Dambisa Moyo - How Boards Work: And How They Can Work Better in a Chaotic World

How Boards Work is exactly what any prospectiveor sittingboard member needs to understand the true rigors and realities of board life. Having seen it all, Dambisa Moyo offers valuable guidance on how boards can best focus their time and energy while grappling with social, governance, and environmental issues.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, founder and CEO, Thrive Global, and former Uber board member

How Boards Work offers a thorough and nuanced take on the ever-evolving role of corporate boards today. Dambisa Moyo provides a candid assessment of the challenges and opportunities that directors face and wisely warns of the dangers of stasis. The book is not only a must-read for the most tenured and experienced board members, but it also provides critical context to those who one day hope to have a seat at the table. CEOs and corporate leaders everywhere would also be wise to pick up this book.

MELLODY HOBSON, co-CEO, Ariel Investments; chair of the board of directors, Starbucks; board member, JP Morgan; former board chair, Dreamworks; and former board member, Estee Lauder

This highly engaging book will rightly attract those interested not just in good corporate governance but also the well-functioning of market-based economies. Drawing on her direct involvements on several boards of companies facing difficult decisions, as well as her global economic expertise, Dr. Moyo has written an indispensable guide to how boards function, malfunction, and, most importantly, should operate better. In not shying away from arguing for more assertive boards to overcome costly corporate failures and malaise, she sets out an action-oriented agenda for improving governanceto deal better with long-standing challenges, including better globalization and management of our environment, and to meet mounting new ones in a post-pandemic world. Simply put, this is a must-read for those who realize that, anchored by a more diverse mindset and modernized governance structures, companies can and must play a more important role in helping society overcome too many years of low, unequal, and non-sustainable growth, as well as proliferating mistrust and spreading marginalization.

MOHAMED A. EL-ERIAN, president of Queens College, Cambridge University; board member, Under Armour; and author of The Only Game in Town and When Markets Collide

Boards have incredible power to impact how companies and their stakeholders meet the challenges of the modern age. But boards are complex and living organisms that require more than just getting smart people in a room. Dr. Moyos book, informed by real-world experience in negotiating complex situations, should be a must-read for any board that wants to excel and have an impact today.

DAN LOEB, founder and CEO, Thirdpoint, and former Sothebys board member

To current management and employees, so they know what their boards do

To investors, so they appreciate boards limits and possibilities

To policymakers and regulators, so they are more aware of the trade-offs that boards face

To current board members, to help guide their reform agenda

To future board members, to help them grasp the board role

To the general public, so they better understand why successful boards and well-governed corporations are critical for society at large