169. Laura Hagan: What boards get wrong about people: founders, talent and pay

Enter the Boardroom

Enter the Boardroom
169. Laura Hagan: What boards get wrong about people: founders, talent and pay
Apr 08, 2026 Season 1 Episode 169
Nurole

Laura Hagan is CPO at Deliveroo and NED at Fever-Tree Drinks plc, where she chairs the Remuneration Committee. Previously, Laura has help senior people leadership roles a Gymshark, Tate & Lyle and Dyson. Listen to this episode to learn more about: The three moments that shaped how Laura thinks about boards (01:31) Board composition differences from private to PE to listed companies (05:06) What every board member needs to know before working with a founder (07:40) What Laura looks for when hiring a NED (12:45) The high ego low ego framework for hiring board members (15:26) The crisis playbook every board needs (17:14) The hidden people risk every fast-growing business ignores (21:50) What RemCo meetings are really like (26:59) Laura’s tips on what makes the best pay (32:39) Why your retention scheme might be working against you (35:02)⚡The Lightning Round ⚡(38:21)


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 169. Laura Hagan: What boards get wrong about people: founders, talent and pay 43:51 Episode Artwork 168. Peter Norris: Leading through crisis: Barings Bank and Virgin Atlantic's Covid fight for survival 35:59 Episode Artwork 167. Claire Bassett: What you need to know before joining a public sector board 40:53 Episode Artwork 166. Simon Calver: From LoveFilm to Mothercare: The board behaviours that make and break companies 41:03 Episode Artwork 165. Rachel Carrell: What founders need from their boards 42:34 Episode Artwork 164. Adam Warby: Authority in the boardroom: how it's earned, lost and rebuilt 42:51 Episode Artwork 163. Sim Scavazza: Do no harm: cost cutting and mergers - inside NHS boards 44:53 Episode Artwork 162. Neil Johnson OBE: From battlefield to boardroom: chairing lessons on people, power and responsibility 42:31 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