Anddria Clack-Rogers Varnado
Consumer Brands & Retail Leader
Anddria Clack-Rogers Varnado is committed to enhancing the quality of lives and businesses through her work with next generation consumer brands. In Chief Strategy Officer and General Manager roles, Anddria has overseen acquisitions, new brand and business developments, and critical business transformations. At Macy’s, Inc., Anddria oversees strategy, analytics, and innovation. Previously, Anddria held roles at Williams-Sonoma, Inc., where she led the company’s acquisition of Outward, Inc., an innovative 3-D imaging company at the intersection of retail and technology, executing on the company’s vision to shape the future of home shopping. Additional professional achievements include the launch and operations of new brands, product collections and digital services adapting her organizations to new retail experiences, supporting each effort with her background in finance. Anddria extends her corporate engagements as a Board Director for Umpqua Bank as a member of the Finance and Capital Committee and Compensation Committee, and as a Board Advisor for Diligent Institute, the governance research arm of Diligent Corporation.
Anddria received a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark Atlanta University, and currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a committed champion of culture and talent development in her communities, Anddria participates in programs for STEM and business education. Her professional work and development insights have earned recognition in several publications, including Forbes, Architectural Digest, Black Enterprise, and The Everygirl; and The San Francisco Business Times honored Anddria as one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business.”
Code of Conduct: Governing Data & Emerging Tech
Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.
Speakers include: Sita Lowman, Nithya Das, Suresh Sharma, Byron Loflin
Your First Board Meeting: A Director’s Playbook
Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism
Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action
Reputation & Response: How Boards Navigate Shareholder Activism
As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.
Speakers include: Gaby Sulzberger, David Cahoy, Rachael Coffey, Eduardo Gallego
Navigating Global Markets: Trade, Tariffs, and Supply Chain Strategy
As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.
Speakers include: Titi Cole, Mia Mends
Strengthening Oversight: Risk Management and Board Resilience
This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.
Speakers include: Rodger Baker