Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work

How to run efficient meetings with parliamentary rules

Sarah Merkle is an attorney and certified professional parliamentarian with nearly 25 years of experience helping organisations run fair, efficient and orderly business meetings. Through her work with boards across nonprofit and the public sector, Sarah is known for making parliamentary procedure practical, accessible and relevant for today’s governance challenges. In this episode, we explore why parliamentary rules matter more than ever in a time of low trust and heightened sensitivity to decision‑making processes. Sarah explains what parliamentary procedure really is — and what it isn’t — and why having clear, agreed‑upon rules can actually make meetings smoother, more inclusive and easier to manage. We discuss common misconceptions about parliamentary rules, how they can be misused, and how boards can right‑size and customise procedures to reflect their size, culture and mission. From designing agendas that move decisions forward to encouraging productive participation and preventing meetings from becoming a free‑for‑all, this conversation offers practical guidance boards can apply immediately. Sarah also shares insights on the critical role of the board chair in setting tone, maintaining neutrality and de‑escalating conflict, as well as how technology, including digital agendas, secure voting and online meeting tools, can support clearer, more efficient and compliant meetings. Be sure to listen to the end for Sarah’s best advice for board administrators, chairs and governance professionals looking to use meeting time in service of the mission — not waste it — and to help board members feel heard, respected and engaged, even when decisions are difficult. Further resources on parliamentary procedures:  * Download a free Robert’s Rules cheat sheet [https://www.diligent.com/resources/guides/roberts-rules-cheatsheet]  * More helpful tips and resources from Sarah can be found on Civility.co [https://civility.co/]

How to design successful orientation for new board members

Liz Thompson is Executive Assistant to the President, Corporate Secretary, and Corporate Compliance Officer at Presbyterian Senior Care Network. Chandu Vemuri is Executive Assistant for the Board and Superintendent Leadership at Sun Prairie School District in Wisconsin. Together, Liz and Chandu bring deep, hands‑on experience supporting nonprofit and public‑facing boards as they welcome new members into governance. In this conversation, we explore why thoughtful board orientation matters more than ever, what’s at risk when onboarding is rushed or unclear, and how organizations can set new board members up for success from day one. From clarifying roles and legal responsibilities to building confidence, culture, and trust, this episode looks at what effective orientation really takes — especially in highly regulated, highly visible environments like healthcare and public education. Liz and Chandu share practical approaches to self‑guided onboarding, peer mentoring, and using technology to make orientation more accessible, consistent, and engaging. Listen in as they discuss how good orientation strengthens governance over the long term — not just in the first 30 days — and why onboarding should be the start of a continuous learning journey for every board member. And be sure to listen to the end for their best advice for board administrators and clerks looking to move beyond a one‑and‑done orientation and build confident, effective boards. Further resources on board member onboarding: * Our guide to onboarding and orienting nonprofit board members can be downloaded here [https://www.boardeffect.com/guides/onboarding-checklist/]. * Our guides to onboarding and orienting public board members can be downloaded for public education [https://www.diligent.com/resources/guides/public-education-onboarding-kit] and local government [https://www.diligent.com/resources/guides/local-government-onboarding-kit].

Transparency, trust and the power of public records

Andrea Messina is CEO of Florida School Boards Association and Kathy McFarland is Executive Director of COSSBA.   Together, Andrea and Kathy bring deep experience supporting school boards and school districts across the country. In our conversation, we explore why transparency is so critical for public-facing boards, where organizations sometimes fall short, and how open meetings, clear communication, and consistent records management help build trust — even when decisions are complex or controversial. From livestreamed meetings and accessible agendas to records retention and board accountability, this Sunshine Week conversation reinforces a core leadership principle: transparency isn’t about doing things perfectly — it’s about doing them openly, consistently and with the public in mind. Listen in as Andrea and Kathy share their advice and experience for public‑facing boards navigating the whole area of transparency. And do stick around to the end to hear their excellent advice for building a strong culture of transparency and trust.  Further resources on transparency for public boards: Our guide to transparency through technology for education can be downloaded here [https://www.diligent.com/resources/guides/transparency-through-technology-public-education]. Our guide to transparency through technology for government can be downloaded here [https://www.diligent.com/resources/guides/transparency-through-technology-local-government].

How to create an AI policy for your mission-driven organization

Dominique Shelton‑Leipzig is CEO of Global Data Innovation and Dr. Andrea Bonime‑Blanc is founder and CEO of GEC Risk Advisory. In this episode, we explore why AI governance has become such a pressing priority for mission‑driven organizations, we look at where organizations tend to go wrong, and why trust, accuracy and continuous testing must sit at the heart of any AI program. We also talk about the risks of deploying AI without a framework. We discuss the importance of tone from the top, lifecycle oversight, strengthening cybersecurity, and how boards can embed principles like fairness and accountability into daily practice—not just policy documents. Listen now as we explore privacy considerations, bias in AI systems, human‑in‑the‑loop safeguards, third‑party oversight, and why AI policies should be living, breathing documents. And stick around to the end for Dominique and Andrea’s excellent advice for mission‑driven boards for creating AI policy. Further resources on AI governance for mission boards You can find the toolkits mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose [https://www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose].

The why behind the policy: Navigating regulations in education

John Thomsen is Director of Engagement and Policy at NEOLA, working with school districts across multiple states to support legally compliant policies and governance frameworks that reflect community values. John unpacks the “why” behind policy for public sector boards — especially K‑12 school districts — and how leaders can navigate changing regulations without losing sight of student success. He explains why boards must stay anchored in mission, vision and values while scanning the horizon for potential and actual regulation, so they’re ready to respond quickly and confidently when change arrives. The discussion also covered the big challenges for the year ahead, from the sheer pace and volume of new rules to funding constraints and rising expectations for real‑time transparency through live‑streamed and more accessible board meetings. We also talked about policy in practice: how to tell the story behind a policy change, articulate the “why” before the “how,” and proactively review and update policies rather than scrambling reactively when mandates hit. We also touch on the role of technology in governance, from using tools to manage policies, track legislation and increase transparency, to supporting accessible, compliant meetings without replacing the essential work of elected officials. Stay tuned to the end as John shares his recommendation for how boards can embrace the change process, respond to evolving regulations and continuously improve outcomes for students year after year. Further resources on regulations for public facing boards You can find the guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose [https://www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose].