Board Governance in 2026: AI Oversight, Activism, and Delaware’s Edge

About this episode

Larry Cunningham discusses the evolution of board governance and its significance in maintaining trust with shareholders and the public.

Board governance is central to how companies earn and maintain trust with shareholders and the public. Larry Cunningham, Presiding Director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, joins John F.W. Rogers, Secretary of the Board of Directors at Goldman Sachs, to discuss the evolution of board stewardship and its importance today. Cunningham discusses the Center’s 25th anniversary and the discovery of John L. Weinberg’s 1948 Princeton thesis on the status and functions of corporate directors. They explore enduring governance questions including shareholder focus versus broader corporate responsibilities, the value of discerning questions, and why one-size-fits-all governance checklists often miss what matters most. This episode was recorded on October 27, 2025. The opinions and views expressed herein are as of the date of publication, subject to change without notice, and may not necessarily reflect the institutional views of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates. The material provided is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation from any Goldman Sachs entity to take any particular…

People in this episode

Host: John F.W. Rogers

Guest: Larry Cunningham

Topics covered

• board governance
• corporate responsibility
• shareholder trust
• AI oversight
• activism
• Delaware corporate law

Keywords

• board governance
• shareholder focus
• corporate directors
• AI oversight
• activism
• Delaware

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, Goldman Sachs

Books & works: John L. Weinberg’s 1948 Princeton thesis

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