There are many different ways to run a board meeting, and it’s important to choose a style and approach that works best for you. It’s important to talk to other CEOs to learn what has worked best for them. It may also be useful for you to consult with the other directors on your board to understand their preferences. The frequency and structure of your board meetings will need to evolve as the business grows and becomes more complicated, more formal, and harder to manage. This deck is for entrepreneurs as part of a series of observations and tips on building an effective board.

1. Choosing the Right
Approach for Running a
Great Board Meeting
by Brady Bohrmann,
Partner at Avalon Ventures

2. About Brady Bohrmann
Brady has over 20 years of experience as a venture capitalist and
operating executive in both information technology and biotech. His
focus is on early-stage investments and backing talented entrepreneurs.
Throughout his venture capital career, he has worked with over 75
companies. He currently is a director or observer of many Avalon
portfolio companies, including Backupify, Chart.io, Cloudant, Inc., Conjur,
Indix, Juliet Marine Systems, Kaltura, Kinvey, Memrise, Nanigans, Pingup,
Redbooth, Selectable Media, Simulmedia, The Happy Cloud, Twinstrata
and Vook.

3. This topic is the last of a four-part
series by Avalon Ventures on
how to build an effective board.

4. How to Run a Great Board
Meeting
There are many ways to run a great board meeting.
Choose the approach that is right for you.

5. Finding the right approach
• Talk to other CEOs: see what’s worked for them.
• Consult with your board: find out their preferences.
• Remain fluid: the frequency and structure of your
board meetings will need to evolve as the business
grows.

6. .
Here are 6 tips
to get you started on
the right track.

7. 1. Don’t let the inmates run
the prison.
• As CEO, you have the responsibility AND the authority
to run the company.
• Your directors will counsel you and sometimes strongly
disagree with you, but can’t make decisions for you.
• As the leader, you must fight for what you believe in.
• Many times we’ve offered different points of view to a
CEO and ultimately accepted and supported their
decision.

8. 2. Corporation vs. Kingdom
• It is very difficult to make the adjustment
from sole decision maker to being held
accountable by your board.
• There are many highly successful
founders who have maintained leadership
positions in their companies (e.g. Jeff
Bezos, Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg).
• Remember and observe the fiduciary
obligations you have to your stakeholders
and always keep in mind the company is
bigger than any one person, including
you.

9. 3. Keep it simple
• You can’t cover everything in one meeting.
• Provide your board with a well-prepared board
package that covers all the information it needs.
• Pick one or two key topics and plan to devote most
of the meeting to discussing them.

10. 4. Keep it short
• Keep the meeting no longer than two or three
hours.
• Keep it sharp and to the point. A high-intensity
and focused exchange of ideas is far more
valuable than a low-tempo, meandering discussion.
• Clear the formal board business first, and be
prepared to take important (but not immediately
vital) discussions offline.

11. 5. Solo artist vs. frontman
• Some CEOs play it close to the vest and tightly
control the directors’ access to management.
• Others encourage direct relationships between
directors and key members of the team.
• Either approach can work.
• We prefer to get to know the team inside and
outside of board meetings; this gives us a better
feel for the company and the people managing it.

12. 6. Use your attorney
• Ask your corporate attorney to attend all board
meetings to take notes and prepare the minutes.
• Keeping accurate and up-to-date records is a
good habit and will pay dividends down the road
when you sell the company or take it public.
• Poor record keeping slow downs or jeopardizes the
sale of a company, and buyers will use it as a
way to chip away at price.

13. Learn more!
Visit http://avalon-ventures.com/blog for more actionable advice
on early stage startups, VC funding and other entrepreneurial tips.