Lindsay Jordan & Robyn Bew on Why Every Organization Needs a Board (and How to Join One)

Board service is one of the most impactful ways to shape organizations, give back, and expand your influence. In this episode, Lindsay Jordan and Robyn Bew, board governance experts from EY (sharing personal perspectives), unpack what boards do, why they matter for every organization, and how you can position yourself to join one. Chapters 00:00 Intro to Lindsay Jordan and Robyn Bew – experts who know what an effective board looks like and how to contribute to them 04:24 The Purpose of a Board – advisory and accountability for enhanced value creation 06:57 Duties and Responsibilities of the Board – evaluating management performance, approving major initiatives, and ensuring compliance with legal/ethical standards 09:04 Roles and Committees on the Board – the difference between a director and a manager 14:22 Who Does the Board Report to? – all investors and incentive structures to align with the goal of increasing total shareholder value 20:11 Founder-led Boards – tend to be narrower in scope, credentialize the company, and/or create new opportunities 27:21 The Evolution of Boards – advisory, then informal board of dependent directors, then formalizing the Board along with adding independent directors, IPO, and then S&P 500 31:00 Advisory Boards – providing strategic guidance, mentoring, making connections 32:47 Fiduciary Boards and Navigating Different Investor Demands – legally obligated to act in best interest of ALL shareholders 38:03 Nonprofit Boards – are legally required for tax-exempt status and they have a duty of obedience to the mission 42:29 Liabilities of Board Members – Boards get sued a lot, so make sure they are doing it right 44:46 Joining a Board – create a Board Bio, identify what value you bring, and understanding the Board culture 52:18 Finding a Board – mine your network and independent advisors first, but stretch to look at Board placement agencies and vetted databases 59:24 Hot Topics Facing Boards – resilience, AI, cybersecurity, leadership development, and board effectiveness Sources EY Center for Board Matters – Our latest thinking | EY - US https://www.ey.com/en_us/board-matters Connect with Lindsay Jordan on LinkedIn   / lindsaygjordan   Connect with Robyn Bew on LinkedIn   / robyn-bew   EY CBM Board Effectiveness framework https://www.ey.com/en_us/board-matter... Americas board priorities 2025 | EY - US https://www.ey.com/en_us/board-matter... EY CBM Board Readiness Resource Center https://cs.ey.com/2025/03/11922/ Subscribe for Email Updates: https://greenspringadvisors.com/green... Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26NYX6W... Meet with Pat & Marcus: https://outlook.office365.com/book/Ma... Greenspring Advisors is a registered investment adviser with the SEC and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. The social media platforms associated with this name are solely for informational purposes and do not offer advisory services or sales of securities. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. Comments by viewers and/or recognitions are no guarantee of future investment outcomes and do not ensure that a viewer will experience a higher level of performance or results. Public comments posted on this site are not selected, amended, deleted, or sorted in any way. If applicable, certain editing of personal identifiable information and misinformation may be deleted. Content may be dated. Links to third-party sites, or information is from a reasonably reliable source. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. It is not intended as the primary basis for financial planning or investment decisions and should not be construed as advice meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. This material has been prepared for information purposes only and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. Guests and firms mentioned are not affiliated with Greenspring Advisors. No compensation was provided or received for appearance. Views are those of the speakers as of the recording date.