From the Shareholder’s Seat: How Boards Earn and Keep Investor Trust

Today’s boardroom is under greater scrutiny than ever before. In an era defined by rising investor expectations, empowered activists, and sweeping regulatory change, the board’s role has become more visible, more demanding, and more consequential. From total shareholder return and strategic clarity to cybersecurity, technological disruption, climate accountability, and regulatory shifts, directors are being called to go beyond oversight—to serve as intentional stewards of long-term value creation. The bar for credible governance has never been higher. This conversation explores how seasoned directors can navigate that complexity, earn investor trust, and shape the future of governance with purpose and foresight.

Barbara Novick has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern approach to investor stewardship and board engagement. She is a co-founder of BlackRock, the world’s largest investment management firm, was Vice Chair until 2021, and now serves as Senior Advisor.

Join Barbara for this timely conversation with Abby Adlerman, CEO of Boardspan, on how boards can build stronger relationships with their shareholder base—whether institutional, long- or short-term, or retail—and navigate the growing complexity of the governance landscape. Together they'll discuss:

• How investor expectations of boards have changed—and where directors sometimes misread the moment
• What trustworthy board-shareholder engagement looks like in practice, and what erodes trust
• What board chairs can do to ensure alignment, transparency, and strategic clarity
• How boards can stay ahead of regulatory developments and disclosure expectations
• Whether DEI, ESG, and stewardship still matter and if so, where they intersect with long-term value creation