The practical roadmap for modern boards.
Distilling five decades of board experience into a clear, usable framework for directors, this guide explores how boards can strengthen oversight, sharpen judgment, and create long-term value by mastering the fundamentals of what I call the compass points of good governance: purpose, people, process, performance, and perspective.
Written for both seasoned and aspiring directors, it blends insight, actionable examples, and hard-earned realism. To anyone who wants to make board service meaningful and effective, this book is for you.
- Foundational principals of good governance
- Understanding of the 3 lines of sight
- Up-to-date practices for directors and chairs
- Detailed breakdown of the board director’s compass
- And much more…
I love the approach at the beginning of the book around David’s past and his sailing experience along with using the compass concept. It is very relevant to the governance journey that we all take and I very much appreciated that approach
President/CEO, CWB Group
I enjoyed reading the guide and believe it will be a useful tool for boards of directors.
Governance Expert, Conestoga College
This is going to be must read and reference for any new board member, and Chair. Many seasoned board members will find value in the practical guidelines David has put forward in The Board Director's Compass.
Board Member | Founder & CEO
What strikes me most in this book is the consistency and clarity of his thinking about the core function of boards. The release of this book feels like the culmination of a lifetime of service to the governance community.
Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director, Watson Properties
About the author
David R. Beatty is one of Canada’s leading voices on corporate governance, with a career spanning five decades in boardrooms around the world.
He has chaired and served on more than 40 public and private company boards.
His work focuses on improving board effectiveness through clearer judgment, structure, and accountability.
