Q: I’ve been elected to my first board seat, a mid-cap regional health services firm.  I’m familiar with this sector and the company, have spoken with the management team, and know a couple of current board members, so I have the essentials pretty well.  But now, ten days before my first board meeting, I’ve just… Read More

Over eleven years ago, I flipped the retained search model on its head and launched Summit Executive Resources. The vision and mission for Summit at the time, and still is today –  to serve as an agent to executives to represent their interest in their next C-Suite role or independent directorship. Sports agents serve star… Read More

In prior posts, I have discussed various topics related to corporate boards, such board recruitment, timing and compensation.  But, what if you have found yourself serving on your first corporate board?  How will you know the steps for effective board meeting preparation? Not only will it help you, but preparation before and between board meetings… Read More

Many of my clients aspire to be hired by a private equity firm and primarily for an executive role or independent directorship in one of the firm’s portfolio companies.  More so than the deal side, there is increasing interest in the role of operating partner.  In some initial discussions, I realize that although aspiring, some… Read More

Board culture is tantamount to a board’s success. Board culture affects decision-making and the directors’ relationship with management, impacting their ability to advise executive management and provide the necessary oversight. Because of this, a board needs to understand its culture, which includes how they make decisions, handle disagreements and share information. Is it collaborative and… Read More

The Black Lives Matter movement and civil rights protests across the country, triggered by the issue of police violence, have heightened awareness of racial inequality. Public and private institutions are issuing statements of solidarity, re-examining their hiring practices and workplace cultures, and promising social justice. These good intentions should be applauded. But the hard part… Read More

Philanthropy is important to many privately held business owners who often include charitable endeavors as part of their post-exit plans. Yet even those who earmark exit proceeds for their favorite nonprofit sometimes fail to appreciate the savings that charitable planning can create. That helps explain why many business owners overlook philanthropy in their pre-transaction planning…. Read More

It only took 18 characters and a social media firestorm to blow up Baha Nabulsi’s career.  Nabulsi, a real estate professional with eXp Realty, didn’t see the disaster coming. She didn’t even think that much about the three-word post that would ultimately lead to the loss of her job and prompt a storm of online… Read More

It is often said that Corporate Partners struggle to be viewed as strong candidates for General Counsel positions. On the behalf of my executive clients, whom I serve as their personal career agent, I have been told by top-tier executive recruiters that I would not be able to help my clients make the transition from… Read More

When coronavirus burst onto the scene earlier this year, we had no idea how this health crisis would affect every aspect of American life, infecting almost 8 million people nationwide and devastating communities across Illinois. As a former Navy intelligence officer, I learned how to analyze different scenarios from top to bottom, paying particular attention… Read More