Trust as a Strategic Asset: Optimizing the Board–CEO Relationship

The NACD Chicago chapter joined the NACD Florida in person for an engaging conversation about NACD's 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission Report, Building a High‑Trust Board‑CEO Relationship.

This essential report provides a three-step framework designed to strengthen the partnership between boards and CEOs, focusing on trust, agility, and long-term strategic impact. Peter Gleason, President & CEO of NACD, moderated the discussion, offering insights from the Commission’s findings and how boards can put these recommendations into action. The panel featured Dona Young, non-executive chair of Foot Locker, and Maggie Wilderotter, Chair of DocuSign and a director at Costco, both bringing decades of leadership experience in governance. They dove into practical ways to clarify roles, build trust, and improve communication, all while ensuring the board is aligned with the CEO on strategic priorities. Attendees gained actionable tools to boost board effectiveness—such as role-clarification templates, executive session frameworks, and methods for building trust through regular feedback and wellness checks.