COPYRIGHT © 2025 50/50 WOMEN ON BOARDS
Maureen Short is an independent Board Director at Big Lots (NYSE: BIG), a $4.7 billion retail/consumer company, where she is a member of the Audit and Capital Allocation committees leveraging her background as a certified financial expert and a certified Director with the NACD. Throughout her career, she gained expertise guiding organizations through significant transformations and aligning management teams on strategic planning and increasing shareholder value. With over 25 years of operational leadership across a diverse range of industries and technology-enabled businesses, Maureen has the ability to drive insightful and constructive discussions, and to challenge and nurture teams through major change and strategy execution. She is interested in joining a new corporate board.
Previously, Maureen served as CFO of Upbound Group (NASDAQ: UPBD), formerly Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) and Acima, a $4 billion omni-channel platform company that provides technology-driven financial solutions. As CFO, she led the organization through a transformation, broadening its customer base and diversifying revenue streams resulting in doubling the business. Maureen navigated the organization through a period of significant change including activist investors joining the board causing significant C-suite and Board turnover, the potential sale of the company, and the successful turnaround of the business.
Maureen’s business experience makes her immediately qualified to serve on the Audit, Finance, Compensation, Nominating & Governance & Executive committees.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 50/50 WOMEN ON BOARDS
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
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
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
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