Leading from the Boardroom: Governance Principles and Practices

Catalog description

This course provides students with a practical understanding of board governance across public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Students examine the roles and responsibilities of boards of directors, the dynamics among directors, CEOs, and senior management, and the governance principles that shape effective oversight and decision-making. Through case discussions, assignments, role-plays, and instructors and guest speakers with extensive board experience, students explore fiduciary duties, board structure, governance principles, successes and failures, best practices and emerging issues facing today's boards. A distinctive feature of the course are simulated board meetings in which students assume the roles of directors, develop practical governance skills and receive real-time feedback. By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to assess governance structures, effectively collaborate with or serve as directors, executives, investors, advisors, CEOs or executives. This class is limited to 30 students, with an effort made to have students from SLS (20 students will be selected by lottery) and 10 non-law students by consent of the instructor. Non-law students may request consent to enroll by submitting a Stanford Non-Law Student Course Add Request Form available at https://law.stanford.edu/education/courses/non-law-students/. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, and written assignments. Student preparation and participation for case discussions and role plays.