Over the last decade, dramatic changes in how corporations are led have radically transformed the board and its role in business. No longer a safe haven for the walnut-paneled aristocracy, today's board is an autonomous power center for corporate leadership. How did this happen, and why? More importantly, how will tomorrow's boards consolidate their newfound strength to tackle fresh challenges in the years ahead? 21st Century Corporate Board addresses these critical questions and more, offering both a masterful analysis of the forces driving corporate governance and a bold new blueprint of the structures, tools, and knowledge demanded for the effective boards of the future. You'll find detailed coverage of all of the key issues in board makeup, pay, and training - from strategic board recruitment and "pay for performance" to director certification and high-tech board meetings. The book also helps you make sense of the revolution in board operations and organization, including cooperation with management, liability and compliance concerns, and the structure and use of special committees. In the modern corporate board, directors must think like owners, act like managers, and retain their independence. With its hard-hitting, market-based approach and razor-sharp insights, this book vividly illustrates the contradictions of allegiance and focus demanded by the new corporate dynamic - giving you a crucial jump on the action agenda of the 21st Century Corporate Board.