Jul 7, 2026 · 30 min · 12 segments
I am covering the topic of Board effectiveness in my next couple of podcasts, starting with a wonderful conversation with Vickie Williams. Vickie is based in Perth, Australia and is an accomplished…
Vicki WilliamsGuestMarianneHostBut I wanna start with question one.
You wrote that being a board member is not a ceremonial title, but a collective responsibility, and I really loved the model that you put up.
If you had to explain this, this true purpose of the board, in one or two sentences, or what this collective responsibility looks like, how would you describe it?
I- I feel that the purpose of a board isn't, is not to run the organization, but it's actually to govern it.
And a board's collective responsibility is to safeguard the organization's purpose, oversee its performance, ensure accountability for the future, and the decisions that shape that future.
Love that.
Ancestors of the future.
Tell me more, Vicki.
Tell me more about ancestors of the future.
Love it.
The Native American Indians believe that we don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we actually borrow it from our children.
So I see the role of boards, that the decisions that they're making today are actually shaping the future for our ancestors and our children.
So in that sense, I see the, the, the boards of today are the ancestors of tomorrow.
I love that.
Um, my husband also.
The San people.
And it's the same principle, isn't it, over and over again.
Um-
But I wanna start with question one.
You wrote that being a board member is not a ceremonial title, but a collective responsibility, and I really loved the model that you put up.
If you had to explain this, this true purpose of the board, in one or two sentences, or what this collective responsibility looks like, how would you describe it?
I- I feel that the purpose of a board isn't, is not to run the organization, but it's actually to govern it.
And a board's collective responsibility is to safeguard the organization's purpose, oversee its performance, ensure accountability for the future, and the decisions that shape that future.
Love that.
Ancestors of the future.
Tell me more, Vicki.
Tell me more about ancestors of the future.
Love it.
The Native American Indians believe that we don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we actually borrow it from our children.
So I see the role of boards, that the decisions that they're making today are actually shaping the future for our ancestors and our children.
So in that sense, I see the, the, the boards of today are the ancestors of tomorrow.
I love that.
Um, my husband also.
The San people.
And it's the same principle, isn't it, over and over again.
Um-
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3 of 5
Would You Face The Press?
Boards face the ultimate public accountability question
Ancestors Of The Future
She reframes boards' legacy in one sentence
Harmony vs Constructive Tension
Why polite boardrooms silently court disasters everyday
+2 more clips · 5 min 39 sec of audio in all
7 of 17
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