We are coming off yet another successful event as part of our EY/BoardReady Women in the Boardroom Series – this time focusing on a topic that’s both timely and often overlooked: the evolving landscape of family-owned company boards. The conversation, featuring Erik Nordstrom and Phyllis Campbell alongside moderator Stasia Mitchell, unpacked not only how these boards operate differently, but what it takes to show up effectively as a board director in these environments.

Last week, we had the opportunity to take our Seattle-based series on the road, hosting our first-ever “Women in the Boardroom” event in Houston. The panel featured seasoned board directors Barbara Duganier and Elaine Pickle, alongside our founder, Deanna Oppenheimer, as moderator. Together, they led a dynamic discussion about the different paths to landing a first board seat and what boards look for in newer directors.

What makes a great board? It’s a question that we consider every day, and one that our Senior Strategist, Phyllis Campbell, recently explored in a Seattle Times article, “Great boards: What are they and why do they matter?”.