Host: TK Kerstetter
Guest: Priya Cherian Huskins, Board Member, Realty Income Corp.
There is an emerging facet to board diversity, and that is age diversity. Among today’s boards, we find that there are a lot of misconceptions about what a younger generation can contribute. In this episode, we sit down with a particularly impressive next-gen director to understand the ways in which her generation is already contributing in the boardroom – and to discuss how boards should feel about recruiting younger directors.
In this episode, host TK Kerstetter sits down with Priya Cherian Huskins, board member with Realty Income Corp., to discuss why the perspectives and experiences of next-gen directors are so valuable in today’s turbulent and technology-fueled business landscape. Joining the board in her mid-30s, Huskins has built an impressive board resume: she previously chaired the Nom/Gov Committee, now chairs the Compensation Committee, and is a member of her board’s Technology Risk Committee. On the heels of the Next Gen Board Leaders Mini-Summit, Huskins explains what it was like to meet other Next Gen directors and to discuss critical governance topics through a generational lens.
"[For] boards that are thinking about the deliberate work they have to do around succession planning, being in this room further underscores the great amount of talent there is among a mid-career cohort…" said Huskins. "[They’re] very engaged in their career activities, and they are learners. As a generation, this is a “lifelong-learning” kind of cohort. That’s great for board service… It’s a group of people that can bring a set of experiences that are useful to boards, but at the same time, [they’re] very engaged, hardworking, interested in learning. "
Huskins gives additional insight into her board’s decision to form a Technology Risk Committee and explains the role the committee serves for Realty Income Corporation. Towards the end of the episode, Kerstetter also asks Huskins to put on her compensation chair hat: “If you could send a message to the Trump team on behalf of all compensation committees, what suggestions would you make?”
