Breaking Boardroom Patterns: Better Decisions, By Design

Good boards don't happen by habit. Learn to design them.

Most approaches to board effectiveness are built on tradition rather than evidence and are notoriously difficult to translate into day‑to‑day boardroom practice. Despite the abundance of governance frameworks, diagnostics, and “best practice” tools, many boards and executives see little measurable improvement in how they make decisions or work together.

This two-day course is designed for executives and non-executive directors who want a more practical approach to common boardroom challenges. Our curriculum is grounded in research and tested in real boardrooms, rather than simply relying on convention or best practice.  

We will explore high-impact solutions to common issues including:
  • Managing information asymmetry between board and management
  • Getting the most out of our scarce time together
  • Cultivating effective board-management dynamics
  • Balancing strategic visioning, operational oversight, and compliance
  • And more

If you’re looking for better ways to work with your board, not just more theory, this course is for you. 

Meet your course facilitator

Matt Fullbrook

Matt Fullbrook is one of the most recognizable and respected voices in North American corporate governance, bringing 24 years of experience to more than 300 boardrooms, ranging from local nonprofits to multinational giants. His One Minute Governance and Ground-Up Governance platforms are designed to demystify complex governance concepts and provide new ways of thinking about common challenges.

Matt serves as an Executive in Residence at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, where he has shaped the future of governance since 2001. Previously, he directed the David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation. 

Matt is the Academic Director of the Program Working Effectively with Your Board: A Program for Senior Executives at Rotman, in partnership with the Institute of Corporate Directors. Matt’s additional governance education experience includes the Rotman/ICD Directors Education Program, CUES Director Development Seminar and Governance Leadership Institute, and custom board/executive training sessions for at least 30 organizations per year. 

  • What we will explore and cover in the course: 

    You’ll examine high‑impact solutions to common and often frustrating boardroom issues, including:

    Managing information asymmetry between the board and management to reduce blind spots and improve decision quality

    • Making better use of scarce board time, focusing attention on the decisions that matter most
    • Strengthening board–management dynamics, including challenge, trust, and candour
    • Balancing strategic oversight, operational assurance, and compliance without losing sight of purpose
    • And more—based on participant experience and live boardroom cases 

  • Who this course is for

    This course is suited to:

    • Board chairs and non‑executive directors
    • Experienced board members seeking a more rigorous, practical approach to effectiveness

    If you’re looking for better ways to work with your board - not just more theory or tools - this course is for you. 

  • Learning Objectives

    By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

    • Improve board effectiveness by design, not habit
    • Strengthen information flow to support clearer, more confident decision‑making
    • Build more effective and more honest board–management interactions 

What we will explore and cover in the course: 

You’ll examine high‑impact solutions to common and often frustrating boardroom issues, including:

Managing information asymmetry between the board and management to reduce blind spots and improve decision quality

  • Making better use of scarce board time, focusing attention on the decisions that matter most
  • Strengthening board–management dynamics, including challenge, trust, and candour
  • Balancing strategic oversight, operational assurance, and compliance without losing sight of purpose
  • And more—based on participant experience and live boardroom cases