How to Be a Great Board Member | Michaela Bearden & Angelika Olsen of Inner Will

Michaela Bearden and Angelika Olsen of InnerWill share how board members can support family businesses through relationship, humility, and hard questions. Michaela Bearden and Angelika Olsen of InnerWill share actionable insights on how to be a strong board member in a family business. They highlight the power of disagreement, why objectivity matters more than loyalty to individuals, and how long-term thinking helps steward a family enterprise across generations. From avoiding favoritism to preparing future leaders, Michaela and Angelika offer stories, best practices, and common pitfalls that boards need to be aware of. [11:40] Michaela: “You don’t want a board member that isn’t willing to push back. You want somebody that is going to be engaged and ask the hard questions because your family’s success really hinges on their involvement.” Angelika and Michaela comment that businesses are personal. Non-family board members must have a clear lens of not only the business and the field, but the family and its dynamics. Board members should prioritize involving the next generation in strategic projects and get to know them to lay the foundations of a strong, trusting relationship. [27:35] Michaela: “Succession isn’t a transaction; it’s a transformation.” Whether your family has a seasoned board or you’re just getting started, this episode will leave you with tangible steps to strengthen and serve your business for generations to come. Links Michaela Bearden | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Angelika Olsen | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ InnerWill Leadership Institute’s ⁠Website⁠