Best Dr Sabine Dembkowski Podcasts (2024)

1
Experience of working with a board as a first-time CEO 21:21

9d ago21:21

21:21

Boards are complex structures, and it can be overwhelming for a first-time CEO to navigate them successfully. In this episode, we dive into the experiences of a first-time CEO, discussing the challenges she encountered and the strategies she used to handle the intricacies of board dynamics. In this episode, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managin…

1
Sir Richard Dearlove, former Mi6 Chief - Intelligence: managing information, experts and the court of public opinion in the boardroom 38:00

9d ago38:00

38:00

Sir Richard Dearlove KCMG OBE is a former Mi6 Chief, Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, Advisory Board member at American International Group, and Chair at Ascot Underwriting, to name a few. In this conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings, Sir Richard covers: How do you make sure you are receiving accurate information from execs? (1:41) Wh…

1
Stuart Roden - Investors in the boardroom: getting the right CEO, capital allocation, and adding value as former investors 38:31

16d ago38:31

38:31

Stuart Roden is Chair / former Chair of Lansdowne Partners, Hetz Ventures, Lewis Advisors, Tresidor, the Design Museum and Unlocking Potential, NED at LSE and Trustee at the National Gallery and Centre for Social Justice. In this conversation with Nurole CEO, Oliver Cummings, Stuart covers: When you were an investor, did the quality of the board co…

1
Baroness Dambisa Moyo - Boardroom surprises: black swans, dual-track strategising and marketing yourself as an unconventional board member. 44:13

23d ago44:13

44:13

Baroness Dambisa Moyo is a current board member of Chevron and Conde Nast, investment committee member of the Oxford University Endowment, and co-principal of Versaca Investments. Join her and Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings in a conversation which covers: Which of your boardroom experiences have been the most challenging? (1:44) How do the best boards …

1
How can boards convert sustainability from a wish to a winning reality? 16:03

24d ago16:03

16:03

When companies face increasing uncertainty, they need to lean in and embolden management to do what is right for the business's long-term health. Nowhere is this more pertinent than on the topic of sustainability. In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses how board members can help make a differ…

1
Board failure (2/2): the board’s role in assessing and communicating strategy and hiring strategically-minded non-execs, with Roger Martin 34:11

1M ago34:11

34:11

Roger Martin, ranked the world's #1 management thinker, considers the following in the second part of his conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings: What is the board’s role in developing strategy? (2:13) What is the board’s role in communicating strategy across an organisation? (7:37) Do you think every organisation has the potential to build a…

1
U.S. and U.K. – Two countries separated by common corporate governance practices? 20:43

1M ago20:43

20:43

What are the key differences between the U.S. and the U.K. in their approaches to corporate governance? How do these differences impact an independent/Non-Executive Director in their duties? In this podcast, with Susan Skerritt, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses corporate governance practices in the U.S.…

1
Board failure (1/2): why boards are worst when they need to be best, where they still add value, and the lost art of strategy, with Roger Martin 33:17

1M ago33:17

33:17

Roger Martin, ranked the world's #1 management thinker, has advised the boards of Procter & Gamble, Lego, Ford, BHP, Verizon and more. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: Do you see value in boards? (2:06) Where do you see value in NFP and private, investor-backed boards? (5:13) Can boards perform their monitoring function effectively? (10:05) Why do …

1
Building a plural board career: how to network effectively, develop expertise spikes, overcome uncertainty and position yourself as a candidate, with Cathy Turner 36:49

2M ago36:49

36:49

In recent years, Cathy has built a broad plural career at listed companies, with current NED positions at Lloyds Banking Group plc, Rentokil plc and Spectris plc. Tune in to her conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear her thoughts on: How did you get your first NED position? (1:50) How did you turn that first position into a plural car…

1
What do board members need to think about to avoid being sued by the climate movement? 18:29

2M ago18:29

18:29

Climate change has transitioned from a distant environmental concern to a pressing business issue. The rhetoric between business and climate activists has hardened. Friends of the Earth in the Netherlands have sued Shell and are now in the process of suing ING. What should boards do? In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partn…

1
Board reviews: how to make board effectiveness reviews effective, with Dr Sabine Dembkowski 42:42

2M ago42:42

42:42

Dr Dembkowski has led board reviews for firms across the FTSE 100 and DAX amongst others, and her academic work on the subject is internationally recognised and peer-reviewed. Tune in to her conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear her thoughts on: Why do a board review? (1:38) Are private companies less inclined to board review, and if…

1
Building a board portfolio: listed, government and charity boards, with Anand Aithal (Cabinet Office Lead Non-Executive) 41:13

2M ago41:13

41:13

On top of his Cabinet Office role, Anand is a NED at Saga plc, Polar Capital Holdings plc and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Tune in to his conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear his thoughts on: Was being a portfolio NED always the plan? (1:03) What advice do you have for people in the early stages of their board…

1
Becoming the Chair (III): getting the role, developing through self-assessment and operating in complex stakeholder environments, with Andrew Tyler (Portfolio Board Chair) 34:47

2M ago34:47

34:47

Andrew is Chair of a series of investor-backed businesses, including Ainscough Crane Hire, Winoa Group, Joloda, Detertech, ETL Systems, Hydraroll and Senior Advisor at Blackstone Credit. Tune in to his discussion with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear his answers to: What inspired you to move from CEO to Chair, and how did you prepare for it? (1:4…

1
Behind close doors of tech start-up Boards 25:47

2M ago25:47

25:47

The board is a powerful asset for tech start-ups. Yet, since the interaction takes place behind closed doors, there is a lot of uncertainty about how the CEO and director dynamics play out. How open is the communication between both sides? In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses tech start-up …

1
Collective intelligence: the remits, thinking and communication styles that define the most valuable boards, with Jennifer Sundberg 42:15

3M ago42:15

42:15

As CEO of Board Intelligence, Jennifer Sundberg has seen what works and what doesn’t across thousands of boards - insights crystallised in her recent book Collective Intelligence. Listen to her conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear her answers to: Do boards still matter? (0:46) How can we determine which decisions need to be made by …

1
Managing change: how boards can steer institutions through ups and downs, with Sir Nicholas Coleridge CBE DL 48:30

3M ago48:30

48:30

Sir Nicholas is Chair / former Chair of Historic Royal Palaces, Victoria & Albert Museum, British Fashion Council, Professional Publishers Association, Condé Nast Britain and Provost-Designate at Eton College. Tune in to hear his answers to: As a Chair, where have you been most and least effective leading through difficult times? (1:25); How did yo…

1
Can accounting save the world and your company? 17:45

3M ago17:45

17:45

Environmental risks make up half the Top 10 risks over the next ten years. Climate change remains one of the most urgent challenges confronting boards in their oversight capacity. How can boards improve their oversight of climate-related risks? And what does accounting have to do with it? In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing …

1
CEOs: how the best boards and advisors add value to their most senior executive, with Wais Shaifta 40:27

3M ago40:27

40:27

Wais is CEO / former CEO of PrivateDoc and Push Doctor, and NED & Committee Chair at Snappy Shopper, Reach Plc and The Gym Group. Listen to his conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear his answers to: How did the Push Doctor board add most value to you as CEO? (1:24) Did you ever get frustrated by board members from big business not und…

1
Management: how boards can quantify the value of better leadership, work with mercurial CEOs and balance managerial and technical competence, with Ann Francke OBE (CEO, Chartered Management Institute) 46:08

3M ago46:08

46:08

As CEO of the Chartered Management Institute for over a decade, Ann Francke has spent some time thinking about what good management looks like and how organisations achieve it. Tune in to her conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear her answers to: How can we know that investing in leadership causes high-performance, rather than there j…

1
AI - What questions do Directors need to ask? 22:14

3M ago22:14

22:14

Generative AI will profoundly impact how we work and how organisations operate. My podcast partner has said that it is the most dramatic change we have seen since controllable electricity. Yet, in our board evaluations, we see little about the systematic integration of AI in the agendas of boards. What questions do Directors need to ask in the boar…

1
Strategy: how boards can use the “7 Powers” to sustain performance in the face of competition, with Hamilton Helmer 53:13

4M ago53:13

53:13

How can boards help businesses keep hold of the value they create? In “7 Powers: The Foundations of Business Strategy”, Hamilton identifies seven powers organisations can develop to protect themselves from competition. Listen to his conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to discover how you can use them as a board member. Hear Hamilton’s answ…

1
Leading an effective board - Andreas E.F. Utermann, Executive Chair, Vontobel Holding AG 20:39

4M ago20:39

20:39

What does good look like? What does it mean to lead an effective board? These are probably two of the questions I most often hear. In our board evaluations, we see vast differences in how Chairs and boards perform. In this podcast, I, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses leading an effective board with Andr…

1
Why a good story is mission critical for boards | Jyoti Gupta, Story teller and award winning author 17:52

4M ago17:52

17:52

A crucial yet often overlooked aspect of board effectiveness: stories. Imagine a world where numbers and strategies come alive, painting a vivid picture of your company's future. When it comes to decision-making and leadership, how can compelling narratives inspire your board and drive tangible results? The ancient art of storytelling can be your m…

1
Trustee to NED to Chair: creating a board profile, transitioning to paid roles and building a value-driven portfolio career as a NED and Chair, Christmas Special 🎄 with Sarah Flannigan 46:25

4M ago46:25

46:25

Sarah is Chair of Bionic, Yeo Valley, Riverford Organic Farmers and Sawdays and Senior Advisor at OMERS Private Equity. Tune in to her conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear her answers to: Why did you take on your first board roles whilst you were still a busy non-exec? (1:33) What do you know now which you wish you’d learnt then? (4…

1
Support (& challenge): how the best boards embrace mistakes, look to the future, and support fund managers and CEOs, with Martin Gilbert (Aberdeen Asset Management Co-Founder Founder, Revolut Chair) 46:12

5M ago46:12

46:12

Martin sits down with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to consider: How did the board add value during Aberdeen’s organic growth? (1:45) How did the board help through acquisitions? (3:45) How have you learnt from your mistakes? (7:35) How did you balance instinct with analysis? (8:54) How does the board’s role at Revolut compare to Aberdeen? (12:19) Has…

1
Executive Pay - Striking the right balance between Executives and stakeholders | Paul Norris, Senior Partner MM&K Limited 17:05

5M ago17:05

17:05

Executive pay attracts attention and scrutiny as companies and society at large face the challenges of rising prices and interest rates. It is a true challenge to strike the right balance between executives and stakeholders. The big question is: How can companies strike the right balance? In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing …

1
Control, service and strategy: why boards are more important than ever, and how they need to change to add value, with Professor Andrew Kakabadse 56:34

5M ago56:34

56:34

Professor Kakabadse, one of Harvard Business Review’s most influential management gurus, has spent a lifetime working with boards, publishing 45 books and 250 scholarly articles on the subject. Tune in to his conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear his answers to: How do you define and measure the board’s role and effectiveness? (0:57)…

1
From seed to public: the board’s role in two entrepreneurial success stories, with Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia (Snoop Founder & former Chair, Virgin Money former CEO, HMRC lead non-exec) 48:02

5M ago48:02

48:02

Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia has worked with boards from most angles, across every business stage. Tune in to her discussion with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings as she reflects on her journeys with Snoop and Virgin Money, and hear her answers to: How have you thought about fundraising for Snoop? (1:29) When and why did you first create a board? (6:01) How di…

1
The inspiring life of a Director | Paul Halpin, Non-Executive Director 19:49

5M ago19:49

19:49

We all have dreams. When we sit in our offices, we probably all wonder what life would be like If we made some different choices. In this 100th podcast of the Better Boards podcast series, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses the inspiring life of a Director with Paul Halpin, who, together with his wife, ma…

1
Becoming a Chair (II): assessing the role, working with passion, structuring meetings and fundraising, with Matthew Newcombe-Ellis (Prostate Cancer Research, Kidney Research UK Chair / Chair Designate ... 48:12

5M ago48:12

48:12

After fifteen years as an investment banker, Matt joined the board of Prostate Cancer Research. Two years later, he was Chair - a job he now does full time. What made him make the leap? Tune in to Matt’s conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear his answers to: What advice would you have for someone considering becoming a Chair? (1:36) H…

1
Becoming the Chair (I): preparing for the role, managing stakeholders, developing strategy and hiring the right NEDs (Roger Parry, Oxford Metrics, YouGov, Future Publishing Chair / former Chair) 51:41

6M ago51:41

51:41

Do you aspire to Chair your board? Or better understand how your Chair thinks? Uber NED Roger Parry sits down with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to reflect on his 20+ years chairing global organisations like YouGov and Future Publishing. Tune in to hear his answers to the following questions: How do you prepare to become a Chair? (1:24) What are the d…

1
On being an effective Non-Executive Director | Marianne Loner, Non-Executive Director 19:48

6M ago19:48

19:48

One of the most frequently asked questions to Better Boards is “What does it take to be an effective Non-Executive Director?” This podcast will shed some light on the topic. In this podcast, Dr. Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Director of Better Boards, discusses how to be an effective Non-Executive Director with Marianne Loner. Marianne sp…

1
Decision-making: how boards make good decisions (and avoid bad ones), with Dr Shefaly Yogendra (Chair, NED and Advisor) 46:13

6M ago46:13

46:13

Boards exist to make decisions. But how often does your board make the best ones? Shefaly Yogendra is a Chair, NED and Advisor with a PhD in decision-making . Tune in to her conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to discover her answers to the following questions: What framework do you use to promote good decision making on your boards? (1:25…

1
Building a board portfolio: how to get board roles, develop non-exec skills, construct a portfolio and manage impostor syndrome, with Shellye Archambeau (Fortune 500 Committee Chair & NED) 43:19

6M ago43:19

43:19

Now on the boards of two Fortune 500 companies, Shellye Archambeau began building her board portfolio whilst she was a Silicon Valley CEO. Tune into Shellye’s conversation with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to hear her answers to: Why did you take on your first board role whilst you were still a CEO? (0:40) How did you make the time to be both CEO and…

1
The Board as a Team | Petri Hofste, Non-Executive Director 18:46

6M ago18:46

18:46

The Board as a Team may be a surprising topic. Are Boards of Directors individuals in a group or a Team? If the Board is a team, who is on the team - the Execs, the Non-Executives, or both? The academic literature and practitioners are ambiguous about whether a Board is a team or not. In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Part…

1
People & talent: the role of Remcos, and how board members can help measure and engage employees in a digital age, with Daniel Kasmir (Chief People & Procurement Officer, TalkTalk). 30:14

7M ago30:14

30:14

The tech revolution and Covid have brought seismic changes to the way organisations engage and assess their employees. Traditional approaches don't cut the mustard. So what do board members need to do to keep on top of their most valuable resource in the digital era? Daniel Kasmir has managed people issues for over 30 years, as a Chair, Remco Chair…

1
The Retention Factor: Why Boards Need to Prioritize LGBT+ Inclusion | Emma Codd, Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Deloitte 26:29

7M ago26:29

26:29

When LGBT+ employees feel their employers aren't doing enough to support LGBT+ inclusion, many are prepared to look elsewhere for organisations that do. This is one of the many stark findings from Deloitte's recently released 2023 LGBT+ Inclusion @ Work report, which explores the experiences of more than 5,400 respondents across 13 countries throug…

1
High-performance: the key characteristics of highly successful boards, with Clarissa Farr (Chair, Board Consultant & former High Mistress of St Paul’s) 41:23

7M ago41:23

41:23

What are the key ingredients of high-performing boards? As High Mistress of St Paul’s, Clarissa Farr worked with her board of governors over a period of marked success. Now a trustee, fellow and board consultant - at the Royal Ballet School, Winchester College and British Museum amongst others - Clarissa shares her key characteristics of high-perfo…

1
Founders: how boards can help them, and how they can help boards, with Marta Krupinska (CUR8 Founder, YBI Chair and former Head of Google Startups UK) 38:16

7M ago38:16

38:16

Over 90% of startups fail. How can boards help founders beat the odds? Having begun life as a founder, Marta Krupinska has continued to work with start-ups as an investor (Google Startups UK, Climate VC) and Chair (Youth Business International). Marta sits down with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to reflect on how boards add most value to founders and …

1
Governance - Are boards part of the problem or part of the solution? | Ralph Ward, Editor, The Corporate Board 22:16

7M ago22:16

22:16

So much of the global discussion of corporate governance focuses on the major themes – ESG, sustainability, stakeholder rights, executive pay, and government regulation. Yet corporate board members on the boardroom front lines often wrestle with basic but crucial issues of "boardsmanship." How do the well-meaning, part-time amateurs on a board mean…

1
Difficult conversations: how, why and where boards should have them, with Rory Campbell (Chair, NED, Founder & Coach) 44:22

8M ago44:22

44:22

How can board members have difficult conversations about topics like diversity and inclusion? As a founder, coach, chair and NED, Rory Campbell has deep experience of this question in theory and practice. Join Rory and Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings in a discussion that covers: how we can have difficult conversations in the boardroom (1:33); examples o…

1
Getting board roles: when to make the non-exec leap, how to position yourself as a candidate, and your first 90 days, with Jane Routledge (Investment Fund NED) 37:00

8M ago37:00

37:00

In 2019, Jane Routledge decided to leave her impressive executive career behind and take a new non-executive path. After initial set-backs, she now has three board positions. Jane sits down with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to reflect on lessons learnt from the journey. Tune in to discover: why Jane decided to make the non-exec leap (1:28); the bigge…

1
On making it in the boardroom | Imran Saleem, Partner, Egon Zehnder 16:19

8M ago16:19

16:19

The boardroom is a desirable place, and after a successful Executive career, many wish to embark on a portfolio career and serve on boards. What does it take to make it in the boardroom? In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Founder and Managing Partner of Better Boards, discusses making it in the boardroom with Imran Saleem. Imran is a Partner wi…

1
Startup boards: finding the right non-execs, sticking to strategy, building trust with founders and working with AI, with Mads Jensen (Superseed Managing Partner) 35:20

8M ago35:20

35:20

Is there a playbook for startup board success? As Managing Partner at Superseed, Mads Jensen has sat on dozens of startup boards. He considers the following with Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings: does the existence and/or composition of a board impact Mads’ investment decisions (0:44); what does the archetypal problem-solving board meeting look like (2:0…

1
Building a Successful Employee Engagement Process | Louise Hardy, NED and Kevin Maguire General Counsel & Company Secretary, Crest Nicholson 17:29

8M ago17:29

17:29

The landscape of employee relations is changing, particularly in office environments with flexible working. There are many different opinions about how organisations should approach their policies while representing their employees' diversity. The subject of employee engagement sounds simple, but is it? In this podcast, Dr Sabine Dembkowski, Managi…

1
Growth-mindsets: how boards and culture help companies scale, with Sam Smith (finnCap Founder) 36:20

9M ago36:20

36:20

As Founder and CEO of finnCap, an end-to-end financial services firm for high-growth companies, Sam Smith hit a roadblock at 17m annual revenues. But then a chance conversation sparked a mental gear change that broke the stasis. Tune in to discover how non-execs, mentors and business culture drove this extraordinary entrepreneurial success story fo…

1
Digital transformation: navigating adversity and disruption, with John Fallon (Former Pearson CEO) 40:44

9M ago40:44

40:44

Digital disruption shook the education industry to its core. As CEO of Pearson, a global education publisher, John Fallon was at the heart of this upheaval. John joins Nurole CEO Oliver Cummings to discuss the board's pivotal role during Pearson's transformation. Dive into discussions on how boards help: reshape established cultures (1:03), marry d…

1
Inclusion: embracing diversity, finding your voice and adding value to CEOs, with Peju Adebajo 31:54

9M ago31:54

31:54

As former Lumos Nigeria CEO and current NED at Wolseley UK and Ibstock plc, Peju Adebajo has navigated the CEO-board dynamic from both sides of the fence. Peju started her first board role in 2021. So her reflections on finding one’s non-executive voice and how boards can be more inclusive are rooted in recent lived experience. Join Peju and Nurole…

1
Managing Governance Risks | Liz Lynkswiler, Company Secretary, Brightwell Pensions 18:51

9M ago18:51

18:51

Risk identification, ownership, and monitoring sit at the highest levels of organisations and are the ultimate responsibility of a firm's board of directors. We hear much about ESG but focus on the E and S acronyms, i.e., 'environmental' and 'social' aspects. However, risks arising from the 'G' – governance – should be at the forefront of directors…

1
Cybersecurity: lessons from the War in Ukraine, with Dimitri Chichlo 35:28

10M ago35:28

35:28

“Cyber is not a technical matter. It is a business matter. It is something that should be actively managed by the board. If you don’t ask the questions, you are going to miss something.” Join Dimitri Chichlo, non-executive Vice-Chairman and Chair of the Operations & Digital Committee at Ukreximbank (Ukraine’s third largest bank) in a discussion abo…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dr Sabine Dembkowski Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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