Thursday, November 19, 2026
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
In a rapidly shifting landscape shaped by digital transformation, regulatory change, and rising stakeholder expectations, boards are being asked to govern with both greater foresight and greater agility. Yet when the future feels uncertain, the instinct is often to tighten control, avoid risk, and rely on familiar approaches. In this provocative closing keynote, Sheri Jacobs challenges the assumption that innovation requires unlimited freedom. Instead, she reveals how the right boundaries can give directors and leadership teams the clarity, confidence, and focus they need to explore new possibilities and make smarter strategic decisions.
Drawing on compelling research, real-world examples, and lessons from her book The Unexpected Power of Boundaries, Sheri will show how boards can distinguish between constraints that protect an organization and rules that quietly hold it back. A central idea is the shift from discussing risk tolerance, which focuses on how much uncertainty leaders are willing to accept, to defining risk capacity, which clarifies how much risk the organization can responsibly absorb. Attendees will discover how clear boundaries around risk capacity, decision-making authority, and measures of success can strengthen shared stewardship while creating room for fresh thinking, thoughtful experimentation, and meaningful innovation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
