardroom. Fascintating stuff! Here's some links: Join Future Directors for FREE Follow and Connect with Paul (LinkedIn) Check out Project Rockit

As we see big brand companies like Qantas and OpenAI go through what we can safely say from the outside is a bit of a ‘governance crisis', it has brought up the need to be very clear about what is board leadership and why is it different to other leadership roles. In another bite-sized episode of Paul by himself (guests are back soon), he will give you a twist on the usual elephantish analogy. SPOILER ALERT. Elephants are excellent swimmers.  But, what has this got to do with the Modern Board Leader? You'll have to listen to find out...

In a world of ever-evolving organisational governance, where boards serve as the nerve centre of decision-making and strategy, it is surprising how often the simple question of PURPOSE remains unanswered. Boards of directors, entrusted with steering companies through complex waters, frequently grapple with their roles, often searching for their true north. In this short episode, Paul is back to help deconstruct why boards need a unifying force that guides them, in alignment with the company's values and long-term vision.

In this special episode, we share a recent recording of Paul hosting a live webinar on the subject of AI, its impact on boardrooms, policies, governing and the role of board directors themselves.  Is it a risk, an opportunity, or (spoiler alert) both? In this episode, Paul discusses: What is AI, Generative AI and what stage are we at?* How to develop an AI Governance Policy for your company or organisation...that will keep pace the rapid changes in AI How you should (and shouldn't) use AI inside the boardroom  What could the future hold for AI Governance? *Note. This was recorded in late 2023. The world of AI is changing so fast that some facts will be out of date when you listen. Can't be helped :)

On the back of episode 89, we've been looking at another study. This time by Monash University in Australia, which delved deep into board diversity and inclusion. They interviewed remarkable women from diverse backgrounds, and what they unearthed is a wake-up call for every boardroom across the world. In this episode, Paul is back to quickly distill the main points of this latest study and what it means for you, your board and for the wider industry. Warning, he has some strong opinions on this one...

Another year, another survey of board directors. Does this one show us anything new? Earlier this year, the Global Network of Director Institutes released their “The Future of Board Governance” report. The GNDI is a collection of 24 national governance institutes from North and South America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, with combined memberships of 150,000. In this episode, Paul briefly covers the main findings of the report and the implications for boards and companies. 

This episode is a bit special and serves two purposes. For our Australian listeners, it continues on the discussion about navigating the Voice to Parliament discussion with your board. Paul hosted a webinar recently and this is a snippet from a special panel discussion with guests Jessica Bulger (from the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute) and Kate Hillman (from Ernst & Young).   For our overseas listeners, there is still some great stuff here for you if you are interested in how indigenous governance differs from modern governance norms, and what we can learn fro each other. It was a fascinating chat.   Please note, the audio is not up to the usual standard.   More from Jessica:AIGI Website: https://aigi.org.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-bulger-3993925b/   More from Paul:  Website: https://futuredirectors.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/   More from Kate:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-hillman-11007040/   

In a special episode of the podcast, we take a look at how to navigate the 'Voice to Parliament' Referendum in your boardroom. For our non-Australian listeners, this won't mean much unless you keep up to date with First Nations affairs globally.  In this webinar (converted to podcast), Paul was joined by author, Uluru Statement from the Heart signatory and Yes23 Spokesperson, Thomas Mayo, and CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Insitute, Jessica Bulger.  They explored this crucial topic, delving into the significance of acknowledging First Nations communities and how (and why) boards can play a role. Thomas explores the historical struggle for regocognition, whilst Jessica provides an important context and perspective on the principles of effective Indigenous governance. You'll finally hear a panel discussion featuring Paul, Jessica, Thomas and Future Directors' Head of Programs Aisling Blackmore, talking about how boards can engage, listen, and respond to society and social issues.  More from Thomas:  Website: https://www.thomasmayo.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-mayo-70774378/ More from Jessica: AIGI Website: https://aigi.org.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-bulger-3993925b/ More from Paul:  Website: https://futuredirectors.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ More from Aisling:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acblackmore/  

This is part 2 of Paul's fascinating (we think) conversation with technologist and all round nice guy, Josh Klein.  If this is your first listen to the podcast, we recommend you go back to Part 1 a few episodes ago.  Josh is a truly fascinating guest. He specialises in translating technological insights into actionable strategies. He's a sought-after speaker, writer and consultant even though he now lives on the island country of Iceland.  This was a meeting of the minds. Josh and Paul vibing on so many levels that we had to record across two episodes. Enjoy! More Josh here: Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Klein Josh's website: https://josh.is/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaklein/  More Paul here: Wiki: Yeah right! FDI website: https://www.futuredirectors.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/   

High-performance teams, from the pitch to the boardroom, need to build up rapport together. This takes time. But, one of the major problems in most boardrooms is the lack of time together. Whatever time a board has is usually spent on the business instead of getting to know one another. Compound this with the infrequency of meetings and you have a recipe for a less effective team. In this episode, Paul discusses why there is always time to build rapport in the boardroom. From informal small talk to more formal structures and social gatherings. You'll reap the benefits with just a little investment in getting ti know each other.

Paul's back chatting to with the best and brightest in his latest episode of the Future Directors Podcast. This week is Part 1 of a two-parter with technologist, Josh Klein. Josh is a truly fascinating guest. He specialises in translating technological insights into actionable strategies. He's a sought-after speaker, writer and consultant even though he now lives on the island country of Iceland.  This was a meeting of the minds. Josh and Paul vibing on so many levels that we had to keep recording into a second episode. Enjoy! More Josh here: Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Klein Josh's website: https://josh.is/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaklein/  More Paul here: Wiki: Yeah right! FDI website: https://www.futuredirectors.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ 

Did you know that fewer than 1% of board directors worldwide have a formal qualification? Should this worry us? Do qualifications indicate competency? Do we miss out on better candidates when we seek assurance from a qualification? In this short episode, Paul ruminates on a recent conversation between scholars Scott Galloway and Byron Auguste on The Prof G Pod, and seeks to connect it to the boardroom. For some background, here's that conversation between Scott and Byron.

We're always working toward inclusivity and intersectionality at Future Directors. And, today, it's particularly important that I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Paul recorded this episode – the Whadjuk Noongar people. So, can we learn anything about governance from the oldest living civilisation in the world? In this week's episode, Paul shares his thoughts having spent the last few years talking with and listening deeply to First Nations Indigenous people around the world. Not to spoil the next 8 minutes but Paul's answer is emphatically YES.  This might be a bit confronting for some listeners to hear...

Our most provocative episode (title) ever. The week Paul - in just a few minutes - discusses the power of systems, language and stakeholders. How do these things play out in and around boardrooms? Paul investigates some different ways of looking at effective governance structures that move us away from the traditional "top floor down" thinking of where boards belong. Are directors the problem or is it something else?  Some answers await...

This week's short snippet from Paul focusses on a bit of research by those smart people at Havard and Penn universities called “The Liking Gap In Groups”. Apparently, we can routinely underestimate how likeable we seem to others, but this gap shrinks as we get to know one another.  What does this have to do with governance, the boardroom and the role of the director? IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS!!! Ok, there's more to it, but in just a few minutes you'll know more...

We are back...again! Yes, the Future Directors Podcast is crazily inconsistent but you can't beat the content right?  For the next little while, FDI Founder Paul Smith will be sharing his thoughts in bite-size monologues of under 5 minutes each. Governance geekdom at its finest. This episode is all that little thing bandwagon called AI - Artificial Intelligence. Paul is interested in ChatGPT's (and more broadly, AI's) implications for boards, strategy, risk and their role as organisational stewards. What things should it be making board directors think and talk about? What risks and opportunities does it pose for your organisation? Some answers await your ears...

It's part two of last ep's convo with FDI's Paul Smith and tech & governance experts, Pia Turcinov and Alan Jones. This time they're thinking about how those ‘dangerous and disruptive tech folk' can reframe what they offer, in order to get a seat at the boardroom table in the first place.  The conversation spans: Why techy directors are seen as risky. Creating bridges in to the boardroom that can then grow more organically - from digital innovation subcommittees, to just one expert at the table. Getting the supply by reframing technologists as innovators. Speaking the language the board is speaking right now. Not just bringing in the technology of innovation, but also the processes of innovation – including, comfort with failure. Pia Turcinov is a Non-Executive Director and Innovation Strategist, and founder of Venture X and Fund WA. Alan John is a startup founder mentor and tech investor, who is a partner with M8 Ventures, and the chair of Catalysr, an entrepreneurship program focused on marginalised migrants and refugees.

You could be a banana farm. An insurer. A school network. It doesn't matter. Digital tech is now so integral to day-to-day life that, whatever business you're in, you're now a technology business. So why don't more boards have tech at the top of their minds? Why are Australia's ASX toppers the top tech laggers? That forms the topic of conversation today between board directors Pia Turcinov and Alan Jones and FDI's Paul Smith. The conversation spans: Why techy directors are seen as risky. Creating bridges in to the boardroom that can then grow more organically - from digital innovation subcommittees, to just one expert at the table. Getting the supply by reframing technologists as innovators. Speaking the language the board is speaking right now. Not just bringing in the technology of innovation, but also the processes of innovation – including, comfort with failure. Pia Turcinov is a Non-Executive Director and Innovation Strategist, and founder of Venture X and Fund WA. Alan John is a startup founder mentor and tech investor, who is a partner with M8 Ventures, and the chair of Catalysr, an entrepreneurship program focused on marginalised migrants and refugees.

In the last of our series we Matt we talk about one of the most important people in the boardroom...the Chair. You've probably heard the analogy about the board chair being like an orchestra conductor. Matt Fullbrook of Fullbrook Board Effective thinks that's bunkum. He has a different analogy - and it's to do with dinner parties. FDI's Paul riffs with Matt on making board leadership better.  We workshop: Is leadership evolving? The conventional understanding of a board chair Introducing a new analogy - board chairs as great dinner hosts The role of the board in co-creating the right atmos for decision-making How to chair better in a virtual environment Should we have 2 chairs? 1 for the mechanical stuff, another for the generative stuff? The power of practice and play in breaking board norms Connect with Matt FullbrookLinkedinTwitter Board Effectiveness Connect with Future Directors InstituteFuture Directors Insititute Paul Smith on LinkedIn Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn

Leah Fricke has a term for the meat she brings to her non-executive director roles: “Deliberate Practice”. It's about consciously and continually reflecting on what your board will need in 3 years, and actively becoming it – through extracurricular learning and self-development. It's what made Leah stand out to FDI judges to become 2022's first ever Future Director Of The Year. And it's what might make you stand out in the boardroom too (and this year's Awards).  Paul and Leah discuss: Leah's traditional, yet untraditional, journey to the boardroom How limited time/money can actually focus a board's attention A cut-throat quality that keeps Leah sharp – upskill or step aside Expounding on “Deliberate Practice”: The power of a growth mindset and continual questioning of oneself And lastly, Leah's judging this year's Future Director/Board Of The Year Awards. What's she looking for?  

Here's another short episode with Paul sharing his wisdom to help you in your board career. This week, it's all about your why. As Simon Sinek's book suggests "Start with Why" but for us at Future Directors, there are far more reasons beyond the start point that makes your why such a critical (non-negotiable) element of your journey. Enjoy!

Does the phrase ‘corporate governance' apply to non-profits, schools, community groups etc? Yes, but for many, it doesn't and Paul (solo this time) is here to explain why governance has a positioning problem.

“How does this impact us?” is a question you'll often hear in boardrooms. But less so, “Who is the us?” and “Isn't the us also the environment and the community?” or “Should we think about what we can have a positive impact on, versus just thinking about what we'll be negatively impacted by?”. Powerful questions, all discussed by FDI's Paul and governance guru Matt Fullbrook of Fullbrook Board Effectiveness, in this podcast about how ‘left-of-field' issues might not be that ‘left' after all. We spitball: Reasons to think outside your board's direct impact zone Why it's impossible to benefit everyone, but important to consider everyone Stakeholder representation in the boardroom and conflicts of interest in being a representative for other voices on the board How to bake stakeholder thinking into your board's practices   Connect with Matt FullbrookLinkedinTwitter Board Effectiveness Connect with Future Directors InstituteFuture Directors Insititute Paul Smith on LinkedIn Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn

Spotify's big drawcard Joe Rogan said some stuff. Stupid stuff. And Spotify got heat because Joe's values butted against their publicly stated ones. So what's a board to do? Today, FDI's Paul yacks with good friend Matt Fullbrook of Fullbrook Board Effectiveness, about what things a board could do better in a crisis.  We cover: How a Future Director should respond to an ethical dilemma Why knee-jerk reactions are wrong and current crisis meetings are broken Are day-to-day crises even in the board's purview? Mutual vulnerability between management and their board, and the board's responsibility to create this The need to be imaginative when developing a Risk Register Connect with Matt FullbrookLinkedinTwitter Board Effectiveness Connect with Future Directors InstituteFuture Directors Insititute Paul Smith on LinkedIn Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn

Today is another joyful forum with Matt Fullbrook of Fullbrook Board Effectiveness and FDI's Paul Smith. This time, the question's squarely on what sort of director is the director the future needs? Let's hear Matt dimensionalise what being a Future Director means to him. We explore: A strong definition of corporate governance (and by extension, good governance) The 4 villains to good decision-making The upside of being untethered to orthodoxy, naive in a sense Making a fit-for-purpose board, rather than a one-size-fits-all board How an overboarder could flip a boardroom for the better What a board full of Matt Fullbrooks would look like   Resources: ‘Decisive' by Chip & Dan Heath  Connect with Matt FullbrookLinkedinTwitter Board Effectiveness Connect with Future Directors InstituteFuture Directors Insititute Paul Smith on LinkedIn Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn

A weird cultural thing's emerged through the history and formality of boardrooms, which has made it a space that makes directors lonely. Vulnerability is seen as a weakness because comradery is weak. Today, FDI's Paul chats with Matt Fullbrook of Fullbrook Board Effectiveness - on how what boards and directors can do to click. Obnoxious wisdom awaits. We discuss: Why boards breed loneliness, and whether this is just a human problem How boards can make people comfortable by switching up rigid ways of doing things What individual board directors can do to feel less lonely The power of being consciously obnoxious Connect with Matt FullbrookLinkedinTwitter Board Effectiveness Connect with Future Directors InstituteFuture Directors Insititute Paul Smith on LinkedIn Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn If you enjoyed this, we'd love to know. Leave a quick review here: Future Directors on iTunes

Future Directors Podcast #69 Governing for Burnout Series Part 2 - How to create a workplace culture that limits staff burnout When people are working weekends and not taking leave, it's clear mental ill health is a-brewing. How do you ensure it doesn't get to that point? That's the focus of Part 3 of our ‘Governing For Burnout' series, with Dr Jaelea Skehan, Director of Everymind. We discuss: How a workplace's culture helps its bottom line How Covid's fucked everything up Going beyond wellness lessons. Building wellbeing into people's job designs. Lag signs and lead signs of burnout Jaelea's secret ingredients to a great mental health culture (not that secret at all) Connect with Everymind Dr Jaelea Skehan on Twitter Everymind Connect with Future Directors Institute Future Directors Insititute Paul Smith on LinkedIn Aisling Blackmore on LinkedIn Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the first in this series, we'd love to know. Leave a quick review here: Future Directors on iTunes  

Future Directors Podcast #68 Governing for Burnout Series Part 2 - Burnout, board director to board director When a board is at their limits, they can't take their org to its potential. This is Part 2 of our ‘Governing For Burnout' series. In it, Dr Jaelea Skehan, Director of Everymind and mental health advocate, breaks down how board directors can prevent each other from breaking down. We chat about: The need to make boards a safe place to say you're burnt out Your duty to govern your mental health, and check in with others Creating codes of conduct and adopting an org's wellness plans at board level too Board directors being vulnerable about burnout outside the boardroom Connect with Everymind Dr Jaelea Skehan on Twitter Everymind Connect with Future Directors Institute Future Directors Insititute Paul Smith on LinkedIn Aisling Blackmore on LinkedIn Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the first in this series, we'd love to know. Leave a quick review here: Future Directors on iTunes

Future Directors Podcast #67 Governing for Burnout Series Part 1 - How to manage your own burnout as a board director Boardrooms breed burnout. Most board directors are the hard-nosed sort to gloss over it. That's a problem. In this, Part 1 of our ‘Governing For Burnout' series, Dr Jaelea Skehan, Director of Everymind and mental health advocate, sits with FDI's Paul and Aisling to skirt the start of a solution. We go through: What burnout is and isn't Why board directors are prone to it Warning signs you're burnt out Steps to reverse your fizzle and fatigue   Connect with Everymind Dr Jaelea Skehan on Twitter Everymind Connect with Future Directors Institute Future Directors Insititute Paul Smith on LinkedIn Aisling Blackmore on LinkedIn Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the first in this series, we'd love to know. Leave a quick review here: Future Directors on iTunes

We are called the Future Directors Institute, but what exactly is a Future Director and why is it not a future director? In this short trailer for the podcast, we want to give you a clue as to why it's worth listening to Paul and his guests. You could say that the entire podcast going forward is designed around this simple, yet deep concept.

Wow, it's been 12 months since our last podcast. So much has happened. All you need to know is we are back! What can you expect? Shorter episodes of 15-20min or less Fascinating guests from around the world Huge focus on real solutions to director & board issues Perhaps the odd longer interview dropped in

In this special Decision84-related episode, we have two amazing guests, Sharon Sutherland and Dr. Dean Blomson, discussing the future of boards. Sharon is the leader with Ernst Young's Global Center for Board Matters. In her work, she enables board members and directors to navigate their increasingly complex roles. Dr. Dean Blomson is a highly experienced business transformation strategist and professor at UTS Business School in Sydney. In this episode, we chat about Decision84, our upcoming annual virtual board governance summit, and give a sneak peek into the opening session featuring Sharon and Dean: How do we make sure the board can ask the right questions at the right time on the right topics and with the right information? How do you exercise stewardship, focusing on how to leave something in a better shape than you found it? What ways can the investments in the major capital projects be better thought through and better implemented? What are the global megatrends affecting society, organizations, and communities in the longer term? Technology and transformational change. Shift in geographical dynamics and values dynamics. How can the organization address the challenges by looking at the root cause? How do we know as a board that our operating model is fit for purpose? Connect with Sharon: LinkedIn Connect with Dean: LinkedIn Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Future Directors on iTunes

This special episode features Paul Smith chatting with this podcast's former co-host, Anna Byrne, about our upcoming virtual board governance summit, Decision84. Decision84 is the world's leading board governance virtual summit. Held over 2 weeks from 31 August to 9 September, hundreds of decision-makers come together to learn, connect, debate and stretch their thinking. Decision84 is the only international event designed exclusively for those ready to stretch their thinking, push boardroom boundaries and help create the next era of governance. In this episode, you will find out: Why did Anna and Paul start Decision84 last year? What were the highlights of the inaugural event in 2020? Why is it called Decision84? What makes the summit different from other governance conferences? What will be discussed at Decision84 this year? What is the special discount code for listeners of the podcast? Check out www.decision84.com for more information. Connect with Anna: LinkedIn NeuroPower Group Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Future Directors on iTunes

Quick reminder that this is Part 2 of Charlotte's episode. If you've not already listened to Part 1, we suggest checking it out first, then coming back to enjoy the second half. In Part 2, Charlotte and Paul question why board governance just doesn't seem exciting to many people – and we think they've found the answer. Listen to the episode to find out. You'll also hear about: The benefits of reverse mentoring How to overcome intergenerational clashes How do these clashes feed into the bigger picture? Do we need less ‘numbers people' and more ‘people people' in the boardroom? What are Charlotte's hopes for the future of governance, and what are her fears? Charlotte's essential tips for aspiring directors (of any age/gender/experience) Why vulnerability and authenticity are key attributes for great directors If you loved this, you'll love hearing Charlotte speak at our upcoming Decision84 event.  Connect with Charlotte Valeur: LinkedIn Effective Directors: The Right Questions to Ask Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Follow Future Directors on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Future Directors on iTunes