CEO Letter
By Peter R. Gleason
Strengthening Private Company Boards
Spring 2026 Issue
From Directorship® Magazine
Departments
Cover Story
Avoiding Governance Theater in Early-Stage Companies
By Sharjeel Kashmir
To drive value, start-up boards need to work with founders to move from passive ritual to active governance.
Cover Story
Steering a Family Business Through Ownership Transitions
By Stu Dalheim and Gloria Koo
Family businesses face a range of ownership options as they plan for the future. With strong governance, families can navigate decisions that align with their legacy and business goals.
Cover Story
Avoiding Governance Theater in Early-Stage Companies
By Sharjeel Kashmir
To drive value, start-up boards need to work with founders to move from passive ritual to active governance.
Cover Story
Steering a Family Business Through Ownership Transitions
By Stu Dalheim and Gloria Koo
Family businesses face a range of ownership options as they plan for the future. With strong governance, families can navigate decisions that align with their legacy and business goals.
Editor's Note
By Anita Narayan
Transitions and the Director’s Mandate
Features
In-depth stories that explore topics affecting both you and your boards.
How Boards Can Handle Workforce Disruption
By Noah Kirsch
To encourage employee productivity and well-being, directors should work with management to create a resilient culture and be ready to tackle myriad obstacles, from emerging technology to financial concerns.
Columns
Short articles that offer insight from directors and governance experts.
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Directors' Corner
Risk, Routines, and Ripple Effects: What the Hindenburg Can Teach the Boardroom
By Philipp Willigmann
Boards can uncover risks and support innovation by using systems thinking, not just logical decision-making.
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C-Suite Connect
How Executives Can Strengthen Board Presentations
By Matt Zabel
Executives can use this guidance to create informative, engaging board presentations that help directors fulfill their fiduciary duties.
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Certified Director Insights
Governance Across Borders: A Conversation with Jean Philippe Prosper
By Heather Kierzek
Hear how an NACD certified director has implemented good governance practices to strengthen boards in developing countries.
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In Practice
Building Director Fluency for Effective AI Governance
By Tony Zolla
Directors can build personal AI fluency by interacting with the technology through these use cases.
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The AI Frontier
AI Washing: Why Directors Must Prevent It—and How
By Alexandra R. Lajoux
Artificial intelligence is everywhere in 2026—and so are exaggerated claims about it. Directors can prevent “AI washing,” but only if they recognize it early.
Director Advisory
Thematic content provided by NACD partners.
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Risk Oversight
Regulatory Fragmentation: From Anomaly to Strategic Focus
By Patrick A. Lee
Boards can proactively address regulatory fragmentation by embedding it into core strategy and governance processes.
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Emerging Technology
The New Cybersecurity Disclosure Risk? AI Explainability
By Martin Metz
AI explainability is a growing cybersecurity disclosure risk. Boards can use this guidance to bolster oversight and stay ahead of SEC scrutiny.