Directors Forum

Work Through the Decisions Before They Reach Your Boardroom

Examine real boardroom scenarios involving M&A, CEO succession, AI and competitive threats, then compare how other directors interpret the same facts and tradeoffs.

Attendance is intentionally limited, so every participant becomes part of the discussion – not simply another audience member.

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Work Through the Decisions Before They Reach Your Boardroom

Some of the most important board decisions are difficult precisely because experienced people can look at the same information and reasonably reach different conclusions. Whether the issue is an acquisition, CEO succession, AI accountability or a shift in the competitive landscape, directors still have to decide which assumptions to challenge, which tradeoffs matter and what belongs at board level.
 
At Directors Forum, public-company directors work through these kinds of decisions rather than simply hear about them.

Scenario-based sessions put competing choices on the table, while small-group discussions and role-specific peer exchanges let directors compare how others would approach the same situation. The result is a chance to examine your own reasoning before a similar decision is live in your boardroom.

Work Through the Questions Behind Board Decisions

Compare how other experienced directors would approach questions like these through scenarios, small-group discussions and peer exchanges.

When should we support management’s case for an acquisition—and when should we be willing to walk away?

Is our competitive advantage as durable as we believe?

Do we have the CEO the company will need for its next chapter?

Are our board discussions testing the thinking behind important decisions?

How deeply should the board engage in AI decisions without taking over management’s role?

Can management execute the strategy—and how will we know if it’s falling short?

KEYNOTES

Conversations With Leaders Who’ve Been There

Greg Brown

CEO, Motorola Solutions

High Stakes, Hard Calls: How Greg Brown Remade Motorola

Few CEOs have navigated the scale of transformation Greg Brown has led at Motorola Solutions. From activist investors and a corporate separation to more than 60 acquisitions, he’ll reflect on the decisions that reshaped the company—and what boards and CEOs need from one another when the future demands a different course. He’ll share lessons on governance, strategy and leading through consequential change.

Adam Leipzig

President, National Geographic Films; Former senior executive, Walt Disney Studios

When Strategy Stops Transmitting

Even the best strategy fails if the organization can’t execute it. Adam will explore why alignment breaks down between the boardroom and the front line—and what directors should expect from management before those gaps begin to affect performance. Drawing on his Quality × Acceptance = Effectiveness framework, Leipzig will explore why sound strategies lose momentum and offer practical ways to recognize when execution is slipping before it’s reflected in results.

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THE BOARD AGENDA

Two Days to Test Your Thinking With Other Directors

Across the program, you’ll:

Peer Exchanges

Compare Notes With Directors in the Same Seat

Candid, off-the-record conversations shaped by the participants. No presentations. No press.

Choose Your Peer Exchange

Audit Committee: Questions We’ll Explore

Compensation Committee: Questions We’ll Explore

Nominating & Governance Committee: Questions We’ll Explore

Board Chairs & CEOs: Questions We’ll Explore

Companies Represented at the 2026 Forum

Testimonials

What Past Attendees Said

Timely

“I didn’t think it was possible for this year’s event to eclipse last year’s, but I was wrong. Every session topic was timely and the speakers were experts in their fields.”

John Rhea

Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Ameren; Board Member, MRO 

exquisite

“The peer-to-peer engagement was exquisite! The scenario-based structure was a great way to encounter the topics!”  

Julie Bentz

Board Member, Avista 

Connect

“It’s a small group that enables you meet and connect with people who can help your company or you personally.”  

Scott Shaw

Board Member, Lincoln Educational Services  

who should attend

Find Your Seat at the Table

Public Company Directors

For directors who want to compare perspectives with accomplished peers and strengthen how they approach the board's most consequential decisions.

Board Chairs, Lead Directors and Committee Chairs

For leaders responsible for shaping board discussions, guiding oversight and helping boards navigate complex decisions with confidence.

CEOs and Board-Ready Executives

For executives who want a deeper understanding of how public company boards evaluate strategy, risk and management recommendations.

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Join Us in Scottsdale

Registration is now open. Don’t wait—seats are limited to keep the experience intimate and director-driven.  

Event + CBMN Membership

Attend the Forum & Join CBM Network
$ 1,295 Only open to sitting board directors
  • All Forum Registration Benefits
  • Complimentary attendance at most CBM Events
  • 50% off the Boardroom Summit
  • Access to Members-Only Virtual Events

Event Only

Registration
$ 1,295
  • Access to General Sessions & Case Studies
  • Peer Exchange
  • Reception & Meals

Group Discount Available:
Save more when you register as a group of 3 or more. Contact Liz Fallon at efallon@chiefexecutivegroup.com for more information.

Early Bird Pricing (Ends Oct 10)

$1,595

Discount Period 2 (Oct 11 to Nov 28)

$1,795

Discount Period 3 (Nov 28 to Feb 6)

$1,995

Final Price (Feb 6 to March 3)

$2,195

The Setting: Scottsdale, AZ 

The Directors Forum will be held at The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, a recently renovated property located in the heart of McCormick Ranch. The venue offers a quiet, focused environment for working sessions—alongside spaces to connect with peers over coffee, a meal or a moment outside between sessions.  

For directors balancing heavy responsibilities and nonstop decision-making, the setting is intentionally low stress. The resort includes:  

  • Updated guest rooms and meeting spaces following a $40M renovation  
  • Onsite dining options and casual lounge areas for informal networking 
  • Outdoor patios, walking paths, and quiet spaces to recharge between sessions  
  • Convenient access to downtown Scottsdale and a short drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport  

The venue is designed to support the kind of peer exchange and focused discussion the Forum is known for—without distraction, without noise, and without needing to leave the property.

Attendees can take advantage of our room block for a discounted rate of $399/night through February 11.

Sponsors

FTI Consulting
Global Data Innovation
Logo of Pearl Meyer
Sidley

Supporting Sponsors

Logo of Women in Boardroom

Interested in Sponsoring?






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