Alexandra

Wilkis Wilson

Founder/Principal

Clerisy

Miami,

Florida

2026 Cohort

Industry

Financial Services

Area of Expertise

Business Development

Immediately Qualified to Serve

Nominating and Governance

Previous Board Experience

Nonprofit, Private

Alexandra Wilkis Wilson is a visionary entrepreneur, board director and investor who has distinguished herself through a series of digital enterprises that have delighted consumers and disrupted industries. Best known professionally as a founder of the ecommerce pioneer Gilt, she went on to build additional startups with successes in the on-demand economy, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. She has advised dozens of emerging and growth-stage businesses, served on the boards of companies, and personally invested in or advised over 75 early-stage startups.

Alexandra brings deep expertise across a broad range of consumer sectors—including CPG, fashion, beauty, personal care, healthcare, hospitality, media, and retail. She is widely recognized as an omnichannel consumer expert.

As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Clerisy, Alexandra draws on her trailblazing operating experience and extensive network to back visionary entrepreneurs innovating in the consumer whitespace. She and her co-founder launched Clerisy as a growth equity fund focused on scaling high-potential consumer and consumer-tech businesses. Clerisy’s portfolio includes Olipop, MUSH, CleanCo, Dormify (exit to Williams-Sonoma), UNION, Sonoro, GolfForever, The Unquantifiable and Eudēmonia. She holds the Clerisy board seat at CleanCo, the leading, independently owned non-alcoholic spirits brand.

Alexandra served for five years as a Board Director at Giant Eagle, a privately held $10B grocery chain that recently sold its GetGo convenience stores to Alimentation Couche-Tard for $1.6B. She previously served on the boards of KDC/One, Corelle Brands, and Perry Ellis International, serving on various committees as part of each board appointment. In addition, She invests in several VC funds, including Forerunner Ventures, Montage Ventures, The Female Founders Fund, Everywhere Ventures, The Venture Collective (TVC), Red Bike Capital, Red Beard Ventures, 6th Man Ventures and Blockchange Ventures.

Prior to Clerisy, Alexandra served as SVP of Consumer Strategy and Innovation at Allergan, the $15B global pharmaceutical company. In that role, she led a team of 70 and launched the consumer-facing digital platforms Spotlyte and Regi, transforming how Allergan marketed its medical aesthetics portfolio, including BOTOX and Juvederm, directly to consumers.

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

Designed for aspiring and newly appointed directors, this session offers practical guidance on how to step confidently into your first boardroom. Learn what to expect in early meetings, how to contribute with purpose, and how to quickly build credibility and trust among seasoned peers. Gain insight into board dynamics, unspoken protocols, and the critical questions new directors should be ready to ask and answer.

Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism

In this tactical, director-focused session, participants will engage in case-based exercises to dissect real campaigns and pressure scenarios. From activist letters to proxy fights, explore how boards can craft strategic responses that reinforce governance integrity, protect corporate reputation, and align with long-term priorities. Walk away with actionable tactics and frameworks to strengthen board preparedness in the face of growing investor scrutiny.

Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action

This interactive session places directors inside the boardroom during moments of disruption. Through tabletop exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will explore how boards can apply structured frameworks to assess geopolitical risk, anticipate threats, and make decisive decisions under pressure. Designed as a classroom-style session, this breakout provides practical tools to strengthen oversight and build a proactive board response strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

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