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Boardroom Dynamics: The Psychology of Governance
20 October 2026 9:00am - 1:00pm
Behavioural dynamics can shape high-stake boardroom discussions - including ESG, cyber risk, and business innovation (such as AI).
Join Social and Organisational Psychology, Dr Wieke Scholten in this new workshop. This workshop will teach participants how behavioural dynamics can impact performance from both a board and organisational perspective. Wieke will guide participants through behavioural insights, which will help enhance strategic oversight and organisational performance.
This workshop is designed for:
- Executive and Non Executive Directors
- Aspiring Board Members
- Senior Executives and C-Suite Leaders
- Company Secretaries and Governance Professionals
- Advisors to Boards
- Chairs of Committees
- Diversity and Inclusion Champions
- Regulators and Policy Makers
- Academics and Researchers in Governance or Organisational Psychology
This workshop is ideal for Directors who currently sit on a Board.
Unlock the power of behavioural insight to drive boardroom effectiveness and strategic impact.
Join this workshop to transform how you lead, influence, and govern through a deeper understanding of boardroom dynamics.
Why Should I Book this Workshop?
- Identify and understand behavioural patterns that impact strategy and outcomes.
- Assess how to describe and implement the three core steps of behavioural management: analyse, change, and learn.
- Understand how to collect and use behavioural data to improve organisational governance and oversight.
- Design and apply behavioural management strategies to lead behavioural change at board and organisational level.
- Reflect on real boardroom challenges and learn from peer experiences.
- Turn behavioural insights into board-level actions to improve governance frameworks.
- Use influence strategies to shape behavioural patterns and norms that support long-term success.
What people are saying about this workshop
“I expected to learn about behaviour and different personality types, and I came away with a genuine insight into the softer side of why people behave as they do. The small group format really helped, we had proper peer exchange, and in the breakouts, we could talk through real situations with other directors (many of them Chairs). Wieke brought practical, director-relevant context alongside solid frameworks.
I've already used what we covered in work and on client calls to get to the bottom of an issue, not just what was on the agenda. It's a no-regrets workshop if you want to better read the board table and be more effective in the moment (or know when to take it offline).
Neil Redmond, Chair and Director
“As a Chair, I booked the Boardroom Dynamics workshop because I wanted to educate myself and be more effective in that role. The workshop was very relevant to where I am right now, which meant I could give it my full attention. I particularly valued the case studies and the practical nature of the examples. Talking through real scenarios with peers in the breakout sessions brought the issues to life and made the learning feel immediately applicable.
What this workshop helped me appreciate is that, at board level and in leadership roles, how closely culture is tied to progress. The way we do things at board level has a direct impact on outcomes. People may only attend this kind of workshop when there's a problem to fix. In reality, it's valuable at any stage. This workshop is for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of what board culture really is, and how leadership can shape it."
Michael Laffan, Director
Dr Wieke Scholten
Social and Organisational Psychologist
Dr Wieke Scholten is a social and organisational psychologist with 20 years of experience in behavioural analysis in organisations, of which 12 years in financial services. Her PhD in social psychology focused on preventing conduct issues by revealing team climate perspectives in trading and sales businesses. Previously she has been Head of Audit for Behavioural Risk at NatWest group (based in London) where she created and headed up a global behavioural risk assessment team.
Wieke is a former Senior Supervisor of Behaviour & Culture at DNB – the Dutch Central Bank and prudential regulator and was one of the first psychologists hired by the Central Bank to build this supervisory expertise. As a supervisor, she conducted and led several behavioural supervisory assessments of Executive Committees and Boards.
She is an author of various publications on behavioural risk management and has lectured on cultural change and ethical behaviour for the Institute of Banking since 2018 and is founder of the behavioural risk expertise practice BR Insights BV / Ltd.
Q1. What is the Boardroom Dynamics: The Psychology of Governance workshop about?
This workshop explores how behavioural dynamics influence boardroom effectiveness, strategic oversight, and governance. It focuses on the psychology of decision-making, leadership, and group behaviour in high-stakes board enviornments.
Q2. What topics are covered in this workshop?
Key topics include:
- Identify behavioural patterns that impact board strategy and outcomes.
- Apply the three core steps of behavioural management: analyse, change, and learn.
- Use behavioural data to improve governance and oversight.
- Design behavioural strategies to lead change at board and organisational levels.
- Reflect on real boardroom challenges and peer experiences.
- Use influence strategies to shape boardroom norms and culture.
Q3. Who is the faculty lead for this workshop?
The workshop is led by Dr Wieke Scholten, a social and organisational psychologist with over 20 years experience in behavioural analysis. She has held senior roles at NatWest Group and the the Dutch Central Bank.
Q4. When and where is this workshop taking place?
The workshop will take place on Tuesday, 20th October 2026 from 9:00am to 1:00pm. It is an online workshop and will be facilitated over Zoom.
Q5. What is the cost of this workshop?
The price of this workshop ranges from €385 - €480, depending on IoD Ireland membership status.
6. Is this workshop right for me?
This workshop is ideal for directors, board members and governance professionals who are looking to enhance boardroom effectiveness through behavioural insight.
7. I'd like to learn more about this workshop. Who can I speak to?
Reach out to our Learning and Education Manager, Gillian Roddie if you'd like to learn more about the Embedding Sustainability Into Strategy workshop. Contact her by emailing [email protected] or calling us at 01 411 0010.
Is this eligible for CPD?
Dimension covered: Psychology of the Boardroom
Eligible hours: 3.5 hours of Chartered Director CPD
This session may be eligible for other professional body CPD. Check with your relevant professional body. All participants will receive a certificate of completion based on full attendance.
What is the cost?
IoD members - €385
Non-members - €480
Time and location
This workshop is online via Zoom from 9:00 AM to 1:00PM on Tuesday, 20th October 2026.
Group bookings
Contact the IoD Ireland Learning and Education team on [email protected] or phone +353 1 411 0010.
Cancellation and refund policy
Places are confirmed upon full payment. Cancellations with a full refund are accepted in writing to [email protected] until Tuesday, 13th October 2026. After this date, no refunds are possible, and all fees are forfeited for cancellations or non-attendance. Please note this live and interactive series requires attendance at each session. Unfortunately, recordings will not be available as part of post-session materials.
Want to connect with fellow workshop participants?
All workshop attendees will receive a list of all other workshop participants in advance of the session. This will include name, job title and organisation. If you have any queries around this please contact the Learning and Education Team.
For GDPR reasons, we cannot provide contact details on the attendee list.
Questions?
Reach out to Gillian, our Learning and Education Manager, if you would like more information about our upcoming workshops by emailing [email protected] or calling +353 1 411 0010.
