Our guest during this episode is Carol Stephenson whose forty-year career has seamlessly spanned private and public sector leadership roles. Carol is a highly respected former CEO and visionary. She played a critical role in restructuring telecommunications industry in North America-and helped steer the evolution of business education in Canada, as Dean of Ivey Business School, Western University, London, Ontario.

Currently, Carol serves on the Boards of several leading companies. She is a Director of General Motors Company, Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and Intact Financial Services Inc. Carol has earned significant recognition for her on-going community work and industry involvement-including her appointment into the Order of Canada.

As Carol reflects on her career and experience in the corporate world, she opens her interview by sharing that she attributes success to her courage, persistence and willingness to take risks. She encourages people to reflect on the reasons why they want to join a Board, the importance of articulating their own value and how functioning effectively as a Board member becomes easier with time.

Carol describes the impact of increasing numbers of women Board members and how this is shifting the nature of discussions from assertions and declarations to greater focus on curiosity, listening and understanding.

Another point raised during the interview is how the so-called "soft skills" are a key differentiator among leaders, although challenging to cultivate and maintain.

The interview moves from the role of Board member to that of employees presenting to the Board of Directors and the importance of demonstrating genuine executive presence. It's an opportunity for the Board to assess the person's communication skills, strategic capability, emotional intelligence and ultimately, the potential for a more senior role within the organization.

Carol also emphasises that informal interactions with Board members are equally critical and provide insights about the person's character-a significant factor when making leadership succession decisions for key roles.

Based on her experience, Carol offers four key tips for presenting to the Board. One, know your audience; two, there's no need to read your slides-everyone has come prepared and previewed the advance notes; three, really listen to the Board's questions before formulating a response, and four, engage the Board effectively. Always keep in mind, the Board is there to offer strategy, not tactics-spare the details in favor of what actually matters.

Carol also reflects on the importance of balancing a desire for stimulation with the need for breaks. Is she planning to write a book? Listen to find out!

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