Firstboard.io®

I have been seeking out spaces and conversations where the next iteration of ESG and Board responsibility is explored—not as a framework, a separate issue, or compliance, but as a real, integrated, and lived conversation among active Board Directors and CEOs. Last week, at the Firstboard.io Summit organized and hosted by Rita Scroggin and Monica Nayar of PwC, with important perspectives from Julie Iskow and other leaders, I found exactly that. Some things that stood out: The role of the modern Board Director is defined by complexity and requires 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕 - the convergence of business, technology, and humanity, and complexity driven by geopolitical shifts, cybersecurity and AI disruption, evolving workforce expectations, and the moral imperative of inclusion. The traditional 300-hour-a-year model is gone; Boards now demand continuous engagement, strategic foresight, and fluency in global systems. This is no longer a “retired” role—it’s a call to action for a new generation of leaders shaping the future of governance with curiosity, courage, and context. Excited to see this community grow and expand, to be part of it, and for this conversation to continue. #ESG #Board #Sustainability #Firstboard.io

One week ago I had the privilege to attend this year's Firstboard.io® Innovation Summit focused on the Boardroom of the future. The expertise, energy, and power was palpable. My takeaways included: 1. It's a VERY VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) WORLD. Boards need to accept this, adapt to it and assume it will persist. Board's and management team's may not know what the impact of disruption on your organization may be, but developing systems to identify where board-level disruption can occur, and developing scenario plans for those arenas is in your control. 2. Board members will play DIFFERENT ROLES AS ORGS EVOLVE. In an exceptional breakout panel, Julie, Rinki, and Tami, discussed the different ways board members may contribute at different stages. Importantly, not every board member is going to be able to provide what is needed at each stage, so succession planning and candid conversations are needed. 3. Board work is NO LONGER QUARTERLY QUORUMS AND COCKTAILS. While this may have always been a misrepresentation and oversimplification, the days of 4 meetings a year are long gone. The main stage panel moderated by Monica with the inspirational Anita, Shannon, and Vasu highlighted how all of the fundamental commitments (oversight and governance work) remain, and are now layered with increased ongoing committee work as well as more direct consultation with senior management. Being able to absorb and process this in real time with esteemed former colleagues like Edua and Shuchi was a gift beyond measure. My deepest thanks to Rita for organizing and inviting me. I'm already looking forward to next year.

The Firstboard.io® Innovation Summit brought together sharp minds, real talk, and forward-looking ideas on what it takes to lead in the boardroom of the future. It was a joy to share the stage with the brilliant Anita Lynch and Vasu Jakkal, and to be guided by the thoughtful moderation of Monica Nayar 🙌🏽. Huge thanks to Rita Scroggin and the entire FirstBoard.io and PwC team for creating the space—and for continuing to elevate women in the boardroom✨. Special thanks to Kaley Childs Karaffa for connecting me to this incredible community. Always good to see Betsabe Botaitis, Rashmi Raghavendra, Michon Pinnix and so many others who continue to show up, lead, and support one another 🙏🏽✨. Conversations like these push us forward—and it’s the people in the room who make them powerful. 💪🏽💡 #FirstBoard #BoardroomOfTheFuture #WomenOnBoards #Leadership #FutureOfWork #AIandGovernance #PwC #NoBoxesJustVerses

As a founding member of Firstboard.io®.io, now in its fifth year, I couldn’t be prouder of our mission to increase the number of women technology leaders serving on both private and public boards — elevating company performance and shareholder value along the way. I had the privilege of joining Julie Cullivan and Rinki Sethi on the panel “From Startup to Scale: How Board Expectations Evolve Across Growth Stages,” where we explored how boards shift from advisory partners in the early days to strategic overseers at scale at the Firstboard.io® 4th Annual Innovation Summit hosted by PwC. Throughout the day, conversations centered on the Boardroom of the Future — and it was clear that the skills ahead are no longer optional, but essential. AI fluency, cybersecurity, financial sophistication, people and talent expertise, and diversity are now the foundation of resilient, high-performing boards. A few quotes that stayed with me: 💡 On digital transformation: “All boards are prioritizing the skill set to lead digital transformation — and cybersecurity is escalating more and more to the CEO and board level.” — Anita Lynch 💡 On risk oversight: “Audit has become the receptacle for everything — and now we’re expected to cover AI and cyber too. Boards need to retool to ask the right questions.” — Shannon Nash, Esq., CPA Nash 💡 On AI’s urgency: “AI is not a little shift. It’s more profound than cloud and internet combined. If you don’t embrace AI, it’s not about thriving, it’s about surviving.” — Vasu Jakkal 💡 On diversity: “Ten toes down on diversity.” — Shannon Nash, Esq., CPA Nash, a powerful reminder that skill and perspective diversity are core to resilient governance. These insights underscore a simple truth: the bar for directors is rising — and the boardroom must rise alongside it, with sharper questions, broader perspectives, and deeper engagement. A big thank you to my fellow panelists Julie and Rinki, and to Rita Scroggin and Monica Nayar of PwC for sponsoring and hosting such a thoughtful and impactful summit. Always wonderful to reconnect with my Firstboard.io®.io friends — and to meet so many inspiring new ones.

Feeling deeply energized after the Firstboard.io® Annual Innovation summit. Rita Scroggin you continue to raise the bar! Thank you Monica Nayar and team PwC for hosting us in your beautiful space! Grateful for the time spent with women leaders I love, admire, respect and look up to. Thank you Firstboard.io® for creating a space where leadership is redefined. Always inspired and humbled by the brilliance in the room. Here’s to continuing to create collective impact and a vision in shaping the #boardroom of the future. And a huge congratulations to Julie Choi and Cerebras Systems on their fundraise! Edua Lena Dickerson Julie Iskow Bhawna Singh Subha Tatavarti Reena Tiwari Patricia Grant Natasha Allen Kshama Swamy Paramita Bhattacharya Alison Millar Sharon Mandell