In this episode, Bill Clendenen, Charlie Talbot, and Michael Burcham explore what makes a great board member and how Shore Capital Partners designs boards to drive value creation. They discuss the purpose of the board, the importance of diverse and relevant operating experience, and why board composition matters as much as strategy. The conversation highlights the role of the Lead Independent Director in supporting CEOs, de-risking execution, and translating between management, the board, and investors. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize that effective boards ask the right questions, stay aligned with the strategic plan, and actively help management build and scale the business.

Key Takeaways:

1. Great boards accelerate value creation by pairing clear strategy with real operating experience to help management grow and reduce risk.
2. Diverse, complementary board composition turns governance into a competitive advantage beyond financial oversight.
3. The Lead Independent Director plays a vital role in aligning management, the board, and investors through trust, context, and ongoing engagement.
4. Effective boards stay aligned with strategy, ask better questions, and actively support the company’s evolution from growth to exit.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 – Introduction
2. 01:20 – The Purpose of a Great Board
3. 09:16 – The Role of the Lead Independent Director
4. 13:11 – How CEOs Should Use Their Board
5. 18:51 – How Boards Evolve Over the Hold Period

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, I talk with Alison Shekman, Chief of Staff at PhaseWell Research and a member of the CXO Fellows Program. Alison shares her journey from consulting into operations and what it has meant to step into an early-stage, acquisition-driven business. She reflects on slowing down to go fast, listening to frontline experts, and creating systems for prioritization. Alison also discusses lessons from the Shore Resource Team and why embracing iteration over perfection has shaped her approach as a CXO.

Key Takeaways:

• Go slow to go fast by taking the time to understand what motivates people and plan for change so it can be implemented more effectively
• Listen first and spend time in the field with the people who know the work best to close knowledge gaps and build credibility
• Create a system for relentless prioritization to bring clarity to the noise and stay aligned with leadership on what matters most
• Call it version one, move forward, and keep iterating rather than waiting for perfection

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 02:57 - Go Slow to Go Fast
• 05:01 - Closing the Knowledge Gap
• 09:35 - The Value of Networks
• 13:03 - Prioritization and Integration
• 19:47 - Lessons for Young Leaders

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.

In this episode, we sit down with Preethi Menon, Senior Vice President of Integrations and Partnerships at Empower Aesthetics. After nearly a decade in consulting, Preethi joined the CXO Fellows Program and stepped into the challenge of building Empower from the ground up. She reflects on lessons from scaling the company, including overcoming perfectionism, embracing accountability, and moving fast to create value. Preethi also underscores the importance of humility, strong relationships, and the CXO peer network in her growth as a leader.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning to value progress over perfection helps leaders in young companies move with speed, capture opportunities, and create meaningful value before the moment passes
• Taking full ownership means recognizing that every choice and relationship matters, and leaders are directly accountable for the outcomes that shape the business
• Earning trust with founders and partners comes from humility and being willing to roll up your sleeves, especially when transitions bring uncertainty and change
• Leaning on a network of peers gives young leaders the perspective and encouragement they need to navigate the challenges of building a company from the ground up

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 07:42 - The Early-Stage
• 11:16 - Operational Learning Curves
• 18:15 - Building Great Companies
• 23:24 - Lessons Learned

Listen to our podcasts at:

https://www.shorecp.university/podcasts

You’ll also find other Bigger. Stronger. Faster. episodes, alongside our Microcap Moments and Everyday Heroes series—highlighting the people and stories that make the microcap space unique.

Other ways to connect:

Blog: https://www.shorecp.university/blog

Shore University: https://www.shorecp.university/

Shore Capital Partners: https://www.shorecp.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shore-university

This podcast is the property of Shore Capital Partners LLC. None of the content herein is investment advice, an offer of investment advisory services, or a recommendation or offer relating to any security. See the “Terms of Use” page on the Shore Capital website for other important information.