Crisis Leadership: Reducing Dysfunction to Improve Board Readiness

Past Event Recap: Crisis Leadership – Reducing Dysfunction to Improve Board Readiness

Date: June 26, 2025
Location: Chicago Cultural Center

Against the stunning backdrop of the Chicago Cultural Center, NACD Chicago hosted a dynamic and thought-provoking morning on crisis leadership and boardroom resilience—a timely topic for directors navigating today’s turbulent landscape.

After a full networking breakfast, the crowd was treated to a powerful keynote by Harry Kraemer, former CEO of Baxter, professor at Kellogg, and a widely respected voice on values-based leadership. True to form, Harry didn’t hold back. With clarity, humor, and straight talk, he outlined five critical causes of board dysfunction—and how to root them out before a crisis hits.

Key Insights from Harry Kraemer:

• Clarify roles: “Management manages. Boards govern.” Misunderstood roles fuel friction—strong boards set expectations, communicate clearly, and hold each other accountable.
• Empower the lead director: The lead director (or independent chair) must run the meetings, set the tone, and be the connective tissue between board and CEO.
• Function as a team: Healthy boards challenge ideas, not people—respectful dissent leads to better decisions.
• Raise the bar: Board members must be held to high standards—and when those aren’t met, action must be taken.
• Prepare for the inevitable: Crisis isn’t a matter of if but when. Harry urged boards to scenario-plan in advance and adopt a simple mantra:
  “In an uncertain world, do the right thing—and do the best you can with the time available.”

He also shared a practical 3-step framework for board communication during crisis:

1. Tell people what you know—and why.
2. Tell them what you don’t know yet—and why.
3. Tell them when you’ll follow up with answers.

Panel: Real-World Perspectives on Crisis Leadership

Following the keynote, Cary McMillan (Hyatt, American Eagle Outfitters) moderated a high-impact panel featuring:

• Paulette Dodson – Board Member, Trupanion, BARK, Portillo’s
• Liz Micci – Partner, FGS Global and crisis communications expert
• Hille Sheppard – Legal governance leader and Partner at Sidley

The panelists shared candid experiences and concrete advice on navigating reputational risks, handling boardroom dynamics under pressure, and leading when the stakes are highest.

The session wrapped with strong energy, honest conversations, and a packed room of engaged directors ready to take actionable insights back to their boards.

Stay tuned for more high-caliber programming—including our next signature event:
September 17 – Converging Technologies & the Board