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Looking for ways to distinguish yourself professionally? CooperSurgical’s Justin Gaudreau, Senior Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, shares his key piece of advice for establishing yourself as a thought leader early in your career: don’t forget one very important thing when you’re answering questions. #careeradvice #professionaldevelopment #leadershipseries

After you retire, it isn’t uncommon to receive requests from bankers and investors looking for your insights into a particular company or industry. I pass on all such requests – just not my thing. A friend of mine who did engage on these assignments pointed out to me that it doesn’t take long before your experience passes its sell-by date. A prudent caution for those of us on the outside looking back. While leadership lessons are generally evergreen, business models are very dynamic and the related consumer insights equally so. What also changes are the leaders, and with that the vision, priorities and culture. Acknowledging the above caveats, I offer the following lesson learned that I think still holds true. For those currently in charge of businesses I believe that they should respect the past but not worship it. And I would provide the same advice to passionate fans. It took me awhile to embrace this, but I had a good teacher. I always assigned great value to having a chief financial officer as a key lieutenant. Over time I learned that it is equally if not more important to have a senior colleague who protects the brand even when the math doesn’t add up. For many of us that person was Marty Sklar, the head creative executive at WDI. Early in our interactions it was accountant versus wizard, and I was way out of my league. Later, I became a disciple, and we partnered (me as the junior partner) on several projects including the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. Marty didn’t fight against change; his most committed battles were when there was a risk of falling short of creative goals and short-cuts on quality. I never asked him this and others may know how he described himself, but I considered him a passionate artist with opinions that more often than not, carried the day with the most senior executives. A lot has changed in the world, but for those of you charged with making the math work, don't underestimate the powers of a wizard. 

Of all the decisions that a company’s board of directors makes, choosing the next CEO is arguably the most crucial

Leading with strategy and integrity: PwC's Board Priorities hub provides valuable insights and resources for today's executive leaders. Read more. https://lnkd.in/grpKNJ-H #boardstrategy #leadership

CEO Succession: According to McKinsey and Company, the core role of Boards of Directors is that of CEO Succession. The following HBR Article, describes the process and scenarios of CEO succession and provides perspective helpful to Board Directors, incumbent CEO's and incoming CEO's. All have a role in helping to ensure successful transition. https://lnkd.in/gQfr_p6i

The Power of Effective Corporate Governance A high-performing board of directors can provide invaluable insights and strategies for executive leadership while promoting shareholders’ best interests. Companies should integrate effective boards to tackle strategic issues like succession planning, talent retention, enterprise risk management, and innovation, beyond just financial health. The Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) partnered with FMI to explore these aspects in their report, “The Untapped Potential of Corporate Governance in Engineering & Construction" Key findings highlight the significance of board leadership, demographic diversity, training gaps, and strategic priority setting. Key Takeaways: 1. Leadership Matters: Effective board leadership is crucial for overall board effectiveness. 2. Different Is Better: Diverse board compositions enhance governance. 3. The Big Training Gap: Investing in board leadership training is essential but often overlooked. 4. Reordering the Priorities: Boards should focus on strategic rather than operational issues. At The Board Curators, we unlock the mystery, provide practical knowledge, curate board readiness and enable connections required for senior leaders to ascend to the next level of corporate leadership and governance. Visit us at www.theboardcurators.com to learn more. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eRnb75jZ. Daphne E. Jones Nichelle Maynard-Elliott Teri G. Fontenot Dr. Antoinette (Tonie) Leatherberry, Ed.D. Bradley Strock #CorporateGovernance #BoardLeadership #StrategicOversight #TheBoardCurators #LeadershipDevelopment #CIRT #FMI

We are The Board Curators—a passionate and dynamic team with extensive leadership experience spanning from the Fortune 20 to the Russell 3000 and across a wide range of industries worldwide. Our team brings a wealth of expertise from roles as CEOs, senior leaders, and experts in areas like commercial strategy, finance, law, compliance, healthcare, consulting, supply chain management, and digital transformation. At this pivotal time in corporate governance, we are dedicated to answering the pressing questions that many senior executives—especially women and people of color—have been asking for years: ▫️ "What do boards actually do?" ▫️ "What does it mean to be board-ready?" ▫️ "What steps do I need to take to become board-ready?" We know the path to the boardroom can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Our mission is to demystify the board readiness journey and provide you with the guidance, resources, and tools you need to take your leadership to the next level. We believe in empowering executives to understand not just the responsibilities and expectations of board roles but also the tremendous opportunities they present for influence, impact, and growth. Whether you're looking to leverage your expertise for a board role, seeking to understand the nuances of governance, or wanting to make meaningful connections with like-minded leaders, The Board Curators is here to support you. We specialize in turning seasoned executives into powerful boardroom assets. 💡 Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Visit our website at www.theboardcurators.com to learn more about how we can help you become board-ready. The boardroom is calling, and we're here to help you answer. Your leadership journey awaits—let’s embark on it together! Daphne E. Jones Nichelle Maynard-Elliott Teri G. Fontenot Dr. Antoinette (Tonie) Leatherberry, Ed.D. Bradley Strock #BoardReadiness #CorporateGovernance #LeadershipDevelopment #DiversityInBoards #WomenInLeadership #ExecutiveEducation #TheBoardCurators

"Effective leadership goes beyond numbers and financial decisions; it's about guiding your team and ensuring alignment across the board." As CFO of a company experiencing exponential growth, Trevene McKenzie, CA was navigating a range of complex financial considerations. To drive strategy and plan expansion into new markets during this transition, she attended Succeeding as a Strategic CFO. Learn more about her experience: https://lnkd.in/ewDTpXqg

Have you seen these updates from our CEO? In his latest article, he talks about our progress on strategic priorities for 2024. Check it out!