In this insightful podcast episode, Dorrit engages in a deep conversation with Anne Eberhard, a seasoned board professional with extensive experience in both Danish and international boards. Dorrit and Anne explore the evolving landscape of board diversity over the past decade, discussing the importance of gender diversity and the complexities that arise from diverse perspectives in decision-making. Anne shares her journey from a successful banking career to becoming a full-time board member and advisor, emphasising the need for boards to adapt to increasing external complexities while maintaining effective internal dynamics.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Importance of Diversity: Diversity in boards is crucial not only for gender representation but also for bringing different competencies, backgrounds, and perspectives.

• Preparation and Proactivity: Board members should come well-prepared, not just by reading documents but by understanding industry trends, competitors, and the overall market landscape.

• Role of the Chair: The chairperson plays a vital role in fostering an inclusive environment within the boardroom. They must ensure that all voices are heard and that discussions are constructive, helping to mitigate biases and encourage open dialogue.

• Value-Adding Behaviour: Boards should focus on being value-adding rather than burdensome to management. This involves understanding the company's core offerings, being aware of external risks and opportunities, and maintaining a balance between oversight and support.

• Lifelong Learning and Adaptability: Continuous education and staying updated on relevant trends, such as ESG and cybersecurity, are essential for board members.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think sometimes we have to also as women not to focus too much on can we do this leadership role or can we do this and that—I mean just do it and just grab the opportunities."

"Diversity creates better discussions and also makes us make better decisions."

"I think it's really crucial to understand the purpose why we are here, but also to have an understanding of the core offering of the company."

"As a woman, we just have to be 10% better than the others to be equally accepted."

"I think it's very important that the board is value-adding in its behavior and not becomes a burden of the management team."

OUR LINKS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorrit-kromann-29b4041/

https://kromanns.com/en/

HOST BIO

Dorrit Kromann uses her competent network to provide solutions to real problems in boards. Dorrit is experienced in organisational development, going from turnarounds in hospitals to the growth of IT start-ups. From the board experience, Dorrit has used the psychodynamic organisational psychology to onboard, understand and solve any board challenge, going from how to recruit new members to business challenges to conflicts of interest.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

Have you ever been stuck in a challenge in a board meeting? Have you ever felt unheard in a board meeting? Have you ever thought that the business and strategy go in the wrong direction? Have you ever had a suspicion that something was wrong in the company?

Board Dynamics podcast will take you through some cases showing these challenges, analyse the cases and tell you what to do in such situations.