Giving Voice to Values in the Boardroom by Cynthia Clark

Giving Voice to Values in the Boardroom by Cynthia Clark

"Professor Clark’s outstanding and much-needed book, Giving Voices to Values in the Boardroom, starts from the premise that voicing one’s values matters to board decision-making, and values drive behaviorTo change behaviors, director voices are needed.

Speaking up can be very challenging – and even costly – for directors.

Beginning with the central challenge in corporate governance – director independence – Dr. Clark critiques real boardroom situations that both strengthen and undermine director independence, competencies and dynamics. Then, Dr. Clark proceeds to tackle the central role of a board: CEO succession and compensation, and linking both of these to strategic execution. Dr. Clark concludes with the risks and opportunities of digitization, which has the power not only to disrupt business models but make companies obsolete. Again, voices matter. A good board is never in denial.

Based on weaving research with real board situations and interviews, Professor Clark’s book is a welcome and fresh perspective on the way boards actually impact performance (or not). This book makes a significant contribution to the field and should be a must-have for any director who wants to make a difference on the board on which they are a member. I highly recommend it!" - Richard Leblanc, FCMC, BSc, MBA, LLB, JD, LLM, PhD, Professor of Governance, Law & Ethics, York University, and Independent Advisor to Boards

Cynthia E. Clark, Ph.D is a corporate governance and business ethics expert focusing on shareholder activism, ESG issues, proxy disclosures and data privacy. She has also conducted training sessions on ethical decision-making and optimal nominating and governance procedures to numerous senior management teams and boards of directors. She is widely cited in the media on governance issues, including recently in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, CNN, Reuters and multiple appearances on Bloomberg Radio. She is an active member and speaker with the National Association of Corporate Directors, 2020 Women on Boards and the Society for Governance Professionals. She is the author of Business & Society: Ethical, Legal and Digital Environments. Cynthia is also a Professor of Management and Director of the Geneen Institute for Corporate Governance at Bentley University.