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Barrett: Consult dozens of informal advisors instead of adding expert board members

David Barrett · Good Intentions, Bad Advice: How to Keep Your Board Aligned with Your Vision · Jan 8, 2018 · at 25:03

Expensify CEO David Barrett answers an audience question at SaaStr about selecting an industry expert to fill a vacant board seat.

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“If I wouldn't pick one person, I'd pick 50 people, and I'd call them all the time and I wouldn't, and I would consolidate their knowledge, and then I would present that consolidated answer to my actual board, people that have, like, some influence over me.”

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