Building a Board of the Future

 "The most effective boards recruit members not only who fill a current gap or need today, but with an eye towards building a board of the future," says Ilana Wolfe, head of the corporate board engagement team at Goldman Sachs.

In this episode of The Insight, Wolfe discusses the evolution in corporate governance as companies grapple with increasingly complex challenges. With over 120 board placements and hundreds of introductions, the team has observed a number of emerging trends driving the shifts in board composition. Notably, companies are increasingly favoring current operating executives, placing a premium on current, relevant operating perspective over prior public board experience. And across private equity, companies are introducing directors much earlier in the investment cycle, driving an uptick in demand.

Wolfe emphasizes that for companies hoping to go public, the candidates they bring onto their boards also provide an incredibly unique signaling opportunity to tell their stories, as the people, expertise and experience recruited to boards will inevitably shape that narrative.
 

Source: Spencer Stuart Report