The Corporate Director Podcast

Episode: The Value of International Expertise in the Boardroom
Date: November 26, 2025
Guest: Maria Garcia Nielsen (Board member, Mibanco, Lantana Group, Base Protection Group; Advisory board, Grupo Sans; Founder, Wharton Alumni for Boards)
Hosts: Dottie Schindlinger & Megan Day

Overview

This episode dives into the critical role that international expertise plays in effective board governance. Guest Maria Garcia Nielsen shares her broad cross-regional boardroom experience, highlighting differences and commonalities in governance approaches across the US, Europe, and Latin America. The conversation explores current hot topics for directors—geopolitics, risk, inclusion, ESG, and technology—offering tangible insights into how global perspectives enrich boardroom discussions and decision-making in an increasingly complex environment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Maria Garcia Nielsen’s International Board Journey

[04:47 – 07:28]

• Maria is Peruvian by birth, educated in the US, and spent 35+ years in Europe.
• Her career includes consulting at McKinsey, founding a tech business in the 1990s (acquired by Amazon), and serving as CEO at Office Depot Spain/Portugal.
• Board experience spans a major Latin American bank (MiBanco), European family businesses, and global non-profit work.
• Value in bridging ideas, technologies, and governance cultures across continents.

"I've lived through digital transformation in many of my career roles... My value often was being that bridge between ideas and technologies."
— Maria Garcia Nielsen [06:00]

2. What’s Driving International Board Conversations?

[07:28 – 10:27]

• Sector-specific focus trumps all: Strategy, operations, and industry nuances drive deep, ongoing board dialogue.
• Common global themes: Geopolitics, AI, tariffs, and economic tensions are discussed widely, but are always grounded in localized, sector-specific impacts.

"The most important conversation is always about the sector and the business... it's very deep into the sector."
— Maria Garcia Nielsen [08:40]

3. The Rising Weight of Geopolitics & Risk

[10:27 – 14:00]

• Geopolitics is now central to board agendas—was not the case before COVID and recent international crises.
• Risks like supply chain disruption and capital allocation are now evaluated with scenario planning, moving from theoretical debate to practical action.
• Emphasis on actionable board-level responses to region-specific instability.

"Geopolitics wasn't in the agenda to the level that it is today... now, it's something to consider at every board."
— Maria Garcia Nielsen [10:35]

"Let's get a bit more actionable information on the board agenda... maybe not in the boardroom, but at least in the audit committee, let’s do a bit of scenario planning."
— Maria Garcia Nielsen [12:10]

4. How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Varies Across Regions

[14:07 – 18:35]

• DEI discussions have changed in the US (less focus in the last year), but maintain momentum in Europe and Latin America, especially regarding gender diversity.
• DEI emphasis is shaped by regional context: Gender is prioritized in Europe and Latin America; race and ethnicity are less central than in the US.
• Global American corporations' stances impact local practices abroad.

"Equity and diversity mean so many things... the focus in both Latin America and Europe was very centered just on gender."
— Maria Garcia Nielsen [15:18]

5. The Boardroom Value of International Perspective

[18:35 – 21:13]

• Maria’s role often includes educating boards about region-specific realities, helping create bridges and bring humility to local/global differences.
• Diverse viewpoints help companies avoid rigid "one playbook" thinking, improving agility and recognition of local competitive dynamics.

"That I've seen different patterns, had to adapt, had to reconcile those realities... I hope to turn it into something that adds value."
— Maria Garcia Nielsen [20:00]

6. Regional Differences in Technology Adoption & Transformation

[21:13 – 24:57]

• The US generally leads in tech adoption, but Asia's influence is now mounting.
• Although global players standardize many discussions (cloud, ERPs), adoption and readiness for transformation depend on the local context.
• Aspirations in tech outpace realities everywhere.

"It's not always the same playbook. You have to be observant... the aspiration is way, way ahead of the reality of adoption."
— Maria Garcia Nielsen [23:42]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Boardroom Complexity:
  “Each board is just... the context, the moment of the life cycle of the company... informs a lot of the discussion.”
  — Maria Garcia Nielsen [08:12]

• On Recent Boardroom Shifts:
  “Geopolitics... now, at least where I've come to be a voice in the boardroom, it has always been [on the agenda].”
  — Maria Garcia Nielsen [10:51]

• On DEI’s Regional Nuances:
  “You don't have the same conversational themes around race or being a Latin person in Spain... But still, you have some underground issues.”
  — Maria Garcia Nielsen [16:00]

• On the Value of Diverse Perspectives:
  “It's all about diversity... diverse thought, leadership, if you can include those voices in your approach to problem solving.”
  — Maria Garcia Nielsen [20:53]

• On Technology’s Universal Challenge:
  “The aspiration is way, way ahead of the reality of adoption... It's not about the possibilities that technology allows, it's about how ready you are.”
  — Maria Garcia Nielsen [23:45]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:47] Maria’s international executive and board background
• [08:07] Current boardroom topics: sector vs. regional issues
• [10:27] Geopolitics and economic risk: how boards’ focus has shifted
• [14:07] DEI: ongoing relevance and regional distinction
• [18:35] Why international perspectives are essential at the board level
• [21:13] Differences in technology adoption across regions
• [24:57] Maria’s prediction for the next decade's boardroom evolution

Rapid Fire: Maria’s Reflections

[25:25 – 29:20]

• Biggest boardroom change in 10 years?
  • AI and agents will handle “grunt work,” but human deliberation and leadership will remain vital.
  • “You still need deliberation... the human experience part that adds value.” [25:55]
• Recent resource on governance?
  • The Politics of Chimpanzees—time-tested lessons on power and board dynamics [26:55]
  • Conversaciones en la Catedral (Mario Vargas Llosa)—insight into understanding local context and culture [28:21]
• Current passion project?
  • Flamenco dancing and expanding Wharton Alumni for Boards—a now 1,500+ strong director network [28:41]

Closing Thoughts

The episode underscores:

• International experience sharply enhances a board’s ability to anticipate, contextualize, and act on emerging risks and opportunities.
• Boards benefit from diverse voices—particularly those grounded in cross-cultural and sector expertise.
• DEI and ESG priorities shift with regional norms, politics, and business realities.
• Technology's promise is universal, but effective adoption always rests on local readiness.

Final Word:
"Because it's one planet Earth... if you are operating in those parts of the world, you have to comply [with local norms and laws]... and you have to make sure you are paying attention to what the standards are elsewhere."
— Dottie Schindlinger [30:16]

Suggested Reading (from Maria)

• The Politics of Chimpanzees
• Conversaciones en la Catedral by Mario Vargas Llosa

For further resources and insights, visit diligent.com/resources.