Boardroom Decisions Under Pressure: Chair Perspectives on Governance, Risk and Board Effectiveness

The best boards do not just make decisions. They create the conditions for strategic decision making, stronger challenge, and more effective implementation. In this episode of Grit in the Boardroom, Erika Eliasson-Norris, CEO of Beyond Governance, sits down with Patrick Dunne OBE for one of the sharpest executive interviews with one of the UK’s leading voices on board effectiveness, corporate governance and leadership decisions. Patrick has the real chair perspectives having spent decades working with boards, chairs, CEOs and investors through growth under pressure across listed companies, private equity-backed businesses, charities and public organisations, helping leaders navigate growth, transformation, risk and complexity. [More information on Patrick below.]  Together, Erika and Patrick explore the c suite insights about what separates effective boards from ineffective ones, how chairs can create environments where challenge is welcomed, and why the quality of decision-making often matters more than the decision itself. Drawing on his experience working with thousands of directors and board members throughout his career, Patrick shares practical insights into leadership decisions, governance lessons and the boardroom dynamics that shape organisational success. What you'll find in this episode of Grit in the Boardroom: Why the relationship between the Chair and CEO is critical to board effectiveness. How boards can create cultures that encourage challenge, feedback and continuous improvement. Why major boardroom decisions should be approached as a process rather than a single event. The difference between risk appetite and risk tolerance and why boards often confuse the two in risk management. How directors can improve strategic decision making through better preparation and stakeholder engagement. Why implementation failures can be just as damaging as poor leadership decisions. The role of emotional intelligence, listening and constructive challenge in effective leadership. How Next Generation Boards can improve governance, succession planning and organisational insight and business resilience. What CEOs should consider before transitioning into a non-executive director portfolio career. Why board culture and meeting dynamics can have a significant impact on organisational performance. Patrick Dunne OBE is Chair of Board Delta and a recognised authority on board effectiveness, leadership and corporate governance. During more than two decades at 3i Group, he built one of the UK's most influential board development programmes, helping appoint and support thousands of directors across portfolio companies around the world. He has advised organisations across the private, public and third sectors, contributed to major governance reviews, and is the author of Boards, an award-winning guide to board leadership and effectiveness. Patrick is widely respected for his practical approach to governance, leadership development and helping boards perform at their best when the stakes are highest. — Grit in the Boardroom is a bi-weekly podcast where Erika Eliasson-Norris sits down with the best in business for executive interviews. She and her guests explore corporate governance beyond the sealed doors of the C-suite. As Governance Assessor for the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, the largest public inquiry in UK history, Erika Eliasson-Norris is helping shape accountability, governance reform, and corporate oversight across the UK. — Beyond Governance provides on-demand company secretarial support, governance advisory, and governance training to boards, Company Secretaries, and General Counsel. Beyond Governance help organisations strengthen governance, manage risk, and support critical projects without the need for permanent hires. Learn more here: https://beyondgovernance.com/