Our Insights

Drawing on our work across hundreds of Boards, we delve beneath the surface of governance, leadership, and culture to offer reflections and research that could be immediately valuable for your Board.

Spotlight

Jodi Butts Sep 24, 2026

What Makes a Great Director? The Watson Director Competency Framework

Skills and experience tell you what a director brings to the table. Competencies tell you how they will contribute. Here…

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Barb Schimnowsky Feb 21, 2026
The Governance Dividend: Why High-Performing Families Get Structure Right

For many enterprising families, governance is viewed as a necessity rather than a performance lever - introduced once complexity increases,…

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Watson Jan 30, 2026
Charles Brown on Purpose, Trust and Courage as Leadership Imperatives

In this edition of our Purpose-Led CEO Interview Series, we sat down with Charles Brown, President & CEO of LifeLabs,…

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Rachel O'Connor Jan 29, 2026
Shaping the Future with JP Gladu: Bringing Generational Perspective to the Boardroom

In our Shaping the Future With… series, we explore the perspectives of directors who are shaping governance as it’s actually…

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Watson Jan 24, 2026
Seeing Around Corners: Lynn Smurthwaite-Murphy on Leadership, Strategy, and High-Impact Boards

In our Purpose-Led CEO interview series, Watson Partner Tiffany Goodlet speaks with CEOs who lead with clarity and conviction, using…

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Watson Jan 20, 2026
Where Family Enterprise Boards Create (or Constrain) Value

Insights for Family Enterprise Boards from the 2025 Private Company Director Compensation Survey Across many Family Enterprise boards, a familiar…

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Rachel O'Connor Dec 23, 2025
A Year of Insights from Directors Shaping the Future of Governance

In 2025, we launched Shaping the Future With… an interview series featuring directors speaking plainly and candidly about the real…

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Watson Dec 17, 2025
Directors Talk: Canada’s Economic Security Imperative

A collaboration between McCarthy Tétrault and Watson Board Advisors. Authors: Jodi Butts, Manijeh Colabella (Watson Board Advisors), John Boscariol, Martha…

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Sara Boulet Dec 16, 2025
Key Conversations for Family Business Owners: Governance

In part one of our Key Conversations for Family Business Owners series, we explored Purpose and Risk. In part two,…

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Jodi Butts Dec 11, 2025
Beyond the Skills Matrix: The Competencies That Define Great Directors

During our 20 years in governance, one truth has never changed: people sit at the heart of effective governance and…

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