PODCAST · business
Build Better Boards
by Build Better Boards
The Build Better Boards podcast is created to help cooperative boards grow and thrive. Hosted by organizational health experts Richard Fagerlin and Keri Jacobs, PhD, each episode is conversational, with Richard and Keri sharing their experiences and tips on co-op governance and leadership. Inspired by their deep desire to help the co-op community meet today’s challenges, this podcast equips boards with practical tools to succeed. Future episodes will feature industry-leading guests and questions from the greater co-op community. Follow us on LinkedIn to join the conversation!
Episodes
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41 | I Voted No. Now What?
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs, Richard Fagerlin, and Mitch Majeski explore what a director owes the board after voting no. Agreement and alignment are different jobs: Agreement is a yes or no on the decision itself. Alignment is the commitment to carry that…
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40 | What Would Have to Be True? Growth Through a Principled Lens: Part II
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Mitch Majeski, Dr. Keri Jacobs, and Richard Fagerlin continue the principled-lens series that began in Episode 39, "Growth Through a Principled Lens: Part I." The conversation widens from growth to how a board can pressure-test any progressive…
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39 | Growth Through a Principled Lens: Part I
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin open a new series on running strategic decisions through the lens of the seven cooperative principles, using growth as the entry point. The dual mandate: Co-op leaders carry two responsibilities at once: running a...
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38 | Accountability, Strategy, Risk: Byron Enix on Getting Board Work Right
In this episode of Build Better Boards, host Richard Fagerlin talks with Byron Enix (retired President & CEO, American AgCredit) about what boards owe their organizations before, during, and after a CEO transition. The three real jobs of a director: Accountability, strategy, and risk. Get those...
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37 | CEO Succession: Six Reasons to Start Now (and Five Things in Your Way)
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin dig into CEO succession planning, using Egon Zehnder's article "CEO Succession Planning for Tomorrow's Success" as a launch point for what boards should actually be doing right now. Succession is not search: Search...
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36 | From Model to Movement: Reframing to Engage the Next Generation.
In this episode of Build Better Boards, host Dr. Keri Jacobs talks with Sylandi Brown (Manager of Communications and Administration, Middle Georgia EMC) about why the cooperative is better understood as a movement than a model, and what that shift means for how boards recruit, govern, and engage...
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35 | Managing vs. Governing Board Mindset
In this episode of Build Better Boards, Richard Fagerlin, Mitch Majeski, and Dr. Keri Jacobs dig into a question that shows up in boardrooms all the time: when is a board governing, and when is it slipping into management? Using a framework Keri has been sharing with boards, the conversation…
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34 | 5 Practices for Sustaining Momentum Between Board Meetings
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs explore how boards can maintain momentum between meetings instead of resetting progress each time they convene. They share five practical practices to help boards stay aligned, engaged, and proactive throughout the...
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33 | Rewrite Your Agenda
In this episode of Build Better Boards, Dr. Keri Jacobs, Richard Fagerlin, and Mitch Majeski discuss how board agendas shape the mindset and behavior of cooperative boards. They explore how many agendas unintentionally reinforce a managing mindset and share practical ways boards can redesign...
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32 | Working Genius in the Boardroom
In this episode of the Build Better Boards podcast, Dr. Keri Jacobs, Richard Fagerlin, and Mitch Majeski explore how the Working Genius assessment can strengthen board governance. They discuss how understanding directors’ natural strengths and frustrations improves agenda discipline, decision...
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31 | Board Development Basics
In this episode of Build Better Boards, Mitch Majeski, Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin discuss practical strategies for integrating board development into the regular cadence of board meetings. They explore how directors and board chairs can foster continuous learning, build shared...
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30 | Why Is Board Work So Hard?
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Mitch Majeski, Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin explore the often-unspoken challenges that make board work more difficult than it appears. They examine why even well-intentioned, committed directors can struggle to find alignment and move forward...
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29 | Season 3 Recap: What We Learned on CEO Selection and Succession
In this episode of Build Better Boards, the team recaps their season-long focus on CEO succession and evaluation. They reflect on why these topics matter even when a transition is not imminent and how the processes and questions explored can strengthen boards and cooperatives overall. CEO...
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28 | Do CEO Evaluations Actually Work? (Part 2)
In part two of this conversation on CEO evaluations, Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin continue with guests Kevin Berchelmann and CEO Jason Brancel to explore how boards and CEOs build a process that is clear, fair, and genuinely useful. We discuss how: Boards should clarify what they’re...
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27 | Do CEO Evaluations Actually Work? (Part 1)
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin talk with guests Kevin Berchelmann and Jason Brancel about one of the board’s most important responsibilities—evaluating the CEO. This is part one of a two-part conversation exploring why evaluations matter, how to...
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26 | Year in Review
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs, Richard Fagerlin, and Mitch Majeski reflect on insights from a year of podcast episodes. They explore shifts in board dynamics, director behavior, and leadership expectations, sharing how boards can remain effective in a complex...
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25 | "The Nick Saban Effect"
In this episode, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs explore why top talent leaves and how boards can know whether turnover is a healthy sign of growth, or a warning signal. They introduce the “coaching tree” concept that highlights the power of developing leaders who, in turn, grow more...
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24 | From Start to Finish. Part III of our Panel Discussion on Executive Search
In the third and final episode of our executive search series, hosts Mitch Majeski, Dr. Keri Jacobs, and Richard Fagerlin continue the conversation with John Wright (Kincannon & Reed), Kevin Drury (Hedlin Ag Enterprises), and Leigh Taylor (NRECA). Together, they explore how boards can navigate...
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23 | No Unicorns: Navigating the Realities of CEO Searches.
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Richard Fagerlin, and Dr. Keri Jacobs continue their conversation with John Wright (Kincannon & Reed), Kevin Drury (Hedlin Ag Enterprises), and Leigh Taylor (NRECA). The panel explores how boards should navigate internal versus external candidates…
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22 | The Headhunter Dilemma. Part I of our Panel Discussion on Executive Search
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin—joined by host Mitch Majeski—kick off a three-part panel on CEO succession and executive search. Guests John Wright (Kincannon & Reed), Kevin Drury (Hedlin Ag Enterprises), and Leigh Taylor (NRECA) unpack why…
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21 | Wartime vs. Peacetime CEOs
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin join Mitch Mojewski to discuss how boards can recognize whether their organization needs a “wartime” or “peacetime” CEO. They explore the traits required for each type of leadership, the circumstances that may...
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20 | Inside or Outside? The Succession Debate
In this episode of Build Better Boards, host Mitch Majeski is joined by Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin to discuss the strategic considerations boards face when choosing between internal and external candidates for CEO succession. They examine the pros, cons, and nuances of each option and...
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19 | Succession Planning and the New CEO “Avatar”
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin examine how boards can keep CEO-succession plans alive and relevant. They distinguish emergency “hit-by-the-beer-truck” scenarios from long-term leadership development, and explain why creating a forward-looking…
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18 | Season 3 Kickoff: CEO Selection and Succession Planning
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin launch Season 3 with a focus on one of the board’s most critical responsibilities: selecting and supporting the CEO. Prompted by listener feedback and insights from a recent survey of CEOs, they explore how boards...
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17 | Future-Proofing Finale: Member Engagement & Future-Ready Boards
In this season-closing episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin reflect on Season 2’s “future-proofing” theme through a candid conversation with Courtney Berner, Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives. Together they examine how...
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16 | Shifting the Director Mindset: Are You in Managing Mode or Policy Mode?
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin discuss how directors can shift from a hands-on management mindset to one focused on governance and policy. They explore why operational conversations often creep into the boardroom and how boards can stay grounded...
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15 | When the System Works: The Boring, Brilliant Practices That Keep Boards Out of Trouble
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin discuss the quiet, consistent practices that make a board resilient. Framed as part of a mini-series on future-proofing, the conversation emphasizes how strong governance habits—though often overlooked—are…
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14 | Respond, Don’t React: Learning from Crisis Without Overcorrecting
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin examine how boards can respond to governance failures or crises—either within their own co-op or in the broader industry—without slipping into fear-driven, reactive decision-making. They discuss how thoughtful…
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13 | Member Connectivity and Meaningful Service: Creating Value in Board Service
In this episode of Build Better Boards, host Mitch Majeski is joined by Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin to discuss how member engagement, employee satisfaction, and community reputation shape the future of cooperative boards. The conversation explores what makes board service meaningful and...
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12 | The Gorilla In The Room
In Episode 12 of Build Better Boards, host Mitch Majeski joins Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin to explore how unaddressed boardroom behaviors can quietly shape the culture and effectiveness of a board over time. Building on their previous episode about common boardroom “offenders,” they...
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11 | The Big Five Offenders in the Boardroom
In this episode of Build Better Boards, host Mitch Majeski is joined by Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin to identify and unpack five common behaviors that derail board effectiveness. They explore how these patterns show up in the boardroom and offer practical ways directors can self-assess…
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10 | little g Governance
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Mitch Majeski, Dr. Keri Jacobs, and Richard Fagerlin dive into little g governance—the behaviors and culture that shape a board’s effectiveness. While big G sets the structure with bylaws and policies, little g determines how well a board actually...
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09 | BIG G Governance
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Mitch Majeski, Dr. Keri Jacobs, and Richard Fagerlin tackle "Big G" governance—bylaws and structures that define co-op boards. They discuss future-proofing through strategic updates and board selection. Big G & Little G: Big G is formal structure...
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08 | Do You Love your Co-Op?
In this episode ofBuild Better Boards, hosts Mitch Majeski, Dr. Keri Jacobs, and Richard Fagerlin explore the future of cooperatives and the evolving role of member engagement. They discuss whether co-ops are running on "member engagement fumes" and what boards can do to ensure long-term…
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07 | Introducing Mitch + Future-Proofing Your Board
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs introduce their new co-host, Mitch Majeski, and kick off Season 2 with a deep dive into the concept of future-proofing your board. • Meet Mitch Majeski: Learn about Mitch’s background in leadership development and...
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06 | How To?
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs close out their series on the Board Health Model, diving into practical strategies for aligning purpose, refining processes, and driving performance. - The Myth of Perfection: Explore why boards should focus on...
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05 | So What? Now What?
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs discuss what to do after a board assessment to turn insights into meaningful action. Four Key Questions: Learn the essential questions boards must ask to transform data into actionable steps. Big G vs. Little G...
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04 | Nuts & Bolts, A Practical Guide to Effective Board Assessments
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs share a step-by-step guide to running effective board assessments, avoiding pitfalls, and driving real value. Step One: Agree to Assess – Why alignment is critical before starting. Facilitators Matter – Internal…
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03 | What Is Our Impact? Delivering Meaningful Results
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs explore the third leg of the Board Health Model: Performance. They tackle the question, “Are we winning?” and examine how boards can measure and deliver meaningful results. Key Takeaways: Beyond the Numbers:...
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02 | How Do We Work? Processes That Serve Your Board
In this episode of Build Better Boards, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs dive into the second leg of the Board Health Model: Process. They explore the question, “How do we work?” and discuss how well-designed processes support effective governance. Key Takeaways: - Purpose Drives…
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01 | Why Are We Here? The Importance of Knowing Your Board’s Purpose
In this episode, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs delve into the importance of board purpose within the Board Health Model. They start with the question, “Why are we here?” emphasizing that clarity on purpose is foundational for effective governance. Key Takeaways: Purpose Drives…
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00 | Welcome to the Build Better Boards Podcast
Welcome to the Build Better Boards podcast! In this inaugural episode, hosts Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs introduce their vision for helping co-op boards “grow and thrive.” Through relatable stories and years of combined experience in cooperative leadership and board governance, Richard…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Build Better Boards podcast is created to help cooperative boards grow and thrive. Hosted by organizational health experts Richard Fagerlin and Keri Jacobs, PhD, each episode is conversational, with Richard and Keri sharing their experiences and tips on co-op governance and leadership. Inspired by their deep desire to help the co-op community meet today’s challenges, this podcast equips boards with practical tools to succeed. Future episodes will feature industry-leading guests and questions from the greater co-op community. Follow us on LinkedIn to join the conversation!
HOSTED BY
Build Better Boards
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Build Better Boards have?
Build Better Boards currently has 42 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Build Better Boards about?
The Build Better Boards podcast is created to help cooperative boards grow and thrive. Hosted by organizational health experts Richard Fagerlin and Keri Jacobs, PhD, each episode is conversational, with Richard and Keri sharing their experiences and tips on co-op governance and leadership. Inspired...
How often does Build Better Boards release new episodes?
Build Better Boards has 42 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Build Better Boards?
You can listen to Build Better Boards on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Build Better Boards?
Build Better Boards is created and hosted by Build Better Boards.
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