The Savvy Director Blog

Preparation gets directors to the table, but readiness determines their impact. This article explores how mindset, presence, and strategic focus help directors elevate board discussions.

Picture this. Two directors read the same 300-page board package. Both highlight key sections and show up on time. One contributes little beyond a few clarifying questions. The other helps reframe a strategic decision, surfaces a hidden risk, and moves the room toward a clearer outcome.

What made the differe...

Directors with self-awareness make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and contribute more effectively. This article explains the two types of self‑awareness and offers practical ways to improve them.

Most of us like to think we’re self-aware – that we see ourselves clearly. Apparently, most of us are wrong. Research shows that only 10 to 15 percent of us fit the criteria for self-awareness.

Why does it matter? For board directors, self-awareness is an important attribute because...

Asking questions is a powerful tool for shaping strategy and surfacing risks. This article shows how to improve your questioning skills with better framing, timing, tone, and technique.

One of the most powerful tools in your director’s toolbox is the art of asking great questions. It’s so important that it’s one of The Six Key Habits of the Savvy Director. Regardless of your sector, your governance model, or the length of your tenure, your ability to ask insightful, timely, and courageous que...

Imposter syndrome shows up in boardrooms more often than you think. This article explores why capable people doubt themselves, the competence traps that fuel those feelings, and practical ways to reframe imposter thoughts.

It seems that, everywhere I go, someone is talking about imposter syndrome.

First it was an online discussion about 'Cultivating Your Influence in the Boardroom'.

Then a conversation with board directors at the inaugural Women Get On Board Summit. (Hold the date for WGOB'...

Directors need confidence, but unchecked ego can undermine trust and collaboration. This article examines common ego‑driven pitfalls and practical ways to balance self‑assurance with self‑awareness.

“The paradox of board leadership is that, while you might earn a seat on a board of directors thanks to your abilities, knowledge, or popularity, serving well as a board member means leaving your ego behind.” – Susan Mogensen, Brown Dog Consulting

It’s not a surprise that, as a general rule, boar...

If you sit on a board today, you’ve seen the flood of “must-have” topics: artificial intelligence, AI ethics, cybersecurity/resilience, ESG disclosures, climate risk, DEI, modern slavery, biodiversity, geopolitical risk, digital transformation, gender and age diversity, talent strategy, supply chain vulnerabilities, shareholder activism – the list grows every month.

Sometimes, the governance buzz is deafening. For directors, it’s easy to feel torn between the urgent and the important.

Consu...

Have you ever served on a board with a director you’d consider ideal? Someone you can’t wait to have in the boardroom, to engage in conversation that’s forward thinking, inspiring, and infused with values and goals aligned with the organization you both serve?

If you haven’t experienced that yet, I sincerely hope you do at some point, because there’s nothing like it. No matter your colleague’s background, they come prepared - ready to participate in the board discussion. Maybe not for every t...

You may think hackers only go after banks, tech giants, and multinational corporations. But the truth is non-profits and charities are prime targets for cybercrime, and the risks are growing.

Even though non-profits and charities hold valuable assets like donor data, beneficiary information, payment details, and possibly health records, they usually don’t have a team of cybersecurity specialists guarding the gates.

Savvy directors know that that cybersecurity and cyber resilience aren’t just...

Remember that feeling just before walking into your first board meeting? That combination of excitement and trepidation? You were wondering what you had got yourself into. But you couldn’t wait to make your mark.

But maybe that feeling has changed. Let's say you’ve been sitting on the board for a while. But now, instead of feeling excited and energized, eager to add value and make a difference, maybe you have a sinking feeling before your board meeting. Maybe you are not looking forward to it...

 “Small is the number of them that see with their own eyes
and feel with their own hearts.” – Albert Einstein

In today’s fast-moving digital world, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we work, learn, and make decisions. For board directors, AI tools like ChatGPT and other generative platforms offer unprecedented convenience – summarizing lengthy reports, generating questions, and even drafting board materials.

But as these tools become more embedded in boardroom routines, a c...