Governance in times of accelerating changes Podcast

#Governance in times of accelerating changes is a topic of interest to corporate directors preoccupied with helping their organization become more resilient. I had the opportunity to speak on that topic in a podcast produced by Lumiq. This conversation covers how the role of the #board has changed and adapted to the new pace of change; a board's role in the #strategic #planning process; the criteria underlying a resilient organization & the board role in getting there; the key elements of cyber risk management; and more. I am interested to ear about your views on this topic as well, share with me.

https://lumiq.luminari.co/episodes/1QJBwzldnnrrEzFpu7Hn

Through this crisis, board should think about accelerating innovation in sales to increase resiliency

The board needs to rethink the sales and marketing strategic plan

In this time of accelerated change and economic disruption, one of the area most impacted is sales and marketing. Along with management, the board should re-look at those aspects of the strategic plan. Here is an interesting post by Jack Derby on what questions to be asking. My takeaways: This will be a long-term fundamental problem. The old rules and methods of Sales and Marketing are gone forever...just dust in the wind. The #1 new rule is about empathy. #2 rule is to stop selling. #3 rule is about listening. Our Sales & Marketing toolboxes need to be dumped upside down and refilled. #board #sales #strategy https://www.derbymanagement.com/blog/right-answers-wrong-questions?utm_campaign=Tufts%20Marketing%20Projects%20Fall%2C%202015&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=86386933&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9y90K9dqoBIBuw_Ea7w2WfEgeJFCzvO2lpCAYFabZaGhDcxUF6hbaliWguHEbdW1gH9cOL1BHiOgL86um0K0_DFImmBg&_hsmi=86386933

7 essential elements of a resilient board.

Autumn is the time for strategic planning for many boards of directors. While preparing, I found this article that discusses courage in the boardroom and effectiveness in times of rapid changes. I recommend you include it in your fall readings. It takes you through the elements of a resilient board and successful organisation: Bold decisive leadership; An opportunity mindset; A tightly knit ecosystem; Agile decisions; A culture of openness and innovation; Diversity in all forms and at all levels; And curiosity. It reinforces the importance for the board to have a strong and precise strategic framework to facilitate better and faster decisions and outcomes. And that ‘to do what we currently do, but better’ is no longer enough. We must design strategies and organisations understanding that uncertainty is now the norm, not stability. #board #strategy

https://www2.deloitte.com/tl/en/pages/about-deloitte/topics/csuite-boards.html

Competent Boards session on "Responsible use of #Data and #Cybersecurity", October 8th 2019.

Hear insight on data privacy, #fakenews, #cyberrisks and security, disaster containment strategies and more from global leaders including: The Honourable John Manley, P.C., O.C. - Chair, CIBC & Board Member, TELUS Hans Koeleman- Chief Corporate Communication & Corporate Social Responsibility, KPN Dottie Schindlinger- Vice President of Thought Leadership, Diligent Tyson Johnson MA - Chief Operating Officer, CyberNB Josee Morin, ASC/C.Dir, P. Eng - Corporate Director K. Daniel Oh - Managing Director, Corporate Governance, Morrow Sodali Nik Gowing - Founder, Director, Co-author ‘Thinking the Unthinkable’ Thomas Michael Gann - Chief Public Policy Officer, McAfee Kersi Porbunderwala - President and CEO, Copenhagen Compliance, The EUGDPR Institute and The Information-Security Institute Anita Braha - Board member, Vancity Credit Union Join our interactive session on October 8th alongside featured experts - Kersi Porbunderwala and Tyson Johnson. Register Today - https://lnkd.in/eiRGtj4

https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E22AQEvES_bS4_p7g/feedshare-shrink_1280/0?e=1573084800&v=beta&t=Cxw9p7btuUgIvz5vMxyabpiEh7pA56OBRPJETKUhAzA

Invited panelist at GPC conference on board resiliency

I will be participating in a panel at the next Governance Professional of Canada annual conference in Quebec City on august 19th. The topic of this panel is: The to-do lists for Resilient Board of directors. My comments will reflect the point of view of private company boards. Board resiliency is a fascinating topic that is getting more attention in these times of accelerating changes. To enhance my thinking on this topic and make my comments more relevant, I have been reading up about diversity, courage in the board room, long term strategic planning. If you have interested articles to propose on resiliency, please comment on this post. I will also be happy to meet you at the conference, so do not hesitate to come and say hello.  #board #governance

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6562384359834431488/

Board oversight of emerging technologies: Five technologies shaping the future

A perspective from NACD on top emerging technologies that will impact sustainability of businesses in the next few years and should be monitored and included in strategic planning discussions. I would argue that two of these five are already creating havoc, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Blockchain is taking more time than expected to become mainstream and will possibly be relevant in focused industries. Hyper-connectivity and Symbiothech Systems are in their early stages and driven by the penetration of AI into business processes. For example, as AI becomes an intrinsic part of on-line services, faster communication speeds will become a critical success factor. This article also includes a useful list of questions to assist directors in the oversight of emerging technologies. #board #digital transformation

https://www.nacdonline.org/insights/magazine/article.cfm?ItemNumber=61333

Board of directors’ digital strategy will benefit from a slow down in innovation

I attended the Deloitte Technology, Media and Telecommunication trends presentation last week, always relevant to integrate in company strategic planning discussions. Duncan Stewart highlighted the Gartner Hype Cycle from 2018 and noted that it forecasts that for the next 2 years no new innovations will reach the plateau of productivity, and only 4 in the next 5 years. Hence few new technologies will disrupt businesses. Corporate directors must use this respite to accelerate their digital strategy and transformation and to integrate technologies that are already widely used into their strategic planning. Otherwise they will be ill prepared for the next wave coming.

https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/5-trends-emerge-in-gartner-hype-cycle-for-emerging-technologies-2018/

Boards should look for digital mindset when hiring a new CEO

An interesting article for boards looking for a new CEO that can lead them through digital transformation. CIO’s share their opinions on what makes a successful CEO. Of interest to me where the fact that CEOs are needed that can build value out of ‘legacy businesses’ by fueling transformation within products, services, and business models; CEOs that can think about medium and longer term as well as sustainability and the current quarter. This means finding collaborative, inspirational CEOs that can work across the organization and support the establishment of a ‘digital mindset’ to build the business of tomorrow which is in large part digital. And having a digital mindset at the board. . #digitaldiversity #boardofdirectors #digitaltransformation

https://www.cio.com/article/3281103/cio-role/advice-from-cios-for-boards-selecting-a-new-ceo.html

Board Risks: 10 steps to Cybersecurity

A very efficient and straightforward tool for corporate directors that want to evaluate the cyber-risk level of their organisation. How many of these 10 steps do you achieve, and do you discuss indicators of performance at the board level? #cybersecurity #board #risks

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:6469516883245703168/

Participating to two governance events in Toronto on November 14thn2018

I will be a facilitator at the Women General Counsel event on November 14th 2018 in Toronto: Workshop for Creating your Personal Board-ready Plan. Come to think about your board career and meet me there.

http://blakesfiles.com/gfx/Invitations/Toronto/2018/Business_Class/TOR_Women_GCs_On_Boards_Nov_14_2018/TOR_Women_GCs_On_Boards_Nov_14_2018_Outlook_web.html

I will attend the Women Get on Board event: “Disruption and Transformation – The Board’s Role in Overseeing Opportunities and #Risks” on November 14th 2018 in Toronto. Come to learn more about how #boards need to evolve in changing environments, network with other board members and meet me.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-event-disruption-and-transformation-the-boards-role-in-overseeing-opportunities-and-risk-on-tickets-41903159478

Why does the new legal obligation to disclose data breach in Canada matters to your board?

The Canadian government has announced that starting November 1st 2018 Canadian businesses will have to report data breach to affected individuals and to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. There are also new record-keeping requirements regarding data breach that organizations must follow. Although Alberta and Quebec are not covered under PIPEDA, it is expected they will both adopt similar requirements. As a board member, you should discuss whether you are impacted by these new requirements and if anything must be put in place to comply with them. Non-compliance could result in increasing reputation and financial risks to the organisation. Canadian businesses that collect data from European countries are also affected by changes to the GDPR enforced since May 2018 that include fines for non-compliant organisation of up to 4% of revenues. Data protection is definitely a topic to discuss at your next board meeting.

http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/690016/data+protection/Its+Official+Mandatory+Data+Breach+Notification+Coming+On+November+1+2018

Does blockchain and AI belong in the boardroom today?

This discussion paper from NACD presents blockchain as a disruptive technology that could be as transformative to business as the internet. And I know the same arguments apply to Artificial Intelligence (AI). It highlights the new risks posed by introducing blockchain (or AI) to manage some of your data as a topic of interest to the board. It also argues that boards have to discuss blockchain regularly as part of their strategy session, conceding that expertise on this topic is scarce and that wider adoption will not happen before 2020. Directors of companies that are the closest to be impacted by these technologies, financial services and healthcare for example, have a responsibility to start educating themselves. Do you have good reading material adapted to directors to suggest on blockchain and AI?

http://boardleadership.nacdonline.org/Blockchain-GC-News.html