🎙 Boardroom Clarity in Complex Times: A Conversation with Celia Pronto

🎙 Boardroom Clarity in Complex Times: A Conversation with Celia Pronto

In this first guest episode of OnBoard, Liza Tullidge sits down with powerhouse non-executive Célia Pronto, who is an award-winning Director with over 30 years’ experience in the food manufacturing, restaurant, logistics, travel, hospitality, leisure, FMCG, E-Commerce, automotive retail and utility sectors. Together, they explore what it takes to lead with clarity in an increasingly complex board landscape—navigating long-term value creation, emerging political and operational risks, and evolving responsibilities around ESG, EDI, and strategy. From redefining how boards embed values into decision-making to simplifying ESG integration without losing rigour, this conversation is a must-listen for both new and experienced directors seeking to govern with greater impact. We unpack: ✅ Why good governance starts with long-term thinking, not headlines. ✅ How to lead with values in a volatile political and regulatory environment. ✅ When it’s time to reframe ESG—not abandon it. ✅ What makes board service more demanding—and more critical—than ever before. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, practical wisdom, or a recalibration on how to show up in the boardroom, this episode delivers. 🎙 Navigating OnBoard: Your Guide to Governance Insights To help you easily find the episodes most relevant to you, we use a simple emoji system to categorize our content. Whether you're here for technical deep dives, board strategy, or practical NED advice, this guide will help you tune into the right conversations: 💡 = Innovation & Emerging Topics → Covering AI governance, future boardroom trends, and technology disruptions. 💪 = Expanding Governance Practice → Exploring governance frameworks, board leadership, and fiduciary responsibilities. 🎯 = Practical Boardroom Skills → Tactical advice on NED positioning, leadership development, and board effectiveness. 🔥 = Critical Risks & Challenges → Addressing regulatory shifts, ESG strategy, crisis management, and corporate risk. 🎙 = Thought Leadership & Expert Insights → Featuring guest interviews and in-depth discussions on the evolving board landscape. Every episode will include its emoji category in the title—so whether you’re looking to stay ahead of AI risks, refine your board strategy, or hear from governance experts, you’ll know exactly where to start.

💪 Support and Challenge: The Dual Role of Effective Board Members

In this episode of OnBoard, we explore one of the most essential—and often misunderstood—concepts in the boardroom: support and challenge. If you’re new to the boardroom or preparing for your first NED role, understanding this dynamic is key. Great governance lives in the balance between backing leadership and holding them to account. But what does that actually look like in practice? We unpack: • Why “support and challenge” is a cornerstone of effective board service • How to build trust and credibility with your CEO and executive team • The subtle art of giving clear, honest feedback that adds value • What to do when groupthink creeps in or relationships feel tense • How to bring your full perspective to the table—without overstepping Whether you’re just beginning your board journey or want to sharpen how you show up in the room, this episode is for you. 🎙 Navigating OnBoard: Your Guide to Governance Insights To help you easily find the episodes most relevant to you, we use a simple emoji system to categorize our content. Whether you're here for technical deep dives, board strategy, or practical NED advice, this guide will help you tune into the right conversations: 💡 = Innovation & Emerging Topics → Covering AI governance, future boardroom trends, and technology disruptions. 💪 = Expanding Governance Practice → Exploring governance frameworks, board leadership, and fiduciary responsibilities. 🎯 = Practical Boardroom Skills → Tactical advice on NED positioning, leadership development, and board effectiveness. 🔥 = Critical Risks & Challenges → Addressing regulatory shifts, ESG strategy, crisis management, and corporate risk. 🎙 = Thought Leadership & Expert Insights → Featuring guest interviews and in-depth discussions on the evolving board landscape. Every episode will include its emoji category in the title—so whether you’re looking to stay ahead of AI risks, refine your board strategy, or hear from governance experts, you’ll know exactly where to start.

🎯 Making the Mindset Shift: Understanding the Difference Between Exec & Non-Exec Mindsets

Stepping into the boardroom means shifting from execution to oversight, from leading teams to guiding leadership, and from managing strategy to ensuring accountability. Many first-time NEDs struggle with this transition—not because they lack expertise, but because they approach governance with an executive mindset rather than a board mindset. In this episode, we explore: ✅ The fundamental differences between executive and non-executive roles—and why this distinction matters. ✅ Common pitfalls for new NEDs—and how to avoid them. ✅ How to master the balance of support and challenge to add real value as a board member. ✅ Practical steps to develop a governance mindset that ensures effective oversight and strategic influence. The most effective NEDs aren’t the ones who try to run the business from the boardroom—they’re the ones who know how to challenge, guide, and empower leadership while staying in their lane. 🎙 Navigating OnBoard: Your Guide to Governance Insights To help you easily find the episodes most relevant to you, we use a simple emoji system to categorize our content. Whether you're here for technical deep dives, board strategy, or practical NED advice, this guide will help you tune into the right conversations: 💡 = Innovation & Emerging Topics → Covering AI governance, future boardroom trends, and technology disruptions. 💪 = Expanding Governance Practice → Exploring governance frameworks, board leadership, and fiduciary responsibilities. 🎯 = Practical Boardroom Skills → Tactical advice on NED positioning, leadership development, and board effectiveness. 🔥 = Critical Risks & Challenges → Addressing regulatory shifts, ESG strategy, crisis management, and corporate risk. 🎙 = Thought Leadership & Expert Insights → Featuring guest interviews and in-depth discussions on the evolving board landscape. Every episode will include its emoji category in the title—so whether you’re looking to stay ahead of AI risks, refine your board strategy, or hear from governance experts, you’ll know exactly where to start.

💡 AI Governance Begins with Clarity: Distinguishing Between RPA, AI & IA

AI is not a one-size-fits-all technology, yet it’s often treated that way in governance discussions. Boards need to distinguish rule-based automation (RPA), predictive AI, decision-making IA, and Agentic AI—each requiring a different governance model, risk approach, and oversight structure. In this episode, we explore:  ✅ The 3C AI Governance Model—how boards can classify AI and apply the right oversight controls. ✅ The risk of misclassifying AI systems—and why it could lead to compliance failures, reputational damage, or liability issues. ✅ Agentic AI vs. IA—the new frontier of autonomous AI decision-making and what it means for accountability in governance. Boards don’t need to be AI experts—but they do need to ask the right questions. Tune in to learn how to future-proof AI governance and lead with clarity. 🎙 Navigating OnBoard: Your Guide to Governance Insights To help you easily find the episodes most relevant to you, we use a simple emoji system to categorize our content. Whether you're here for technical deep dives, board strategy, or practical NED advice, this guide will help you tune into the right conversations: 💡 = Innovation & Emerging Topics → Covering AI governance, future boardroom trends, and technology disruptions. 💪 = Expanding Governance Practice → Exploring governance frameworks, board leadership, and fiduciary responsibilities. 🎯 = Practical Boardroom Skills → Tactical advice on NED positioning, leadership development, and board effectiveness. 🔥 = Critical Risks & Challenges → Addressing regulatory shifts, ESG strategy, crisis management, and corporate risk. 🎙 = Thought Leadership & Expert Insights → Featuring guest interviews and in-depth discussions on the evolving board landscape. Every episode will include its emoji category in the title—so whether you’re looking to stay ahead of AI risks, refine your board strategy, or hear from governance experts, you’ll know exactly where to start.

💪 Unlocking the Boardroom: Why More Women Must Treat Board Service as a Career Strategy

Board roles aren’t just for the later stages of your career—they’re a powerful way to expand your leadership influence, shape industries, and drive meaningful change. Yet, too often, women overlook the boardroom as a strategic career move rather than seeing it as a deliberate step in their leadership journey. In this episode, we explore:  ✅ Why board service should be part of your long-term career strategy.  ✅ How board roles accelerate leadership influence, network expansion, and professional growth.  ✅ The key barriers holding women back from pursuing board positions—and how to overcome them.  ✅ Practical steps to position yourself for board opportunities, no matter where you are in your career. Board seats aren’t just given—they’re earned through intentional positioning and strategic action. If you’ve ever thought, "Is the boardroom for me?", this episode is your answer. 🎙 Navigating OnBoard: Your Guide to Governance Insights To help you easily find the episodes most relevant to you, we use a simple emoji system to categorize our content. Whether you're here for technical deep dives, board strategy, or practical NED advice, this guide will help you tune into the right conversations: 💡 = Innovation & Emerging Topics → Covering AI governance, future boardroom trends, and technology disruptions. 💪 = Expanding Governance Practice → Exploring governance frameworks, board leadership, and fiduciary responsibilities. 🎯 = Practical Boardroom Skills → Tactical advice on NED positioning, leadership development, and board effectiveness. 🔥 = Critical Risks & Challenges → Addressing regulatory shifts, ESG strategy, crisis management, and corporate risk. 🎙 = Thought Leadership & Expert Insights → Featuring guest interviews and in-depth discussions on the evolving board landscape. Every episode will include its emoji category in the title—so whether you’re looking to stay ahead of AI risks, refine your board strategy, or hear from governance experts, you’ll know exactly where to start.