Women on Boards
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Founders on Boards

Open to all Directors' Circle members | Discussion on boardroom dynamics in founder-led organisations

Date and Time
13 Nov 2025
09:00 - 10:00
Location
Virtual
Venue
Not Specified
Capacity
100
Pricing
Director’s Circle
Free
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Refunds for all our individual events are available if notice is given three business days prior by email or telephone, or one month prior to first session of our programmes. After this, a transfer to another event will be given. Cancellations on the same business day will not generally be eligible for a refund or transfer, however you may substitute someone to come in your place. In the case of exceptional circumstances let us know and we will consider a refund/transfer.

Founder-led organisations can be among the most dynamic and inspiring, environments but they can also be some of the most complex boards. The passion and vision of founders often drive extraordinary growth and innovation, but these same qualities can create unique governance challenges — from decision-making dynamics to succession planning and balancing professionalisation with entrepreneurial spirit.

This virtual session brings together experienced NEDs to explore the nuances of serving on founder-led boards. Through candid discussion and shared insights, we’ll consider:

  • How to build trust and credibility with a founder while maintaining independence.
  • Strategies for supporting founders through scaling, fundraising, and leadership transitions.
  • Navigating tensions between vision and governance, speed and control.
  • Lessons learned and how to influence from a non-executive position.

Whether you are currently serving on a founder-led board or considering such an appointment, this conversation will equip you with fresh perspectives and fascinating insight.  

Sally-Ann Hibberd will be leading this discussion. Sally-Ann is the Co-Chair of the Directors Circle Financial Services group and has had worked with a number of strong CEO’s, Chairs and founders.

This event is part of our Financial Services Circle series and will slant towards boards in that sector. However, we are also keen to draw more cross-cutting lessons from multiple sectors so have opened this session to all members of our Directors’ Circle


Chaired by – Sally Ann Hibberd

BDO lead –  Sasha Molodtsov

Chairs

Sally-Ann Hibberd

Sally-Ann has a background in financial services and technology. As well as being the Non-Executive Chair of The Clear Group she currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of IG Group Holdings plc where she chairs the Sustainability committee and a Non-Executive Director of Lowell Group where she chairs the Risk and Sustainability Committees. Sally-Ann has been a Non-Executive Director of Shawbrook Group plc, Equiniti Group plc, The Co-operative Bank plc, Loughborough University and NFU Mutual serving as Chair or a member for a number of committees including Risk, Audit, Nomination and Remuneration. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer of the International Division, and latterly as Group Operations and Technology Director of Willis Group, and has held a number of senior executive roles at LloydsTSB. Sally-Ann holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from Loughborough University and an MBA from Bayes Business School.

Suzanne Clark

Suzanne is an experienced Audit Committee chair and accomplished non-executive, who excels when challenging the status quo in complex, dynamic or highly regulated organisations. She currently sits as a Non-Executive Director at Recognise Bank, and as NED and Audit Committee Chair at The Exeter and HBL Bank UK. She brings an exceptional track record of guiding organisations through critical transformations and crisis (at the Bank of England in the financial crisis and at a large hospital during the pandemic). 

BDO Lead

Sasha Molodtsov, Partner, Financial Services at BDO

Sasha Molodtsov

Sasha is a Partner in Financial Services, leading the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, which sits within BDO’s Financial Service’s ESG and Regulatory Advisory practice. Sasha has recently returned
from secondment with the Bank of England. Sasha supports firms’ C Suite and Board decision makers to understand, monitor and report ESG related matters as they relate to regulation and industry expectations. She also leads BDO’s Financial Services’ Non-Executive Director’s (NEDs) community, which delivers timely technical, regulatory and thematic thought leadership to enable NEDs to successfully deliver their Director duties.
Sasha is a mentor with The 30% Club, The Prince’s Trust and Women in Banking and Finance, and co-leads the Diversity Project’s Ambassador programme.  Alongside her technical role at BDO, she is
also involved in BDO’s Diversity and Inclusion working groups and employee networks. She sits on BDO’s CEDAR (formerly BAME) Executive, LGBTQ+ network and co-leads the Financial Services’
Culture & Inclusion Group.