Leading with purpose: Practical tips for purpose-driven work

Scott Bridgen is the General Manager of the Audit and Risk Division at Diligent. Scott brings a wealth of experience and unique insights into the critical role of financial and risk oversight in the public sector.In this episode, we talked about how public sector boards can manage their financial resources responsibly and effectively identify, mitigate and monitor risks. Scott highlights the need for a risk-aware culture that focuses on objectives and potential obstacles, rather than just the term 'risk.'He also advocates for transparency and clear communication with your community to build trust, and the importance of speaking to that audience in a way that they're going to understand. Scott and I also explored leveraging technology for oversight, such as the Diligent One platform, how to manage and present risk information efficiently, and ensure a single source of truth for operational effectiveness.Stick around to the end of the conversation to find out what advice he gives for boards that realize they don’t have a good handle on risks. Further resources on financial oversight and risk management for public facing boardsYou can find the financial oversight guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose.

Heather Rich is Executive Director of the American Board of Genetic Counseling, the national certifying body that sets and upholds professional standards for genetic counselors across the United States.Heather shares her insights on the critical role of the board in ensuring financial transparency, proactive management and strategic oversight. She also emphasizes the importance of a robust onboarding process for new board members, which should include financial training to cover the basics as well as the organization's financial philosophy.We also discuss the importance of a strong, supportive relationship between the board and the CEO, where the board has ultimate responsibility for financial and risk oversight, while the CEO and staff handle day-to-day operations and provide necessary information and training.Heather shares real-life anecdotes, including how the American Board of Genetic Counseling manages its financial review process. We also discuss effective financial and risk oversight, and how board members can make informed decisions based on past data and trends for good oversight.Stick around to the end to find out what advice Heather gives for maintaining financial integrity and oversight, including scenario planning to assess risks and opportunities.Further resources on financial oversight and risk management for volunteer boardsYou can find the financial oversight guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.boardeffect.com/leadingwithpurpose.

Dr. Chad Bledsoe is President of Montgomery Community College in North Carolina. The College offers a wide range of educational opportunities including associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates and continuing education programs.In this episode, we explore why financial and risk oversight is essential for effective governance and decision-making in community colleges. Dr. Bledsoe emphasizes the importance of aligning financial strategies with the institution's mission and goals, and ensuring that resources are used effectively to support student success and community engagement.He shares his perspective on how boards can function efficiently by fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. We also discuss the importance of ongoing education for the board in areas such as financial management and risk assessment. And how the integration of technology to enhance board operations can help boards function more efficiently and enhance their oversight.Stick around to the end to find out what advice Dr. Bledsoe gives for public leaders and board members for managing risk and financials. Further resources on financial oversight and risk management for public facing boardsYou can find the financial oversight guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose.

Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew is the CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, an organization dedicated to helping leaders with executive coaching, community engagement and culture development, as well as assisting nonprofits with board governance and capacity building.Dr. Booker-Drew shares her insights on financial and risk oversight for nonprofit boards. From her perspective, this means being proactive rather than reactive, asking questions about financial management, ensuring the board has members with financial expertise, and integrating finances and risk into strategic planning.She also shares real-life anecdotes and practical advice on fostering a culture of financial responsibility and risk awareness. We discussed the importance of intentional conversations about finances and risk, the right committee structure, and why finances and risk need to be part of board member orientation.Stick around to the end to find out what advice Dr. Booker-Drew gives for using tools and resources to improve financial and risk oversight. Further resources on financial oversight and risk management for volunteer boardsYou can find the financial oversight guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.boardeffect.com/leadingwithpurpose.

Ben Niehaus is Director of Member Services for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. He also worked as a school superintendent in Northern Wisconsin so brings lots of experience.Ben shares his expertise on several key areas that school board members need to stay informed about, as well as the importance of effective communication with stakeholders. He talks about the importance of continuous improvement and staying updated on best practices in school board governance.Ben gave some really practical strategies for making training programs more flexible and accessible, and we also discussed how technology can support and help board members to stay informed and engaged. Enjoy the conversation as we explore all of this and more.And find out at the end what advice Ben gives for how to use technology for board member training, he has some great tips. Further resources on board development and training for school boardsYou can find the board development guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose.

Cheretta A. Clerkley, is the Executive Director of the Association for Positive Behavior Support, a nonprofit based in New Jersey. APBS is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to promoting positive behavior support across various settings such as schools, families and communities.Cheretta and I discussed the critical role that continuous learning and development plays in enhancing the effectiveness of volunteer boards. Cheretta shares her journey of streamlining the board from over 30 members to a more manageable 11, and discusses the importance of governance training and communication skills.She also emphasizes the significance of ongoing training and effective onboarding processes to ensure that board members are well-prepared and aligned with the organization's goals.Stick around to the end to hear Cheretta's top tips for how to keep board members motivated and engaged in their own development. Further resources on board development and training for volunteer boardsYou can find the board development guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.boardeffect.com/leadingwithpurpose.

Dr. Audrey Young is a member of the Texas State Board of Education and the Chair of the Committee on Instruction for TSBE. Dr. Young represents District 8 and brings a wealth of experience and insight into the critical role of school board training and development, in fact she covered this in her dissertation for her PhD.In this episode, we explore why board training is essential for effective governance and decision-making in public education, how it can help school boards function efficiently and the importance of ongoing education in areas such as AI and cyber risk.We also discuss the challenges of onboarding new board members and the vital role superintendents play in supporting board development.Find out what advice Audrey gives for how to keep board members motivated and engaged in their own development. Further resources on board development and training for school boardsYou can find the board development guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose.

Julie Castro Abrams is the CEO of How Women Lead, an organization dedicated to empowering women to take on leadership roles and she has also served on many nonprofit boards.  Julie shares her insights on how board training and development can transform organizations. For nonprofits, this means understanding the unique role of the board, from governance to strategic oversight, and how to ensure that board members are equipped to ask the right questions and add value without overstepping. We also discuss the importance of a strong, supportive relationship between the board and the CEO. Julie shares real-life anecdotes and practical advice on board training and development. Stick around to the end to find out what advice Julie gives for leaders to ensure that board training is ongoing and not just a one-time event. Further resources on board development and training for volunteer boardsYou can find the board development guide mentioned on the podcast along with other useful resources at www.boardeffect.com/leadingwithpurpose.

From recruiting and onboarding members to fostering collaboration and navigating complex decision-making, this 4-part series covers critical aspects of building boards that can drive meaningful impact.Whether you're an experienced executive or an emerging leader, these episodes offer valuable takeaways for enhancing your organization’s governance practices.We hear from 4 experts who share their practical guidance and real-world examples.We hope you enjoy the conversations and find them insightful and interesting!For more resources on board development and training:Nonprofit: www.boardeffect.com/leadingwithpurposeEducation and government: www.diligent.com/leadingwithpurpose