The Chair

Najia Belbal
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Welcome to The Chair, a podcast where I explore what good governance truly looks like through real conversations with the leaders shaping the future of business. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked across Europe, the UK, and the GCC, supporting high-growth startups, multinationals, and family-owned businesses. My mission has always been to redesign governance structures, align boards with strategic priorities, and help organizations secure the stakeholder confidence they need to grow and expand. Through The Chair, I take this mission further — sitting down with chairpersons, board members, executives, and experts to uncover : How boards make better strategic decisions What it takes to align governance with growth The evolving role of boards in a fast-changing world If you want to elevate your understanding of modern boardrooms, learn from inspiring leaders, and get insights that matter, this podcast is for you. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episodes

  1. How does culture shape leadership and decision-making in organisations? (with Marc Jacobs)

    08/10/2025

    How does culture shape leadership and decision-making in organisations? (with Marc Jacobs)

    In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Marc Jacobs, a governance expert with a deep background in intercultural management and organisational transformation. Together, we explore how organisational culture acts as an invisible force. Marc shares insights into the iceberg model of governance, the importance of cultural intelligence in global organisations, and why boards often acknowledge culture… but rarely act on it. A rich conversation about what truly drives organisational behaviour, and how to surface what lies beneath. I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence. TIMELINE 00:00 - Introduction 00:58 Adapting to Customer Work Styles 03:16 Holistic Governance and Culture Integration 07:02 Organizational Culture Measurement Tools 11:22 Cultural Differences in Decision-Making 16:02 Legal Trust: Civil vs Common Law 19:16 "Partnering Must-Haves Discussion" 21:23 Transitioning from Startup to Scale-Up 24:11 Embrace Diverse Mindsets Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    26 min
  2. Why should a non-profit be run like any business? (with Manon Loison, CEO & Founder of TLFI)

    09/09/2025

    Why should a non-profit be run like any business? (with Manon Loison, CEO & Founder of TLFI)

    In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Manon Loison to explore a question I care deeply about: why should non-profits be governed with the same strategic discipline as any business? Manon is the founder of The Luxembourg Foresight Institute and a board advisor across sectors. Together, we talked about how non-profits can build long-term resilience—not just through fundraising, but through diversified revenue models, strong governance, and data-driven impact. We discussed : – The parallels between business boards and non-profit boards – Why younger generations are essential to modern governance – How transparency builds trust with donors – The importance of legal accountability and impact measurement – What for-profit boards can learn from the social sector If you believe that purpose and performance should go hand in hand, this conversation is for you. I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence. TIMELINE 00:00 - Intro 01:07 - Non-Profit Strategy and Finance Alignment 05:57 - ISBL Law Update: Compliance Deadline Approaching 07:48 - "Governance Ensures Transparency & Structure" 11:36 - "Engagement and Impact Communication" 15:20 - Board's Role in Revenue Diversification 19:39 - Impact of Transparent Giving 23:05 - Ethics in Organizational Management 25:21 - Engaging Youth in Local Boards 28:09 - Board Member Commitment: Corporate vs. Nonprofit 31:10 - Connect Through Lunch or LinkedIn Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    32 min
  3. Boardroom Secrets to Scaling Startups: Mentors, Governance & Growth Strategy (with Genna Elvin Co-Founder @Tadaweb)

    26/08/2025

    Boardroom Secrets to Scaling Startups: Mentors, Governance & Growth Strategy (with Genna Elvin Co-Founder @Tadaweb)

    In this debut episode of The Chair, I sit down with Genna Elvin to discuss how startups can scale globally while building high-performing boards. Together, we explore : Crafting effective board strategies for high-growth companies The value of independent directors and how they shape better decisions Balancing board influence with founder freedom Overcoming remote governance challenges and connecting with the right mentors This episode is packed with actionable insights for founders, executives, and anyone passionate about startup governance and strategic growth. I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence. Reach out to me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/najia-belbal-ned/ TIMELINE 00:00 - Introduction 00:59 - From Law Aspiration to Global Impact 05:03 - Startup Expansion from Luxembourg 07:41 - Emergent Board Development Strategy 11:34 - Strategic Global Market Expansion Approach 14:59 - Balancing Board Influence and Freedom 19:31 - Navigating Remote Challenges and Change 21:52 - Connecting Founders with Experienced Mentors 25:50 - Value of Independent Directors 27:31 - Value of Independent Board Directors 31:10 - Choose Wisely: Elevate Your Board Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    32 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

Welcome to The Chair, a podcast where I explore what good governance truly looks like through real conversations with the leaders shaping the future of business. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked across Europe, the UK, and the GCC, supporting high-growth startups, multinationals, and family-owned businesses. My mission has always been to redesign governance structures, align boards with strategic priorities, and help organizations secure the stakeholder confidence they need to grow and expand. Through The Chair, I take this mission further — sitting down with chairpersons, board members, executives, and experts to uncover : How boards make better strategic decisions What it takes to align governance with growth The evolving role of boards in a fast-changing world If you want to elevate your understanding of modern boardrooms, learn from inspiring leaders, and get insights that matter, this podcast is for you. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Najia Belbal
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rayane Keddar
  • Show Website
    The Chair
  • Provider