What Informs Good Board Governance in 2021 and Beyond?

Summary

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As we emerge from the global pandemic, and enter the fourth wave, Boards and leadership teams continue to face unpredictable headwinds in fulfilling their responsibilities to the organization and its employees. At all levels, individuals and organizations are continuing to adapt to and from new patterns to address the future of work, the brutal realities of systemic racism and the implications of global health crises and climate change. At the same time, there exist massive opportunities to face these obstacles with positive conviction to lead and govern better and differently.

In an interactive dialogue with Anne Bloom of the Strategic Capability Network, WATSON Advisors’ Executive Search and Board director Practice Lead and head of its Toronto office, Sharon Rudy will share insights gained from working with boards across sectors and discuss the implications for even greater leadership and influence by the CHRO on topics including the board’s accountability for organizational mental health, systemic racism, ESG and the need for continued agility in defining the line between governance and leadership amidst the context of continuing uncertainty.

Speaker

Sharon Rudy, PhD, MA

Sharon Rudy co-leads WATSON’s Director and Executive Search Practice. Based in Toronto, Sharon joined WATSON to lead the firm’s expansion in Ontario, offering a distinctive approach to serving organizations driven by purpose and dedicated to making a better Canada.

Over her 24-year career in search, Sharon has earned a reputation as a hands-on, trusted partner who is motivated by building lasting relationships with clients and candidates. Sharon works closely with board search committees in the selection of Presidents and CEOs for multi-stakeholder, mission-based institutions across Canada. She has also developed a specialization in the Chief Human Resources Officer function across all industries. She has worked across a range of industries to recruit board directors, C-level executives, and advise on strategic talent issues.

Sharon takes the time to understand the unique circumstances and dynamics of every leadership and director mandate and is committed to supporting lasting success beyond the placement. She has worked with boards in their most important role, the recruitment of their organization’s CEO, and then gone on to assist those CEOs in building the right leadership team for the next phase of evolution and growth. She also works closely with boards to recruit new directors and support governance review and evolution.

Sharon’s experience intersects the private and public sectors, and she understands the nuances of varied ownership structures and multi-stakeholder environments. She is equally adept and comfortable serving not-for-profits, large publicly traded companies, and the unique needs of family businesses.

Notable work includes recruiting President and CEOs for CivicAction, Leap Pecaut Centre for Social Impact, CAMH Foundation, The Conference Board of Canada, Women’s College Hospital Foundation, University Health Network (UHN), the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and the University of Toronto.

Sharon’s professional career in search includes 20 years with a global search firm. Prior to her career in search, Sharon taught history at Queen’s University and interned for Public Affairs International in Ottawa, and with the International Affairs Directorate of Environment Canada.

Sharon earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo and her MA and PhD in history from Queen’s University. She has been a board member for SHAD Canada and was a founding board member of the Accelerator Centre at the University of Waterloo. Sharon has served as a volunteer committee member for Women Against Multiple Sclerosis and MS Research Foundation and is currently a member of the gala committee for True Patriot Love Foundation.

https://www.watsoninc.ca/team_member/sharon-rudy/