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An Activist Investor Lands in Your Boardroom — Now What?

Harvard Business Review

Contrary to the adverse experience of some governing boards, activist investors can actually prove to be a leadership asset on the board rather than a disruptive force—providing the boardroom is well-managed and led. Brown conducted the due diligence required of a director candidate. A partner with ValueAct, Bradley E.

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An Insider’s Account of the Yahoo-Alibaba Deal

Harvard Business Review

In May of 2005, Yahoo CEO Terry Semel, cofounder Jerry Yang, corporate development executive Toby Coppel, and I — I was then chief financial officer of the Silicon Valley internet company — went on what would turn out to be a fateful trip to China. The company was owned by management, venture capitalists, and SoftBank.