The Board Edit

Season One Reflections: What We've Learned About Boards, Leadership, and Human Behavior

In this special Season One finale of The Board Edit, Craig and Dawn pause to reflect on the journey so far—18 episodes, countless governance conversations, and one shared

Mission Over Moment: Building a Legacy That Outlasts Your Board Service

In this episode, Craig and Dawn explore a question that every nonprofit board member should ask—but few actually do: What will this organization thank us for five, ten,

Boardroom Blind Spots: How Assumptions Undermine Good Governance

In this episode, Craig and Dawn explore one of the most common—and often unrecognized—blind spots in nonprofit governance: the assumptions that come with experience. Ex

When the World Feels Heavy: Leading Boards with Authenticity and Courage

Episode Summary In this episode, Craig and Dawn step slightly off script to name something many nonprofit leaders and board members are already feeling: the weight of lea

Self-Regulation: The Leadership Skill Every Board Member Needs

Episode Summary In this episode, Craig and Dawn explore a leadership skill that quietly shapes every board meeting: self-regulation. Most board members join because the

Better Board Meetings: Moving from Discussion to Decision

Episode Summary In this episode, Craig and Dawn tackle a challenge almost every nonprofit board experiences: meetings that feel long, unfocused, or inefficient. Most bo

Robert's Rules: Finding Your Voice in the Boardroom

Episode Summary In this episode, Craig and Dawn explore a moment many board members remember vividly—the first time they stepped into a boardroom governed by Robert's Rul

When Ego Shows Up: How Ego Can Edge Good Out in the Boardroom

In this episode, Craig and Dawn tackle ego—with a twist—using the mnemonic E.G.O. = "Edge Good Out." The conversation centers on how a lack of self-awareness around stren

Term Limits: How Long Should a Board Member Serve?

In this episode, Craig and Dawn tackle a perennial—and often uncomfortable—governance question: How long should a board member serve? The conversation reframes term limit

Beyond Time, Talent & Treasure: The Four Capitals of Board Service

In this episode, Craig and Dawn challenge traditional thinking about fundraising and board service by introducing the Four Capitals model—a next-level framework that expa

The Board Chair Isn't the Boss: Leading Through Balance

In this episode, Craig and Dawn drop a governance truth bomb: the board chair is not the boss. Instead, the chair's real power lies in balance, facilitation, and culture-

Mind the Gap: What Board Members Know vs. What They Don't

In this episode, Craig and Dawn introduce a powerful governance lens—"Mind the Gap"—to explore the space between what board members think they know and what they actually

The Bylaws as The Guardrails

Craig and Dawn unpack one of the most overlooked—but mission-critical—topics in nonprofit governance: bylaws and policies. Often dismissed as dry or boring, these documen

Why Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast

In this episode, Craig and Dawn explore one of the most quoted—and most misunderstood—truths in leadership and governance: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." While st

The Five Types of Boards Every Leader Must Understand

In this episode, Craig and Dawn break down one of the most clarifying—and liberating—topics in board service: the five types of boards. Whether you are a first-time board

Who Runs the Nonprofit? Board vs. Staff (and Why It Gets Messy)

"Who runs the nonprofit—the board or the staff?" It's one of the most common (and consequential) questions in governance. In this episode of The Board Edit, Dawn and Crai

How Many Boards Is Too Many? Serving Well Without Overcommitting

In many communities, it's the same people in the same rooms—serving on multiple boards, wearing multiple hats, and trying to do it all. In this episode of The Board Edit,

The Confident Board Member

Before we dive into the full season, join co-hosts Craig Wagner and Dawn Rochelle for the story behind The Confident Board Member. In this special pilot episode, we share