161. Maria Molland: Balancing stability with scaling: Boardroom lessons from Thinx’s exit to Kimberly-Clark

Enter the Boardroom with Nurole

Enter the Boardroom with Nurole
161. Maria Molland: Balancing stability with scaling: Boardroom lessons from Thinx’s exit to Kimberly-Clark
Feb 11, 2026 Season 1 Episode 161

Maria Molland is former CEO and Board Member of Thinx, the feminine hygiene company, acquired by Kimberly Clark. She is an Executive in Residence at Frazier Healthcare Partners. Tune in to hear Maria's thoughts on: Her first days as CEO (01:15) Lessons from her 90-day plan as a new CEO (05:37) Making the case for HR investment early on (10:54) Where the board misallocated investment when scaling (16:35) A framework for deciding where to invest (20:09) The trade-offs of taking capital from a strategic partner (23:08) The benefits of having someone with the CEO’s ear (28:54) What surprised Maria most on the path to exit (30:58)⚡The Lightning Round ⚡(34:18)


Host: Oliver Cummings

Producer: Will Felton

Editor: Penelope Coumau

Music: Kate Mac

Audio: Nick Kold

Email: podcast@nurole.com

Web: https://www.nurole.com/nurole-podcast-enter-the-boardroom

Episode Artwork 161. Maria Molland: Balancing stability with scaling: Boardroom lessons from Thinx’s exit to Kimberly-Clark 39:08 Episode Artwork 160. Lubomila Jordanova: What founders don’t say out loud in the boardroom: vulnerability, partnerships and key connections 43:25 Episode Artwork 159: Sir Ian Cheshire: How to be a high-impact board member (2/2) 45:54 Episode Artwork 158: Sir Ian Cheshire: How to get the most value from your board as a CEO (1/2) 39:37 Episode Artwork 157. Professor Malcolm Press CBE: University boards - lessons from the Vice Chancellor of Manchester Met and President of Universities UK 39:45 Episode Artwork 156. David Sproul: How boards help CEOs create sustainable growth - lessons from Deloitte & Starling Bank 45:16 Episode Artwork 155. Amanda Mackenzie OBE: From Advertising Executive to FTSE 100 NED: How Amanda Built a Purpose-Led Portfolio Career 52:14 Episode Artwork 154. Sir James Wates CBE: How to be a good board chair - family businesses & the RFU 43:24 Episode Artwork 153. Phil Walker CBE: University boards: lessons in stakeholder management, ethical decision-making and data points 40:35 Episode Artwork 152. Rupert Soames OBE: How to be a good listed company chair 40:59 Episode Artwork 151. Natasha Frangos: How to sustain culture whilst growing rapidly - boardroom lessons from HaysMac 44:10 Episode Artwork 150. Sir Douglas Flint CBE: Chairing listed companies - lessons from the BP Macondo crisis, HSBC and the abrdn rebrand 45:00 Episode Artwork 149. Mark Winlow: Bank & Insurance Boards - lessons from the boards of Aon and Starling Bank 40:12 Episode Artwork 148. Professor Doyin Atewologun: Should boards ditch DEI? 45:06 Episode Artwork 147. Tessa Clarke: Sticking, quitting & the ideal NED: The board’s role in Olio’s success 46:06 Episode Artwork 146. Dame Marie Gabriel CBE: structuring board meetings, dancing in the boardroom, and taking risks - lessons from an NHS Chair 47:21 Episode Artwork 145. Thomas Thune Andersen: Impacting culture, managing IPOs and embracing the climate revolution - Boardroom Lessons from the former/Chair of Ørsted and Lloyd’s Register Group 48:13 Episode Artwork 144. Professor Alison Taylor: Should boards speak up or shut up? 46:44 Episode Artwork 143. Charles McManus: Quick growth in heavy regulation — the board’s role in ClearBank’s success 38:28 Episode Artwork 142. David Dein MBE, Premier League co-founder: The heart of the deal: lessons from vice-chairing Arsenal FC 41:22 Episode Artwork 141. Louise Hill, GoHenry Founder: Product Market Fit, Scaling and Exit - the board’s role in the GoHenry story 39:01 Episode Artwork 140. Professor Randall Peterson: How to influence people in the boardroom 44:27 Episode Artwork 139. Fiona Hathorn: How and why to get board roles: mastering applications, transitioning to paid roles and building a plural career 41:37 Episode Artwork 138. Steve Rigby: Risk & acquisitions - the growth story of the Rigby family business from £0 to £4bn annual revenues 41:49 Episode Artwork 137. Baroness Dido Harding: NHS Test & Trace & the TalkTalk Cyber Attack — Board Leadership in the Public Eye 37:04