Grit in the Boardroom - Executive Interviews on Corporate Governance and Risk Management

People-Centric Governance: How to Lead Boards Through Technology, Risk and Change

Leaders who understand this will be the ones who get it right: The boards that will define the next decade aren’t just governing platforms and processes; they are governing people.  In this episode, Erika Eliasson-Norris, CEO of Beyond Governance, speaks with Nneka Abulokwe OBE, a governance and technology leader with extensive experience helping boards steer complex digital change. Nneka has served on FTSE-listed and private equity-backed boards, chairs ESG and Responsible Business committees, and brings a rare perspective that sits at the intersection of corporate governance, technology, and people. Her doctoral research into the governance of outsourcing laid the foundation for a career-long conviction that cuts to the heart of C-suite insights on performance: that people are not just a resource to be managed, but the primary success factor for any organisation.  Together, Erika and Nneka explore what it means to govern with humanity in an age of AI, cyber risk, and accelerating change and why board effectiveness depends on intimacy with the organisation, not distance from it.  What you'll find in this episode of Grit in the Boardroom:  * Why corporate governance is a strategic enabler, not a back-office function.  * How boards can build AI literacy and maintain human oversight before technology outpaces strategic decision making.  * What people-centric governance looks like in practice and why company culture change starts at the top table.  * Why risk management and high stakes strategy in the boardroom now demand fluency in AI, cyber, and the human cost of difficult decisions.  * How diversity and inclusion become a competitive advantage when embedded into board effectiveness and governance lessons.  * What new board directors should focus on in their first 90 days and why humility is the most underrated leadership skill in the boardroom.  —  Grit in the Boardroom is a bi-weekly podcast where Erika Eliasson-Norris sits down with the best in business for executive interviews. She and her guests explore corporate governance beyond the sealed doors of the C-suite.  --  Beyond Governance provides on-demand company secretarial support, governance advisory, and governance training to boards, Company Secretaries, and General Counsel. Beyond Governance help organisations strengthen governance, manage risk, and support critical projects without the need for permanent hires. Learn more here: https://beyondgovernance.com/ [https://beyondgovernance.com/]

How to Lead a Business Turnaround: Company Culture, Clarity, and Leadership Decisions That Last

We’re diving into one of the most dramatic turnaround stories in the industry that involved taking on a failing business and turning it into Agency of the Year in three years. That doesn't happen by accident -. it happens through culture, clarity, and the courage to make decisions nobody else wants to make.  In this episode, Erika Eliasson-Norris, CEO of Beyond Governance, speaks with Chris Hirst, award-winning author, leadership coach, and former global CEO of Havas Creative. Chris draws on hard-won experience to show how leadership decisions made at inflection points define everything that follows; from how you build an indivisible senior team, to why company culture change can happen faster than most leaders believe, to what it really takes to keep shareholders, customers, and employees aligned when the pressure mounts. He challenges the myth of the heroic leader and argues that clarity, company culture, and courage are the true engines of performance.    What you'll find in this episode of Grit in the Boardroom:  * Why business resilience starts with building belief long before results arrive.  * How company culture change is not a soft concept. It's the hardest, most structural lever a leader has.  * Why the most dangerous people in a leadership team are those who understand the strategy but quietly refuse to play ball.  * How to balance long-term vision with short-term investor pressure without losing either.  * Why strategic decision making under pressure comes down to controlling what you can and ignoring what you can't.  * What the best turnaround stories have in common, and why talent and culture are always the answer.  —  Grit in the Boardroom is a bi-weekly podcast where Erika Eliasson-Norris sits down with the best in business for executive interviews. She and her guests explore corporate governance beyond the sealed doors of the C-suite.  --  Beyond Governance provides on-demand company secretarial support, governance advisory, and governance training to boards, Company Secretaries, and General Counsel. Beyond Governance help organisations strengthen governance, manage risk, and support critical projects without the need for permanent hires. Learn more here: https://beyondgovernance.com/ [https://beyondgovernance.com/]

Purpose Over Performance: Building Leadership That Lasts Across Generations

Creating the scaffolding that outlasts any single leader is the result of purposeful, long-term leadership including the ability to build cultures, strategies, and successions that endure. Most organisations measure success by the quarter. But what happens when that short-termism becomes the biggest threat to long-term survival?  In this episode, Erika Eliasson-Norris, CEO of Beyond Governance, speaks with Sharath Jeevan OBE, founder and Executive Chairman of Intrinsic Labs and leader of the Generational Success Lab at Oxford University's Saïd Business School. Together, they explore how leaders can move beyond the performance game, working not just for the next reporting cycle, but for years to come.  Sharath brings a rare perspective: as someone who has advised CEOs, built and stepped away from his own organisations, and now works at the intersection of purpose, company culture and intergenerational leadership. He draws on real experiences - including scaling an educational organisation from 300 to 20,000 schools - to challenge assumptions about what board effectiveness really requires.  Erika and Sharath explore why so many boardroom decisions are still driven by short-term pressure, what it takes to build the cultural scaffolding that outlasts any single leader, and why the tension between generations at work is not a problem to be managed, but an opportunity hiding in plain sight. For anyone seeking c suite insights on what purposeful, long-term leadership really looks like, this conversation delivers.  What you'll find in this episode of Grit in the Boardroom:  * Why short-termism in the boardroom is a strategic decision making failure, not just a culture problem.  * How leaders can build business resilience and growth under pressure by thinking in decades, not quarters.  * What founders get wrong about succession and how to leave a legacy that holds.  * Why board effectiveness depends on cognitive diversity, not just demographic diversity.  * How company culture change happens when generations stop defending and start collaborating.  * What the best board meetings actually look like and the governance lessons most organisations are still missing.  -- Grit in the Boardroom is a bi-weekly podcast where Erika Eliasson-Norris sits down with the best in business for executive interviews. She and her guests explore corporate governance beyond the sealed doors of the C-suite.  -- Beyond Governance provides on-demand company secretarial support, governance advisory, and governance training to boards, Company Secretaries, and General Counsel. Beyond Governance help organisations strengthen governance, manage risk, and support critical projects without the need for permanent hires. Learn more here: https://beyondgovernance.com/ [https://beyondgovernance.com/]

Judgement Matters More Than Data in the Boardroom: Corporate Governance and Decision Making at the Highest Level

Most boardroom decisions don’t fail because of bad data; they fail because of poor strategic decision-making. In this episode, Erika Eliasson-Norris, CEO of Beyond Governance, speaks with Sir Andrew Likierman, one of the UK’s leading voices on corporate governance and leadership. Together, they explore why mergers fail, how boards can strengthen risk management, and what separates effective from ineffective leadership decisions.  Erika and Andrew discuss how stronger leadership decisions, more effective boardroom debate, and clearer thinking can improve outcomes and strengthen corporate governance at the highest level. In high-stakes moments like mergers and acquisitions, even experienced leaders can make costly mistakes.  With experience across more than 20 boards, including the Bank of England and Barclays, and as the former Dean of London Business School, Andrew brings decades of expertise in improving strategic decision making and strengthening board effectiveness in complex environments.  What you’ll find in this episode of Grit in the Boardroom:  * Why boardroom decisions define long-term outcomes.  * How poor strategic decision making impacts mergers and acquisitions.  * The role of self-awareness in improving leadership decisions.  * Why corporate governance depends on challenge and independent thinking.  * How AI is influencing boardroom decisions and governance processes.   * What makes an effective chair and how leadership shapes board effectiveness.  -- Grit in the Boardroom is a bi-weekly podcast where Erika Eliasson-Norris sits down with the best in business for executive interviews. She and her guests explore corporate governance beyond the sealed doors of the C-suite.  — Beyond Governance provides on-demand company secretarial support, governance advisory, and governance training to boards, Company Secretaries, and General Counsel. Beyond Governance help organisations strengthen governance, manage risk, and support critical projects without the need for permanent hires. Learn more here: https://beyondgovernance.com/ [https://beyondgovernance.com/]

From Personal Networks to the C-Suite: What Aspiring Directors Should Know About Board Effectiveness and Future Leadership Skills

Are you presenting yourself strategically to the people who will let you sit in the boardroom? Networking, communication, and continuous self-reinvention during company culture change is critical to success in senior leadership and non-executive director roles.   Host Erika Eliasson Norris – CEO of Beyond Governance and Governance Assessor to the UK’s Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry – sits down for one of the show’s in-depth executive interviews with Emma Parry, Founder & CEO of NovaFin Consulting Ltd. Together they explore how emotional intelligence helps leaders navigate complex situations, improve board effectiveness, and build stronger alignment across the C-suite.  Drawing from real management case studies, Emma shares practical examples of how leaders handle pressure, encourage meaningful director dialogue, and approach leadership decisions when organisations face uncertainty. We look to understand how corporate governance, leadership, and strategic decision-making shape modern organisations is essential for anyone looking to influence boardroom decisions. The conversation also highlights how strong networks, thoughtful communication, and clear governance frameworks can strengthen business resilience and lead to genuine turnaround stories.  What you’ll find in this episode of Grit in the Boardroom:  * Why gender diversity strengthens leadership and improves decision-making at the top.  * How professional networks and LinkedIn can support career progression into the C-suite.  * What aspiring directors should know about entering the boardroom.  * Why risk management, governance awareness, and strong communication skills matter for future board leaders.  * Practical insights on navigating company culture shifts and maintaining effective governance during change.  -- Grit in the Boardroom is a bi-weekly podcast where Erika Eliasson-Norris sits down with the best in business for executive interviews. She and her guests explore corporate governance beyond the sealed doors of the C-suite.