Boards today are navigating a landscape defined by constant change, emerging risks, and evolving expectations. In this episode, Doug Chia sits down with Jane Edison Stevenson and Claudia Pici Morris of Korn Ferry to explore how board succession must adapt to meet these challenges. They discuss the shift from relying on past experience to cultivating a continuous learning mindset, and why agility, curiosity, and self-awareness are becoming essential traits for directors.

The conversation introduces the concept of “corporate wisdom” and examines how diverse perspectives in the boardroom can shape better decisions. Jane and Claudia also unpack what it truly means for a board to be “fit for purpose,” emphasizing the importance of forward-looking succession planning, evolving mindsets, and the ability to bring in expertise dynamically.

Send us Fan Mail

To learn more & get resources:

• OnBoard: www.onboardmeetings.com
• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.

Corporate spinoffs are among the most complex strategic transactions a company can undertake. In this episode, Doug Chia speaks with Rama Variankaval, Managing Director and Global Head of Corporate Advisory at JP Morgan, about the governance and strategic considerations involved in spinning off a business into a standalone public company.

The conversation explores why companies pursue corporate separations, how boards navigate their fiduciary responsibilities during these transactions, and what it takes to build an effective board for a newly independent company. Rama explains the strategic drivers behind spinoffs, from valuation pressures to diverging business models, and discusses how leadership teams must carefully design governance structures, balance sheets, and management teams to set the new entity up for long-term success.

Send a text

To learn more & get resources:

• OnBoard: www.onboardmeetings.com
• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.

What was once simply the “nominating committee” has evolved into one of the most influential bodies in corporate governance. In this episode of the Public Company Series, Doug Chia is joined by Lillian Tsu and Natalia Rezai of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton to explore the expanding role of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. From board refreshment and director independence to ESG oversight, shareholder engagement, and AI literacy, the committee’s responsibilities now extend far beyond identifying director candidates.

Lillian and Natalia discuss how governance expectations have shifted since Sarbanes-Oxley, why independence remains foundational, and how committees are thinking proactively about skills matrices, onboarding, and board evaluations. They also examine the growing importance of shareholder engagement and the role this committee plays in navigating activism, evolving ESG scrutiny, and the rapidly emerging risks and opportunities surrounding AI.

Send a text

To learn more & get resources:

• OnBoard: www.onboardmeetings.com
• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.

AI is rapidly reshaping how organizations operate, and the boardroom is no exception. In this episode, Tim Adair, CPO of OnBoard, joins Doug Chia to explore how AI is changing the way boards function today and how it will influence governance in the years ahead. Drawing on insights from OnBoard’s board effectiveness research, Tim explains why many boards struggle to operate at full effectiveness and how emerging technologies are both exposing and addressing those gaps.

They discuss the practical applications of AI in governance, from improving access to real-time data to enhancing decision-making and strategic oversight, while they examine the limits of technology, why AI cannot replace human judgment, and why trust, alignment, and accountability remain foundational.

Send a text

To learn more & get resources:

• OnBoard: www.onboardmeetings.com
• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.

The role of the compensation committee has expanded far beyond setting CEO pay. In this episode, Doug Chia is joined by Blair Jones and Todd Sirras of Semler Brossy to explore how compensation committees are evolving to oversee workforce strategy, culture, talent development, and organizational readiness for the future. They discuss how regulatory changes, stakeholder capitalism, and emerging technologies, especially AI, have reshaped board-level oversight of people and pay.

The conversation examines why compensation can serve as a powerful signal of what a company values, how boards can align pay with culture and strategy, and what skills directors need to effectively govern in this expanded mandate. Blair and Todd also address the growing relevance of CHROs on boards, the importance of culture carriers, and how committees can stay informed without crossing into management’s role.

Send a text

To learn more & get resources:

• OnBoard: www.onboardmeetings.com
• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.

In this episode, Doug Chia sits down with Paul Washington, president and CEO of the Society for Corporate Governance, to explore how public company board committees ended up with the familiar Audit, Compensation, and Nominating & Governance structure and why that structure may no longer match the demands boards face today. Paul explains how the post-Enron regulatory environment solidified the three-committee model and why simply handing emerging issues to existing committees is creating frustration for both boards and management.

Together, Doug and Paul walk through the gaps left by the current structure and outline a practical, step-by-step process to reassess what work is done where. They discuss how clarifying committee responsibilities can streamline board agendas, strengthen oversight, and improve alignment with management. The conversation offers concrete guidance for governance professionals seeking to optimize committee workload, sharpen accountability, and ensure the board is adding value in the right places.

Send a text

To learn more & get resources:

• OnBoard: www.onboardmeetings.com
• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.

Corporate governance begins with the board of directors, but designing the “right” board is far more complex than following a standard formula. In this episode, Doug Chia is joined by Steven Byeff and Ning Chiu, partners at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Together, they explore why one-size-fits-all approaches to board design often fall short and what companies should consider instead.

The conversation covers key decision points including board leadership structure, the chair versus CEO debate, director independence, and the often-overlooked importance of multiple leadership roles within the board.

Send a text

To learn more & get resources:

• OnBoard: www.onboardmeetings.com
• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.

Shareholder engagement has come a long way from its early days as a loosely defined practice to a core component of modern corporate governance. In this episode, Doug Chia is joined by Matt Filosa, Senior Managing Director at Teneo, to trace the evolution of engagement from pre-Dodd-Frank conversations around say on pay to today’s polarized environment shaped by pro- and anti-ESG activism.

The conversation explores how shifting political, regulatory, and social dynamics are forcing boards and investors to reassess what “successful” engagement actually means. The unintended consequences of past engagement practices, the rise of anti-ESG activism using familiar playbooks, and the growing misalignment between what companies and investors hope to get out of engagement today. The episode offers a candid look at why two-way dialogue has become more complicated, and why it remains essential.

To learn more & get resources:

• OnBoard: www.onboardmeetings.com
• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.