Effective board leadership: The art of doing it well and the risk of getting it wrong

PwC and Stanford joint memorandum (Sep 8, 2025) "Effective Board Leadership: The Art of Doing It Well and the Risks of Getting It Wrong" defines exceptional board leadership — chairs, lead directors and committee chairs — as the combination of strategic foresight, emotional intelligence and unrelenting commitment to long-term organisational health. Outstanding board leaders unite directors into a high-impact team, work toward a shared vision, challenge and coach the CEO in equal measure, refresh talent relentlessly and stay unflappable in crises. Eight attributes are defined, including "Leader of leaders" and "Strategic vision and focus." When leadership falters — groupthink, weak CEO relationship, underperforming directors — they act fast: frank evaluations, role rotation, clarified responsibilities and changes. Direct relevance for SEA mid-market boards selecting next chair.