Meet the Director: Sheila Rege

Sheila Rege

My Home Base: Seattle area (eastern Washington)

Current Boards and Committees: Physicians Insurance, American College of Radiation Oncology, Benton Franklin County Medical Society, Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee, Alliance of Angels Life Science Committee, American Medical Association Health Policy Committee, Creative Destruction Laboratory Computational Health CEO Incubator Program at University of Washington Foster School of Business

First Appointment: Benton Franklin County Medical Society 

Professional Background: Clinical associate professor, Washington State University Tri-Cities (2017-Present); principal, Sound Investment Group LLC (1998-Present); founder, CEO, and cancer medical doctor, Northwest Cancer Clinic LLC (2008-Present)

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Professional Associations: National Association of Corporate Directors, American College of Corporate Directors, American College of Radiation Oncology, American Society for Radiation Oncology, American Medical Association

Best Boardroom Advice I Ever Got: “Noses in, fingers out,” and “Act with integrity at all times, and have the courage to ask probing questions within the boardroom circle of trust.”

Most Difficult Thing About Board Service: In well-established companies with seasoned CEOs, board governance is like insurance. It’s only when the company enters difficult moments that one recognizes the value of strong board dynamics, shared problem-solving and good governance. In most companies, board meetings enter a rhythm that may be routine, and the quality of a board is not critical until tough calls must be made and board decisions can shape, for good or ill, a company’s future. A CEO should be able to lean on an effective board to help with issues such as a serious regulatory or litigation threat, a safety crisis, an unrecognized market shift, a planned or unplanned management transition, or an activist or hostile takeover attempt. That’s when a diverse, committed board can bring invaluable insights and experiences to help choose the correct path. The most difficult thing about board service is forging a high-performance board culture and skills so as to be the CEO’s partner when needed, while recognizing oversight responsibilities.
  
Most Rewarding Aspect of Board Service: As someone with lifelong curiosity and a desire to give back, it is rewarding to see how investment of time and energy into board service helps organizations succeed. Because the duties of a board director are dramatically different than operating roles, a board member can look at the big picture with a more holistic lens. Engaging with fellow board members to create an effective board culture and trust with management is crucial. I truly enjoy working with diverse fellow board members and talented CEOs to ensure effective board decision-making, which is the essence of good governance.  
 
Book I Think Every Board Member Should Read: Great Companies Deserve Great Boards: A CEO’s Guide to the Boardroom, by Beverly Behan. Every board member needs to ensure their boards achieve their full potential and add value for the executive officers and shareholders.
 
My Personal Motto: To make a difference within companies where my values match the corporate culture. As a lifelong learner, I have enjoyed the high adrenaline rush as founder and CEO. I am now a student of board governance and enjoy being part of a “board team” where we use our collective experiences to help CEOs shape strategy to ensure long-term shareholder value by listening and spending time to understand the business and assess risk.  

About the Author(s)

Bill Hayes

Bill Hayes is the editor in chief of Private Company Director.


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