Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Giselle McLachlan about being a great board chair, and I’m delighted to welcome her back after her earlier appearance in the early days of video. Giselle is a reformed lawyer based in Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island, and through her work at Grounded Governance, she coaches, teaches, facilitates workshops, and supports boards, particularly chairs, in doing their role well.

We discuss why chairing is often misunderstood as simply “running the meeting,” why finishing on time isn’t the measure of good chairing, and the importance of the work before and after meetings. Giselle shares her “five Ts” framework—time, tone, talent, teamwork, and tikanga/traditions—and offers practical examples, including board connection practices, expectations for pre-reading, and how to manage differing director preferences.

Links and Resources

Giselle on LinkedIn

Giselle's website - Grounded Governance

Giselle's been on the podcast before: Episode 328: Giselle McLachlan wants to help prepare your boardroom for the future

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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Shona McGlashan about inclusive board cultures. Shona is chair of Pain BC and vice-chair and governance committee chair of Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Shona is a governance professional, board director, and consultant who believes boards are only as effective as the culture they create.

Shona discusses why everyone in the boardroom must actively create inclusion, sharing an early-career lesson about “total football” and making space for people to speak up. She outlines practical accessibility and psychological safety practices, recruitment approaches that brought millennial directors onto Pain BC’s board, and how diverse lived experience strengthens decision-making while directors are not delegates.

Links and Resources

Shona on LInkedIn

Shona's website

You can find a series of governance-related articles here

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Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m coming from Banff, Alberta. I'm building on conversations from the Vancouver meetup with Nancy Maloney and Shona McGlashan about joining boards and building a portfolio.

I explain why resilience is key—since you’ll apply for more roles than you’ll get—and how perseverance and feedback help you persist.

I revisit Nancy’s early board interview story, reflect on my recent rejections, and share recruiter advice from Monique Fulmer (PeopleFusion): apply only if your skills match, lead with board experience on your resume, and separate board and executive experience. I also highlight committee roles as a pathway into boards and conclude with themes of resilience and alignment.

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