Features
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Moving Right Along
What are the most significant changes you’ve seen in your boardroom over the past three years? Increased concern about the company’s public image is high on the list. Dealing with the demands of (surprise!) SOX tops it. |
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Don't Keep a Superstar Out of the Game
What do you think of Calpers’s opposing Warren Buffett’s reelection to the Coke board? No matter how you elaborate, the answer is simple: Not much. |
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The Voting Machine
Do you agree with the SEC’s call for reform of corporate board elections? If it’s not really broke—and most think the current system is not—don’t fix it. But some disagree. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Are directors tougher today? Yeah! And if you want to argue, we can settle it outside. |
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Playing It Safe
Are you and the company you serve taking enough business risks? A few say they haven’t gone into the fetal position. Others are looking over their shoulders. |
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Protecting Your Own Interests
Do you believe there is more personal risk for you as a director this year than last, financially and otherwise? The prevailing opinions are “without question” and “absolutely.” But one director warns against confusing risk with stress. |
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Gutting It Out
What’s the hardest thing about being a director? Mastering the endless details is difficult business. But it gets downright tough when you push someone off the board. |
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It's Good to Be the King, But Be Careful
How much control should a committee chair exert? A lot. And it needs to be done with diplomacy. |
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Beyond the Bottom Line
Should the bottom line be the main consideration in questions of sending work offshore? No! Nyet! Non! Nein! And yet... |
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Peeves and Plaudits
What bothers you about corporate America? What pleases you? Short-term thinking, greed, and shoddy ethics all rankle. The role companies play in improving the country’s quality of life makes you proud. |
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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Am I the Wealthiest of All?
Has pay for directors and CEOs reached the right level? For CEOs, no way. It’s still too high. Some directors, on the other hand, may deserve a raise. |
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The Memory Bank
What’s the best experience you’ve ever had as a director? The worst? There was this night in Tahiti...oops, wrong experience. But seriously, your good memories range from taking a corporate motorcycle ride to helping a company grow. Your worst include bankruptcy and firing a CEO. |
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Getting Corporate Culture Right —The Buck Starts Here
Corporate culture can make or break a company, and sometimes it does both. The board’s job is to make sure it works for the good. Plus: Read All About It |