Catherine O’connell Completes the Chair Ready PRogramme with CriticalEye

Catherine completed Criticaleye’s Chair Ready Programme, designed to inspire, empower and develop new and aspiring Chairs.

The Programme covers the dynamics of Chairing global Boards across different ownership structures, including Plcs, family-owned, private equity and the third sector.

It offers invaluable access to seasoned Chairs who share their insights and wealth of experiences on how to build high performance in the Boardroom.

Themes explored across the year (2025-2026) include:

• Succeeding as a First-time PE Chair

• The Chair and CEO Relationship

• Chairing Through Conflict and Crisis

• Creating a High-performing Board

• Defining a Strategic Board Agenda

• Driving a Purposeful Business

• How to Chair an Effective Board Meeting

• Succeeding as a First-time PLC Chair

• The Role of the Chair in M&A

• Securing Your First Chair Role

Five key takeaways:
1. Chair vs NED is a step change: from having a voice in the room to shaping how the room thinks, debates, balances voices, guiding judgement & decides
2. Global vs Japan board dynamics: from open challenge to consensus-building, and how the Chair–CEO relationship plays out in practice
3. PE vs listed boards: the pace, intensity, and accountability of the Chair on A PE board vs broader stakeholder balancing with and PLC, frankly was a masterclass in itself
4. Immediate impact: this has already changed how I contribute, ask questions, and support Chairs, the CEO and fellow board members
5. You think you are preparing for a Chair role on the horizon: in reality you are elevating how you operate right now.