Roles & Responsibilities: a Primer

Webinar Overview

Whether you are considering forming a board or want to enhance existing governance practices, understanding the role of the board and the expectations of directors is an essential ingredient to successful, value-added governance in private companies. Company leaders and board directors often struggle to determine the role of the board and how to separate board responsibilities from those of ownership and management. In this webinar, the audience will learn what companies are really looking for (or should be) from their boards, and the many ways that boards contribute to private company success. We cover the definition of a board, typical expectations of a director, board oversight vs. management responsibilities, and many other basics of board formation and operation.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the role of a Board of Directors
• Understand the purpose of a board in private companies and its value in governance and decision-making
• Differentiate between governance, ownership, and management responsibilities
• Clearly distinguish the roles and responsibilities of the board versus those of company ownership and executive management
• Identify key expectations of directors
• Articulate the typical duties, obligations, and expectations of individual board members.
• Recognize best practices for board formation and operation
• Learn foundational principles for structuring a board, including composition, roles, and effective governance practices
• Assess the contribution of boards to private company success
• Explore how boards can add strategic value and enhance organizational performance through oversight and guidance
• Evaluate the characteristics of effective board governance
• Identify attributes and practices that contribute to high-functioning boards and their alignment with company goals
• Understand the legal and fiduciary duties of directors
• Gain insights into the responsibilities directors hold to the company, its shareholders, and other stakeholders

Other Webinars in this Series

• Putting It All Together With Some Role-Playing (Premiered on May 6, 2025)
• The Effective Board (Premiered on April 8, 2025)
• The Effective Director (Premiered on March 4, 2025)