













The Global Summit
The Global Summit brings together corporate directors, executives, and global leaders for a dynamic, forward-looking conversation on the future of board leadership. Anchored by this year’s theme, The Future Board Agenda: Reforming Governance, the program explores the forces shaping boardrooms today, including leadership under pressure, reputation risk, technological transformation, capital markets, and the evolving demands of resilient, high-performing boards.
KEYNOTE
Governing What Comes Next
What does board leadership require in a world where volatility is no longer episodic, but structural? When does the pace of change exceed traditional governance cycles?
Baroness Dambisa Moyo of Knightsbridge
Member of the House of Lords
Board Member, Chevron, Condé Nast and Starbucks
Agenda
Registration
Welcome and Setting the Stage
Keynote with Baroness Dambisa Moyo of Knightsbridge, Member of the House of Lords, Board Member, Chevron, Condé Nast and Starbucks
The Global Reality Check: The World Has Changed. Has Your Board?
Moderator: Hema Widhani, Chief Experience, Brand & Marketing Officer, Edward Jones
Lunch & Networking
Director Dialogue Series
Dialogue #1: Risk, Resilience & Reputation: AI & Cyber, and the New Oversight Standard
Dialogue #2: The Future of Leadership: Succession & Power Transfer in Public Companies
Presentation of our 2026 50 Women to Watch Honorees Cohort
Networking Break
Breakout Sessions
Room A: Board Composition and Succession Strategy (Directors Only | Closed Session)
Room B: Capital, Growth & Long-Term Value (Investors, Directors and Corporate Executives)
Networking Break
The Global Debate: Public Trust — When Should Boards Speak?
Moderator: Kimberly Petillo-Décossard, Co-Head, Global Mergers & Acquisitions and Partner, White & Case
Closing Remarks and Leadership Commitments
Cocktail Reception
Speakers

Suzan Morno-Wade
Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair
Latham Group
Suzan Morno-Wade
Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair
Latham Group
Suzan Morno‐Wade is a board director and strategic advisor with experience across public, private, and private‐equity‐backed companies in the industrial, manufacturing, technology, consumer, and health technology sectors. She serves as an Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair for Latham Group (NASDAQ: SWIM) and Veritiv Holdings, and advises early‐stage technology companies leveraging AI to drive disruption.
Her board work spans strategy, financial oversight, enterprise risk, CEO and leadership succession, M&A, and organizational health. Suzan also contributes to boardroom readiness as a member of the University of North Carolina Director Development Initiative Advisory Board.
Previously, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer of Xerox, partnering with the executive team through a global enterprise transformation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois and is NACD Directorship Certified.

Dambisa Moyo
Member, House of Lords
Versaca Investments
Dambisa Moyo
Member, House of Lords
Versaca Investments
Dambisa Moyo, a member of the UK’s House of Lords, is a principal at Versaca Investments, a family office focused on global growth investing. She sits on several corporate boards, including Chevron, Condé Nast, and Starbucks, along with non-corporate boards like the Economic Club of New York, National Geographic Society, and Oxford University Endowment.
Dambisa has authored five bestselling books on the global macroeconomy and geopolitics. She holds a PhD in economics from Oxford University and a master’s degree from Harvard University. She is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Kimberly Petillo-Décossard
Co-Head
White & Case
Kimberly Petillo-Décossard
Co-Head
White & Case
Kimberly Petillo-Décossard is Co-Head of White & Case’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and a partner in the firm’s New York office. A trusted advisor to the boards and C-suites of leading U.S. public companies, Kimberly advises on complex business law matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, governance, disclosure, and compliance. Clients describe Kimberly to Chambers USA as “the finest lawyer I’ve worked with in my career — brilliant, approachable and business-minded,” and praise her as “extremely knowledgeable and a tremendous advocate” whose approach is “always thoughtful, considered and nuanced.” With a versatile practice spanning industries and geographies, Kimberly brings exceptional confidence, efficiency and judgment to her clients’ most consequential decisions. She is consistently recognized among the leading M&A lawyers in the United States, including as a Chambers USA Leading Corporate/M&A Lawyer, a Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyer, an American Lawyer “Dealmaker of the Year,” and a Law360 M&A MVP.

Hema Widhani
Principal, Chief Experience, Brand and Marketing Officer
Edward Jones
Hema Widhani
Principal, Chief Experience, Brand and Marketing Officer
Edward Jones
Hema Widhani is a principal with Edward Jones and the firm’s chief experience, brand and marketing officer. In this role, she leads brand, advertising and marketing teams in addition to leading client experience and insights across the enterprise. Hema is charged with reimagining how the firm engages with clients and how to deepen the client experience through human-centric design.
She serves on the Enterprise Leadership Team, which is responsible for providing advice and counsel to the managing partner in helping the firm to grow its impact and create value for clients, colleagues and communities today and in the future.
Prior to joining the firm, Hema spent 10 years at Prudential serving in various leadership roles in digital, marketing and customer experience including the roles of chief customer officer and chief digital and marketing officer. Prior to Prudential, Hema was head of customer engagement at E-Trade Financial and led digital customer experience at Citigroup.
Hema has deep leadership and domain expertise across consumer products and financial services. She has spent her career at the intersection of digital, data, marketing and technology. She holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in econometrics and international business from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India.
Hema serves on the board of directors for AAR, a public company and leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators.
Ruth Cotter
Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer
AMD
Ruth Cotter is senior vice president and chief administrative officer at AMD, leading the company’s integrated, enterprise-wide corporate operations organization. She oversees marketing, communications, human resources, corporate security and information technology, aligning these functions to support the company’s growth and business strategy. With more than 30 years of experience, Cotter has played a central role in scaling AMD during hypergrowth, bringing a strong focus on strategic planning, execution excellence and people-centric leadership.
Under her leadership, AMD has significantly expanded brand awareness through its “together we advance” campaign, strengthened the AMD executive team’s thought leadership and increased engagement across its more than 30,000 employees. She has also led major integration efforts, including the Xilinx acquisition, the largest semiconductor transaction of its time, and continues to play a key role in companywide transformation initiatives. In her previous role, she led investor relations, where she drove a proactive investor outreach campaign that contributed to AMD becoming one of the best-performing stocks on the S&P 500.
Cotter serves on the board of directors of the Ireland Funds America, Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) Women’s Leadership Council and the National Academies Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine. She has received recognition in PRWeek’s U.S. Power List, Technology Magazine’s Top 100 Women in Technology, the National Diversity Council’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech and Top 100 HR and Communication Professionals.
Richard Davis
Former President & CEO / Former CEO & Chairman
Make-A-Wish / US Bank
Davis joined Make-A-Wish America in January 2019, where he served as the President & CEO until November 2022. Previously, he served as the executive chairman and CEO of U.S. Bancorp, a financial service holding company with more than $460 billion in total assets and businesses across the United States, Canada and Europe.
Davis began his banking career as a teller at age 18 and worked his way through college. He became CEO of U.S. Bancorp in 2006 and chairman of the board in 2007, previously having been a senior executive with the organization and its predecessors since 1993. His outstanding leadership skills were recognized as he was named the “2010 Executive of the Year” by the Twin Cities Business Journal and “2010 Banker of the Year” by the American Banker.
During his career Davis has held executive level positions with Bank of America and Security Pacific Bank, both in Los Angeles, and with legacy organizations of today’s U.S. Bancorp, which include the former Firstar Corporation in Milwaukee and Star Banc Corporation in Cincinnati. Davis’ enthusiasm for his industry is equally prevalent in his civic and philanthropic commitments. In addition to having served as Executive Chairman of U.S. Bancorp’s board, Davis currently serves on the boards of Mastercard, Mayo Clinic, Dow Chemical, Wells Fargo, and Scholars of Finance. He has served on the boards of numerous industry and non-profit organizations, including the American National Red Cross, the Twin Cities YMCA, and the University of Minnesota Foundation. He also served as the co-chairman for the 2018 Super Bowl Host Committee.
Davis has been honored by the Banking and Finance Division of the UJA- Federation of New York and has been the recipient of the President’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award. In 2011, he received the Henrickson’s Award for Ethical Leadership. Davis was also named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics by the Ethisphere Institute in 2015.
Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University at Fullerton. He is married and has three adult children and seven grandchildren.
Kirsty Graham
Chief Executive Officer
Edelman U.S.
Kirsty Graham is a seasoned leader with a 30-year career in policy, communications, and public relations, spanning senior roles in government, Corporate America, and the agency world.
Kirsty began her career in international diplomacy, serving 16 years in the New Zealand Foreign Service where she worked on a range of economic, trade, and political issues. Her diplomatic assignments included a secondment to support Foreign Minister Sir Don McKinnon (1994–1996), a five-year posting to Washington, D.C. (1996–2000), a secondment as Deputy Spokesperson at the British Embassy in Washington (2001), and five years as New Zealand’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations (2006–2010).
Following her government service, Kirsty spent a decade at Pfizer Inc. in a series of senior leadership roles. Most notably, she served as Head of Global Policy and later as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for the Biopharmaceuticals Group, where she directed global public affairs, communications, and policy across more than 125 markets.
In March 2020, Kirsty joined Edelman and has since held four leadership roles, including Global Chair of the Health sector and Global President of Practices and Sectors. In these positions, she led strategy for the firm’s largest practice areas, spearheaded award-winning global client work, and guided the development of Edelman’s corporate and brand communications, ESG, and industry sector strategies.
Today, as CEO of Edelman U.S., Kirsty continues to serve on Edelman’s Executive Leadership Team, bringing together her deep expertise in diplomacy, corporate affairs, and communications to help clients navigate the intersection of business, policy, and society.
Ron Vachris
Chief Executive Officer
Costco Wholesale
Ron began his career in 1982 with the Price Company in the Phoenix, Arizona market, holding several management positions in operations before being promoted to Warehouse Manager in Colorado in 1992.
After seven years as a Warehouse Manager across both Colorado and Arizona, he was promoted to Vice President of Operations for the San Diego Region in 1999. In 2010, Ron relocated to Washington upon his promotion to Senior Vice
President of the Northwest Region.
In August 2015, he transitioned to the Real Estate department, where he focused on international and domestic new markets and expansion. Shortly thereafter, in July 2016, Ron became the Executive Vice President of Merchandising.
In February 2022, Costco’s Board of Directors appointed Ron as President and Chief Operating Officer, and he was elected to the Board of Directors. In January 2024, Ron became the third Chief Executive Officer of Costco Wholesale.
Jim Fitterling
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Dow
Jim Fitterling is Chair and Chief Executive Officer for Dow Inc., one of the world’s leading materials science companies with 2025 sales of approximately $40 billion. He became CEO in July 2018 and was elected Board Chair in April 2020. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer for the Materials Science Division of DowDuPont, an $86 billion holding company.
Fitterling has played a key role in Dow’s transformation from a lower-margin, commodity company to one deeply focused on higher-growth markets that value innovation – with the ambition to be most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive, and sustainable materials science company in the world.
He joined Dow in 1984 and served in a variety of sales, marketing, supply chain, corporate development, and business operations positions, including spending more than 10 years in leadership roles across Asia.
At his direction, Dow became a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) to drive innovation, increase much-needed resources, and take decisive actions to put an end to plastic waste in the environment. Additionally, he served as the business lead in Dow’s launch of its next-generation sustainability goals and drove the introduction of its accelerated plastics circularity and climate and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
A passionate advocate for inclusion, Fitterling leads Dow’s drive to diversify its global talent and is widely recognized for his work supporting non-discrimination and workplace equality.
Martina Cheung
President and Chief Executive Officer
S&P Global
Martina L. Cheung is President, CEO, and a member of the Board of Directors of S&P Global.
Previously, Ms. Cheung was President of S&P Global Ratings and served as the Executive Lead of S&P Global Sustainable1. Earlier, she was President of S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Ms. Cheung joined the Company in 2010 as Vice President of Operations for S&P Global Ratings and went on to serve as S&P Global’s Chief Strategy Officer. She also was Head of Risk Services for S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Prior to joining S&P Global, Ms. Cheung worked for Accenture’s Financial Services Strategy group and later as a Partner at Mitchell Madison Consulting.
Barron’s recognized Ms. Cheung as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance in 2025. Ms. Cheung was named one of the Most Powerful Women in Finance by American Banker and included on the list of Influential Women in Institutional Investing by Pensions & Investments in 2024. Also in 2024, INvolve named her to its 100 Empower Executives list for the second consecutive year. Ms. Cheung received the Merit Award from The Women’s Bond Club in 2022.
Ms. Cheung is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Club of New York.
Ms. Cheung served on the Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities New York and was a member of the Board of CRISIL, a global analytics company and India’s leading credit ratings agency.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce and a master’s degree in business studies from National University of Ireland, Galway.
Maggie Wilderotter
Chairman, DocuSign, and Board Director, Costco, Sonoma Biotherapeutics, Inc. and Tanium, Inc.
Maggie Wilderotter is a seasoned executive who, as CEO, has led both Fortune 500 companies and start-ups in her career. In addition, she has extensive Board leadership serving on over 35 public company and 14 private company Boards of Directors.
Today, Maggie serves on the public boards of Costco Wholesale Corporation and DocuSign. She serves on the private boards of Tanium, and Sonoma Biotherapeutics. In addition, Maggie is also a Senior Advisor to a number of companies including Accenture, the Blackstone Group, Atairos Private Equity, American Century Investments, Celonis, Garden City, GEP, and SHRM. Currently, she is one of the top 20 ‘2024 Value Creating Corporate Directors’ in America by the
Chief Executive Group.
Maggie was Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Communications from November, 2004 to April, 2015, and then Executive Chairman of the company until April, 2016. During her tenure with Frontier, the company grew from a regional telephone company with customer revenues of less than $1 billion to a national broadband, voice and video provider with operations in 29 states and annualized revenues in excess of $10 billion.
Previously, her career included being the Senior Vice President of Global Business Strategy and ran the Worldwide Public Sector at Microsoft. Before this, she was President and CEO of Wink Communications Inc., Executive Vice President of National Operations for AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Chief Executive Officer of AT&T’s Aviation Communications Division, and a Senior Vice President of McCaw Cellular Communications Inc. Maggie previously served on the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) as both Vice Chairman and Chairman during her 4-year tenure ending in 2014. Mrs. Wilderotter also served until January, 2017 on the President’s special Commission responsible for a recommendation report to the new President of the United States on Enhancing National Cybersecurity.
Her educational credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross. She has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Rochester.
Suzan Morno-Wade
Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair
Latham Group
Suzan Morno‐Wade is a board director and strategic advisor with experience across public, private, and private‐equity‐backed companies in the industrial, manufacturing, technology, consumer, and health technology sectors. She serves as an Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair for Latham Group (NASDAQ: SWIM) and Veritiv Holdings, and advises early‐stage technology companies leveraging AI to drive disruption.
Her board work spans strategy, financial oversight, enterprise risk, CEO and leadership succession, M&A, and organizational health. Suzan also contributes to boardroom readiness as a member of the University of North Carolina Director Development Initiative Advisory Board.
Previously, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer of Xerox, partnering with the executive team through a global enterprise transformation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois and is NACD Directorship Certified.
Kimberly Petillo-Décossard
Co-Head
White & Case
Kimberly Petillo-Décossard is Co-Head of White & Case’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and a partner in the firm’s New York office. A trusted advisor to the boards and C-suites of leading U.S. public companies, Kimberly advises on complex business law matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, governance, disclosure, and compliance. Clients describe Kimberly to Chambers USA as “the finest lawyer I’ve worked with in my career — brilliant, approachable and business-minded,” and praise her as “extremely knowledgeable and a tremendous advocate” whose approach is “always thoughtful, considered and nuanced.” With a versatile practice spanning industries and geographies, Kimberly brings exceptional confidence, efficiency and judgment to her clients’ most consequential decisions. She is consistently recognized among the leading M&A lawyers in the United States, including as a Chambers USA Leading Corporate/M&A Lawyer, a Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyer, an American Lawyer “Dealmaker of the Year,” and a Law360 M&A MVP.
Hema Widhani
Principal, Chief Experience, Brand and Marketing Officer
Edward Jones
Hema Widhani is a principal with Edward Jones and the firm’s chief experience, brand and marketing officer. In this role, she leads brand, advertising and marketing teams in addition to leading client experience and insights across the enterprise. Hema is charged with reimagining how the firm engages with clients and how to deepen the client experience through human-centric design.
She serves on the Enterprise Leadership Team, which is responsible for providing advice and counsel to the managing partner in helping the firm to grow its impact and create value for clients, colleagues and communities today and in the future.
Prior to joining the firm, Hema spent 10 years at Prudential serving in various leadership roles in digital, marketing and customer experience including the roles of chief customer officer and chief digital and marketing officer. Prior to Prudential, Hema was head of customer engagement at E-Trade Financial and led digital customer experience at Citigroup.
Hema has deep leadership and domain expertise across consumer products and financial services. She has spent her career at the intersection of digital, data, marketing and technology. She holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in econometrics and international business from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India.
Hema serves on the board of directors for AAR, a public company and leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators.
Dambisa Moyo
Member, House of Lords
Versaca Investments
Dambisa Moyo, a member of the UK’s House of Lords, is a principal at Versaca Investments, a family office focused on global growth investing. She sits on several corporate boards, including Chevron, Condé Nast, and Starbucks, along with non-corporate boards like the Economic Club of New York, National Geographic Society, and Oxford University Endowment.
Dambisa has authored five bestselling books on the global macroeconomy and geopolitics. She holds a PhD in economics from Oxford University and a master’s degree from Harvard University. She is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Byron Loflin
Global Head of Board Advisory
Nasdaq
Byron Loflin is the Global Head of Board Advisory at Nasdaq where he leads the governance team in driving board and governance effectiveness. Byron founded Center for Board Excellence (CBE) in 2010 and was CEO until it was acquired by Nasdaq in 2019. Prior to CBE, Byron was the CEO and president for two private companies between 1992-2009. Byron is the architect and developer of a governance platform and tools used by thousands of board members globally.
Along with speaking on and teaching corporate governance effectiveness, Byron has co-authored the book CEO Ready with Mark Thompson and being published by Harvard Business Review, November 2025. The book draws insights from their over 25 years of experience with board dynamics including CEO succession. Byron is a graduate of James Madison University (BA) and Harvard Business School (OPM) and an active learner with several HBS Executive Education Certificates including Havard’s Board Effectiveness program.
Recently published:
Driving Excellence: Redefining AI Governance videocast with Steven Wolfe Pereira, July 2025
“Trust and the Interplay of Confidence and Accountability”, International Banker February 2025
“Enterprise Risk Management for Next-Gen Boards”, Nasdaq January 2025
Past Speakers

Carla Vernón
CEO and Board Director, The Honest Company

Jessica Alba
Founder and Board Member, The Honest Company

Michael Miebach
CEO
Mastercard

Valerie Jarrett
CEO and member of the Board of Directors, The Obama Foundation

David Chun
Founder & CEO
Equilar

Whitney Wolfe Herd
Founder, CEO, Bumble

María Ariza
CEO, BIVA

Brian Moynihan
CEO
Bank of America

Melinda French Gates
Co-Founder, Gates Foundation

Enrique Lores
Former President & CEO
HP

Mellody Hobson
CEO & President, Ariel Investments, LLC

Herman E. Bulls
Vice Chairman
Americas of JLL

Laurie Lam
Chief Brand Officer
e.l.f.

Titi Cole
Board Director
Citigroup and Datadog
Titi Cole
Board Director
Citigroup and Datadog
Titi Cole is an experienced Board Director, Financial Services C-Suite Executive, and Global business leader. She serves on the Boards of Citigroup, (NYSE: C), and Datadog (NASDAQ: DDOG) a leading provider of cloud monitoring and security solutions.
In her last role at Citigroup, she was the CEO of Legacy Franchises and a member of the Executive Management Team where she managed and successfully divested the international consumer banking division with over 70,000 employees in 14 countries. Ms. Cole is known for her expertise in transforming large publicly traded financial institutions to deliver innovative solutions that drive growth. She is recognized in the financial services industry as a dynamic leader and for her skill at leading high-performing teams and delivering business results in fast-paced environments. She has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services, payments, and professional services industries, including six years at McKinsey & Company.
She is also a Board Trustee at CARE USA, Queens University of Charlotte, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, CFR, and The Executive Leadership Council, ELC. Ms. Cole serves as Executive Director of Development for the Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation, a nonprofit focused on improving awareness, support, and health outcomes for people living with Sickle Cell disease.

Hari Panday
Board Member
Ontario Securities Commission

John Driver
Independent Director
CityFirst Bank

Judy Marks
Chair, CEO and President
Otis Worldwide Corporation
Judy Marks
Chair, CEO and President
Otis Worldwide Corporation
In her nearly 40 years in industry, Judy Marks has witnessed technological advances while applying emerging and mature technologies in a way that benefits society. She is leading Otis through a digital and cultural transformation that will drive its long-term success returning to an independent, publicly traded company. Otis is the world’s leading company for elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service.
Today, Otis is taking its deep knowledge of the hoistway and using it to create digital solutions that serve customers’ needs in an era of intelligent buildings. This includes IoT-based service solutions with proactive data analytics for predictive maintenance; advanced video analytics and dispatching systems to manage varying traffic patterns; and a new generation of elevators that are connected, data rich, safer, healthier, and more intelligent, efficient and comfortable than ever.
“Our 71,000 colleagues are on a journey together into the future,” she says. “We’re continuing to innovate, to find new business models, to serve customers with excellence and to disrupt ourselves to become an end-to-end enabler of passenger mobility in a taller, faster, smarter world.”
Judy joined Otis in October 2017 as President. She was appointed CEO in June 2019 and in April 2020 led the successful spin of Otis to an independent publicly traded company on the NYSE. In February 2022, Judy was also named Chair of Otis. Prior to Otis, she held senior leadership roles at three global icons – IBM, Lockheed Martin and Siemens AG where she served as CEO of both Siemens USA and Dresser-Rand, a Siemens business.
“People make a decision every day about what kind of work they’re going to do,” she says. “That’s what I love about Otis colleagues – we know that what we do matters. Across 200 countries and territories, we service over 2.3 million units and touch 2.3 billion people every day to keep the world moving.”
Judy serves on the Board of Directors of Otis Worldwide Corporation, Caterpillar Inc. and AdvanceCT. She is a member of the Business Roundtable and Chair of its Trade and International Committee, and a member of the U.S.-India CEO Forum. She earned a degree in electrical engineering from Lehigh University.

Janice Ellig
CEO
Ellig Group
Janice Ellig
CEO
Ellig Group
Janice Ellig, CEO of Ellig Group, works closely with CEOs, boards, and C-suite executives to assess and place top talent, ensuring alignment with a company’s strategy, culture, and purpose. She has over 20 years of experience as a corporate Human Resources and Marketing executive at Pfizer, Citibank, and Ambac Financial Group. She played a significant role in Ambac’s initial public offering.
Janice’s leadership is marked by a steadfast commitment to excellence and innovation in the executive search industry, particularly focused on enhancing the C-suite and boardrooms with executives who reflect an organization’s constituents—employees, customers, communities, and shareholders. Janice’s influence and strategic approach to recruitment have garnered global recognition, earning her the title of one of “The World’s Most Influential Headhunters” by Bloomberg Businessweek.
A respected author and speaker, Janice has been featured in The Financial Times, Forbes.com, Directors & Boards, Corporate Board Director and other leading publications. She has co-authored influential books, including Driving the Career Highway and What Every Successful Woman Knows, which Bloomberg Businessweek hailed as “the best of its genre.” Believing that giving back is both a privilege and a responsibility, Janice has extensive non-profit leadership experience. She currently serves as Board member of Girls Inc. of NYC, Board member of Paradigm for Parity, Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED), member of The Economic Club of New York (ECNY), and member of the Leadership Council of the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund). She previously served as Chair of the University of Iowa Foundation, Chair of the YMCA Board of Greater New York, Director of the National YMCA, and Trustee of the Entertainment Community Fund. Janice is also the former President of the Women’s Forum of New York, where she founded and launched the Corporate Board Initiative and its signature event, the Breakfast of Corporate Champions, which honors companies that exceed the national average of female representation on their boards.
Ruth Cotter
Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer
AMD
Ruth Cotter is senior vice president and chief administrative officer at AMD, leading the company’s integrated, enterprise-wide corporate operations organization. She oversees marketing, communications, human resources, corporate security and information technology, aligning these functions to support the company’s growth and business strategy. With more than 30 years of experience, Cotter has played a central role in scaling AMD during hypergrowth, bringing a strong focus on strategic planning, execution excellence and people-centric leadership.
Under her leadership, AMD has significantly expanded brand awareness through its “together we advance” campaign, strengthened the AMD executive team’s thought leadership and increased engagement across its more than 30,000 employees. She has also led major integration efforts, including the Xilinx acquisition, the largest semiconductor transaction of its time, and continues to play a key role in companywide transformation initiatives. In her previous role, she led investor relations, where she drove a proactive investor outreach campaign that contributed to AMD becoming one of the best-performing stocks on the S&P 500.
Cotter serves on the board of directors of the Ireland Funds America, Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) Women’s Leadership Council and the National Academies Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine. She has received recognition in PRWeek’s U.S. Power List, Technology Magazine’s Top 100 Women in Technology, the National Diversity Council’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech and Top 100 HR and Communication Professionals.
Richard Davis
Former President & CEO / Former CEO & Chairman
Make-A-Wish / US Bank
Davis joined Make-A-Wish America in January 2019, where he served as the President & CEO until November 2022. Previously, he served as the executive chairman and CEO of U.S. Bancorp, a financial service holding company with more than $460 billion in total assets and businesses across the United States, Canada and Europe.
Davis began his banking career as a teller at age 18 and worked his way through college. He became CEO of U.S. Bancorp in 2006 and chairman of the board in 2007, previously having been a senior executive with the organization and its predecessors since 1993. His outstanding leadership skills were recognized as he was named the “2010 Executive of the Year” by the Twin Cities Business Journal and “2010 Banker of the Year” by the American Banker.
During his career Davis has held executive level positions with Bank of America and Security Pacific Bank, both in Los Angeles, and with legacy organizations of today’s U.S. Bancorp, which include the former Firstar Corporation in Milwaukee and Star Banc Corporation in Cincinnati. Davis’ enthusiasm for his industry is equally prevalent in his civic and philanthropic commitments. In addition to having served as Executive Chairman of U.S. Bancorp’s board, Davis currently serves on the boards of Mastercard, Mayo Clinic, Dow Chemical, Wells Fargo, and Scholars of Finance. He has served on the boards of numerous industry and non-profit organizations, including the American National Red Cross, the Twin Cities YMCA, and the University of Minnesota Foundation. He also served as the co-chairman for the 2018 Super Bowl Host Committee.
Davis has been honored by the Banking and Finance Division of the UJA- Federation of New York and has been the recipient of the President’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award. In 2011, he received the Henrickson’s Award for Ethical Leadership. Davis was also named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics by the Ethisphere Institute in 2015.
Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University at Fullerton. He is married and has three adult children and seven grandchildren.
Kirsty Graham
Chief Executive Officer
Edelman U.S.
Kirsty Graham is a seasoned leader with a 30-year career in policy, communications, and public relations, spanning senior roles in government, Corporate America, and the agency world.
Kirsty began her career in international diplomacy, serving 16 years in the New Zealand Foreign Service where she worked on a range of economic, trade, and political issues. Her diplomatic assignments included a secondment to support Foreign Minister Sir Don McKinnon (1994–1996), a five-year posting to Washington, D.C. (1996–2000), a secondment as Deputy Spokesperson at the British Embassy in Washington (2001), and five years as New Zealand’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations (2006–2010).
Following her government service, Kirsty spent a decade at Pfizer Inc. in a series of senior leadership roles. Most notably, she served as Head of Global Policy and later as Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for the Biopharmaceuticals Group, where she directed global public affairs, communications, and policy across more than 125 markets.
In March 2020, Kirsty joined Edelman and has since held four leadership roles, including Global Chair of the Health sector and Global President of Practices and Sectors. In these positions, she led strategy for the firm’s largest practice areas, spearheaded award-winning global client work, and guided the development of Edelman’s corporate and brand communications, ESG, and industry sector strategies.
Today, as CEO of Edelman U.S., Kirsty continues to serve on Edelman’s Executive Leadership Team, bringing together her deep expertise in diplomacy, corporate affairs, and communications to help clients navigate the intersection of business, policy, and society.
Ron Vachris
Chief Executive Officer
Costco Wholesale
Ron began his career in 1982 with the Price Company in the Phoenix, Arizona market, holding several management positions in operations before being promoted to Warehouse Manager in Colorado in 1992.
After seven years as a Warehouse Manager across both Colorado and Arizona, he was promoted to Vice President of Operations for the San Diego Region in 1999. In 2010, Ron relocated to Washington upon his promotion to Senior Vice
President of the Northwest Region.
In August 2015, he transitioned to the Real Estate department, where he focused on international and domestic new markets and expansion. Shortly thereafter, in July 2016, Ron became the Executive Vice President of Merchandising.
In February 2022, Costco’s Board of Directors appointed Ron as President and Chief Operating Officer, and he was elected to the Board of Directors. In January 2024, Ron became the third Chief Executive Officer of Costco Wholesale.
Jim Fitterling
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Dow
Jim Fitterling is Chair and Chief Executive Officer for Dow Inc., one of the world’s leading materials science companies with 2025 sales of approximately $40 billion. He became CEO in July 2018 and was elected Board Chair in April 2020. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer for the Materials Science Division of DowDuPont, an $86 billion holding company.
Fitterling has played a key role in Dow’s transformation from a lower-margin, commodity company to one deeply focused on higher-growth markets that value innovation – with the ambition to be most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive, and sustainable materials science company in the world.
He joined Dow in 1984 and served in a variety of sales, marketing, supply chain, corporate development, and business operations positions, including spending more than 10 years in leadership roles across Asia.
At his direction, Dow became a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) to drive innovation, increase much-needed resources, and take decisive actions to put an end to plastic waste in the environment. Additionally, he served as the business lead in Dow’s launch of its next-generation sustainability goals and drove the introduction of its accelerated plastics circularity and climate and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
A passionate advocate for inclusion, Fitterling leads Dow’s drive to diversify its global talent and is widely recognized for his work supporting non-discrimination and workplace equality.
Martina Cheung
President and Chief Executive Officer
S&P Global
Martina L. Cheung is President, CEO, and a member of the Board of Directors of S&P Global.
Previously, Ms. Cheung was President of S&P Global Ratings and served as the Executive Lead of S&P Global Sustainable1. Earlier, she was President of S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Ms. Cheung joined the Company in 2010 as Vice President of Operations for S&P Global Ratings and went on to serve as S&P Global’s Chief Strategy Officer. She also was Head of Risk Services for S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Prior to joining S&P Global, Ms. Cheung worked for Accenture’s Financial Services Strategy group and later as a Partner at Mitchell Madison Consulting.
Barron’s recognized Ms. Cheung as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance in 2025. Ms. Cheung was named one of the Most Powerful Women in Finance by American Banker and included on the list of Influential Women in Institutional Investing by Pensions & Investments in 2024. Also in 2024, INvolve named her to its 100 Empower Executives list for the second consecutive year. Ms. Cheung received the Merit Award from The Women’s Bond Club in 2022.
Ms. Cheung is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Club of New York.
Ms. Cheung served on the Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities New York and was a member of the Board of CRISIL, a global analytics company and India’s leading credit ratings agency.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce and a master’s degree in business studies from National University of Ireland, Galway.
Maggie Wilderotter
Chairman, DocuSign, and Board Director, Costco, Sonoma Biotherapeutics, Inc. and Tanium, Inc.
Maggie Wilderotter is a seasoned executive who, as CEO, has led both Fortune 500 companies and start-ups in her career. In addition, she has extensive Board leadership serving on over 35 public company and 14 private company Boards of Directors.
Today, Maggie serves on the public boards of Costco Wholesale Corporation and DocuSign. She serves on the private boards of Tanium, and Sonoma Biotherapeutics. In addition, Maggie is also a Senior Advisor to a number of companies including Accenture, the Blackstone Group, Atairos Private Equity, American Century Investments, Celonis, Garden City, GEP, and SHRM. Currently, she is one of the top 20 ‘2024 Value Creating Corporate Directors’ in America by the
Chief Executive Group.
Maggie was Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Communications from November, 2004 to April, 2015, and then Executive Chairman of the company until April, 2016. During her tenure with Frontier, the company grew from a regional telephone company with customer revenues of less than $1 billion to a national broadband, voice and video provider with operations in 29 states and annualized revenues in excess of $10 billion.
Previously, her career included being the Senior Vice President of Global Business Strategy and ran the Worldwide Public Sector at Microsoft. Before this, she was President and CEO of Wink Communications Inc., Executive Vice President of National Operations for AT&T Wireless Services Inc., Chief Executive Officer of AT&T’s Aviation Communications Division, and a Senior Vice President of McCaw Cellular Communications Inc. Maggie previously served on the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) as both Vice Chairman and Chairman during her 4-year tenure ending in 2014. Mrs. Wilderotter also served until January, 2017 on the President’s special Commission responsible for a recommendation report to the new President of the United States on Enhancing National Cybersecurity.
Her educational credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross. She has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Rochester.
Suzan Morno-Wade
Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair
Latham Group
Suzan Morno‐Wade is a board director and strategic advisor with experience across public, private, and private‐equity‐backed companies in the industrial, manufacturing, technology, consumer, and health technology sectors. She serves as an Independent Director and Compensation Committee Chair for Latham Group (NASDAQ: SWIM) and Veritiv Holdings, and advises early‐stage technology companies leveraging AI to drive disruption.
Her board work spans strategy, financial oversight, enterprise risk, CEO and leadership succession, M&A, and organizational health. Suzan also contributes to boardroom readiness as a member of the University of North Carolina Director Development Initiative Advisory Board.
Previously, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer of Xerox, partnering with the executive team through a global enterprise transformation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois and is NACD Directorship Certified.
Kimberly Petillo-Décossard
Co-Head
White & Case
Kimberly Petillo-Décossard is Co-Head of White & Case’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and a partner in the firm’s New York office. A trusted advisor to the boards and C-suites of leading U.S. public companies, Kimberly advises on complex business law matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, governance, disclosure, and compliance. Clients describe Kimberly to Chambers USA as “the finest lawyer I’ve worked with in my career — brilliant, approachable and business-minded,” and praise her as “extremely knowledgeable and a tremendous advocate” whose approach is “always thoughtful, considered and nuanced.” With a versatile practice spanning industries and geographies, Kimberly brings exceptional confidence, efficiency and judgment to her clients’ most consequential decisions. She is consistently recognized among the leading M&A lawyers in the United States, including as a Chambers USA Leading Corporate/M&A Lawyer, a Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyer, an American Lawyer “Dealmaker of the Year,” and a Law360 M&A MVP.
Hema Widhani
Principal, Chief Experience, Brand and Marketing Officer
Edward Jones
Hema Widhani is a principal with Edward Jones and the firm’s chief experience, brand and marketing officer. In this role, she leads brand, advertising and marketing teams in addition to leading client experience and insights across the enterprise. Hema is charged with reimagining how the firm engages with clients and how to deepen the client experience through human-centric design.
She serves on the Enterprise Leadership Team, which is responsible for providing advice and counsel to the managing partner in helping the firm to grow its impact and create value for clients, colleagues and communities today and in the future.
Prior to joining the firm, Hema spent 10 years at Prudential serving in various leadership roles in digital, marketing and customer experience including the roles of chief customer officer and chief digital and marketing officer. Prior to Prudential, Hema was head of customer engagement at E-Trade Financial and led digital customer experience at Citigroup.
Hema has deep leadership and domain expertise across consumer products and financial services. She has spent her career at the intersection of digital, data, marketing and technology. She holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in econometrics and international business from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India.
Hema serves on the board of directors for AAR, a public company and leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators.
Dambisa Moyo
Member, House of Lords
Versaca Investments
Dambisa Moyo, a member of the UK’s House of Lords, is a principal at Versaca Investments, a family office focused on global growth investing. She sits on several corporate boards, including Chevron, Condé Nast, and Starbucks, along with non-corporate boards like the Economic Club of New York, National Geographic Society, and Oxford University Endowment.
Dambisa has authored five bestselling books on the global macroeconomy and geopolitics. She holds a PhD in economics from Oxford University and a master’s degree from Harvard University. She is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Byron Loflin
Global Head of Board Advisory
Nasdaq
Byron Loflin is the Global Head of Board Advisory at Nasdaq where he leads the governance team in driving board and governance effectiveness. Byron founded Center for Board Excellence (CBE) in 2010 and was CEO until it was acquired by Nasdaq in 2019. Prior to CBE, Byron was the CEO and president for two private companies between 1992-2009. Byron is the architect and developer of a governance platform and tools used by thousands of board members globally.
Along with speaking on and teaching corporate governance effectiveness, Byron has co-authored the book CEO Ready with Mark Thompson and being published by Harvard Business Review, November 2025. The book draws insights from their over 25 years of experience with board dynamics including CEO succession. Byron is a graduate of James Madison University (BA) and Harvard Business School (OPM) and an active learner with several HBS Executive Education Certificates including Havard’s Board Effectiveness program.
Recently published:
Driving Excellence: Redefining AI Governance videocast with Steven Wolfe Pereira, July 2025
“Trust and the Interplay of Confidence and Accountability”, International Banker February 2025
“Enterprise Risk Management for Next-Gen Boards”, Nasdaq January 2025
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Your Experience
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Connect with Decision-Makers Who Matter
Gain exclusive access to sitting corporate directors, industry influencers, and C-suite executives who are actively shaping the future of board governance. Our curated networking experiences throughout the day enable you to build meaningful relationships and connections with peers and leaders in support of your board journey.
Insights & Key Learnings
Master the Issues Driving Boardroom Success
Discover how top-performing boards navigate today's most critical challenges, from geopolitical risk and technological disruption to activist pressure and reputation management. Learn the strategic frameworks and governance practices that distinguish high-performing companies, and gain actionable insights you can immediately apply to strengthen your board readiness and leadership impact.
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Access Exclusive Intelligence That Shape Strategies
Get first access to proprietary research and performance data that reveals what truly drives boardroom excellence. You'll leave with the data-driven intelligence that informs strategic decisions and strengthens your value proposition as a board director or candidate.
Our Community
Your Path to the Boardroom™
Become part of an exclusive community of ambitious leaders, board-ready professionals, and influential directors committed to advancing excellence in governance. Our network extends far beyond The Summit through ongoing mentorship opportunities, strategic introductions, and insider access to board opportunities. When you engage with us, you're not just attending an event—you're joining a movement.
NYC Financial District
Venue: 48 Wall Street, Lower Manhattan
Date: Sept. 17, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET
Set in one of New York City’s most iconic financial landmarks, 48 Wall Street places you at the center of global business and governance. The historic venue provides a striking backdrop for a leadership gathering of CEOs, corporate directors, and executives shaping the future of corporate boards.
Hotel Options
Below is a selection of hotels within walking distance or a short cab ride from our Financial District venue. Please book your hotel of choice as rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hotel Indigo Wall Street
Located in New York City's Financial District, Hotel Indigo Downtown Wall Street blends modern comfort with historic charm.
Gild Hall
Welcome to a Lower Manhattan original. Just steps from Wall Street, One World Trade Center, and the Seaport, Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel, is a refined retreat in the heart of the Financial District.
New York Marriott Downtown
Rising above the streets of Lower Manhattan, the New York Marriott Downtown blends classic style with modern luxury.
Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial District
Stay steps from the Staten Island Ferry and Battery Park at Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial Center.
DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown
Located in Manhattan’s Financial District, DoubleTree by Hilton New York Downtown offers easy access to Battery Park, the Staten Island Ferry, and top subway lines.
Additional Information About The GLOBAL SUMMIT
Click this link to register.
Please contact our Events Team at events@5050wob.com.
Access to all Global Summit events including the panel discussions, breakout sessions, and networking reception from 11:00AM – 7:00PM ET.
No, registration for the Breakfast of Corporate Champions and The Global Summit are separate. Guests are welcome to register for both events.
Click this link to register for The Breakfast of Corporate Champions.
We recommend business attire. There will be a step-and-repeat for photo opportunities and a photographer on site.
The Global Summit will take place at 48 Wall Street in the financial district in lower Manhattan.
- By subway: Take the 2,3, 4 or 5 train to Wall Street
- From Newark Airport: Take I-78 E/Holland Tunnel to Broadway, Wall St. in Manhattan, NY
There will be an area to store bags or luggage but please note there is no coat-check or attendant.
Charging stations will not be available and we recommend you bring a portable charging block if you anticipate needing to power your phone or computer.
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