We have an amazing episode of the podcast for you this week, part 1 of a double episode. Paul has invited three of his governance friends to join him in a discussion about one of our favourite topics: intergenerational diversity, or more accurately the role of younger people in the boardroom. Paul is joined by previous podcast guests, Nurain Janah (Episode 48 – How to influence in the boardroom as a young director) and Matt Fullbrook (Episode 33 – Redefining governance), as well as Future Directors Alumni Hannah Stenning.  All three of Paul’s guests are aged under 40 (just). Nurain is not yet 30. Paul himself is technically 'Board Young' at 44. But, they all have a rich pedigree in the world of board governance, as directors, chairs and advisors.  This incredibly thought-provoking episode contains so many soundbites of inspiration, information and motivation, we had a problem summarising it. The panel discuss: What positives do young people bring to board governance? Why it’s important to redefine what boards look for in directors Should the role of young board directors be ‘to bring experience’? The one word that isn’t used in the boardroom enough Is inexperience an advantage? Imposter syndrome, and the pressures faced by young board members How are Chairs typically chosen? There is a better way to choose, but what is it? The worst enemy of good governance Which tools should be given to younger directors in their board orientation (or on-boarding)? The ONE thing that young people can do if no one is listening to them in the boardroom Connect with Nurain: LinkedIn Nurain Janah Connect with Hannah: LinkedIn Twitter  Leading Through The Pandemic: Unconventional Wisdom from Heartfelt Leaders Connect with Matt: LinkedIn Fullbrook Board Effectiveness ‘One Minute Governance’ on Apple Podcasts or Android  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

My first podcast guest for 2021 is Shannon Sedgwick; cyber security and tech expert, board director, consultant, and keynote speaker. We cover a lot of ground but make sure you stick around to the end for some very practical boardroom tips on cyber risk. Shannon is renowned in both corporate and government circles through his ability to provide future-focused leadership to executives and boards in relation to their cyber security and technologies, which, as we discuss in the episode, are two particularly timely topics. We also get into: What Shannon learned from his years in the military, and how he applies that to business, governance and life Taking the leap by moving to the US in the early stages of his career The book that helped Shannon overcome anxiety and burn-out The benefits of physical activity, and the positive mindset it can encourage Unconscious bias as a barrier to true diversity Shared frustrations towards ‘The Director’s Club’ (check out Episode 55 for more on that topic) Cyber security and tech, and why they should be on the radar of every boardroom The practical steps every board can take, whether they are new to cyber or already taking steps, to mitigate this critical and growing core business risk Resources: Shannon Sedgwick – Blog ACSC | Cyber.gov.au Connect with Shannon: Shannon Sedgwick: Home LinkedIn: Shannon Sedgwick GAICD - Senior Managing Director 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 episode of the podcast features Craig Dunn, a highly regarded business leader with over 20 years of both senior executive and non-executive experience. He is on the boards of two of Australia’s largest listed companies, telecommunications giant Telstra and the Westpac Banking Group. Craig is also chair of the Australian Ballet.  Paul and Craig get into the following: What was Craig’s route to the boardroom, especially his most senior positions?  How many board roles is too many, and should directors limit their roles to avoid overwhelm, information overload and underperformance?  Craig’s tips for maintaining peak director performance? Board role hoarding, and the ‘Director’s Club’ that is alleged to exist Could businesses be doing more to develop diverse director talent pipelines?  Should boards cast their nets wider than just the C-Suite and executive talent pool? Paul drops an idea on Craig…. introducing probationary periods for non-executive directors? What’s working well in the boardrooms of today? And, what’s missing? Follow/Connect with Craig: LinkedIn Follow/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

After the latest episode with impact specialist Rosemary Addis, she and Paul sat down in the green room to keep the conversation going... (We recommend checking out that episode first). They continue to ask essential questions like: What steps can directors take to introduce the impact investment conversation into their boardroom? How can this approach act as a revenue generator? The Holy Grail of ‘untied funds’ What boardroom mindset is essential when discussing impact investing? And, Paul has Rosemary both ask and answer her ideal interview question Social Impact Resources: Companies need to make impact count to stay ahead of the game The Impact Principle SDG Impact | United Nations Development Programme Impact Management Project: Home Connect with Rosemary: LinkedIn Impact Strategist  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 week on the podcast we have Rosemary Addis AM, a globally recognised social innovation and impact investment specialist.  With an international portfolio of both advisory and board roles, Rosemary encourages big conversations to be had where big decisions are being made – the boardroom. Rosemary delivers an unparalleled depth and breadth of practical knowledge on all things impact and innovation. In this episode, she and Paul discuss: Defining social innovation and impact investment, in terms of governance and the board agenda How to introduce essential impact conversations into the boardroom, a space renowned for being too fixated on what’s been done in the past, instead of what to do in the future The critical differences between the conversations happening (or not) in government, NGO, nonprofit and corporate boardrooms The correlation between successful economic performance and social innovations Rosemary’s advice for anyone wanting resources and information about bringing social innovation into the boardroom, or elevating existing discussions Rosemary’s hopes and fears for the future of social innovation and the role that boards will, and must, play in its development and success Social Impact Resources: Companies need to make impact count to stay ahead of the game The Impact Principle SDG Impact | United Nations Development Programme Impact Management Project: Home Connect with Rosemary: LinkedIn Impact Strategist  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

Welcome back to the second part of Beverly Cole’s podcast. We think it was well-worth the wait, with Beverly and Paul continuing to discuss big questions like: What kind of director is the best for recruiting? Who should take responsibility for properly on-boarding new directors? Are boards just not looking hard enough for the right people? Or are there too few ‘right people’? Getting into the boardroom is one thing – influencing the boardroom is another. But is it just about building relationships? Is ‘fitting in’ a good thing in governance? How can directors and leaders be receptive to learning about the culture of their fellow board members and employees? Is there a difference between culture and race? And, what advice would Beverly give to her younger self? Connect with Beverly: 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

Every now and then, someone comes along whom we could listen to for hours. Our latest guest, Beverly Cole, has rich lived experiences, a relaxed wisdom, and a softly spoken influence about her. With so much to talk about we couldn’t stop, we split her conversation with Paul into two feature episodes.  This week is Part 1, and Beverly and Paul discuss: The ONE THING Beverly has learned through her career As governance evolves, what should we hold onto and what should we let go of? The vital importance of thought diversity in any decision-making group How COVID19 changed the dynamics of board meetings Timezone fatigue and how to overcome it The art of asking great questions What are the big questions we must be asking boards right now? And, what questions should boards be asking themselves? Connect with Beverly: 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

Our guest this week is Sara Faivre, a board director, business owner and coach who mentors executives and entrepreneurs in developing critical business and personal skills to create sustainable businesses.  Coming from a biotech background with a love of agriculture and life-science, Sara believes one of the key aspects to finding long-term success in business, and on boards, is by placing importance on holistic thinking and interpersonal intelligence.  Sara and Paul unpack the following: The biggest life lesson Sara has learned, and how she’s applied it to the boardroom Sara’s advocacy for ESG, and her role in shaping better board culture The divisive state of politics (and how to keep it from impacting board meetings) How to maintain structured communication as a board in online meetings Sara’s experience being the only female ‘lone voice’ in the room Does a chair need a different set of skills to lead effectively during a major crisis like COVID19? Sara’s secret sauce to the power of influence Are robust discussions still possible through virtual mediums? Connect with Sara: LinkedIn Sara Faivre – Business Evolution Coach Facebook Twitter 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

In a follow up to Episode 48, Paul continues his conversation with Nurain Janah.  Also known as ‘the podcast after the podcast; the Green Room is the chance for guests to debrief. We find out if there’s anything they wished they’d said, and anything they wish they hadn’t. In this episode, Nurain and Paul discuss: The ability to voice thoughts as lived experience, rather than opinion Why Nurain finds authenticity so important Why calling people out and pushing boundaries can be positive How to deal with stereotypes and stereotyping Why people need to find the courage to step down, so diversity can step up Does Nurain see a future where negative stereotypes have changed? Is she hopeful and optimistic about this? Connect with Nurain: Nurain Janah 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 week’s dose of audio inspiration comes from our latest guest, Nurain Janah.  Nurain is an amazing young person with a dedicated passion for change. She has already achieved so much in a short period of time – with no signs of slowing down. Nurain combines a day-job as a senior consultancy with Ernst & Young NZ with her superpowers of social entrepreneurship, multiple board governance and advisory roles, as well as acting as a conduit for the voices of young migrant women, and women of colour.  Paul and Nurain go deep on a number of topics, such as: The barriers faced by young migrant women in society, work and the boardroom The definition of cultural competency How to create a culture where individuals feel empowered to be authentic How New Zealand has blended First Nations and European cultures How to begin influencing when you’re new and ‘different’ The pros and cons of board quotas Is legislative diversity a valuable tool in reaching the ultimate goal? And, what words of advice does Nurain have for outsiders who know they would be beneficial to the boardroom, but don’t know how to get there? Connect with Nurain: Nurain Janah 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 episode of the Future Directors podcast is fascinating. Voyt Krzychylkiewicz comes on to share his seemingly endless insights on a number of governance topics. Voyt is an investment executive, governance expert, founder and diversity advocate. Born in Poland, raised in South Africa and currently living in Canada, Voyt has a lot of cross-cultural experience, inside and outside the boardroom. He shares his views on the key differences across the world – especially in terms of risk and culture – and the benefits of including  international directors on your board. Voyt and Paul also chat about: Unexpected shocks to governance (like COVID19) and how to navigate them  How do we build unpredictability into governance structures? What led Voyt to start the Young Directors Forum? How to look beyond the C-Suite when recruiting new directors Innovative thinking in the boardroom How can a board effectively hold themselves accountable? Why a bad board can be a great learning experience How can we help directors through the challenges they may face, without perpetuating a ‘revolving door’ of directors? Are there benefits to a probation period for new board members? Connect with Voyt Krzychylkiewicz: LinkedIn LinkedIn - Young Directors Forum 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 week’s episode of the Future Directors podcast features professional non-executive director and chair, Yasmin Allen.  With an extensive international career, Yasmin has a wealth of experience across a wide range of industries and now holds multiple board roles across ASX100 corporates and influential organisations. It was fascinating to hear her perspectives on a wide range of topics. Paul and Yasmin discuss things like: How to maintain a respectful patience when you’re trying to influence others Dealing with increasing time pressures and the complexities of a board role Are boards really getting more complex, or is that just an external view? How to create and encourage influence when you’re new to a board (and industry) Is there a need to change the way boards operate?  Is there anything missing from today’s boardrooms? Chair, Chairman, Chairwoman. Which word is most appropriate? Connect with Yasmin: 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

Recently we’ve been ruminating on the topic of board appointments – namely, Bridget Louden’s appointment to the Telstra board at the age of 32. Given that the average age of board directors around the world – especially corporate boards – is early sixties, this appointment is encouragingly ground-breaking.  It made us reflect on age in the boardroom, and with that we were prompted to remember the first EVER Future Directors podcast episode, featuring Alumni member Parrys Raines. We spoke to Parrys who, at the young age of 21, had joined two formal boards before she'd even graduated university. She had some amazing things to say about being a young board director during this episode, and it’s well worth a revisit. Paul and Parrys discuss: The one thing people need in order to overcome any obstacles they face Some sage advice from Parrys regarding those who haven’t yet discovered their purpose and passion in life What changes should we be seeing in the boardroom? How can younger people help with such changes? Why an intergenerational mentorship can be so beneficial – especially for an older mentee Career paths for millennials, and the spectrum of opportunity they have Changes in the status quo regarding how we view the career path, and why these changes are positive Why we need to understand and accept that we can learn something from everyone – even those who are younger than ourselves Connect with Parrys Raines: LinkedIn Future Business CouncilTwitter 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 week on the Future Directors podcast, Paul interviews Matt Boyd, co-founder and CEO of the fast-growing remote volunteering platform, Vollie. Since its creation just a few years ago, Vollie has helped connect over 2,000 skilled volunteers to cause-related projects within the NFP and social enterprise sectors. Over 90,000 hours of volunteering which have created $2 million in savings. Vollie is a remarkable platform, and Matt is equally remarkable. Not just a CEO of his own company, Matt is also a board director for several organisations and institutions, a mentor to young social entrepreneurs, and public speaker in the social impact space. It was a pleasure to chat with him on the show. Listen to the episode to find out: The advantages of skilled volunteering, both personally and professionally What COVID19 has done for the online volunteering space How to help people find their purpose, cause and passion The issues with previous volunteering models, and how Vollie changed that The benefits of including entrepreneurs in the boardroom How to pivot between the pace of the boardroom and that of an entrepreneur Why you should focus on three wins at the end of every day, no matter the size Connect with Matt: LinkedIn Vollie 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 episode is a Green Room follow up to Episode 42 with Anoushka Gungadin.  Anoushka and Paul had such a rich conversation about Cultural Intelligence (CQ), afterwards they headed into the Green Room to debrief on their episode, or as Anoushka so aptly puts it, bring it all together. They discuss: What surprised Anoushka about some of her responses in the interview? Was there anything they missed out on speaking out? Did Anoushka wish they talked about anything further? How important is brand loyalty for an organisation? And who can you get in the boardroom to aid that? Are all businesses going to end up being for-purpose and for-profit? Is there any alternative? Who are the most important stakeholders in an educational facility? The importance of understanding people Connect with Anoushka: AnoushkaGungadin.com GlobalCQ.com 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 episode of the Future Directors podcast features guest Anoushka Gungadin. We’ve been wanting to get Anoushka on the show for a while now because we knew it’d be an amazing discussion, and Anoushka certainly delivered on that! Anoushka is an experienced leader and non-executive director, international speaker and best-selling author on Amazon. She’s the CEO of Australian India Chamber and the founder of Global CQ – an organisation that “champions cultural intelligence and inclusive diversity as a toll to build the modern world”. Paul and Anoushka hold a conversation that takes several surprising turns, focusing around the topic of cultural intelligence (CQ). As a global citizen, Anoushka is someone who knows a lot about CQ, and she explains it beautifully in this episode. Paul and Anoushka also discuss: Is CQ simply about accepting people from different races, or is it more than that? How can CQ help us to navigate complex situations and challenges that arise in the boardroom? How can we motivate those who don’t share similarly positive values about CQ? As a society, could we ever move into a space where inclusion occurs naturally? How can diversity act as a pathway for others to come through? How to use diversity to build a better pipeline of potential directors  Can we stop future generations from becoming cynical, and making the same mistakes we have? What can we do to accelerate acceptance of diversity? Connect with Anoushka: AnoushkaGungadin.com GlobalCQ.com 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 week we’ve taken a bit of a breather. No guest. Just for this week. However, we do have a quick announcement instead. Simply, we are changing the name of the podcast. It’s not that exciting, but we wanted to tell you why. We’ve decided to stop hustling the boardroom, and move into alignment with the brand behind the podcast, Future Directors.  So, it’s now simply called the Future Directors Podcast.  Why have we changed the name? Over the past few months, we’ve lost our love of the word ‘hustle’. Initially, we were all about directorships as a side hustle for young professionals looking to disrupt the status quo of the boardroom in parallel to the rest of their purposeful career. While this is still an important factor, we don’t want anyone to feel like you have to ‘hustle’ your way in and around the boardroom.  Your journey should be patient. It should be seamless. Challenging, yes, but something that comes naturally. We considered a few different names, but essentially we wanted to streamline and keep it simple.  The name also needed to speak to the organisation behind the podcast, but more importantly, it needed to speak to our audience, the future directors of this world – you. But even though the name is different, our aim is still the same: to bring you the best in the business, the diverse voices that will support you in your boardroom journey and help you become the best board director you can be. We hope that you’ll continue to listen, subscribe, and leave us reviews if you love the show. We’ll be back next week with a new episode, so stay tuned! 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

Welcome to episode 40 of the podcast! As promised last week, this episode is focused on the second roundtable discussion from our Decision84 virtual summit held in June 2020. The discussion centres around one of the strong themes of the conference; the need for global systemic change. The lineup of guest speakers is just as impressive as Roundtable #1, and features: Beverly Cole Cassandra Kelly John Harte Kirsten (KP) Patterson Dr. Marianne Cooper Voyt Krzychylkiewicz Again, hosted by our very own Paul Smith Our panel field spectacular questions from attendees on that need for global change, as well as the nature of modern governance and whether current directors are actually fit for duty or not. Some of those questions include: How do you deal with those directors who are not aware of how their behaviour is impacting the board (and company) negatively? Do we need to redefine ‘fiduciary duty’ in order to free boards up and pay attention to stakeholders rather than just shareholders? When does a boardroom dissenter (also referred to here as an ‘eyeroller’) stop being a person that adds diversity to the group and begins to be a problem instead? The discussion also focuses on: The two main ‘currencies’ for any board, and what happens if they are lacking them Some expert advice on how to make your governance career long-lasting, considering how overloaded boards and directors are How can we help heal boards that have lost their focus? There is a wealth of information within this session. It is a must-listen.  Connect with our guests: Beverly Cole LinkedIn Cassandra Kelly LinkedIn John Harte LinkedIn Kirsten (KP) Patterson LinkedIn Dr. Marianne Cooper LinkedIn Voyt Krzychylkiewicz LinkedIn Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Join Future Directors Group on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Boardroom Hustle on iTunes

For this episode of our podcast, we’re treating you to something a bit different. Instead of one spectacular guest, we have six. That’s because this episode is one of the roundtable discussions held at our recent virtual summit, Decision84.  If you attended, you’ll know that each day of the conference was filled with enriching conversation from a who’s who of governance leaders and board visionaries from all over the world. And now we’re bringing the discussion to our podcast listeners with this episode, where your host, Paul Smith, leads a roundtable on an insightful back and forth about one very important topic: the role of boards in our society. Our guests, Anoushka Gungadin, Catherine Brenner, Dottie Schindlinger, Matt Fullbrook, Steven Bowman and Venita E. Fields provide their diverse views on whether boards should do more or less to shape our future, and whether, after COVID19, it really will be back to ‘business as usual’ – or will we go beyond that? This discussion was recorded soon after the death of George Floyd in the USA and the subsequent protests and movement around racial injustice and inequality all over the world. During the episode, Venita shares one of her most personal experiences as an African American board director. It’s truly profound.  It’s a truly motivating, thought-provoking discussion. Some highlights include: What are the key roles of any modern board? What are the challenges that boards will face if they don’t focus on the future? The one thing that high-performing boards should keep in sight at all times How has board director representation evolved over the past few decades? Do boards have a duty to reflect the diversity of the community it serves? The best ways to encourage diverse representation in a board – and what to avoid How can we listen to all voices in the community a board serves, especially when there are so many to hear? Connect with our guests here: Anoushka Gungadin LinkedIn Catherine Brenner LinkedIn Dottie Schindlinger LinkedIn Matt Fullbrook LinkedIn Steven Bowman LinkedIn Venita E. Fields LinkedIn Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Join Future Directors Group on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Boardroom Hustle on iTunes

In the Green Room after Episode 37, Peter and Paul discuss their podcast discussion, most notably that it was Peter’s first ever experience being interviewed on a podcast.  Peter and Paul found their conversation to flow in a sense of calmness, and that continues through to this episode where they touch on topics like: What’s the sign of a good conversation? Did Peter learn anything through the podcasting experience? Introversion in the boardroom, and how it can be beneficial Why board diversity can be so difficult to achieve How to deal with dominant boardroom personalities   Are ‘board buddies’ a good idea? How do global boards operate? Connect with Peter: LinkedIn Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Join Future Directors Group on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Boardroom Hustle on iTunes

This week on Boardroom Hustle, people and culture extraordinaire, and young board director Peter O’Sullivan joined us for a chat. Peter is an inspiring figure, specialising in employee engagement, organisational change, business strategy, leadership and governance. Peter’s real passion lies in wellbeing and education, with a focus on how the working environment and culture can impact people’s wellbeing and performance.  Today, he and Paul discuss: How does Peter handle the pressure of having several board roles alongside a busy professional and personal life? What has he learned about making things happen effectively in the boardroom? The best things to implement in your life to help you manage all your different roles What’s the key aspect of a boardroom that allows things to get done successfully? How can we build stronger relationships in the boardroom, and what are the benefits from doing so? What got Peter into governance in the first place? How we can get our elephants under control (Wondering what this means? Check out Episode 17 of Boardroom Hustle to find out!) What’s the number one skill every board director should be developing right now? What are some practices that Peter suggests bringing into the boardroom to help with individual director wellbeing? And a question that we received from a listener, what does Boardroom Hustle actually mean? Connect with Peter: LinkedIn Connect with Paul: LinkedIn Future Directors Join Future Directors Group on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Boardroom Hustle on iTunes

In the follow up to Episode 35, Dottie and Paul head to the Green Room to debrief about their conversation.  As a fellow podcaster, Dottie opens up about some of the more surprising podcast guests that she has interviewed, and both she and Paul discuss what they find to be the most challenging thing about interviewing people. They also discuss the following: An interesting tangent about chimpanzee studies and how we can equate their behaviour to our own  The neuroscience behind why we often don’t embrace diversity as easily as we think we might A neurological reason behind why we don’t embrace change so easily Connect: LinkedIn - Dottie Schindlinger Twitter - Dottie Schindlinger  Governance in the Digital Age: A Guide for the Modern Corporate Board Director ‎The Corporate Director Podcast Diligent Corporation Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Join Future Directors Group on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Boardroom Hustle on iTunes

This week on Boardroom Hustle we had Dottie Schindlinger on the show, whom you might remember as a speaker from our recent virtual governance event, Decision84. Dottie is the executive director of Diligent, an international board portal software and partner of Decision84. Dottie is co-author of Governance in the Digital Age: A Guide for the Modern Corporate Board Director, co-host of The Corporate Director Podcast and an experienced thought leader on governance and cyber security. Paul and Dottie dive into discussions like: What sparked Dottie’s interest in the field of governance? What essential questions have boards been asking during the COVID19 pandemic? Have board meetings been entirely disrupted due to our sudden shift to a virtual world? Do we need to rethink board meetings as a whole? What does the research say about the different ways directors prepare for their board meetings? Are we going to see more pressure from board regulators in the future? How do we leverage technology to help us do things differently in the boardroom? What is the definition of a high performance board director? Connect: LinkedIn - Dottie Schindlinger Twitter - Dottie Schindlinger  Governance in the Digital Age: A Guide for the Modern Corporate Board Director ‎The Corporate Director Podcast Diligent Corporation Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Join Future Directors Group on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Boardroom Hustle on iTunes

Welcome to the follow up of Episode 33 with Matt Fullbrook, board advisor and experienced governance consultant.  In this Green Room episode, Paul and Matt continue their discussion on redefining board governance and decision making. They talk about: What 20 years of governance experience gets you, and what got Matt involved in the first place Why everything we do matters in some way to someone, and boards would do well to realise this The importance of separating ‘soft skills’ from the nuts and bolts of governance, and why they both involve different types of attention The number one trait of effective board directors Why boards used to be seen as ethereal, untouchable groups of people – but the rise in required transparency has revealed the people underneath are just like us Connect with Matt: LinkedIn Board Effectiveness David and Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Join Future Directors Group on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Boardroom Hustle on iTunes  

Joining us this week on Boardroom Hustle is Matt Fullbrook, a governance consultant and board effectiveness researcher. Matt helps boards maximise their effectiveness by developing and implementing high quality governance processes, policies and structures. With 20 years experience in the study of corporate governance and board advisory, Matt is undeniably knowledgeable.  You may remember Matt from our recent Decision84 event (June 2020), where he participated in the Day 4 roundtable discussions around the question: how should boards influence the world?  This episode is equally insightful, with Matt and Paul discussing things like: Is there a better way to define board governance? Why we shouldn’t consider boards ‘one size fits all’ The pitfalls of a boardroom routine, and why we shouldn’t do something just because it’s the way we’ve always done it The major benefits of a racially diverse boardroom Why, even if you’re an intelligent board member, you might not make a good chairperson Is the current 200-year-old board model still valid? What’s the alternative? How does a board choose who to recruit? What should they consider during recruitment?  Why we should aim to have high EQ  The importance of being willing to change our minds as we learn new information Should boards have their own purpose statement to use as a guide in decision making? Connect with Matt: LinkedIn Board Effectiveness David and Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation Connect with Paul: LinkedIn  Future Directors Join Future Directors Group on LinkedIn If you enjoyed the show, we'd love to know!  Leave a quick review here: Boardroom Hustle on iTunes

After such a rich conversation in Episode 31, it’s no wonder Paul and Lauren had even more to discuss in the Green Room. At one point, Lauren even becomes the impromptu podcast host and invites Paul to share how his governance journey started, which is an inspiring story. They also touch on topics such as: Lauren’s strong learner mindset Her current book recommendations The lessons we can learn from failed companies The openness and transparency that is becoming increasingly expected from boards And, why some boards aren’t measuring up! Why it’s essential to be comfortable asking the obvious questions The benefits of professional scepticism What does the boardroom of the future look like? And will we even have one? Connect with Lauren: LinkedIn Instagram

This week’s Boardroom Hustle guest is Lauren Harrell, a highly experienced board director that has served over a dozen not-for-profits and for-profit boards, and who also happens to be under the age of 40 – which, in governance, makes Lauren quite a rare find indeed! Lauren manages to juggle a complex day job, four separate board roles (one of which she chairs on), plus motherhood. She’s a truly encouraging figure for anyone seeking to get into the boardroom, and her superpowers include conscious networking and an obsession with learning. In this episode, Lauren gives us a detailed insight into the benefits of networking and teaches us some of the most effective ways to network both online, and offline. Lauren and Paul chat about a range of different topics, including: The benefits of knowing your Gallup strengths, and how Lauren used hers to shape her board value proposition The various ways she’s been able to apply those Gallup strengths in different situations Lauren’s experience being a younger director, and the challenges that can bring Have these challenges changed for the better over her career? Or are they still relatively the same? How to get the most out of any younger board director What made Lauren consider starting a board career back in her 20s How Lauren networks, and whether the recent pandemic has changed the way networking can occur Why is the boardroom such a natural fit for some people? What are some of the things Lauren has learnt throughout her journey? Connect with Lauren: LinkedIn Instagram 

This week’s Boardroom Hustle episode features Steven Bowman, a seasoned governance advisor, global entrepreneur and author (of 14 books!). Amongst his other businesses, Steven is the Managing Director of Conscious Governance, an international business that works with nonprofits and corporations to help create the future, specifically focussed in areas such as strategic planning, governance, risk management and leadership development.  Steven joins us today to provide deep insights into the challenges often faced in the boardroom, and applies his vast knowledge and experience to the thought-provoking question: do you think we’ll even have boards in the future? Paul and Steven discuss topics like: What is ‘strategic awareness’? Why his business is called Conscious Governance Can we measure levels of consciousness? And if so, how? How we can make strategic awareness an unstoppable force The interpersonal challenges directors can face in the boardroom, and how to overcome them Steven’s advice for those who might be up against a fellow director with stubborn personal preferences How does a great chair(person) operate? How can we ask powerful questions that can potentially change the dynamics of a board? The greatest gift to an organisation, and how they can receive it The one single thing that can make a board irrelevant Connect with Steven here: LinkedIn The 2 Bowmans Website Conscious Governance

In this week’s episode of Boardroom Hustle, Paul chats to Hugh MacLeod, a highly experienced leader, educator, speaker, consultant, coach, advisor AND facilitator. Hugh has written over one hundred articles, essays and papers on leadership, and has also authored the successful book Humanizing Leadership: Reflection Fuels, People Matter, Relationships Make The Difference.  Hugh’s advice and input are hugely sought after when it comes to leadership and transformational strategy, and once you listen to this episode, you’ll see why. Hugh believes that leadership isn’t just for business and that we are all leaders in various roles from spouses and siblings, to parents and community members.  But what makes a good leader? And how can we be sure we are one of them? Listen to this podcast to find out. Paul and Hugh discuss all things leadership, with interesting points such as: Is there any difference between a business leader and a personal leader? The basic elements of being a real leader – that you might already have The shackles that people find themselves attached to that impact their ability to be an effective leader, and how you can throw yours off The benefits of allowing yourself to be vulnerable Why the single most dangerous person in any organisation is the one who proclaims to know everything “The Winner’s Trap”, and how to avoid it Why mind, heart and spirit are crucial for any leader How Hugh’s leadership journey impacted both himself and those around him The benefits of listening to understand versus listening to respond or react How can we have reasoned, informed debates and discussions when we’re living in a time-and-attention deficit? The 3 things you need to pay attention to if you want to be a conscious leader The similarities in skill sets required for both personal environments and business environments Connect with Hugh here: Humanizing Leadership: Reflection Fuels, People Matter, Relationships Make The Difference LinkedIn

If you listened to Episode 26 of Boardroom Hustle, featuring Gemma Major, you would know that she and Paul had a LOT to talk about. They touched on everything from radical accountability to ego death, and they were able to continue their interesting discussion in the Green Room afterward.  Gemma and Paul reflect on the questions that were asked and the ease in which their conversation was able to flow. Gemma surprises Paul with a very insightful question, which takes them to a conversation around the benefits of masculine/feminine energy, and recognising them in yourself. They also talk about: Spiritual and gender intelligence Being mindful about the particular energy that is driving you to act, and whether it’s the best energy for that action Abundant mindsets Cognitive biases, and making sure they’re not impacting our decisions Empowering and inspiring people who aren't typically in the governance pipeline, but should be Connect with Gemma: LinkedIn Twitter  Seed Waikato

We recently had the pleasure of Gemma Major’s company as a guest on Boardroom Hustle, and wow, what an episode it turned out to be. Paul and Gemma hold a conversation filled with inspirational soundbites, motivational encouragement and even a bit of spirituality and life purpose. Gemma is an incredible woman. She sits on the board of Philanthropy NZ as both a board member and youth advisor, and is also the Co-Founder of Seed Waikato, an organisation that works tirelessly to strengthen the wellbeing of young people, enabling and empowering them to create solutions by enabling holistic, regenerative change that will serve to imprint on their own tamariki (Māori for ‘children’). Gemma has a heart for philanthropy. However, she noticed there was a definite lack of cognitive diversity within this area, and felt encouraged to fight in order to fill these gaps. Gemma knows that young people can bring unique strengths and skills to the board dynamic, and as such, she wanted them to be properly represented at that level. Paul and Gemma also deep dive into topics like: How did Gemma feel encouraged to walk into the philanthropic space – a space traditionally dominated by much older people? Imposter syndrome – how has it manifested in Gemma? And what’s more, how has she worked to overcome it? The surprising frequency of people experiencing imposter syndrome – and the best tips to overcome it How a growth mindset is essential as a board director Ego death – what is this, and how does it relate to the boardroom? How to better serve your inner child so you can in turn better serve your board Why it’s essential to have radical accountability and responsibility for yourself and your behaviour What will Gemma’s role be moving forward, as boards and governance evolve? The importance of bringing in more diversity into the boardroom, in order to represent everyone as fairly as possible Connect with Gemma here: LinkedIn Twitter  Seed Waikato

Welcome to the very first In The Green Room edition of Boardroom Hustle! The Green Room is where Boardroom Hustle host, Paul Smith, debriefs with his guests after the show, to discuss the things they enjoyed, questions they found interesting, comments they may have missed, or topics they wanted to elaborate on. This first episode features Marianne Cooper, whom you may remember from Episode 25. In the Green Room, she and Paul continue their conversation on COVID19, with a focus on the after-effects of this pandemic.  They ruminate on questions like: How can society ensure the support and survival of marginalised people during pandemics and world catastrophes? What is the role of the government when pandemics happen? Should that role change? What can businesses ask themselves as they begin to move out of isolation? Can such a dire situation really be the kick in the pants we needed to create real, long-lasting change on a bigger scale? Connect with Marianne: MarianneCooper.com LinkedIn Twitter

This latest installment of Boardroom Hustle is a must-listen, featuring your host, Paul Smith, interviewing Marianne Cooper, PhD. Marianne is a hugely influential woman and an absolute powerhouse of information, and it was an absolute honour to have her on the show. Marianne is a sociologist at Stanford University, and was the lead researcher for Sheryl Sanberg’s incredible book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. She’s also an author, a contributing writer to various news outlets like The Atlantic, and an all-round expert on gender, women’s leadership, diversity, inclusion and economic inequality. Marianne isn’t afraid of answering the hard questions. And in this episode, Paul serves her with some big ones. They discuss things like: What is Marianne observing about inequality during the COVID19 pandemic, that she hasn’t seen before? The high level of inequality on a global scale, and how COVID19 acted as the kindling that dragged these inequalities out on the global stage What’s caused the obvious lack of much-needed infrastructure surrounding healthcare and women’s rights? How will this pandemic affect the mental health of not just us, but our children as well? The devastating circumstances of domestic violence and family abuse that quarantine has forced many women and children to experience on a chronic level – all around the world What is Marianne’s hypothesis about what comes after this? Will we eventually slip back into our old ways and return to the status quo, or will we take this rare opportunity to advance to the next phase and level up as a society? And, perhaps most importantly, what role will the corporation play after this pandemic?  Marianne encourages everyone to be their biggest, best, boldest selves. And after listening to this episode, you’ll be feeling that way too. Connect with Marianne here: MarianneCooper.com LinkedIn Twitter If you loved this episode, you might love our upcoming virtual conference, Decision84. This ground-breaking event, brought to you by Future Directors, Diligent, NeuroPowerGroup and World Future Society, stretches across 4 sessions, over 4 days, and asks 4 really big questions – the answers to which you won’t find anywhere else.  With an international lineup of speakers, and the chance to network and connect with a carefully curated group of motivated changemakers just like you, this is an event that you’ll want to be involved in.  Interested? Then click this link here to purchase your group or individual tickets. See you at Decision84, and enjoy the latest episode of Boardroom Hustle.

Boardroom Hustle is back! After over a year of hiatus, we’re back and better than ever. We’ve got some amazing episodes in the pipeline, with guests that will provide you with wise insights, inspirational encouragement, and the answers to some incredibly profound questions.  So if you’re a conscious leader, aspiring or experienced board director, seeking to become more influential, or just plain crazy about all things board governance, then hit the subscribe button to make sure you’re one of the first to hear the latest installments. Our first episode kicks off with a bang, with host Paul Smith chatting across the Pacific with guest, good friend and host of his own podcast (Boardroom Bound), Alexander Lowry. Alex is a Professor of Finance who also acts as a Board Member and Advisor for various fintech and financial services companies. He holds a unique perspective of what makes for the best board practice, is truly a fountain of information and inspiration! Alex has been in the boardroom for decades now, and has been through a wealth of different experiences during that time. In this episode, Alex shares what got him into governance, and the big realisation he had that led him to it.  Alex and Paul also get into topics like: The difficulties people have getting into big-time board roles – especially if it’s early days in their professional career Why is it more typical for younger people to head down the NFP track? Learning to think about things on every level, plus how to challenge that thinking AND other people Throughout his years of experience, who has Alex recognised to be the most helpful person in any boardroom? How to think about what’s coming ahead and using foresight wherever possible The benefits of having both a fresh perspective and a mentor The fine line that boards need to balance on, juggling healthy scepticism with an encouraging culture Why trust is the currency of the boardroom, and how you can promote more of it The one big issue with how board roles have (usually) been filled in the past That growing sense of diversity on a governance level, and why it’s just so important How to stop being reactive and start being proactive instead And, perhaps most interestingly, what will the world look like post COVID19? Connect with Alex here: LinkedIn Boardroom Bound Podcast Twitter   If you loved this episode, you might love our upcoming virtual conference, Decision84. This ground-breaking event, brought to you by Future Directors, Diligent, NeuroPowerGroup and World Future Society, stretches across 4 sessions, over 4 days, and asks 4 really big questions – the answers to which you won’t find anywhere else.  With an international lineup of speakers, and the chance to network and connect with a carefully curated group of motivated changemakers just like you, this is an event that you’ll want to be involved in.  Interested? Then click this link here to purchase your group or individual tickets. See you at Decision84, and enjoy the latest episode of Boardroom Hustle.

All You Could Possibly Need To Know About The Future   In this latest episode of Boardroom Hustle, Paul Smith talks to Dr. Fern Evitt, a highly esteemed strategist, expert innovation specialist, futurist, business improvement consultant, start-up advocate and a Ph.D. in open innovation. Dr. Evitt has extensive experience in tech, collaboration, transformation management, and leading companies into the future with the best possible outcomes.   Dr. Evitt is a fascinating guest due to her naturally futuristic perspective on life and business, and if you've ever found yourself wondering what it is a futurist actually does, then this podcast is for you. Dr. Evitt discusses futurism, social scientists, the importance of long-term viewing, a disrupted board dynamic and how to build knowledge and awareness around the future.   They also touch on things like:   The difference between Applied Futurism and Predictive Futurism How far forward should a board focus to get the best results? How to futureproof your boardroom What to do when you come across someone who refuses to accept change Technology's impact on companies, their mechanics, responsibilities, and roles The perils of 'short-termism' Negative narratives around futurism, and why it isn't all dystopia and evil robots Receptive ways of teaching, and how Dr Evitt incorporates them into her work How institutions can build better trust with all stakeholders   Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Dr. Fern Evitt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-fern-evitt/

Welcome to the final instalment of Boardroom Hustle for 2018! Our guest this episode brings such motivation and positivity that it's truly the perfect way to end the year; esteemed board director and entrepreneur, Cassandra Kelly. Cassandra is a very highly experienced international board director, acknowledged by the US Directors & Boards journal as a director to watch, listed in the Top 10 Chairpersons of Australia, and noted as one of Australia's most influential business woman. Cassandra has a zest for life that inspires awe in just about everyone. She's a champion for equality and diversity, aiming to bring humanity back to leadership in a time where it's severely lacking. Fearless in doing what she feels is right and brave in standing up for what she believes in, Cassandra shares a wealth of intelligent insight with us in an episode so full of quotable material it's been hard to pick just a few. Discussing subjects such as how to bring fun and humanity back to the boardroom, improving a lacklustre board, the importance of culture in the boardroom and shifting gears to drive faster towards diversity, this is an episode you won't want to miss. They also touch on topics like: How the role of a director has evolved over time Should the board pack be redesigned? In what ways could that be done? Why board roles are no longer a comfy resting place for the C-Suite The importance of cultivating an inspiring culture within the boardroom, and creating a knock-on effect that inspires the entire company too Simple tactics Cassandra employs in order to bring humanness to the forefront of boards Observations towards how board dynamics are shifting, the glacial pace in which this shift is occurring, and effective ways you can speed up the change How to bring out the best in your colleagues, and why it's so important to do so Changing the entire feel of the boardroom by simply choosing hugs over handshakes Clever advice for start-ups regarding governance, compliance, and the things they should be focusing on The important aspects that should be embedded in the DNA of any business, that many people often simply forget about Three things you need to start encouraging within your boardroom that will increase your performance tenfold (and they’re super easy, too!) Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Cassandra Kelly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandrakelly/ Cassandra Kelly Website: http://www.cassandrakelly.com/

The latest instalment of Boardroom Hustle has co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne discussing something that affects every single one of us. Something that many of us aren’t even aware of…...cognitive bias. Our episode is a sort of follow-on of the fifth episode of Boardroom Hustle, The Elephant in the (Board)room, where we talked about cultivating clearer decision-making, but focusing on how cognitive biases affect our decision-making, not just as directors in the boardroom, but as people in life! But first, what is a cognitive bias? Simply put, it refers to the mental shortcuts our brains take when we make decisions. The brain is an enormously intelligent piece of machinery that has created a way to jump to conclusions rather than spend precious energy trying to sort through the never-ending stream of information that is constantly being downloaded. While cognitive biases often have a bad reputation, they’re actually quite useful – to a point. We live in such a rich, complex, stimulating environment that, in order to be more efficient, our brains collect a number of cognitive biases (or shortcuts) about a wide aspect of topics in order to help us make decisions faster. So, how can we make our cognitive biases work for us? Have a listen to the episode to find out. Anna and Paul also discuss things like: The biggest thing that impacts cognitive bias Are biases infectious? How can a boardroom environment influence individual biases? One particular bias that can be hugely detrimental to the boardroom Following the peanuts; how our emotional elephants encourage us to jump to conclusions and how we can train them to make better, more effective decisions The different types of biases we experience, such as social, information, confirmation and anchoring, and how we can make them work for us rather than against us The best strategy you can implement in your boardroom/s, to unpack cognitive bias and create a more powerful method of decision-making How integrative AI may eventually be able to assist us in recognising and deleting any bias from our decision-making The five killer questions you can ask yourself and your board to discover any existing biases you might have and begin to overcome them Links:Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ NeuroPower Website: http://neuropowergroup.com  Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/  

On the latest episode of Boardroom Hustle, co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne talk to Brian Stafford, the CEO and President of Diligent Corporation, whose company provides governance management software to almost half a million users and organisations worldwide, making it the largest in the world. Diligent is a portal that allows simple, functional cloud management with security, allowing boards to mitigate risk while enabling effective governance in a way that’s easy, yet empowering. Paul and Anna talk to Brian about a wide range of topics, including the increasingly demands on board directors, the need for more technology knowledge in the boardroom, the driving motivation behind why people seek out directorships in the first place, and how that motivation changes over the years. Furthermore, they answer a common question so many novice board directors have; what’s the best time to speak up as a new board member? If you’re wondering how to use technology to advance your board, or how to be seen and heard as a first-time board director, then listen to this episode, where you’ll also find the answers to other burning questions like: What are the benefits of having new directors who don’t have any prior boardroom experience? At what point in your board career should you feel comfortable speaking up in meetings? What’s the biggest hurdle new directors are most likely to come across, and how can they overcome it? What is the one thing many boards know they need to improve on? What trends are being seen in the ways boards communicate? How can you use technology in a way that keeps your board data and information secure and safe? Is there a ‘right number’ of boards you should sit on? At what point are you sitting on too many, and in what ways can that impact your effectiveness as a director? What are some of the things Brian is excited about regarding future technology in the boardroom? Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Brian Stafford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-stafford-048aba1/ Diligent Corporation: https://diligent.com/

Some of the brightest minds in the boardroom feel out of their depth when it comes to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) topics, but few readily admit to it. That’s why unique individuals like our latest podcast guest, Crystal Dilworth, are essential. Dr Crystal Dilworth is a science communicator, presenter and business consultant, recognised worldwide for her work in translating very complex technical jargon that comes with STEM industries into simplified language that just about anyone can understand. Her wildly successful TEDxYouth talk, “The Myth of the Scientist”, TV and movie roles have seen her excel in an industry that has long seemed mysterious and enigmatic. She’s interviewed some of our most famous STEM celebrities, including Elon Musk. Now, she gets to be on the other side of the mic. Through Crystal’s work, she is able to facilitate dialogue, build consensus and create understanding around the science side of business, removing that mystery. Breaking down barriers is her forte, and she has a knack for making science enjoyable all. This ability comes at a time when science and technology are infiltrating all aspects of our lives, and having even a very general understanding of them is imperative to progress. Do you want to know how you can better understand and appreciate science and technology? Listen to this episode. Co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne also quiz Crystal on things like: The communication problems most often seen in boardrooms How and why these problems occur, and what we can do to diminish them How information can so often be misconstrued The lack of any deliberate structure around how professionals in business communicate with one another, and why this creates new difficulties What are the more imaginative ways we can teach new information in boardrooms? When does communication become exclusive in the boardroom? How your board can enhance communication skills and take them to the next level The benefits of better communication How generational gaps can create communication errors Crystal’s tips and recommendations for anyone struggling to become more literate with STEM concepts Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Crystal Dilworth Twitter: https://twitter.com/PolycrystalhD?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Crystal Dilworth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-dilworth-phd-4405659b/

Ignorance might be blissful for some, but it certainly doesn’t help a successful career in the boardroom. If there’s one thing directors need, it’s the ability to remain forever curious, open-minded, and both internally and externally aware. Without these, ignorance flourishes. But if you want to combat that ignorance, then listen to the latest instalment of Boardroom Hustle. In this episode, Paul chats to Jeff De Cagna, author of Foresight is the Future of Governing, who gives us the most effective antidote to common ignorance: foresight. Jeff is the CEO of Foresight First LLC that aims to improve the way non-profit and association boards perform by cultivating their use of foresight. For over 15 years, Jeff has taught people how to encourage foresight, helping them use it effectively. He provides actionable advice that allows individuals to apply their learned skills to director roles in order to improve and better the performance of both themselves and their boards. Paul and Jeff also discuss the positive ways that foresight impacts diversity, the best perspective to view voluntary (not volunteer!) director positions in a way that gets the most out of them, and why fear can be used as a highly effective motivational tool. This podcast episode is perfect for you if you’re also wondering: What is foresight and how you can encourage it in your own thinking How boards can utilise foresight to make themselves the best possible decision-makers for their companies or organisations The fundamental changes that need to occur in the boardroom right now, in order to begin really making a difference Why a ‘bigger’ boardroom doesn’t actually always mean ‘better’ How you can help your board look beyond the present scope to consider all things future, without becoming futurists The opportunity we’re facing at the moment that will allow us to redesign the boardroom in a way to make it really compelling, satisfying and rewarding How boards can invest their capabilities even more effectively to make the best impact on the important issues, and how foresight is such an integral part of this And, an insight into Jeff’s own foresight, namely, what issues does he think boards will come up against in the near future? Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Jeff’s eBook: http://futureofgoverningbook.co Foresight First: http://foresightfirst.io/ Jeff De Cagna LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/foresightfirst

In this episode of Boardroom Hustle, co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne flip the script and interview Anna herself, to discuss her fascination with decisioning – the cognitive process we undergo with every single choice we make. But how much of this process is subconscious? Are we really making decisions based on new information, or are we merely running on autopilot? And could technology possibly replace decision-making for us? Understanding this intricate process is key in unlocking higher cognition, which can lead to making better choices and, ultimately, creating a greater impact in what we do. Anna has an avid interest in cognitive neuroscience, and she takes us on an interesting journey in which she explains the importance of “training an elephant” to cultivate clearer decisioning. Anna developed a love of neuroscience at a young age, thanks to her mother’s psychiatric career path, and she has such an easy, natural way of explaining tricky subjects – like the mechanics of the brain – that just about anyone can understand. So, if you’re eager to hear more about this elephant and peek behind the curtain to see how we make decisions, as well as how you can apply certain tricks and tips to your own cognitive thinking to create the best possible outcome for your life, and how you can improve your board through doing so, give the episode a listen. You’ll also dive deep into the following: Decisioning, the cognitive process that leads us to choose the things we choose Why we can lose up to 75 percent of our cognitive functioning if we try to avoid how we’re really feeling The positive and negative impacts that technology can potentially have on human-based decision making How we can use technology to enhance, rather than replace, our humanness Why we need to understand the complex, fascinating process of decisioning, and how we can use it to our advantage The three lenses we use to view decision-making Common problems that are often seen in small groups of powerful people (and what you can do to solve them!) The danger in constantly referring back to habitual perspectives How our brains are controlled by two systems that have very different approaches to problem-solving Changing your narrative so you can take on a brand new perspective Wasting valuable bandwidth with emotional reactions, and how we can get more time by taking control of our decisioning Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ NeuroPower Website: http://www.neuropowergroup.com  Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/  

Welcome back to season two of Boardroom Hustle. This season, co-hosts Paul Smith and Anna Byrne are switching gears to focus more on the future of boardrooms. They’ll hypothesise and theorise about the technological changes that we’ll be seeing, the regulation that will come with it, and how societal influences and a rapidly shifting status quo will serve to better the boardroom. The guest on this episode is Amon Woulfe, founder of Collective Minds, an organisation that works with people and teams across the globe in various situations, helping them to boost their performance, especially in high pressure and stressful environments. Amon has a refreshing, enormously intelligent perspective when it comes to improving mental resilience, understanding how to train the mind, and the tools and skills most necessary in order to do so. If you’re looking to enhance your own performance, or you’re in a leadership role and are wanting to give your team an added edge, give the podcast a listen. Not only will you find out how to start upgrading your brain and avoiding professional burn-out, you’ll also find out the answers to things like: How to improve your mental cognition The knock-on effect that can occur when you and/or your team isn’t performing at their peak The three aspects of your mind that you need to cultivate in order to start really winning at life Neuro-rigidity, neuroplasticity, and why your brain dislikes being wrong The potential positive and negative impacts that come from biometric technology Theories behind how the future boardroom might approach the use of bio-technology Alpha, Beta and Gamma brain waves, and which one is the best for creativity, innovation and better performance Why we’re all walking around in various states of stress and anxiety What influenced Amon to work with human potential, and the one thing he thinks this planet needs more than anything else Actionable steps that you can take today to help elevate your mental and emotional performance Links: Future Directors Website: https://futuredirectors.com/ Paul Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/futurepaulsmith/ Anna Byrne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-byrne-13901262/ Amon Woulfe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amonwoulfe/?originalSubdomain=au Collective Minds Website: https://www.collectivemind.com.au/

We’ve heard the warnings - machines are coming to take our jobs! But is that really how it’s going to happen? What impact will Artificial Intelligence have on the boardroom? Anna Byrne and Paul Smith discuss the new technology that is around the corner, the impact it could have on businesses and boards, and what it could mean for you.   In this episode, we discuss: [3:05] The three types of Artificial Intelligence (assisted intelligence, augmented intelligence, and autonomous intelligence) [4:30] Paul’s views on the most exciting implication of AI in the Boardroom [4:55] Harnessing AI to improve diversity in recruiting [7:45] Reducing ‘groupthink’ [10:30] Using AI as an ‘observer’ to monitor decision making, as well as the quality of discussion [12:02] Adherence to policies, ethical frameworks and codes of conduct [15:30] Issues around privacy and confidentiality [17:15] What types of activities would be best monitored by AI? [19:40] Carefully designing ecosystems to ensure there are no misaligned incentives and unintended consequences [20:55] AI at an individual level: AI as a ‘coach’ or ‘manager’   If there are topics that you’re particularly interested in or any new buzzwords floating around, we’d love to hear from you so that we can talk about these ideas on the show. Email Paul at [email protected] or Anna at [email protected].

After Paul Smith from the Future Directors Institute spent Season 1 interviewing successful board directors, the tables have been turned: now, Paul finds himself on the other end of the microphone. Anna Byrne interviews Paul about his upcoming presentation at a conference in Savannah, Georgia in the USA.   Paul is in the enviable position where he has many options that he COULD talk about during his presentation, so now he needs to works out what he SHOULD say. The presentation is for The International Policy Governance Association and is targeted to look into new possible governance models and the future of governance in general. Paul was approached to give the closing keynote for their 2018 Annual Conference. If there are topics that you’re particularly interested in or any new buzzwords floating around, we’d love to hear from you so that we can talk about these ideas on the show. Email Paul at [email protected] or Anna at [email protected].

Welcome back to the Boardroom Hustle podcast for Season 2. Boardroom Hustle is the only podcast dedicated to serving all types of board directors at every stage of their journey, all around the world. Whether you’re aspiring to one day join a board, or you’ve just started your board journey, or you can confidently claim that you’re an effective and innovative future director, this show is for you.   Season 1 was centred around inspiring leaders and we spoke about their passions and their work inside and outside the boardroom. Season 2 is purely focus on the future.   There is plenty of hype around governance in the future. Change is coming, both technological and societal, and directors need to always be looking ahead to what will shift the status quo. It’s all about constantly upskilling to better serve your organisation and its stakeholders. We’ll be looking specifically at how these changes will impact directors inside the boardroom and what it means for their abilities and responsibilities. Today’s episode is an introduction to Season 2 where we begin our discussions around what the future might look like. If there are topics that you’re particularly interested in or any new buzzwords floating around, we’d love to hear from you so that we can talk about these ideas on the show. Email Paul at [email protected] or Anna at [email protected].

The Best of Season 1: "Disrupting the Status Quo" This episode makes the end of Season 1, which I’m retrospectively titling ‘Disrupting the Status Quo’.   We’ll be kicking off Season 2 in a couple of weeks. I’ll be co-hosting this season with previous Anna Byrne (episode 5), and we’ll be focusing on the FUTURE of the boardroom and the things that are coming on the horizon that will impact boardrooms and how board members need to constantly adapt change.   This episode features five of my favourite snippets from the guests we had on the show in the first season of Boardroom Hustle:   [1:55] Penelope Twemlowe (episode 6). The importance of saying ‘no’, being selective in what you do so that you can dedicate more time and energy to fewer things (stop spreading yourself so thinly - say no to little things so that you can say yet to the big ones).   [6:00] Alan Jones (episode 3). Career inflection points and answering the question ‘what’s making you feel most vulnerable right now? (heart arrhythmia, transition point in life)   [11:20] Alison Rowe (episode 4). ‘Fail early, then try again’ (tips for building resilience and dealing with imposter syndrome, importance of learning from failure, injecting fun and work-life balance, confidence in decision-making without 100% information, managing risk in the boardroom)   [16:30] Raph Goldsworthy (episode 7). The ‘art and science’ of the boardroom, most problems in the boardroom are perennial because we still haven’t addressed them properly   [22:00] Parrys Raines (episode 1). Finding your passion, trying things on the side, determining what works best for you

Geoff Hetherington is ‘The Clarity CEO’, helping business owners to de-clutter their ideas (and their lives) with his compassionate but no-nonsense approach. He is also a Chairman and an advisory board director to several Australian companies.   In this episode, we dive into topics such as: Being brutally selective with your focus and your energy The importance of having a regular ‘reset’ Advisory boards VS Governance boards The ideal size for an effective board Stepping back before deciding how to react Observe -> Understand -> Identify -> Decide The four stages of learning The importance of putting away your privilege Key ground rules for directors And much more!   Links LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/geoffhetherington Website: http://geoffhetherington.com/about/ Dancing Blind Man consulting: http://dancingblindman.com/   Top Quotes “My Dad always said to me the only thing you’ve got to strive to achieve in life is to be happy at the guy who looks back at you from the mirror every morning” “The hard thing for young people is to figure out how to avoid playing the politics” “It is so hard to find people that actually run businesses to come and sit on the board. That’s the other thing that’s happening with boards - the people that make up the boards are not necessarily the best or the brightest: they are the most available”. “If you understand or at least you can identify what is wrong, you can then make a conscious decisions about what you’ll do or how you’ll react” “Really good directors have the ability to step back and observe what’s happening. They are also smart enough to understand that nothing makes you do anything, because you have the choice of how you react to external stimuli”. “There’s four stages of learning: you start off unconsciously incompetent, you become consciously incompetent, then you become consciously competent, then you become unconsciously competent”. “What I say to my clients is: ‘don’t hire staff’. What you should be hiring for is for talent. You can always teach talented people something”.

One of the biggest challenges that entrepreneurs face is authenticity, not least of all in the boardroom. This is a topic that my guest today knows all too well. Ronsley Vaz is the founder of the award winning Amplify agency, author of Amplify: Raise Your Voice, Boost Your Brand and Grow Your Business, and host of Bond Appetit - Australia’s #1 food podcast. He’s also the creator of the We Are Podcast conference - the largest podcast conference in the Southern Hemisphere. And throughout his illustrious journey, one of his biggest learning curves has been confronting himself in difficult situations.   Top 3 quotes: "That is what’s fascinating now about about business - that everyday I find out how much I don’t know". "Every time I’m exposed to someone, I learn more about myself". "Be yourself so much that people want to hang out with you and appreciate you for who you are, then you don’t have to impress anyone".   We also get into all of this too... Ronsley’s top inspirational quotes The different definitions of success, and how they vary from one entrepreneur to the next Why you have to be selfish to be an entrepreneur The importance of having the right people around you How to stay in the present, rather than being in the past or living in the future Why fear won’t go away, and how to deal with it when it comes along Learning how to appreciate the problems you come up against as an entrepreneur Ronsley’s legacy, and the importance of questioning everything How Ronsley’s personality has fitted into the boardroom Why being authentic in the boardroom is so important The values of millennials and why it matters in business and the boardroom Effective listening as a critical part of how we interact with the world around us     Our Mission is to empower, support and connect a generation of directors steering meaningful change from the boardroom. Check us out at https://futuredirectors.com.au/   Links Amplify Agency Ronsley’s book, Amplify: Raise Your Voice, Boost Your Brand and Grow Your Business The Bond Appetit Podcast Should I Start A Podcast We Are Podcast Conference LinkedIn Facebook Twitter