Board Chair Series Episode 2: Nicolas Darveau-Garneau
Join us for an exclusive session with Nicolas Darveau-Garneau ("Nick"), former Google’s Chief Evangelist and a strategic advisor to over 1,000 CEOs.
In his upcoming book, Be a Sequoia Not a Bonsai, Nick argues that many organizations unknowingly limit their own potential, managing for safety rather than scale. For Board Directors, recognizing the difference between a "bonsai strategy" and a "sequoia strategy" is critical to effective oversight.
In this candid conversation, David and Nick will explore:
- The 7 Growth Secrets: The specific traits that separate exponential organizations from the competition.
- Rethinking Risk: How boards can encourage management to take smart strategic risks without being reckless.
- The Director’s Role: Critical questions you should be asking management to ensure your corporate strategy isn't self-limiting.
Nicolas Darveau-Garneau is a veteran technology executive, author, and consultant. As Google’s Chief Evangelist, he has spent years analyzing the data and decision-making processes of the world's most successful companies. He specializes in helping boards and C-suites identify the invisible barriers to their own growth.
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Speaker Highlights
Why revenue is the wrong signal
Nick Darveau-Garneau relayed an observation from a former colleague who led Google Canada for nine years.
Books as a customer quality filter
Nick Darveau-Garneau uses a concept that materially changes how boards should think about customer strategy. He calls it profit density.
How Metrics Reshape Competitive Advantage
A recent conversation I had with Nick Darveau-Garneau included an example that illustrates how metrics can determine industry leadership.
Nick Darveau-Garneau
Mr. Nicolas Darveau-Garneau (“Nick”) is an AI and digital transformation expert with over 25 years of experience.
Nick was Google’s Chief Evangelist, where he worked with the C-suites of more than 800 of Google’s top customers to help them accelerate their digital transformation. Nick also worked as Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Coveo, a leading AI company.
Nick is on the Board of Directors of the TMX Group (TMX:X), iA Financial Corporation (TMX: IAG), and Alida.
Nick has been a technology entrepreneur, investor, and analyst since 1995. He was part of the founding team of MSn.com at Microsoft. He co-founded four Internet companies, selling three of them. Nick has also invested in 21 technology companies.
Mr. Darveau-Garneau graduated with a Bachelor's in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Our Hosts
David R. Beatty, C.M., O.B.E., F.ICD, CFA
One of the world’s most experienced corporate directors and educators, David has served as a Director on 40 boards in Canada, America, Mexico, Australia and England and been chairman of 9 public and 2 private companies.
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