Boardroom Insights: Navigating AI And Leading Thru Uncertainty
Board Stewardship hosted the April edition of its Boardroom Insights Monthly Live Webinar Series on April 10, 2026, bringing together board leaders, governance professionals and industry experts to discuss how Boards are responding to the growing influence of artificial intelligence and an increasingly uncertain business environment.
Supported by Knowledge Partner BoardPAC, the session focused on two key themes—governing AI and leading through uncertainty—through a keynote address and two panel discussions. The discussion centred on how Boards can balance innovation with accountability while responding to evolving risks and rapidly changing global conditions.
Welcoming participants, Vikesh Wallia, Managing Director and Editor, Board Stewardship, marked a milestone as the platform completed three years of its monthly magazine.
“Today marks a proud milestone as Board Stewardship completes three years of its monthly magazine, consistently driving meaningful boardroom dialogue and continuous learning,” said Vikesh Wallia. He also highlighted the organisation’s growing global presence, referencing the upcoming London huddle at the House of Lords as a reflection of its continued focus on enabling future-ready Boards.
Delivering the keynote address, Nagesh Pinge, Independent Director on multiple Boards, spoke about the changing expectations from Directors in the context of rapid technological and geopolitical shifts.
“With AI rapidly transforming boardroom decisions and geopolitical uncertainties reshaping global business dynamics, Directors today are under sharper scrutiny than ever,” said Nagesh Pinge.
He added that the role of independent Directors has evolved from ceremonial to accountable, with clear expectations around oversight, judgement and governance.
The first panel discussion, “AI for Boards,” explored how organisations are navigating both the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence.
“AI is no longer just a technology conversation for Boards—it is fundamentally a governance and trust issue. If a decision driven by AI cannot be explained, can a Board truly stand behind it?” said Santanu Sengupta, Board Leader and Strategic Advisor.
“AI adoption is accelerating across sectors, but governance frameworks are struggling to keep pace. Many organisations lack clear accountability, leading to fragmented ownership and rising regulatory risks,” said Anita Nandi Ray, Co-Founder and Policy Director, Kquanta Research LLP.
“For Boards, the priority is to strengthen oversight with a clear focus on ethics, particularly bias, accountability and explainability,” she added.
“AI is no longer emerging—it has arrived, with many companies already using it in core business functions and reporting strong returns,” said Viyom Jain, Managing Director and Global Business Head, Enterprise Products Business Unit, Nagarro.
“For Boards, the focus must now shift from experimentation to scale, evaluating AI through revenue growth, cost efficiency and risk management while ensuring disciplined implementation,” he added.
“AI has moved from being a technology topic to a core boardroom priority, directly impacting strategy, governance and risk,” said Sandeep Chouhan, Board Member, Advisor and Transformation Leader.
“The key gap is the absence of a clear, evolving AI strategy at the Board level, which needs a structured and continuous approach,” he added.
The second panel, “Leading Through Uncertainty,” focused on how Boards can guide organisations through complex and unpredictable environments.
“Today’s business environment is being reshaped by rapid regulatory changes, shifting geopolitics, the impact of AI and a growing need for trusted partnerships,” said Shaalin Tandon, Trustee, Sitapur Eye Hospital and Independent Director, Dainik Jagran.
“Leaders are operating with more questions than answers, and navigating this uncertainty requires sharper judgement, deeper collaboration and adaptability,” he added.
“Uncertainty today is no longer episodic—it is layered, persistent and part of how businesses operate,” said Shankar Garigiparthy, Founder, Silverline Consulting Services L.L.C.-FZ.
“The most effective Boards are not those with perfect forecasts but those that can act with conviction despite incomplete information,” he added.
“What’s different today is not disruption, but the speed at which it is unfolding. Change is happening in months, not decades, often ahead of regulation,” said Akhilesh Chauhan, Managing Director, Deutsche Bank.
“While this creates uncertainty, it also presents an opportunity for Boards to respond with agility and drive sustainable growth,” he added.
The session reinforced that as AI adoption accelerates and uncertainty becomes a constant, Boards must move beyond traditional oversight to a more active and informed approach. Balancing innovation with governance, and agility with accountability, will be critical for Boards to remain effective and future-ready.
