Culture Check:

NACD Three Rivers Chapter Virtual Event on Culture Check: What Every Board Needs to Know and Do Now brought together board leaders and governance professionals for a timely and insightful conversation on the role of culture in effective governance. Hosted by Sabrina Saunders Mosby, President & CEO of Vibrant Pittsburgh and a seasoned Board Director, the webinar featured a dynamic discussion with Debra Caplan Kaplan, Executive in Residence at the Forbes Fund.

They addressed key points from the 2023 NACD Blue Ribbon Commission Report on Culture as the Foundation.

Together, they explored how board culture shapes decision-making, performance, and organizational success. The conversation unpacked early warning signs of cultural drift, the importance of trust and transparency in boardrooms, and practical strategies for embedding culture into governance structures. From board leadership and committee roles to agenda design and self-evaluation, participants gained actionable tools to strengthen both board and organizational culture.

The session reinforced a clear message: culture is not a “soft” issue; it is a core governance responsibility and a critical driver of long-term organizational resilience and success.

Key topics and takeaways included:

• Culture as a governance imperative, not just a people or HR issue
• The link between board culture and organizational culture
• Early warning signs of cultural drift before performance declines
• How “stable” metrics can mask underlying cultural risk
• The role of the governance and nominating committee in cultural oversight
• Board leadership and the critical influence of the board chair in setting tone and norms
• Building trust, transparency, and psychological safety in the boardroom
• Creating space for open dialogue and diverse perspectives in decision-making
• Aligning roles, responsibilities, and expectations to strengthen board effectiveness
• Practical tools for cultural oversight, including self-assessments, agendas, and board evaluations
• The importance of relationship-building in creating agile, high-performing boards
• Strategies for navigating change, disruption, and “perma-crisis” environments