NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors)

The pace of change is further ramping up, and boards are under increasing pressure to respond with agility in the face of growing complexity. To help directors keep up, a key theme on our membership site is Board Leadership at the Speed of Change. A key component of this feature is the 2025 NACD (National Association of Corporate Directors) Public Company Board Practices and Oversight Survey released earlier this year. It’s designed to help directors improve their governance practices and hones in on four key areas: The Board-CEO Relationship, AI Oversight, Cybersecurity Oversight, and Supply Chain Oversight. A few notable findings stand out. Particularly noteworthy is the heightened expectations of CEOs – a development that makes striking the right balance between board support for and oversight of this key executive even more pivotal to effective governance. Other benchmarks jump out as well. The uncertainty surrounding trade policies and their associated economic impact has public companies highly focused on their supply chains – with more than half (56%) of respondents saying they expect their organization’s exposure to supply chain risks to be higher in the next 12 months. Now a Top Five issue of concern, this topic demonstrates how quickly the landscape is shifting. Just a year ago, it came in at 13 in top business issues on board agendas. Positive movement worth noting ties to growing confidence in board cybersecurity oversight capabilities. This year, a full 25% more respondents said their board had “discussed material and financial implications of a cybersecurity incident” than did in 2022. Almost three-quarters of respondents indicated they’ve attended individual director education activities on cyber risks – compared to less than half in 2022. With AI at the center of so much disruption and transformation, it’s encouraging to see greater board engagement on this – with more than 62% of director respondents saying they now set aside agenda time for full-board discussions on AI, up by more than a third since 2023. Perhaps the most valuable component of this featured member-exclusive resource is the recommendations piece. For each of the four key areas covered, the survey report outlines not only why the findings matter, but also “What Boards Should Do” to implement effective governance practices that will help them remain on course in this era of rapid change. I encourage all NACD members to take a deep dive into this highly practical resource. https://lnkd.in/ee2NKhdT

Stay ahead of what 2026 demands with an NACD Corporate Membership.

Board leadership is something you commit to mastering continuously. That's what drew me to the NACD Directorship Certification® program. Even after serving in Chair roles and leading audit and compensation committees, the NACD.DC® process challenged me in the best possible way by sharpening my ability to ask the questions that matter most. In today's boardroom, especially in healthcare, the questions we ask determine the impact we create: → How are we balancing innovation with patient safety? → Are we truly prepared for emerging cybersecurity threats? → Does our risk oversight meet the pace of technological change? → Are we building the right succession plans for sustainable growth? Asking the tough questions separates good governance from great. November is NACD's Certification Celebration Month, and I'm grateful to be part of a community that values rigor, continuous learning, and principled leadership. For directors considering the journey: this is your opportunity to elevate your impact and lead with greater confidence. I'd love to hear what the most important questions you're asking in your boardroom right now? Learn more about NACD Directorship Certification® today. https://lnkd.in/eM8ZdQzX

November is one of my favorite times of year at NACD: Certification Celebration Month. This is when we celebrate the 2,100+ directors who have earned the NACD Directorship Certification® designation and the commitment they’ve made to governance excellence. Each certified director has demonstrated their dedication to lifelong learning and deepening their understanding of what defines and drives boardroom success. What makes this credential unique is that it’s entirely member-driven, created by NACD members, for NACD members. Directors across our network have shaped every aspect of this program to ensure it reflects the highest standard of governance. Every director sends signals in the boardroom through their questions, their preparation, and how they engage on complex issues. But there's only one signal that appears before you even enter the room, the NACD.DC®. The signal you send about your commitment to governance shapes how stakeholders perceive your value and values. Make sure it's the right impression.

Is your board prepared for genAI, blockchain, and beyond? Gauge your preparedness in our latest report.

Shape the future of corporate governance with NACD Directorship Certification®, available at a special discount for a limited time.