I worked with a number of boards and board chairs over the summer, and here are the things on their minds and the things they'll be grappling with this autumn, above and beyond the usual business of the year.

I think the most exciting and important development is that there is greater public awareness of corporate governance and boards, which is vital. It's no longer a black box, or a mysterious room.

The board room agenda is going through a reformation. What are some of the essential things that boards and board members need to think about? Five areas need an update.

The role of modern corporate boards is the juxtaposition of grounding and stargazing. Grounding is about making sure that the company fulfills all o...

Clearly, it looks odd these days for a board to be comprised of only white men, but does diversity make a difference in real economic terms? Does it actually affect the bottom line?

As a non-executive board director, I have been thinking a great deal about what it means to do this role in today's environment.

A recent court decision being hailed as the end of the multi-billion dollar Alien Tort Statute litigation industry is anything but, as plaintiffs' cross-hairs will simply shift from corporations to the individuals who serve them.

The governance operating system is based on an underlying assumption that employees act in their self-interest. This operating system worked perfectly fine for decades, until leaders began calling on employees for other things besides productivity.

Those who gravitate to management positions -- such as the people who appear before hearings to explain oil spills -- are not the brightest, but usually the middle third in university classes, the "people" persons and power strivers.

Individual companies can do little about threats like China's "currency manipulation." But individual CEOs can lead by seriously making a commitment to regard layoffs as the last strategy before bankruptcy.

Although slightly under the radar, in 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission is set to unveil new rules that will recalibrate the balance of power between corporate management and shareholders.