Ken stresses the significance of building trust with fellow board members and management, especially during challenging times. Ken’s journey into board service began with nonprofit boards, which provided valuable experience with board dynamics and governance issues. He then transitioned to for-profit boards, initially in familiar industries and with people he knew.
Throughout his career, Ken has been intentional about getting to know his fellow board members outside the boardroom to foster trust and understanding. As a board member, Ken has taken leadership roles in areas such as technology, mergers and acquisitions, and CEO evaluation and replacement. He attributes his success to his ability to listen, ask relevant questions, and maintain a lack of political agenda.
Ken also emphasizes the importance of being a proud Black man while simultaneously being comfortable working with people of all races and genders. Although he hasn’t felt the need to act differently as a Black board member, he does advocate for the intentional recruitment of diverse candidates and firmly believes that there is no excuse for not having qualified Black candidates in the selection pool. Over time, Ken’s board operating style has evolved, and he has become more adept at knowing when to speak up and add value without being overbearing.
