Boardroom Governance with Evan Epstein
In-depth interview podcast with leading corporate governance experts, including world-class founders, scholars, board members, executives, investors and more. The content is structured as a long-form conversation to explore not only the latest corporate governance trends, but also to get some personal insights from some of the best and brightest minds behind America's boardrooms.
Episodes
James D. White: What Makes Boards Work
(0:00) Intro(1:25) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:08) Start of interview(2:51) James D. White’s Origin Story.(3:57) James’s current work across public and private company boards. (6:15) The Jamba Juice Turnaround: taking over as CEO during a crisis, reshaping the culture, and rebuilding the board(8:46) Combining the Chair and CEO Roles: when it can wor
Leo Strine: Before You Use Artificial Intelligence, Use Your Human Intelligence
(00:00) Introduction and about the inaugural Boardroom Governance Summit(1:50) AI and the enduring role of the board: why new technology does not change directors’ fundamental responsibilities, and why human judgment remains essential(3:32) Demystifying AI: understanding how the technology is actually used inside the business, asking clear questions, and testing AI through real-world applications(
Leading Boards Through Rapid Change | Sabastian Niles and Jackie Liu
(00:00) Introduction and about the inaugural Boardroom Governance Summit(1:59) Collaborative Board Leadership: strengthening collaboration among directors and with management (4:36) Moving Beyond Pattern Recognition: shrinking decision windows, comfort with ambiguity, and approaching disruption with a beginner’s mind.(7:52) Board Focus and the Governance Gap: why more information does not nec
Ryan Nowicki Stewart (CEO, Pennant AI): AI, Proxy Voting, and the Future of Governance
(0:00) Intro(1:28) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:12) Start of interview(3:25) Ryan Nowicki Stewart’s Origin Story(5:06) The origin of Pennant AI and Ryan’s goal of building a “world model for corporate governance”(5:21) Why institutional investors struggle to scale governance oversight across thousands of portfolio companies(7:48) How Proxy Voting Works: a
Stavros Gadinis: Corporate Ordering | How Corporations Navigate Social Conflict
(0:00) Intro(1:23) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:07) Start of interview(2:58) Stavros Gadinis' Origin Story(4:27) The origin of his new book Corporate Ordering: How Corporations Navigate Social Conflict(5:30) Shareholders vs. Stakeholders: why the century-old debate over corporate purpose remains unresolved(7:37) Corporations as Rulemakers: how companies i
Directing in the Age of AI | Yvonne Wassenaar & Alla Whitston
(00:00) Intro and about to the inaugural Boardroom Governance Summit(02:45) About Ivonne Wassenaar, and Alla Whitston from MUFG(04:51) AI and Board Oversight: what directors should be asking as AI moves from experimentation into core business strategy(05:59) Looking Beyond Today’s AI: why boards need outside perspectives on startups, venture investment, and where the technology may be heading next
CEO Succession: What Boards Need to Get Right | Karen Francis DeGolia & Penny Herscher
(0:00) Introduction to the inaugural Boardroom Governance Summit(02:18) The Board’s Role in CEO Succession: why succession is about more than hiring and firing the CEO, and why boards should think about the entire executive management team(04:57) Is the CEO You Have Today the CEO You Need Tomorrow? How rapid changes in markets, technology, and industry can change the leadership profile a company n
Raffaela Rein: How AI Is Changing the Way Boards Work
(0:00) Thank you to everyone who joined the inaugural Boardroom Governance Summit
(0:30) Intro
(1:51) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(2:38) Start of interview
(3:21) Raffaela Rein’s Origin Story
(4:44) Rocket Internet: the “copycat factory,” global expansion, execution, and leadership lessons
(8:36) Founding and selling CareerFoundry
(9:16) Raffaela’s Board J
Marc Huffman, CEO of OnBoard: AI Governance Inside the Board Portal
(0:00) Thank you to all participants of the Boardroom Governance Summit (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(0:16) Intro *Boardroom Governance YouTube Channel launch.
(1:45) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(2:31) Start of interview.
(3:25) Origin Story of Marc Huffman
(6:26) About OnBoard
(10:35) AI Risks for SaaS and OnBoard
(12:46) Directors Using AI in Shadows. His ideal
Shannon Nash: Boards, AI Agents, and Human Judgment
(0:00) About the Boardroom Governance Summit (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(0:43) Intro
(2:08) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(2:54) Start of interview.
(3:56) Origin Story of Shannon Nash
(7:00) Her pivot from Law to Finance
(9:15) Her operating and finance career
(12:55) Her experience in tech (subscription businesses) and current COO and CFO role at Vibrant Planet
Sandra Gobert: European Governance in a Changing World
(0:00) About the Boardroom Governance Summit (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(1:20) Intro
(2:45) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(3:31) Start of interview.
(4:55) Origin Story of Sandra Gobert
(6:04) Sandra’s Career Path
(8:56) Guberna and Board Education. Member of EcoDa.
(12:00) Family Firms and Control in EU
(13:53) Relationship Agreements Explained (examples, Bpost a
Karen Francis and Penny Herscher: The Chairs' View of a Changing World
(0:00) About the Boardroom Governance Summit (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(1:17) Intro
(2:45) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(3:31) Start of interview.
(4:39) AI and Governance Today
(5:34) Data Center Politics (reference to moratorium by New York State)
(6:48) About the 3rd Rome Conference on AI, Ethics and Governance
(9:06) AI Hype and Job Fears
(14:45) Birth and f
Mayree Clark and Linda Riefler: Leading-Edge Stewardship in the Boardroom
(0:00) About the Boardroom Governance Summit (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(0:55) Intro
(2:37) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(3:24) Start of interview.
(4:23) Origin story Mayree Clark
(6:08) Origin story Linda Riefler
(8:23) About their Leading-Edge Stewardship framework and personal road-map.
(11:38) Teamwork and Long-Term Value Creation
(16:03) On board diversity
AI in the Boardroom: What Directors Need to Know Now
(0:00) About the Boardroom Governance Summit (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(0:55) Intro
(2:44) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(3:30) Start of interview.
(4:16) Origin story Marie Bafus
(5:30) Origin story Wendy Grasso
(7:34) Diving into their article AI in the Boardroom: What Directors Need to Know Now
(4:14) Why AI Needs Board Oversight
(12:00) Caremark and Oversight
Terry Johnson: Sports, Gaming, and Family Business Governance
(0:00) About the Boardroom Governance Summit (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(0:54) Intro
(2:15) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(3:01) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Terry (E131) from 2024.
(3:50) About Terry's role as Co-Chair of WilmerHale's Sports & Gaming Practice
(4:52) Sports Investment Boom, now including institutional investors and private
Keith Giarman and Tony Abate: Private Equity Boards and the Turnaround Playbook
(0:00) Intro to this episode
(2:52) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(3:39) Start of interview
(4:18) Keith Giarman's origin story. About DHR Global
(9:33) Tony Abate's origin story. Current boards: Wolfspeed, GTT Communications, Mitel, and Tacora Resources.
(23:52) Turnaround Board Playbook. Three phases: 1) Fix the balance sheet; 2) Turnaround strategy, and t
Emily Liggett: Informed Oversight Without Operational Interference
(0:00) Intro *Reference to the Boardroom Governance Summit at Limerick Lane Cellars, Healdsburg, California (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(2:12) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(2:59) Start of interview.
(4:00) Origin Story of Emily, and Stewardship
(6:15) From Engineer to CEO
(7:14) Companies that she led: Elo Touch Systems (97-00), Capstone Turbine (02-03), Apexon
Greg Gretsch: Venture Capital in the AI Supercycle
(0:00) Intro, *Reference to the Boardroom Governance Summit (Aug 26-27, 2026)
(2:42) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(3:28) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Greg (E136) from 2024.
(5:14) Market Boom and AI Supercycle
(6:14) AI Is Changing Everything
(9:06) How does a VC use AI (venture business: sourcing, selection, and stewardship)
(12:1
Laurie Yoler: Boards at the Edge of Innovation
(0:00) Intro
(1:47) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(2:34) Start of interview
(4:12) Laurie's origin story
(6:19) From Management Consulting (Accenture) to Product Innovation (Visa). "What they all had in common was that I got to start with a blank sheet of paper."
(8:52) Toward Venture Capital and Board Governance. From Sun Microsystems to Packet Design to i
Marie Oh Huber: Governing Through Disruption
(0:00) Intro
(1:34) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(2:21) Start of interview
(3:20) Marie's origin story
(5:19) Career Path in Law and Governance. Her time at HP and Agilent Technologies.
(7:50) Transition to eBay
(9:57) Shareholder Activism and eBay's Story *CNBC clip with Ryan Cohen
(14:42) Governance Roles and Board Memberships
(16:50) Her teaching posit
Eddie Ramos: How AI Is Reshaping Investing and Boardrooms
(0:00) Intro
(1:24) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(2:11) Start of interview *reference to the BRI from LCDA
(3:54) Eddie's origin story
(6:27) Eddie's investment focus
(7:44) The rise of AI and its impact on him
(9:06) Eddie’s roles in investment over the past 35 years (as GP and LP).
(8:32) His current endeavors: 1) Board member in mutual funds (Calvert Fu
Steven Lipin: Activism, M&A, and the Rising Stakes of Board Communication
(0:00) Intro
(1:36) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(2:23) Start of interview
(3:11) Steve's origin story
(5:05) His Journey into Journalism
(6:02) The Rise of Governance Movement
(7:00) Transformation of Board Accountability. Reference to the 1992 Board coup at GM and other historical changes.
(10:24) Communication in Governance
(12:25) Establishing Gladstone
Benjamin Means: The Principles of Family Business Law and Governance
(0:00) Intro, *Reference to prior episode with Ben Means (E105)
(1:36) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(2:23) Start of interview.
(3:39) The Premise of his new book Family Business Law
(6:48) Understanding Shareholder Oppression
(10:17) The Three-Circle Model Explained
(13:34) The Personal Impact of Family Business
(16:24) Boards in Family Businesses
(18:09)
Eric Ries: Incorruptible, and the Case for Long-Term Governance Reform
(0:00) Intro
(1:40) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(2:26) Start of interview
(3:19) Eric's origin story
(5:00) The Lean Startup Journey
(10:23) About The Long-Term Stock Exchange
(18:00) Governance and Eric's New Book Incorruptible
(24:14) On Governance in Startups vs. Public Companies and so-called "best practices." "One of the key ideas in the book is that
Benjamin Edwards: The Rise of Nevada in the Reincorporation Debate
(0:00) Intro
(1:31) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(2:18) Start of interview
(3:10) Ben's origin story
(7:14) Embracing Nevada as Home. Joining University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2017.
(10:14) Joining Wilson Sonsini as Senior of Counsel (2026)
(13:00) The Reincorporation Movement. Competition between Delaware, Texas, Nevada and others. *Reference to E20
Joelle Emerson: Why Company Culture Is a Core Governance Issue
(0:00) Intro
(1:35) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel
(2:22) Start of interview
(3:01) Joelle's origin story
(7:00) The Journey of Paradigm, the culture company she co-founded in 2014. "Our goal is to help organizations build healthy and high performing cultures where people from all backgrounds can come together, do their best work and thrive."
(11:15) On the c
Leo Strine: Delaware’s Moment, AI Guardrails, and a Call of Conscience
(0:00) Intro
(1:29) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.
(2:15) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Leo Strine (E100)
(3:09) The Call of Conscience and The Current Moment (reference to his speech at the Weinberg Center in Oct of 2025)
(5:18) Skepticism about Credibility of the Elite Among the Youth
(7:02) The Ethical Muscle
(8:20) Acknowledging Di
Betsy Atkins: Why Directors Must Become More Entrepreneurial and Change-Adaptive
(0:00) Intro(2:04) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:50) Start of interview(3:51) Betsy's origin story(9:14) The HealthSouth Board Scandal(16:35) Her preference when picking what boards to serve on(17:30) Insights VC-backed Boards and role and profile of the independent director in this context(21:20) Insights on PE-backed Boards and role and profile of the in
Michael Ewens (Columbia Business School): What the Data Reveals About Startup Boards and Private Equity
(0:00) Intro(1:19) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:05) Start of interview (2:48) Michael's origin story. Academic Journey and Early Influences. *reference to Correlation Ventures(8:55) About his paper Board Dynamics over the Startup Life Cycle (2020) with Nadia Malenko. (11:30) Role of independent directors in VC-backed companies.(16:05) Control Dynamics in
Jennifer Ceran: From Treasury to CFO to the Boardroom
(0:00) Intro(1:36) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:22) Start of interview(3:21) Jennifer's origin story(8:06) Journey to Treasury starting with Sara Lee Corporation, to Cisco and eBay (20-year career in Treasury)(15:05) From Box to CFO roles at Coupons.com and Smartsheet (took it public as CFO)(20:50) Building a Board Career: True Search, Auth0 (acq by Okta)
Jeff Epstein (Bessemer Venture Partners): Why Effective Boards Spend Time on Decisions Not Yet Made
(0:00) Intro(1:45) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:31) Start of interview(3:04) Jeff's origin story. Began career in investment banking at First Boston before transitioning to a 25-year run as CFO across media companies (King World, Nielsen) and tech (DoubleClick, Oracle).(7:16) Transitioning to Bessemer Venture Partners.(8:40) Focusing on his board career a
Joe Grundfest (Stanford): 2026 Predictions and 2025 Reflections
(0:00) Intro(2:00) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:45) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episodes with Joe (E1 from '20, E35 from '21, E84 from '23, E123 from '24 and E161 from '25)(4:43) IPO Environment. Reference to paper by Mark Roe: Half the Firms, Double the Profits(11:58) Elon Musk's $1 Trillion Pay Plan "We will pay you an outrageous amount if
David Berger: Year-End Reflections on Corporate Governance and the Road Ahead
(0:00) Intro(1:31) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:18) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episodes with David (E24 from Nov 2020 and E159 from Dec 2024)(3:22) 2025 highlights from the American College of Governance Counsel(4:55) The Rome Conference on AI, Ethics, and the Future of Corporate Governance(6:52) The Dual-Class Share Debate (reference to his
Richard Blake: Key Takeaways from the 2025 Silicon Valley 150 Governance Report
(0:00) Intro.(1:27) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:14) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episodes/reports with Richard (E126 from Feb 2024 and E158 from Dec 2024)(3:11) AI dominance in public and private markets(4:14) About WSGR's 2025 SV150 Corporate Governance Report. Major Findings in DEI Disclosure (impact on board diversity)(12:25) Broader ESG C
Michelle Leder (Footnoted): Uncovering Hidden Risks in SEC Filings
(0:00) Intro(1:21) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:08) Start of interview(2:36) Michelle's origin story(4:33) The Origins of Footnoted (started in 2003)(6:36) Understanding SEC Filings and Disclosures(7:20) The "Friday Night Dump"(9:34) The State of Public vs. Private Markets(12:40) The Rise of Private Markets and Challenges of Public Markets(18:43) Red Flag
Erik Lie: Catching Cheats, Fraud Detection, and the Board’s Evolving Role
(0:00) Intro(1:30) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:16) Start of interview(3:01) Erik's origin story(6:10) His role at the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa.(7:49) Exploring his book Catching Cheats(9:39) About the field of forensic economics(11:00) The Challenge of Private Market Data and Fraud *Reference to our Startup Litigation Digest(1
Sue Siegel: Innovation, Life Sciences, and Governance in a Changing World
(0:00) Intro(1:55) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:42) Start of interview(3:56) Sue's origin story(5:42) The Rise of Biotech and her Career Journey (BioRad, Dupont, Amersham and Affymetrix)(12:04) Transition to Venture Capital (Mohr Davidow Ventures, GE Ventures)(14:55) Evolution of Corporate Venture Capital (since ~2010) "They [now] represent about 28% of a
Karen Page: Venture Boards, Founder Governance, and the Path from Startup to Scale
(0:00) Intro(1:25) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:12) Start of interview(3:01) Karen's origin story(3:44) Early Career and Transition to Technology(5:40) The Dot-Com Era and her time at Brobeck and later at Orrick.(8:50) Her transition to Prosper Marketplace (Chris Larsen's company) (9:40) Her time at Box, Inc. and Apple *Reference to E179 with Jack Lazar(1
Joele Frank and Anne Chapman: Strategic Communications, Activism, and Governance
(0:00) Intro to this episode(1:34) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:21) Start of interview(3:19) Joele Frank's origin story(5:02) Anne Chapman's origin story(8:41) The history and focus of the firm Joelle Frank (now has ~250 people, with offices in NYC and SF).(12:46) Shareholder activism in today's market(15:52) The Exxon Mobil activism case [see E28 with A
Stephen Bainbridge (UCLA): The State of Corporate Law and Governance in the U.S.
(0:00) Intro(1:24) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:11) Start of interview. *Reference to E91 (April 2023) for Steven's personal/professional background. (2:34) The current era of corporate law.(3:39) Transition to Substack Publishing(6:40) The DExit Phenomenon Explained(11:35) Understanding Delaware's SB21 and Its Implications. His article, Course Correction
Brad Feld: Startup Boards and Lessons from Four Decades in VC
(0:00) Intro(1:36) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:23) Start of interview(3:11) Brad's origin story(4:54) Venture Capital Beginnings(5:39) The Rise of the Internet(8:10) His role in Softbank Technology Ventures and later Mobius Venture Capital. Reference to Heidi Roizen E6, E108 and E116(12:26) Transition to Techstars and Foundry(13:36) Origin and focus of h
State of the Markets and AI with Steven Wolfe Pereira
(0:00) Intro(1:30) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:16) Start of interview. *Reference to E181 (July 2025) for Steven's personal/professional background.(3:14) IPOs and Market Trends. Including Klarna and Gemini.(5:29) The Stay Private vs. Go Public Dilemma. Valuations and market health (examples of Airbnb and Figma)(12:00) The Oracle post-earnings 36% price
Teresa Briggs: Audit Committees, AI, and the Evolving Role of Corporate Directors.
(0:00) Intro(1:26) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:13) Start of interview(2:53) Teresa's origin story(4:30) Her career path at Deloitte (37-year career)(7:40) Transition to Board Service(8:37) Joining the board of ServiceNow(10:57) Joining the board of Warby Parker and understanding Public Benefit Corporations (PBCs)(14:48) Joining the boards of Snowflake an
Jonathan Foster: On Boards and the Playbook for Modern Governance
(0:00) Intro(1:27) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:13) Start of interview(2:51) Jonathan's origin story(4:23) His Journey into Governance, initially via accounting with PwC and later with Lazard.(6:17) Types of Governance Structures(7:51) About his firm Current Capital Partners (M&A advisory, corporate management services, and PE investing).(8:31) The Inspir
Larry Cunningham: From John Weinberg’s 1948 Thesis, Delaware's Challenge, to the Modern Boardroom
(0:00) Intro(1:31) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:18) Start of interview. *Reference to E36 (June 2021) for personal/professional background, and E90 (March 2023)(3:13) Celebrating 25 Years of the Weinberg Center(3:47) Uncovering John Weinberg's 1948 Thesis. Details for the Symposium at the Weinberg Center on Oct 9, 2025.(6:12) The role of boards and direct
Tina Rosenfeld: Independent Directors, Board Diversity, and Governance in Chile
(0:00) Intro(1:26) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:13) Start of interview *mention of my participation in the Board Summit in Chile (Nov 2025)(3:40) Tina's origin story(6:19) From Germany to Latin America with Beiersdorf(10:14) Her time with D&S and Walmart Chile (11:38) Her start with board memberships(14:23) The Role of Independent Directors in Family-Owne
Steven Wolfe Pereira: How Can You Govern Something That You Don't Understand?
(0:00) Intro(1:28) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:15) Start of interview(3:17) Steven's origin story(7:09) The AI Market Explosion(10:07) Introducing Alpha: the company he leads. (16:01) On Events and Board Forums: "There is going to be a premium on IRL really moving forward because the bar is going to be so high" (17:50) The Necessity of Tech-Savvy Directo
Erik Gerding (Freshfields): Governance, Regulation, and Risk in a Global Business Environment
(0:00) Intro(1:14) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:00) Start of interview(2:36) Erik's origin story(4:14) Discussing Foreign Private Issuers (FPIs): His article "SEC Revisits Foreign Private Issuer Eligibility" (June 2025)(16:45) The Rise of AI and Its Implications. Discussion on "AI Washing"(19:30) Distinguishing statutory mandates between the SEC, FTC, and
Jack Lazar: A Silicon Valley Journey from Finance to the Boardroom
(0:00) Intro(1:30) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:16) Start of interview(3:09) Jack's origin story(4:11) The Accounting Foundation. His time at PriceWaterhouse (1987-1992)(5:45) His Startup/Executive Journey. Electronics for Imaging => Apptitude => NetRatings => Atheros => Qualcomm(12:15) Transitioning to Board Service. His start with Silicon Labs (2013)(12
Walker Newell & Lenin Lopez (Woodruff & Sawyer): Navigating D&O Risk, Delaware Exit, and Boardroom Litigation
(0:00) Intro to this episode(1:43) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:30) Start of interview(3:09) Walker Newell's origin story(6:38) Lenin Lopez' origin story(9:21) Intro to Woodruff Sawyer, and their focus on corporate law and securities litigation.(14:00) The Importance of Corporate Governance(14:38) On the Gallagher merger (WS was acquired for $1.2B)(15:10
Celebrating 5 Years of the Boardroom Governance Podcast & Newsletter
This episode marks the fifth anniversary of the Boardroom Governance Podcast and Newsletter.In this solo edition, I reflect on:The origin of the podcast and newsletter, both launched during the pandemicKey lessons from over 175 episodes with leading voices in corporate governanceThe Boardroom Governance SummitMy role leading the Center for Business Law at UC Law SFThe Startup Litigation DigestThe
Karen Hao: Author of Empire of AI on Why "Scale at All Costs" is Not Leading Us to a Good Place
(0:00) Intro (1:49) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:36) Introduction by Professor Anat Admati, Stanford Graduate School of Business. Read the event coverage from Stanford's CASI.(4:14) Start of Interview(4:45) What inspired Karen to write this book and how she got started with journalism.(8:00) OpenAI's Nonprofit Origin Story(8:45) Sam Altman and Elon Musk's
Michal Lev-Ram: On the Intersecting Worlds of Tech, Culture, and Politics in Silicon Valley
(0:00) Intro(1:09) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(1:56) Start of interview(2:39) Michal's origin story(5:05) Her start in journalism in Silicon Valley with Business 2.0. magazine and later at Fortune Magazine.(7:45) Her project Operation Firewall (audible original podcast involving cybersecurity)(11:40) The current state of tech, particularly AI, in Silicon V
Alex Edmans: How Board Members Can Challenge Bias and Think More Critically
(0:00) Intro(1:37) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:24) Start of interview(3:10) Alex's origin story(5:56) His advisory boards and other board positions. On the importance of the academic practitioner nexus.(7:02) About his book May Contain Lies (2024)(10:07) About confirmation bias, relevant to corporate directors.(11:48) About black and white thinking (bina
Rick Horvath (Dechert): What Corporate Directors Need to Know About Delaware's SB 21
(0:00) Intro(1:14) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:01) Start of interview(4:38) His professional background starting with Skadden in Delaware.(5:08) About his corporate governance practice at Dechert LLP(8:10) How Delaware Came to Dominate U.S. Incorporations(13:14) What prompted the pushback against Delaware(15:12) The Tornetta v Musk decision (Elon Musk CE
Roy Shapira: Europe’s Corporate Sustainability Directive and Its Impact on U.S. Board Oversight Duties
(0:00) Intro(1:30) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:17) Start of interview(3:01) Roy's origin story. (6:35) About the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ("CS3D"). His paper co-authored with Luca Enriques and Matteo Gatti: How the EU Sustainability Due Diligence Directive Could Reshape Corporate America (2025)(9:28) The Political Climate of ES
Robin Feldman: On the Evolution and Regulation of AI
(0:00) Intro(1:26) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:13) Start of interview(2:45) Robin's origin story(3:55) About the AI Law and Innovation Institute.(5:02) On AI governance: "AI is critical for boards, both from a risk management perspective and from a regulatory management perspective." Boards should: 1) Get regular updates on safety and regulatory issues,
Amy Rojik (BDO Center for Corporate Governance): From Audit Quality to Governance Strategy
(0:00) Intro(1:13) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:00) Start of interview(2:45) Amy's origin story(3:25) Her start in corporate governance(5:02) About the implosion of Arthur Andersen (she worked there from 1993 to 2002) (7:00) Her time at BDO USA for the past 21 years and founding the BDO Center for Corporate Governance(11:50) AI governance and board approa
Emily Melton: Mechanics of Venture Investing, the Age of AI, and Implications for Boards
(0:00) Intro(1:15) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:02) Start of interview(2:45) Emily's origin story(8:27) Her start in venture capital through DFJ with Tim Draper in 2000.(11:56) About the history and evolution of VC(13:42) Investing thesis (founding principle) at her firm Threshold Ventures.(19:21) The venture mechanics of Threshold Ventures. "One of our S
Joe Hurd: Governance in Times of VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity)
(0:00) Intro(1:26) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:13) Start of interview(2:45) Joe's origin story(4:07) His early career starting in London, with law firm Linklaters. (6:43) His move to Friendster in Silicon Valley.(8:00) His time at Videoegg.(9:24) His time at the International Trade Administration in the Obama Administration.(11:30) His return to private
Jorge Titinger: Leadership, Governance, and the Erosion of Trust
(0:00) Intro(1:15) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:02) Start of interview(2:48) Jorge's origin story(6:03) His executive career in Silicon Valley (including computer and semiconductor industries)(9:00) On his board experience (he has served in ~20 boards)(11:32) Distinctions between serving on different types of boards (public/private/non-profits/etc). On no
David Chun (CEO, Equilar): The Boardroom Diversity Backlash—A Shifting Pendulum
(0:00) Intro(1:38) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:25) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Dave (E25 from Dec 2020)(3:30) Equilar's current focus. New: Equilar Research Intelligence Copilot ERIC(7:49) The current status of boardroom diversity. Latest (Q3 2024) Equilar Gender Diversity Index(10:05) On boardroom refreshment(11:25) On digital/t
Rick Alexander: On the Rise of PBCs in the AI Industry and Firm-Specific vs. Diversified Investor Duties
(0:00) Intro.(1:33) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:20) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Rick (E14 from Aug 2020)(3:32) Update on Public Benefit Corporations (PBCs) from prior episode (2020)(6:00) Surge of VC investments in PBCs driven by AI startups. *Reference to E159 with David Berger on Anthropic's structure(9:48) The OpenAI Controver
Jonathan Goodman (Deloitte): Governing Strategy
(0:00) Intro(1:35) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:21) Start of interview(3:00) Jonathan's origin story(5:10) His start in journalism(7:05) Founding Monitor Canada with Roger Martin (1987)(9:43) Transitioning to Deloitte Monitor (2013) (12:18) About Deloitte Canada’s Podium Club for Directors that he leads.(13:38) How Trump's tariffs may impact Canada (note:
Jeff Thomas (Nasdaq): The State of Public Markets in 2025
(0:00) Intro.(1:52) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:39) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Jeff (E46 from Oct 2021)(3:42) On Nasdaq's IPOs in 2024 (180 IPOs raising $23B). Looking ahead in 2025.(6:23) What to expect facing new Administration. Reference to Nasdaq's IPO Pulse Index.(8:59) The three priorities for boards considering an IPO: st
Nora Denzel: Technology Leadership in the Boardroom
(0:00) Intro.(1:47) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:34) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Nora (E74 from Oct 2022)(3:42) About the 2024 NACD Blue Ribbon Commission on Technology Leadership in the Boardroom: Driving Trust and Value(7:29) On the evolving role of the board overseeing technology and cybersecurity(10:41) On the surge of AI tech
Joe Grundfest: Reflecting on 2024 and What’s Next for Business and Governance
(0:00) Intro(2:06) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:53) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episodes with Joe (E1 from '20, E35 from '21, E84 from '23, E123 from '24)(4:53) The future of the SEC with Chairman Paul Atkins (6:30) New approach to crypto by SEC(9:40) On the politicization of corporate governance(10:48) On the future of ESG ("Extremely Subject
Ben Joseloff: The Board's Guide to CFIUS and Evolving National Security Reviews
(0:00) Intro(1:43) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:29) Start of interview(3:11) Ben's origin story(9:39) His start at Cravath in 2010(10:54) His time at the U.S. Treasury Department and the White House. (15:04) About CFIUS. Reforms from FIRRMA (2018). Control transactions and minority investments in critical technologies, critical infrastructure, or sensiti
David Berger: Ending the One-Size-Fits-All Model of Corporate Governance
(0:00) Intro.(2:14) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(3:01) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with David (E24 from Nov 2020)(4:22) David's description of the ACGC(7:56) Post-Election Governance Changes (SEC, FTC, etc). ESG and DEI considerations. Federal vs state regulatory matters.(13:06) On crypto and digital assets in the new Trump administratio
Richard Blake: 2024 Silicon Valley 150 Corporate Governance Report
(0:00) Intro.(2:09) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:56) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Richard (E126 from Feb 2024).(3:46) About his firm's 2024 SV150 Corporate Governance Report.(9:04) On Virtual (Stockholder) Meetings (89% of SV150).(11:23) Board Committee Structures. Audit, Comp, NomGov, and Others.(14:02) On SV150's approach to ESG
Tom Callahan, CEO of NPM: Unlocking Liquidity in Private Markets
(0:00) Intro.(2:05) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:52) Start of interview. (3:36) Tom's origin story.(5:37) The start of his career with Merrill Lynch (1991-2008).(7:00) The financial crisis and his transition to the NYSE (2009-2013).(10:53) His time at BlackRock (2013-2022).(15:14) Defining private markets: "VC-backed pre-IPO private companies typically w
Andrew Shagrin and David Chekroun: Co-Founders of ICG at ESCP Business School in Paris
(0:00) Intro(3:27) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(4: 14) Start of interview. (4:56) Drew Shagrin's origin story.(8:12) David Chekroun's origin story.(14:15) About the Institute of Corporate Governance at ESCP Business School, based in Paris.(19:13) The focus of ICG between students, alumni, execs, directors, investors, state representatives, judiciary, and r
Wolfe Tone & Heather Gates (Deloitte): Insights on Private Company Governance
(0:00) Intro(1:12) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(1:59) Start of interview. (2:57) Heather Gates' "origin story."(5:17) Wolfe Tone's "origin story."(10:23) On the governance of privately-owned businesses. Distinction with having "outside investors." (15:20) On the nuances of family-owned businesses. *Reference to my podcast series on Succession show.(18:28)
Valeria Café: Leading Governance Innovation in Brazil as IBGC CEO
(0:00) Intro.(1:20) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:06) Start of interview. (3:20) Valeria's origin story.(6:14) On joining IBGC, its mission and focus: governance training, research, and regulatory work with CVM, B3, Congress, etc.(9:03) On the 25th IBGC Annual Summit.(11:11) On the state of ESG in Brazil.(15:15) On boardroom diversity in Brazil (20% femal
Barry Lawson Williams: Addressing Board Refreshment—"the Most Pressing Issue in Corporate Governance Today"
(0:00) Intro.(1:26) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:13) Start of interview. (3:03) Barry's origin story.(7:00) Barry's board journey.(9:39) On distinctions between serving on public and private company boards: "you have the same fiduciary duties."(11:57) Evolution of boards in the last 30-40 years: "they have evolved for the better, but I don't think they'v
Boardroom Diversity and the Black Corporate Board Readiness Program
(0:00) Intro.(1:25) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:11) Start of interview. (2:56) Zain Oke's origin story.(5:08) Dianna Jones's origin story.(8:25) Dennis Lanham's origin story.(12:00) How executive education works (as opposed to degree conferring programs)(14:22) On the origin and mission of the Black Corporate Board Readiness (BCBR) program at Santa Clar
Maggie Wilderotter: Strategic Oversight and the Attributes of Great Directors
(0:00) Intro.(1:30) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:15) Start of interview. (3:05) Maggie's origin story.(7:08) Maggie's board career. Reference to HBS case study on her. On staying on boards between 8-12 years to remain independent.(10:19) On distinctions between serving on public and private company boards. The role of directors in each. *Reference to VC-
Peter Gleason: CEO of NACD on 2024 Board Practices and Oversight Surveys – Trends and Takeaways
(0:00) Intro.(1:23) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(2:10) Start of interview. *Reference to prior episode with Peter (E83 from Jan 2023).(3:00) NACD Surveys on Board Practices and Oversight: Private Company Results and Public Company Results.(3:44) 1/ On Technology Oversight: "We are seeing boards go after technology, not necessarily expertise, but experience
Cedric Bru: CEO of Taulia (now part of SAP) on Boardroom Dynamics and the Value of Teamwork
(0:00) Intro.(1:03) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(1:50) Start of interview. (2:24) Cedric's origin story.(4:30) U.S. talent management insights (cultural differences with other countries): current merit.(6:00) On his management career with HP, Visa, and Syncada from Visa (a joint venture between Visa and U.S. Bank).(8:13) His transition to Taulia, a venture
Yvonne Wassenaar: On Boardroom Dynamics and Trends from Silicon Valley
(0:00) Intro.(1:03) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel.(1:50) Start of interview. *Reference to E137 with Coco Brown (CEO of Athena Alliance).(2:47) Yvonne's origin story.(5:49) Her executive career starting with Accenture, and later with VMware, New Relic, and CEO of Airware and Puppet.(9:03) On her board journey. Distinctions between private and public company
