We need leadership now as much as ever. Stand strong. I reside most of the year in Calgary, Canada. Recently, when speaking with CEOs in the province, I encountered greater pessimism than usual. The pessimism … Read More
Mastery Doesn’t Mean Risk Free
We live near the Canadian Rockies, so we have several friends who are very good alpine skiers. Recently I was talking with one of them who has skied since he was a toddler. He recanted … Read More
Creating a Legacy
Closely aligned with your direction, your legacy statement helps define your intentions for your career and overall life. I always envision this quasi-vision as a lighthouse on the edge of a craggy shore. Its light … Read More
What to Read (and Listen to) in 2020
It’s one of my favourite times of the year! Now is when I get to share my recommendations on what to read and listen to as we head into the new year. I would love … Read More
The Best Boards Have Term Limits
It surprises me how many boards have not established term limits. They are consistently utilized on Fortune 500 company boards. They are also becoming more and more common on not-for-profit boards. In my experience, it … Read More
Re-inventing Myself and My Career
One of the main contributors to my move away from a corporate lifestyle to what I’m doing today was that I was asked for assistance. At first, a few people I knew, who recognized my … Read More
Trust Between the CEO and Board Chair Trumps All
The CEO and board chair relationship is the most important relationship in the company. I have seen chairs and CEOs who disagree, who have had to navigate their way to a common strategy, who have sought my advice in approaching a sensitive situation with the other, and in all cases, they have a foundation of trust.
Attributes of High-Performing Boards
When I think of some of the high-performing boards that I’ve worked with, there’s a great diversity of thought, so much so that the board mindset is rich with experience. It’s rich with differing opinions. … Read More
Building A Vibrant Board
When I spend time with a board, it’s pretty easy to quickly identify whether that board has a culture of vibrancy or not. When there is a vibrant board, when their mindset has a nature … Read More
An Intrusion of Privacy or Value Add?
Historically, one’s creditworthiness as a consumer was determined through a review of financial data, including credit history, prior borrowing and repayment practices, etc. As a business owner, the ability to raise capital is dependent on many … Read More