Brave Feminine Leadership Ep. #213Ā ā€“ Getting Runs on the Board: Kathy Grigg on Building Board-Ready Judgment
Welcome to the third interview in our six-part Board Director Series, where we explore the pathways and wisdom of some of our most respected leaders. Kathy Grigg brings a refreshingly practical perspective to board leadershipā€”one grounded in the belief that operational experience is the foundation of sound governance judgment.
From managing wool trading operations across multiple countries to serving as CFO of international companies, Kathy's journey to boards spanning GrainCorp, Agricultural Innovation Australia, and a distinguished 12-year tenure at Deakin University demonstrates how deep operational experience translates into board excellence.
Kathy shares her philosophy of "getting runs on the board" through operational roles first, why she believes judgment can only come from experience, and her non-negotiable rule about never being financially dependent on any board role. She opens up about developing "antenna" for feedback that's never explicitly given, the importance of being able to walk away from any position, and how confidence grows through calculated risks in your "uncomfortable zone."
This is a conversation about building board careers on substantial operational foundations, the value of understanding what you don't know, and how deep experience in challenging roles creates the judgment essential for effective governance.
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Hi, I'm Melissa
I'm the founder of Brave Feminine Leadership and an Executive Mentor with 8+ years of experience as a CEO leading global teams of 5,000+ people. I've been where you are and know exactly what it takes to break through to the next level in your career. I've made it my mission to inspire 100,000 women to take the next intentional step in their careers - because success, impact, and leadership doesn't have to come at the cost of everything else you value.
