Additional information
by Tom Mawhinney (Author)
The boardroom is evolving. Are you evolving with it?
Today's directors face a broader mandate than ever before. Governance is no longer confined to oversight and fiduciary discipline - it now spans strategy, technology, stakeholder dynamics, and cultural scrutiny. Boardroom leadership has become a dynamic, high-stakes endeavor that demands more than experience. It demands fluency, relevance, and range.
The Contemporary Board Member is a modern playbook for directors navigating this new landscape. Built on the skills-based model introduced in The Contemporary Leader, this volume reframes those essential leadership skills for the boardroom - where influence replaces authority, and contribution carries weight without control.
WHY THIS BOOK MATTERS
The pace of governance change has outstripped tradition. Today's board members must operate across a multidimensional agenda - digital transformation, ESG accountability, reputational risk, stakeholder capitalism - all while maintaining credibility, clarity, and composure.
THIS BOOK HELPS BOARD MEMBERS:
- Navigate complexity with confidence and strategic clarity
- Contribute meaningfully across unfamiliar governance terrain
- Develop influence without overreach or operational control
- Build fluency in technology, risk, culture, and stakeholder dynamics
- Sharpen credibility through intentional, skills-based development
A MODERN LENS ON BOARDROOM EFFECTIVENESS
Rooted in the 15 Essential Leadership Skills introduced in The Contemporary Leader, this volume reinterprets those skills through the governance lens - where leadership is shared, stakes are elevated, and pressure arrives without warning.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
- Leading with vision, translation, and decision-making under scrutiny
- Communicating strategically and with presence across high-stakes issues
PERSONAL SKILLS
- Strengthening boardroom influence through authenticity and emotional intelligence
- Adapting and responding to complexity with composure and confidence
TECHNOLOGY SKILLS
- Building oversight capability in AI, cybersecurity, and digital ethics
- Asking sharper questions, shaping smarter conversations
Each chapter includes real-world examples, boardroom moments, and the evolving case study of David Chen - a seasoned director whose leadership journey reflects the shifts facing boards everywhere.
WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
- Board members seeking to strengthen their governance contribution
- Newer directors stepping into their role with intention
- Experienced leaders retooling for a more complex governance landscape
- Committee chairs, board chairs, and aspiring directors preparing for broader impact
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Mawhinney is a board director, executive, and leadership strategist with more than three decades of experience across industries, sectors, and governance models. A graduate of the ICD.D program and the author of The Contemporary Leader series, Tom brings a clear, pragmatic voice to the challenge of building leadership capability in fast-moving environments.
Governance has changed. The Contemporary Board Member helps you meet the moment - with range, relevance, and real boardroom impact.
