Chapter 19 - WILLIAM RETURNS TO THE BOARD
After five years, Sterling Hospitality invited William to apply for a nonexecutive board seat.
Not CEO.
Not chair.
He hesitated.
“Do you want it?” I asked.
“I want to prove I can do it correctly.”
“That’s not the same.”
He declined the first invitation.
Applied two years later after governance training and an external assessment.
He won one seat.
One.
Employee trustees held seats.
Independent directors held the majority.
Ethan’s protected block remained under professional trustees.
William could not command it.
At his first meeting, he disclosed a conflict and left the room for the vote.
He came home almost amused.
“My father would’ve considered recusal weakness.”
“Your father got convicted.”
“Good point.”
The company had changed.
May you like
So had he.
That mattered more than returning.
