Private Company Director‘s Directors to Watch 2024 highlights 24 significant and diverse directors who have contributed to and will continue to expand ongoing dialogue on board best practices and corporate governance excellence.
Karen K. Mildenhall
KM Leadership Solutions LLC
Karen K. Mildenhall is a recognized expert in strategic turnaround, operations, growth, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, and business finance. Before founding KM Leadership Solutions, Mildenhall was executive VP at Aon and managing director at Marsh.
With over three decades of experience serving private and public companies both global and domestic, Mildenhall helps clients in more than a dozen industries simplify complex strategic transformations. Her work includes advising over 100 private, public and nonprofit boards.
Mildenhall’s board service spans 20 years as chair, vice chair and leadership of key committees, including nom/gov, audit/risk and CEO evaluation/selection for the American Red Cross, Ellevate Network and Act One. She is known for her integrity, innovation and decisive action.
Avoiding change creates undesirable risks: “Today’s rapidly changing business environment requires future-forward directors who leave hubris at the door and show curiosity, versatility and integrity. High-impact governance necessitates directors who constantly learn, prepare, ask relevant probing questions, listen, reflect on their understanding and apply informed strategic thinking. Risk accompanies change and can be a powerful leverage point when leaders understand, manage and embrace informed risk-taking. Avoiding change creates undesirable risks. When directors apply rigor to their candid and curious exploration, then weigh and strategically integrate risk, they position their companies to shape the nature and impact of change rather than merely respond to it.”