Why boards...again? with Monika Kalra Varma and Kevin Walker

Thank you, Monica.

I love so much of what you just shared.

And I want to just kind of highlight a couple of the questions and points that you said.

So, well, one thing that also comes up for me is the way that you're talking about this version of strong governance is, I think, very different from the idea of quote unquote, strong governance of like 20, 30, even 10 years ago.

It was very traditional.

It wasn't so much focused on what was best for community or equity.

So I really appreciate kind of this different kind of framing about what can strong governance look like today.

And I think this question of are we moving closer to our purpose or further from it is so important.

And I think a great question for folks to kind of take back in their board work as they're making all types of decisions.

With each decision that you're making, are you moving closer to the world that you want to build? Are you moving closer to your mission or further away from it? And the answer cannot be you're moving closer to it because you're going to be around in perpetuity.

Perpetuity cannot be the answer.

That's what I'm hearing from you.

There has to be something else that is driving these decisions that is really based on what community is asking for and what community needs.

And the hope of most folks didn't start foundations with, you know, there was always an imagination or a desire to give, to do something in the community.

And so I think it just brings us back to that.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Kevin, I feel like you probably have a bit that you want to respond to in terms of what Monica just shared.

Well, like you, Mahrez, I applaud everything that Monica just shared.

I deeply believe all the same things that she just articulated.

And I've been trying to live those things in my leadership role at Northwest Area Foundation and as a member of Monica's board, as she said.

One thing I would add to the mix is that in our boardrooms, as in everything that we do as foundations, this is a relationship business.

And we don't always frame it that way.

We frame it as being about resources.

We certainly are willing to say it's about our mission, but it happens at the speed of the trust that's built into our relationships.