Boardroom DNA

Host: Nancy May, President and CEO, BoardBench Companies Guest: Terri Kelly, President and CEO, Emeritus W.L. Gore & Associates (“Gore”). She is a member of the Board of Director of Nemours, and United Rentals, and a Supervisory Director of ASML based in Veldhoven, Netherlands, and others. Ah, the culture of a company. It flows down from the top by example and with actions that stick to strong principles. It takes root slowly, and becomes that something that feeds employees’ drive, loyalty, and enthusiasm. It can sustain a company through tough events. Few CEOs and Boards can define it, yet all employees see it and feel it. A strong culture can also unravel in a flash, by the rash actions of just a few. In this episode I discuss culture as one of the most important assets to a company, yet one of the least understood by the board, and mostly unappreciated by investors. What are the characteristics of good culture in the boardroom? How do you build values to be proud of and propagate them successfully company-wide? How do you maintain the company’s culture? When and how do you make the tough decisions? Listen in on the discussion Terri Kelly and I have on this elusive, but critical asset. Terri Kelly retired as President and CEO of W.L. Gore & Associates in 2018, a multi-billion dollar, privately-held, global enterprise. Gore specializes in fluoroploymer-based materials that are utilized in a wide array of high-value products, including GORE-TEX® fabric, medical devices, filtration and venting products and many other advanced technology solutions. Gore is as well known for its unique management philosophy and culture, as for its multitude of unique products. Ms. Kelly joined Gore in 1983 after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. She earned the title of President and CEO in 2005, and also served as a Director of Gore's Board. Ms. Kelly is passionate about creating a collaborative and empowered work environment to achieve successful business outcomes. Her areas of expertise include new product development, innovation, portfolio management, brand management, compensation oversight, associate engagement and leadership development. For more information on this show and others, please go to BoardBench.com and our contact page. Disclaimer: The views, perspectives, and opinions expressed in this show are those of the show Guest and not directly those of the companies they serve or that of BoardBench Companies, LLC. (c) Copyright 2020 BoardBench Companies, LLC all rights reserved. BoardBench is a registered trademark of the BoardBench Comanies, LLC. http://www.boardbench.com