The Business of Meetings – Episode 267: From Token to Transformative: Making Boards Work with Marc Stockli
We are thrilled to welcome Marc Stockli, an accomplished entrepreneur from Switzerland, as our guest today. With over 20 years of business experience, Marc has chaired the Global Board of the Entrepreneurs Organization and has also become an author.
Join us as Marc shares his journey and gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming book, Make Boards Work.
His Journey
Marc’s deep understanding of boards comes from his many years working with founders, investors, and leadership teams across Europe. He has worked closely with companies like Northvolt and helped shape boardrooms from early-stage startups to investor-heavy scale-ups. Having served on several boards and supported high-profile companies through huge transitions, Marc learned firsthand why some boards are transformative and others dysfunctional. His insights have culminated in his upcoming book, Make Boards Work.
A Book That Will Set the Standard
Make Boards Work is more than just a title. It is a mission that helps business leaders move beyond generic board structures to build lean, relevant, and strategically powerful boards. Marc’s vision is about creating dynamic and role-specific boards that tie into the evolution of a business.
Building Boards That Work
Boards should not simply exist for supervision or corporate governance. In high-growth environments like startups and scale-ups, a board should actively contribute instead of just monitoring. The most effective boards become strategic partners to the CEO, offering challenge, support, and clarity.
The Board as Part of the Leadership Team
A board is most effective when treated as part of the leadership team instead of being considered a distant or hierarchical body. Transparency and trust are essential, and CEOs should take full ownership of board dynamics. Engaging proactively rather than defensively sets the tone for high-functioning collaboration.
A Fresh Approach to Board Terms
Traditional board tenures are often too long for the fast-changing realities of growing businesses. A one- to two-year term aligns better with the requirements of startups and scale-ups. Although the terms can be renewable, there should always be a time to reassess whether the skills and contributions of the board members are still relevant. Northvolt modeled this approach as they evolved by building three boards- one for fundraising, one for industrial scaling, and one for IPO readiness. Each one was purpose-built for that specific stage of the journey.
Small Is Strategic
Three to five members are ideal for an effective board. Keeping boards small will ensure that decisions get made quickly, meetings remain focused, and voices get heard.
Entrepreneurs Need Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs benefit most from having at least one fellow entrepreneur on the board, as only those who have lived through the emotional highs and lows of building a business can relate and offer appropriate support. So, even though experience matters, empathy is also essential.
Why Every Board Needs an Independent Chair
An independent chair adds enormous value, particularly in venture-backed businesses where multiple investors are at the table. Having someone without a financial stake helps create neutrality, reduce conflict, and foster psychological safety. It also allows the CEO to focus on content rather than facilitation, enabling more strategic conversations.
The Power of Stepping Back
Preparing for board meetings should be an opportunity to pause, reflect, and focus on what truly matters in the business. It presents a moment to step back, identify key issues, and invite meaningful input, turning what may feel like a task into a powerful tool for clarity and growth.
Bio: Marc Stockli:
Marc O. Stockli has benefited from a unique perspective for many years in developing and writing this book. Marc has also been a public speaker to thousands of entrepreneurs in more than 30 countries.
Marc has been exposed to board work from early on in his career. First, as a young investment banker, and later a strategy consultant for world-renowned professional services firms. Later on, as an entrepreneur and investor. In sum, he has prepared for, attended, and reflected on about 200 board meetings overall. This profound experience has been gained globally, allowing Marc to provide unique insights and disclose hidden opportunities.
Marc O. Stockli is a co-founder and former CEO of Totemo, whose cybersecurity products are used by 1,500 corporations and more than 3.5 million licensed users. Totemo was sold to Palo Alto-based Kiteworks in December 2021. Marc is an active investor, board member, and coach for entrepreneurial companies and teams in technology and financial services. He acts in such capacity for Amwell (IPO on NYSE in September 2020), Beekeeper, Merantix, Lucy Security (sold to ThriveDX in February 2022), Vara, CleanHub, or Format Vermögen & Anlagen, to name but a few. Previously, Marc worked in corporate finance in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and New York, as well as strategy consulting with BCG. He holds a law degree from the University of St. Gallen HSG and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Marc recently served as the Global Chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (“EO”, more than 19,000 members in more than 70 countries).
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