The Chair https://podcast.ausha.co/the-chair Welcome to The Chair, a podcast where I explore what good governance truly looks like through real conversations with the leaders shaping the future of business. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked across Europe, the UK, and the GCC, supporting high-growth startups, multinationals, and family-owned businesses. My mission has always been to redesign governance structures, align boards with strategic priorities, and help organizations secure the stakeholder confidence they need to grow and expand. Through The Chair, I take this mission further — sitting down with chairpersons, board members, executives, and experts to uncover : How boards make better strategic decisions What it takes to align governance with growth The evolving role of boards in a fast-changing world If you want to elevate your understanding of modern boardrooms, learn from inspiring leaders, and get insights that matter, this podcast is for you. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information. en Rayane Keddar Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:42:12 +0000 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:42:12 +0000 feeds@ausha.co (Ausha) Ausha (https://www.ausha.co) fr Najia Belbal Rayane Keddar rayane.keddar.pro@gmail.com Welcome to The Chair, a podcast where I explore what good governance truly looks like through real conversations with the leaders shaping the future of business. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked across Europe, the UK, and the GCC, supporting high-growth startups, multinationals, and family-owned businesses. My mission has always been to redesign governance structures, align boards with strategic priorities, and help organizations secure the stakeholder confidence they need to grow and expand. Through The Chair, I take this mission further — sitting down with chairpersons, board members, executives, and experts to uncover : How boards make better strategic decisions What it takes to align governance with growth The evolving role of boards in a fast-changing world If you want to elevate your understanding of modern boardrooms, learn from inspiring leaders, and get insights that matter, this podcast is for you. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information. false no no yes episodic Najia Belbal rayane.keddar.pro@gmail.com Welcome to The Chair, a podcast where I explore what good governance truly looks like through real conversations with the leaders shaping the future of business. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked across Europe, the UK, and the GCC, supporting high-growth startups, multinationals, and family-owned businesses. My mission has always been to redesign governance structures, align boards with strategic priorities, and help organizations secure the stakeholder confidence they need to grow and expand. Through The Chair, I take this mission further — sitting down with chairpersons, board members, executives, and experts to uncover : How boards make better strategic decisions What it takes to align governance with growth The evolving role of boards in a fast-changing world If you want to elevate your understanding of modern boardrooms, learn from inspiring leaders, and get insights that matter, this podcast is for you. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information. false Support us! Business https://image.ausha.co/I5srmdAGdx1p9GQL03xyaz8brsRYmoqZuW81HSVL_1400x1400.jpeg?t=1756144770 The Chair https://podcast.ausha.co/the-chair How does culture shape leadership and decision-making in organisations? (with Marc Jacobs) 74d909f31915b023bc13081eb3a1d91197f6f4eb In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Marc Jacobs, a governance expert with a deep background in intercultural management and organisational transformation.


Together, we explore how organisational culture acts as an invisible force.

Marc shares insights into the iceberg model of governance, the importance of cultural intelligence in global organisations, and why boards often acknowledge culture… but rarely act on it.


A rich conversation about what truly drives organisational behaviour, and how to surface what lies beneath.


I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory.

I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence.


TIMELINE

00:00 - Introduction

00:58 Adapting to Customer Work Styles

03:16 Holistic Governance and Culture Integration

07:02 Organizational Culture Measurement Tools

11:22 Cultural Differences in Decision-Making

16:02 Legal Trust: Civil vs Common Law

19:16 "Partnering Must-Haves Discussion"

21:23 Transitioning from Startup to Scale-Up

24:11 Embrace Diverse Mindsets


Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

]]> In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Marc Jacobs, a governance expert with a deep background in intercultural management and organisational transformation.


Together, we explore how organisational culture acts as an invisible force.

Marc shares insights into the iceberg model of governance, the importance of cultural intelligence in global organisations, and why boards often acknowledge culture… but rarely act on it.


A rich conversation about what truly drives organisational behaviour, and how to surface what lies beneath.


I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory.

I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence.


TIMELINE

00:00 - Introduction

00:58 Adapting to Customer Work Styles

03:16 Holistic Governance and Culture Integration

07:02 Organizational Culture Measurement Tools

11:22 Cultural Differences in Decision-Making

16:02 Legal Trust: Civil vs Common Law

19:16 "Partnering Must-Haves Discussion"

21:23 Transitioning from Startup to Scale-Up

24:11 Embrace Diverse Mindsets


Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

]]> Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:30:00 +0000 https://podcast.ausha.co/the-chair/the-chair-ep3-marc-jacobs Najia Belbal false Gouvernance,board member 26:04 full In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Marc Jacobs, a governance expert with a deep background in intercultural management and organisational transformation. Together, we explore how organisational culture acts as an invisible force. Marc... Najia Belbal false Why should a non-profit be run like any business? (with Manon Loison, CEO & Founder of TLFI) 82de891a44820ac9dfa2fff6f9b0c1a4ab0b69e6 In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Manon Loison to explore a question I care deeply about: why should non-profits be governed with the same strategic discipline as any business?


Manon is the founder of The Luxembourg Foresight Institute and a board advisor across sectors.

Together, we talked about how non-profits can build long-term resilience—not just through fundraising, but through diversified revenue models, strong governance, and data-driven impact.


We discussed :

– The parallels between business boards and non-profit boards

– Why younger generations are essential to modern governance

– How transparency builds trust with donors

– The importance of legal accountability and impact measurement

– What for-profit boards can learn from the social sector


If you believe that purpose and performance should go hand in hand, this conversation is for you.


I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory.

I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence.



TIMELINE

00:00 - Intro

01:07 - Non-Profit Strategy and Finance Alignment

05:57 - ISBL Law Update: Compliance Deadline Approaching

07:48 - "Governance Ensures Transparency & Structure"

11:36 - "Engagement and Impact Communication"

15:20 - Board's Role in Revenue Diversification

19:39 - Impact of Transparent Giving

23:05 - Ethics in Organizational Management

25:21 - Engaging Youth in Local Boards

28:09 - Board Member Commitment: Corporate vs. Nonprofit

31:10 - Connect Through Lunch or LinkedIn


Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

]]> In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Manon Loison to explore a question I care deeply about: why should non-profits be governed with the same strategic discipline as any business?


Manon is the founder of The Luxembourg Foresight Institute and a board advisor across sectors.

Together, we talked about how non-profits can build long-term resilience—not just through fundraising, but through diversified revenue models, strong governance, and data-driven impact.


We discussed :

– The parallels between business boards and non-profit boards

– Why younger generations are essential to modern governance

– How transparency builds trust with donors

– The importance of legal accountability and impact measurement

– What for-profit boards can learn from the social sector


If you believe that purpose and performance should go hand in hand, this conversation is for you.


I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory.

I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence.



TIMELINE

00:00 - Intro

01:07 - Non-Profit Strategy and Finance Alignment

05:57 - ISBL Law Update: Compliance Deadline Approaching

07:48 - "Governance Ensures Transparency & Structure"

11:36 - "Engagement and Impact Communication"

15:20 - Board's Role in Revenue Diversification

19:39 - Impact of Transparent Giving

23:05 - Ethics in Organizational Management

25:21 - Engaging Youth in Local Boards

28:09 - Board Member Commitment: Corporate vs. Nonprofit

31:10 - Connect Through Lunch or LinkedIn


Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

]]> Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://podcast.ausha.co/the-chair/why-should-a-non-profit-be-run-like-any-business-with-manon-loison-ceo-founder-of-tlfi Najia Belbal false Gouvernance,board member 31:54 full In this episode of The Chair, I sat down with Manon Loison to explore a question I care deeply about: why should non-profits be governed with the same strategic discipline as any business? Manon is the founder of The Luxembourg Foresight Institute... Najia Belbal false Boardroom Secrets to Scaling Startups: Mentors, Governance & Growth Strategy (with Genna Elvin Co-Founder @Tadaweb) 2a26bddc741f8a59181799eacfeb806fe85ff1a8 In this debut episode of The Chair, I sit down with Genna Elvin to discuss how startups can scale globally while building high-performing boards.


Together, we explore :

  • Crafting effective board strategies for high-growth companies

  • The value of independent directors and how they shape better decisions

  • Balancing board influence with founder freedom

  • Overcoming remote governance challenges and connecting with the right mentors


This episode is packed with actionable insights for founders, executives, and anyone passionate about startup governance and strategic growth.


I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence.

Reach out to me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/najia-belbal-ned/


TIMELINE

00:00 - Introduction

00:59 - From Law Aspiration to Global Impact

05:03 - Startup Expansion from Luxembourg

07:41 - Emergent Board Development Strategy

11:34 - Strategic Global Market Expansion Approach

14:59 - Balancing Board Influence and Freedom

19:31 - Navigating Remote Challenges and Change

21:52 - Connecting Founders with Experienced Mentors

25:50 - Value of Independent Directors

27:31 - Value of Independent Board Directors

31:10 - Choose Wisely: Elevate Your Board


Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

]]> In this debut episode of The Chair, I sit down with Genna Elvin to discuss how startups can scale globally while building high-performing boards.


Together, we explore :

  • Crafting effective board strategies for high-growth companies

  • The value of independent directors and how they shape better decisions

  • Balancing board influence with founder freedom

  • Overcoming remote governance challenges and connecting with the right mentors


This episode is packed with actionable insights for founders, executives, and anyone passionate about startup governance and strategic growth.


I’m Najia, founder of Colibri Advisory. I help boards and executive teams turn strategy into action by building governance frameworks that drive growth, empower leaders, and inspire confidence.

Reach out to me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/najia-belbal-ned/


TIMELINE

00:00 - Introduction

00:59 - From Law Aspiration to Global Impact

05:03 - Startup Expansion from Luxembourg

07:41 - Emergent Board Development Strategy

11:34 - Strategic Global Market Expansion Approach

14:59 - Balancing Board Influence and Freedom

19:31 - Navigating Remote Challenges and Change

21:52 - Connecting Founders with Experienced Mentors

25:50 - Value of Independent Directors

27:31 - Value of Independent Board Directors

31:10 - Choose Wisely: Elevate Your Board


Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://podcast.ausha.co/the-chair/the-chair-ep1-genna-elvin Najia Belbal false Gouvernance,board member 31:57 full In this debut episode of The Chair, I sit down with Genna Elvin to discuss how startups can scale globally while building high-performing boards. Together, we explore : Crafting effective board strategies for high-growth companies The value of indep... Najia Belbal false