Book Reviews

CLAUDIA SENDER

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TELEFONICA, EMBRAER, HOLCIM AND GERDAU

“Stewards of the Future brings a fresh approach on the new set of responsibilities that board members face in this fast-paced, ever-evolving environment, where the planet and segments of the society that were overlooked before occupy a much more relevant role. Through practical examples, guides, and real-life experiences, this book will help any leader who wants to keep up with new environmental, ethical, financial, and societal demands.”

MARTIN WOLF

CHIEF ECONOMICS COMMENTATOR, FINANCIAL TIMES

“What makes for a competent board and competent board members in a world in which the old mantra of shareholder value maximization is no longer viable? Helle Bank Jorgensen has thought long and fruitfully on this question. Her book gives invaluable guidance on what boards must do if the businesses they guide are to respond successfully to today’s enormous economic, environmental, and social challenges.”

FEIKE SIJBESMA

FORMER CEO ROYAL DSM; BOARD DIRECTOR, UNILEVER AND PHILIPS

“In this book, Helle Bank Jorgensen provides boards with insights on how to deal with several of the most challenging issues of our time and how to anchor long-termism, addressing SDGs and balancing ESG in the board.”

MERVYN KING

ONE OF THE WORLD’S FOREMOST AUTHORITIES ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE; CHAIRED THE KING COMMITTEE ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

“Directors are the stewards of the business information of a company. The stewards of the future need to apply their minds to make business judgement calls that are in the long-term best interests of the health of the incapacitated company of which as stewards they are the heart, mind, soul, and conscience. This book guides a director as to how to be a good steward of a company in our uncertain future.”

MARK HAWKINS

PRESIDENT AND CFO EMERITUS, SALESFORCE

“Stewards of the Future makes a compelling case to ensure that Stakeholder Capitalism and ESG are integrated into every modern boardroom and corporation in order to better serve all stakeholders.”

SARAH KEOHANE WILLIAMSON

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, FCLTGLOBAL

“Governance is one of the most important drivers of long-term value creation. Stewards of the Future highlights this critical issue and helps boards focus on what matters.”

JOHN A. LANIER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RAY C. ANDERSON FOUNDATION

“If businesses are willing to look to the horizon, they will see a wave forming. It is made up of multiple sharpening challenges, from cries for social justice to global pandemics to the climate crisis. When that wave crests in a matter of years, not decades, it will drown many businesses who are treading water in the status quo. Some, however, might just learn how to catch the wave and help solve these challenges. For corporate directors, this book is your surfboard. Read it, and then start paddling.”

EMILY WAITA MACHARIA

AFRICA PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, COCA-COLA AFRICA

“This book is a culmination of the most important duty of today’s boards as told through the voices of thousands of business leaders the author has encountered while raising awareness on this important subject.”

MICHAEL KOBORI

CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, STARBUCKS

“Helle Bank Jorgensen brilliantly describes the evolution of ESG to its current place of prominence in boardrooms and makes a powerful case for how it will drive value creation. A must-read for all directors and executives seeking to navigate these turbulent times.”

AMANDA ELLIS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASIA-PACIFIC, ASU GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION

“Stewards of the Future is a must-read for everyone in business. An engaging and comprehensive guidebook packed with practical advice and enlightening stories from some of the world’s best-known business leaders, Stewards of the Future couldn’t be more timely. ESG pioneer Helle Bank Jorgensen does a terrific job of sharing the courageous, innovative, empathetic, and ultimately rewarding journeys every business leader must take to create real long-term value for people and planet.”

HUGUETTE LABELLE

CHAIR, INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION CONFERENCE

“An exceptional book for all Board members who serve as custodians of the corporate culture and as leaders who need to build immediate and future trust and confidence in their company and loyalty from their staff. It should be standard reading for all Board members, ‘experienced’ or not.”

R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

AUTHOR AND CORPORATE ADVISOR; FORMER DIRECTOR AT TATA GROUP

“When we leave this earth, as we all inevitably must, what matters will be what we leave behind and for whose benefit. Ten conscience questions per chapter and eleven chapters later, you will know what your company should leave behind and for whom.”

MAIREAD LAVERY

PRESIDENT & CEO, EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CANADA

“Stewards of the Future is a tool and guide for board members to be excellent leaders who guide and develop companies that create legacies beyond financial results. Who wouldn’t want to be part of something that impactful?”

ERIC WETLAUFER

DIRECTOR, TMX GROUP AND INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION OF ONTARIO (IMCO)

“If I had just one person to guide me in being a better director, it would be Helle. Her breadth and depth of experience and her leadership in meeting head-on the complex challenges of the day is unmatched. Stewards of the Future should be required board reading.”

SHIREEN MUHIUDEEN

FOUNDER, CORSTON-SMITH ASSET MANAGEMENT

“As a senior fund manager, I would suggest this book as a must-read for all potential and existing public listed board members.”

PAUL DRUCKMAN

CHAIR, WORLD BENCHMARKING ALLIANCE; FOUNDING CEO, INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATED REPORTING COUNCIL

“This book provides all you need to know to be inspired as a Board member, current, past, and future. Business must step up as climate change has no vaccine and we cannot socially distance ourselves from inequality. Helle’s book shows how business leaders can contribute to saving the world.”

ANNETTE VERSCHUREN, O.C.

CHAIR AND CEO, NRSTOR INC.; DIRECTOR OF SEVERAL PROMINENT NORTH-AMERICAN COMPANIES

“A book about the future role and responsibilities of the board of directors could not be more timely. If that book is written by Helle Bank Jorgensen, based on her thirty years of experience advising companies and investors on ESG, climate, and sustainability, that book will be a bestseller.”

TORBEN MÖGER PEDERSEN

CEO, PENSIONDANMARK

“Climate, diversity, and other ESG issues have moved into the core of the boardroom. Learn and get inspired by Helle Bank Jorgensen’s great book.”

JOHN MANLEY, P.C., O.C.

CHAIR, CAE; DIRECTOR, TELUS; FORMER CEO, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF CANADA

“We live in changing and challenging times, and this puts extra pressure on board members, investors, and executives. What was right yesterday might not be tomorrow. Helle has so much valuable insight and experience, and a unique ability to look into the future and see the next best practices.”

PETER DEY

CHAIR, PARADIGM CAPITAL AND FORMER CHAIR OF THE ONTARIO SECURITIES COMMISSION

Stewards of the Future: A Guide for Competent Boards answers the fundamental question facing every board of directors: in our current dynamic environment, what should the board do and what should the board continue to do? This is a must-read treatise that is not just for board chairs but for every director of every corporation, whether public or private, big or small, profit or not-for-profit. I have been involved in the corporate sector
in various capacities for my entire career and I gleaned new principles and guidelines for best practice that I had never previously considered by studying Stewards of the Future.”

JANE DIPLOCK

CHAIR, ABU DHABI GLOBAL MARKET REGULATORY COMMITTEE; DIRECTOR, VALUE REPORTING FOUNDATION; DIRECTOR, SINGAPORE EXCHANGE (SGX)

“Good stewardship today requires clear climate and sustainability strategies… integrated sustainability reporting matters!”

JERMYN BROOKS

FORMER CHAIR, BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD, TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL

“Competent boards are key to good corporate governance. Helle Bank Jorgensen has produced a practical and complete reference for boards on how to improve their competence by providing relevant case studies, guidelines, and key questions. Particularly impressive is the insistence on not being satisfied with legal compliance but how board responsibility continues to widen and grow to embrace stewardship for the future.”

OLIVIER SCHWAB

MANAGING DIRECTOR, HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

“Tomorrow’s most innovative companies will leverage ESG, diversity, and technology to succeed in a changing and ambiguous world. Stewards of the Future offers board members a practical guide to lead them on their path.”

NIGEL TOPPING

UN HIGH LEVEL CLIMATE ACTION CHAMPION, COP26

“Boards today will have to navigate the most disruptive future for decades. To do so they will need much more diversity of background and thought and to acquire new skills in systems and futures thinking. Stewards of the Future is the guidebook we’ve been waiting for!”

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Primarily discuss the topics through the lens of serving on the board. You must be serving on at least one board with fiduciary responsibility to enter this stream.

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