Strangers Can’t Team
By Jennifer Mondoux
February 6, 2026
John Amaechi, psychologist and leadership expert, coined the phrase "Strangers Can't Team".
His point? High-performing teams need authentic relationships and a shared purpose, and can't simply be individuals who work together.
I heard Professor Amaechi speak at an event last year, and it occurs to me that his phrase applies to boards - in particular to boards of private companies.
--
Can a board be a team?
On its own, or, more specifically, can a board be a team together with the leaders of the organization it represents?
--
In private companies, the relationship between the board and the leadership team is different. It's perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects that's emerged from our Canada’s Best Private Boards program.
We've received 200+ nominations since we launched the program in 2023. A robust submission process, reviewed by an independent committee, has provided us with tremendous insight on trends within private company governance.
--
With respect to trust, relationships and teamwork, here's what we've learned:
Boards of private companies are deeply embedded with their leadership teams.
With some of our winning companies, this has been deliberate. There is a very focused attempt to help the board learn about the business and about its leaders.
Through their work, the board becomes an extension of that group.
They reflect and reinforce company values.
There is hands-on mentoring and coaching of CEOs.
The board becomes a sounding board for major decisions.
There is informal coaching, personal encouragement and real-time feedback.
There is an investment (encouraged by the board) in CEO growth through executive coaching and leadership programs.
There is always constructive challenge but there is also emotional support.
Regular interactions outside of meetings are focused on trouble-shooting and support.
Even more interesting, these executive teams feel accountability to their board at a deep, personal level. They want to ensure they are meeting expectations. Ensuring they are not "letting the board down."
--
These individuals (on the board and on the leadership team) build exceptional relationships that help drive growth.
Don't we all perform better when we know someone has our back and is in our corner?
A cheerleader who also challenges us?
They know us and we know them.
The authenticity of the relationship drives results.
About The Author, Jennifer Mondoux:
Jennifer Mondoux, CEO and Managing Partner, MondouxRollins Partners Inc.; Chair and Founder, Canada’s Best Private Boards
Jennifer Mondoux is an executive search professional and human capital advisor, with nearly two decades’ worth of experience working with private companies. An exceptional search professional, she has helped dozens of founders and entrepreneurs of mid-market companies build out their senior leadership teams. Jennifer is seen as a trusted advisor, with an expertise that allows her to guide clients through the lifecycle of their talent needs. This includes compensation design, performance management, market mapping, as well as other more highly specialized services in M&A talent mapping and executive communications. In addition to her deep relationship with her entrepreneurial clients, Jennifer is connected both regionally and nationally with senior leadership candidates as well as with a network of professionals in private company leadership and governance. She is also the Founder and Chair of Canada’s Best Private Boards, a first-of-its-kind national and annual program that recognizes the impact of governance on the performance of private companies.
About MondouxRollins Partners Inc.:
MondouxRollins Partners Inc., is an executive search and human capital advisory firm. We are a group of specialists, equipped with decades of experience providing talent solutions for private companies. We are risk-mitigators, trusted advisors and relationship-builders, and we are your one-stop-shop through the entire talent lifecycle - for your team, or for your board. We are also the founders of the Canada’s Best Private Boards program, a first-of-its kind national and annual awards program that recognizes the impact of governance on the performance of private companies.
About Canada’s Best Private Boards:
Canada’s Best Private Boards is an annual awards program and summit – the first of its kind in Canada – that recognizes the impact of great governance on the performance of private companies. Also known as “The Boardies”, Canada’s Best Private Boards celebrates how advisory or fiduciary governance has driven performance in mid-market family businesses, investor-backed companies and employee-owned or partnership firms. The Trailblazer Award, new for 2025, acknowledges the outstanding contributions made to a private company and to its board by an individual board member, committee chair or executive chair. The vision for Canada’s Best Private Boards is to create a national culture of best practice sharing so that other leaders of private companies can learn the transformational performance-enhancing value of governance. MondouxRollins Partners Inc., an executive search and human capital advisory firm, is the founder of the program.
Media Contact:
Tennyson Kainz-Potter, Associate, Marketing and Communications
416.707.8782 x701
613.421.4800 x701
Or via email
