Has the corporate governance landscape reached a pivotal turning point, or are we simply witnessing another incremental adjustment?

In this episode, Doug Chia speaks with Alexandra R. Lajoux, and Lawrence A. Cunningham. Together, they examine the historical shift from the 1980s "generalist CEO" boards to today’s highly specialized, compliance-focused, and certified directorships.

They dive deep into the tension between feature-based governance templates and functional, strategy-driven board oversight. They also explore the resistance toward labeling directorship a formal "profession", the rising friction between CEOs and independent monitors, recent debates surrounding Delaware corporate law and "Dexit", and how emerging challenges like AI and boardroom politicization will shape the future of governance.

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Why does governance conversation so often drift toward universal, one-size-fits-all "best practices" when every company faces unique circumstances, risks, and strategic realities?

In this episode, Doug Chia sits down with Lynn Sharp Paine and Suraj Srinivasan to discuss why true board effectiveness relies on deliberate, situational design choices rather than standard templates.

Together, they explore the critical trade-offs boards face between breadth vs. depth, the concept of the "T-shaped director," and how boards must adapt their structures, committees, and information flows over time. They also examine how directors align on corporate purpose during moments of stress, actionable frameworks for managing workload and technology disruptions like AI, and how unwritten human norms and boardroom dynamics shape governance outcomes.

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• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

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How do corporate boards and individual directors maintain credibility and investor support in an era where transparency, active communication, and demonstrable value are essential?

In this episode, Doug Chia speaks with Jon Christensen and Robin Weinberg, both partners at FGS Global. They explore how the adoption of universal proxy has fundamentally changed director elections by requiring individual directors to effectively run "campaigns" for office. They also share actionable strategies for building continuous board advocacy programs, communicating board refreshment, vetting for true diversity of thought, training directors for direct shareholder engagement, and optimizing board committee structures to match evolving corporate risk profiles.

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To learn more & get resources:

• Podcast & episodes: www.publiccompanyseries.com
• Download the book: www.nyse.com/pcs

Subscribe now to hear insights from the most respected voices in corporate law and governance.