Author, The 5-Week Leadership Challenge; Co-Author, Disrupt Everything; Global Leadership Practice Leader, FranklinCovey
Dr. Patrick Leddin is the Global Leadership Practice Leader at FranklinCovey and the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The 5-Week Leadership Challenge: 35 Action Steps to Become the Leader You Were Meant to Be. A 19-year veteran of the firm, he has served as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Senior Delivery Consultant. He was an associate professor and Associate Director of the Practice of Business Studies at Vanderbilt University, where he taught Corporate Strategy, Negotiation, and Crisis Leadership. He led The Disruption Project at the university, where he studied how people ranging from household names to unsung heroes succeed in the face of disruption, interviewing over 350 positive disruptors from around the world. As the co-author with James Patterson, the world’s bestselling author, on his first leadership and management book, Disrupt Everything: Every Leader, Team Member, and Family Needs to Disrupt. Grow. Change. Triumph., Leddin uses his research from the project as real world, relatable stories and case studies to move its readers to disrupt. He is also the host of the popular, weekly FranklinCovey podcast, C-Suite Conversations with Dr. Patrick Leddin.
2:40 – 3:30 pm
Closing Keynote – Disrupt Anything
World’s Best-selling Author; Co-Author, Disrupt Everything
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the world’s bestselling author. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, Michael Crichton, and now adds Dr. Patrick Leddin, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and FranklinCovey Global Leadership Practice Leader, as his latest co-author on his first leadership and management book, Disrupt Everything: Every Leader, Team Member, and Family Needs to Disrupt. Grow. Change. Triumph. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
2:40 – 3:30 pm
Closing Keynote – Disrupt Anything
Chief Financial Officer, Mars, Incorporated
Claus Aagaard is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Mars, Incorporated; a role he was. appointed to in 2016. Claus is responsible for global Finance, Strategy, Corporate Development, Digital, and Shared Services for Mars.
Claus has been with Mars for more than 20 years, spanning multiple business segments and geographies. Claus
has an extensive background in finance, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions, and he has been instrumental in the significant business and portfolio transformation Mars has undergone in recent years,
including rapid expansion into the veterinary and diagnostics space as well as acquisitions like KIND Snacks and
the proposed Kellanova transaction.
Claus champions long-term value-creation where profit and purpose go hand-in-hand, and he has been a driving
force in integrating financial and non-financial metrics into the Mars enterprise strategy and remuneration principles as well as its Sustainable in a Generation Plan.
Prior to joining Mars, Claus spent 11 years with the international diary cooperative, Arla Foods, where he ultimately served as Finance Director for the U.K.
Claus is a member of the board of Grundfos, a global leader in energy-efficient water solutions for homes, buildings, industries, utilities and agriculture. Claus also serves on the board of Bread for the City, a Washington D.C. non-profit organization.
Claus holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and a Masters degree in Finance and Accounting from Herning Business School. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and four children and enjoys living an active lifestyle.
2:10 – 3:00 pm
Intentional Evolution: The Board’s Role in Challenging Assumptions and Anticipating Change
Board Member, KORE Wireless and Blackline Safety
Dr. Cheemin Bo-Linn has over 25 years in the C-suite including as CEO of Peritus Partners, a global valuation accelerator thru 2024, IBM Vice-President, M&A Partner, and multiple C-suite roles. She leverages her operational expertise in digital transformation and technology (artificial intelligence, SaaS, analytics, IoT) and audit/ finance to position future ready companies and scale growth. Her leadership at 8 prior public boards and multiple privates include Board Chair, Lead Director, Audit Chair, Chair of every major committee, Chair of Tech/ Cybersecurity and Sustainability Chair. She is inducted into the Hall of Fame for Technology, supported by US Presidents Bush thru Obama. Prior, she was recognized by the Financial Times as ” Top 100 Diverse Board Directors” and by the National Association of Corporate Directors as ” Top 50 Board Directors “. Cheemin currently serves on two public boards as Lead Independent Director of Blackline Safety and Audit Chair of Kore Wireless and prior, small to large mid cap, now F500 companies.
She earned her Doctorate Degree in Computer based Information Systems and Organizational Change at the University of Houston, with the post graduate Certificate from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business Executive Program in Strategy and Organization. Her thought leadership and business expertise in creating industry leaders within a risk framework, is published by Harvard and top four accounting firms, shared at her speaking engagements at the United Nations, Dow Jones, SEC, and financial institutions (Barclays, UBS) and as Visiting Professor of the EMBA/MBA program at Columbia University, London School of Business, and University of Hong Kong in finance and digital technologies.
Vice Chair, Cohen Group
Ambassador Nicholas Burns served as US Ambassador to China from 2021 to 2025, helping to shape the increasingly important and complex bilateral relationship with China. Prior to his work in China, Ambassador Burns was a Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group for 12 years following an extraordinary career in the US Foreign Service. His expertise in diplomacy and national security extends to every region of the world.
Among the many other highlights of his three-decade diplomatic career, Ambassador Burns served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2005–2008, US Ambassador to NATO from 2001–2005, and US Ambassador to Greece from 1997–2001. He was the Department of State Spokesperson from 1995–1997 and served on the National Security Council from 1990–1995, including as Special Assistant to President Clinton and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Affairs, as well as Director for Soviet Affairs in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Additionally, he served in the American Consulate General in Jerusalem from 1985–1987 and at the US Embassy in Egypt from 1983–1985.
Ambassador Burns will also resume his role as the Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of Diplomacy and International Relations at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is also Director of the Aspen Strategy Group and serves on the board of several non-profit organizations, including the Council on Foreign Relations, Special Olympics, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Atlantic Council.
Raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Ambassador Burns has a BA in History from Boston College, from which he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1978. He earned his MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in 1980.
Board Member, AMD; IBM Fellow Emeritus; Retired EVP of Innovation and Technology, IBM
Nicholas M. Donofrio began his career in 1964 at IBM, where he remained for 44 years in increasingly responsible roles, including those of division president for advanced workstations, general manager of the large-scale computing division, and executive vice president of innovation and technology. He is a member of several technical societies including Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu as well as the Society of Women Engineers. Donofrio is a Life Fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a Fellow of the UK-based Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the US-based National Academy of Engineering, a member of the New York Academy of Science and the CT Academy of Science and Engineering. He served a term as a Senior Fellow at the Kauffman Foundation (2009-2012). He also served on the US Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board (2008-2012). He was a member of the CT Board of Regents for Higher Education (2011-2016 and as Board Chairman from 2013-2016).
He is an Executive in Residence and Industry Advisory at Northeastern University’s Center for Technology Management and Digital Leadership.
He serves as Chairman of the Board of Quantexa (London England) and Chairman of the Board of Sproxil Corporation (Cambridge MA). He served as co-chair of the Board of the New York Hall of Science (2007-2017) and now serves as Chairman Emeritus.
He is a member of the board of HYPR Corp (Lead Director), Security Score Card, New York Genome Institute, Syracuse University (Life Trustee), National Association of Corporate Directors, Medici Group, The Center for Advancing Innovation and Ravenpod Inc. He was recently named as a founding Trustee for the USA National Semiconductor Technology Center’s operator Natcast.
He served as a board member of National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (1982-2002 and as Board Chair 1997-2002), Clarkson University (1987-1992), RPI (1993-2013), InRoads National Board (2004-2008), TopCoder (2009-2013), O’Brien & Gere (2013-2016), BNY Mellon (1998-2017), Liberty Mutual (2010-2018), AMD (2009-2018), APTIV (2009-2022),MITRE (2010-2022), Peace Tech Lab (2008-2023).
He currently serves as an advisor to Epirus, Tera Group, Bloom Value, X994, Grey Market Labs, Mitchells, Cultiv Ventures and StarVest Partners.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1967 and a Master of Science in the same discipline from Syracuse University in 1971.
In 1999 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in Engineering from Polytechnic University (now NYU); in 2002 he received an honorary doctorate in Sciences from the University of Warwick, England; in 2005 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in Technology from Marist College; in 2006 he received an honorary doctorate in Sciences from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Pace University awarded him an honorary doctorate in Sciences in 2009; the National University of Ireland, Maynooth awarded him an honorary doctorate in Sciences in 2010; in 2011 he was awarded an honorary degree in science from Syracuse University and in 2017 he was awarded an honorary degree in humane letters from Southern VT College. In 2018 he was awarded an honorary Associate Degree from Naugatuck Valley Community College. And in 2019 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in engineering from Drexel University.
Mr. Donofrio is focused sharply on advancing education, employment and career opportunities for underrepresented minorities and women. He served for many years on the Board of Directors for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and was NACME’s Board chair from 1997 through 2002. He served on the National Board of Directors for INROADS (2005-2008), a non-profit organization focused on the training and development of talented minority youth for professional careers in business and industry. In 2005, Mr. Donofrio was appointed by the U.S. Department of Education to serve on the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, a 20-member delegation of business and university leaders charged with developing a new national strategy for post-secondary education that will meet the needs of Americas diverse population and address the economic and workforce needs of the country’s future. In 2006, he was named IBM’s delegate to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a coalition of 190 companies united by a shared commitment to economic growth, ecological balance and social progress. Circa 2003-5, he was one of the key leaders for the US Council on Competitiveness’ National Innovation Initiative study and report ‘Innovate America’.
In 2002, Mr. Donofrio was recognized by Europe’s Institution of Electrical Engineers with the Mensforth International Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to the advancement of manufacturing engineering. In 2003, he was named Industry Week Magazine’s Technology Leader of the Year, the University of Arizona’s Technical Executive of the Year, and was presented with the Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award by the Society of Women Engineers for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of women in the engineering field. In 2005 he was honored by CNBC with its Overall Technology Leadership Award. In 2006, he was honored by The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art with the Urban Visionaries Award for Engineering; was named one of Business Week magazine’s 25 Top Innovation Champions and received the Robert Fletcher Award from Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering for distinguished achievement and service. In 2008, he was honored with SHPE’s Renaissance Engineer award.
In 2008, for his leadership in supporting the US Government’s need for high performance computing as the NNSA managed our country’s nuclear stockpile and weapons systems, the NNSA presented Nick with their Gold Medal for Distinguished Service; the first time the agency honored an individual who was not a government employee.
He formed NMD Consulting in 2008 as he graduated from IBM.
His autobiography, If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes, was released on May 31, 2022.
2:10 – 3:00 pm
Intentional Evolution: The Board’s Role in Challenging Assumptions and Anticipating Change
Board Member, ZoomInfo; Former Chief Privacy Officer and VP, Google
Keith served as Google’s Chief Privacy Officer and Vice President for over 13 years where he led the company’s worldwide privacy and consumer protection legal functions, with teams across the United States, Europe and Asia. In his role, Keith focused on legal leadership, international strategy, AI governance, data privacy/protection, information management, compliance, and risk management. He represented Google globally, engaging with policymakers on privacy and data protection issues. These engagements included members of the U.S. Congress and staff, the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. State Attorneys General, and data protection authorities in Canada, Central America, Europe, and Asia.
Before joining Google, Keith served as the senior-most privacy executive at two Fortune 500 companies, as senior consultant for a global consulting practice, and as general counsel for a privately held advertising technology company.
Keith serves on the board of directors of Zoom Information, Inc. He also serves on the board of directors of DECODE, a nonprofit technology, innovation and entrepreneurship community jointly hosted with U.C. Berkeley and Stanford student organizations, alumni networks and entrepreneurship centers. He previously served on the board of directors of the International Association of Privacy Professionals and is a member of the Future of Privacy Forum Advisory Board and the Center for Information Policy Leadership’s Advisory Council.
Keith received his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and received his J.D. from the George Washington University School of Law, where he was a member of both the Trial Court and Alternative Dispute Resolution boards.
Keith has been a featured speaker discussing online privacy and related subjects on NBC Nightly News, CNN, NPR Talk of the Nation, and other major media outlets. He has been a guest speaker at Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, the U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is frequently featured at industry events focusing on technology, privacy and data protection.
Keith received the NACD Directorship Certification by the National Association of Corporate Directors, is a member of the Maryland Bar, and holds the Certified Information Privacy Professional and AI Governance Professional certifications from the IAPP.
9:25 – 10:15 am
Navigating AI Oversight: The Board’s Role in Governing the Future
Board Member, Annaly Capital Management, Otis Worldwide Corporation and Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings
Kathy Hopinkah Hannan is an experienced corporate board member, C-Suite executive, international
corporate advisor, and strategist with 30+ years of experience leading significant operations and high priority
initiatives. Kathy is also an Audit Committee financial expert (as defined under the Securities and Exchange
Commission Rules regarding the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), is certified in Cybersecurity Oversight
and is NACD Director Certified. Her extensive governance experience is evident through her public and
private company board roles as well as her past nonprofit and NGO roles including her service as the Chairman of the Board for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and Chairman of the Board and National President of the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA)
2:10 – 3:00 pm
Intentional Evolution: The Board’s Role in Challenging Assumptions and Anticipating Change
Board Member, Credit Suisse Funds, Chief Data Scientist, Numerati® Partners LLC
Samantha Kappagoda is an Independent Director of the Credit Suisse Funds, Chief Data Scientist of Numerati® Partners, Visiting Scholar at NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and a Member of the Business Board of the Governing Council at the University of Toronto.
Samantha contributes insights in the boardroom by leveraging her extensive operating experience harnessing data and analytics to drive ROI and mitigate risk throughout her career as a data scientist, economist, entrepreneur, investment and capital markets professional. She is a seasoned leader with over twenty-five years of global experience across digital transformation, data analytics, financial management, risk governance, and strategy. Samantha has founded data analytics and emerging technology firms, as well as a journal on risk, established a research lab at NYU, and led analytics at the World Bank and global macro hedge fund Caxton Associates with $15 billion of assets under management, and she has successfully navigated emerging opportunities, mitigated unanticipated risks, and addressed complex issues in highly regulated multidisciplinary settings. She was recently featured in Directors to Watch (by Directors & Boards magazine), and is a frequent speaker on Artificial Intelligence and risk governance.
9:25 – 10:15 am
Navigating AI Oversight: The Board’s Role in Governing the Future
Executive Director, Council of Institutional Investors
Bob was appointed Executive Director of the Council of Institutional Investors in July 2024. Prior to joining the CII, he was Managing Director at PJT Camberview advising public company boards and executives on a range of corporate governance matters. Prior to that, Bob was Chief Policy Officer at Glass Lewis where he was responsible for managing the research and proxy voting recommendations of over 20,000 research reports annually covering public companies in over 100 countries. Before joining Glass Lewis, he was Director of Investment Proxy Research at Fidelity Investments where he managed the annual voting of over 5,000 securities worth $1 trillion held in Fidelity mutual funds and client pension accounts.
Bob serves on the advisory boards of Columbia Law School’s Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership and the University of Delaware’s Weinberg Center on Corporate Governance.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Providence College, a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University and a Graduate Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University Extension School.
10:40 – 11:30 am
How Agile is Your Board?
Board Member, Allegion, Group 1 Automotive and Grail Inc.; Former CHRO, Merck & Co.
Steven (Steve) C. Mizell is a member of the Board of Directors at Allegion and chair of the Compensation Committee.
Steve also serves on the Board of Directors at Group 1 Automotive, Inc. and Grail Inc. Steve previously served on the Board of Directors for Oshkosh Corporation, where he was chair of the Human Resources Committee.
Steve formerly served as executive vice president, chief human resources officer (CHRO) at Merck & Co., Inc. (2018 to 2024) and was responsible for all aspects of human resources for over 68,000 employees worldwide. Steve joined Merck in 2018 from Monsanto, where he was responsible for creating an industry-leading workplace for more than 20,000 employees around the world. In this role, he oversaw the company’s approach to talent acquisition and development, employee wellness as well as diversity and inclusion.
Steve joined Monsanto as senior vice president, human resources, in 2004 and served as executive vice president, human resources, from 2007 to 2018. Previously, he served as senior vice president and chief corporate resources officer for AdvancePCS, a pharmaceutical company, and he also held key human resources management roles at companies across the energy, defense, beverage and technology sectors.
Over the course of his career at Monsanto, Steve’s leadership has helped the company earn recognition as a best place to work. Most recently, this has included being named among World’s Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work®; 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption; Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc; and as a Top Employer by Science Magazine.
A resident of St. Louis, Missouri, Steve is actively involved in a number of community causes. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Opera Theater St. Louis and is a supporter of the U.S. Kidney Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and Youth in Need. He has been recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of St. Louis’s Most Influential Diverse Business Leaders.
Steve holds a B.S. from Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
1:55 – 2:40 pm
Rethinking CEO Succession for What’s Next
EVP and Chief Legal, Risk and Regulatory Officer, Nasdaq
As Executive Vice President and Global Chief Legal, Risk and Regulatory Officer, John Zecca is responsible for providing legal counsel to senior management and for overseeing the quality of legal services across the global organization. John is also responsible for developing, reviewing and maintaining Nasdaq’s global risk program, as well as market regulation and the Office of Corporate Secretary. John’s career spans market regulation, corporate law, corporate governance and market structure.
He previously served as Nasdaq’s General Counsel North America and Chief Regulatory Officer, responsible for Nasdaq’s corporate law, intellectual property and regulatory teams that maintain fair, orderly markets and protect investors. Prior to joining Nasdaq in 2001, John served as legal counsel to a commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission and practiced corporate securities law at both Hogan Lovells and Kaye Scholer. Before that role, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable John H. Pratt of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
John received his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He is a member of the bar in the District of Columbia and California, and a licensed solicitor in England and Wales. He is based in Washington, D.C.
3:00-3:50 pm
Global Policies, Domestic Regulations: Inside the SEC’s Playbook for 2025
Board Member, MSCI and CSX
Bob was appointed Executive Director of the Council of Institutional Investors in July 2024. Prior to joining the CII, he was Managing Director at PJT Camberview advising public company boards and executives on a range of corporate governance matters. Prior to that, Bob was Chief Policy Officer at Glass Lewis where he was responsible for managing the research and proxy voting recommendations of over 20,000 research reports annually covering public companies in over 100 countries. Before joining Glass Lewis, he was Director of Investment Proxy Research at Fidelity Investments where he managed the annual voting of over 5,000 securities worth $1 trillion held in Fidelity mutual funds and client pension accounts.
Bob serves on the advisory boards of Columbia Law School’s Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership and the University of Delaware’s Weinberg Center on Corporate Governance.
Bob holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Providence College, a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University and a Graduate Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University Extension School.
10:40 – 11:30 am
How Agile is Your Board?
Board Member, Lucid Motors and The Woodlands Financial Group
Janet S. Wong is an experienced business executive, board director, and SEC financial expert with success in driving business results. With more than 30 years of business experience in professional services and almost 10 years serving in the corporate boardroom, she is a valued strategic advisor and governance leader. Janet has a longtime commitment to developing future leaders. With recognition as a thought leader, Janet is a frequent speaker and author on issues impacting companies and their
boardrooms.
Janet served as a senior partner with KPMG, a global professional services
organization, where she spent most of her career based in the San Francisco and
Silicon Valley offices providing her industry experience in consumer products, financial services, retail, manufacturing and technology. Janet has worked with Fortune 500 companies and emerging technology companies that grew to successful publicly listed companies. Her consulting experience includes challenges facing many
global innovative companies such as strategic and operational issues, risk and
regulatory matters including cybersecurity, digital transformation, internal controls over financial reporting, and mergers and acquisition transaction advice.
9:30 – 10:20 am
Leadership Legacies: Timeless Advice from the C-Suite to the Boardroom
Director, EY Americas Center for Board Matters
Robyn draws on her long career in the corporate governance space to provide strategic direction for the EY Center for Board Matters and in working with board members and executives on a range of governance and strategy issues.
She conducts briefing sessions for corporate boards, convenes and leads board member networks and roundtables, serves as a speaker and writer on governance topics, and helps lead the firm’s initiatives to advance boardroom diversity.
Previously, Robyn was with the National Association of Corporate Directors, where she led the organization’s Advisory Councils, authored its flagship Blue Ribbon Commission reports and was a faculty member of the director education programs.
Robyn previously held senior roles at several global professional services firms. She currently serves on the Methodology Advisory Committee for Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies.
Robyn holds an MS from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.
2:10 – 3:00 pm
Intentional Evolution: The Board’s Role in Challenging Assumptions and Anticipating Change
Partner, Winston & Strawn
Mike is the managing partner of Winston’s Houston office. He focuses his practice on
corporate finance and securities law, including securities offerings, public company advisory, special purpose acquisition company offerings, private equity and venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate representation.
Mike regularly counsels public companies on strategic transactions, capital markets offerings, and general corporate and securities law matters. He represents both issuers and underwriters in U.S. and non-U.S. capital markets transactions, including IPOs and direct listings, and advises on corporate governance and securities market regulation.
2:00 – 2:50 pm
A People-Centric Approach to Building Resilience
Partner and Global Chairman of Corporate, Linklaters LLP
George Casey is Global Chairman of Corporate of Linklaters LLP, a global law firm with over 3,100 lawyers across 31 offices in 21 countries. Prior to joining Linklaters, George was Global Managing Partner of Shearman & Sterling LLP and has served as Global Head of the Mergers & Acquisitions Group and Global Head of Corporate, while continuing his full-time practice.
He has extensive experience in U.S. domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, ranging from public company acquisitions to complex carve-out sales, strategic investments and joint venture transactions, representing major US and non-US multinational corporate clients and sovereign wealth funds in their most complex transactions. In addition, he regularly advises Boards of Directors and management on corporate governance and shareholder relations issues. He combines a very diverse transactional experience with a deep understanding of clients’ businesses across the chemicals, healthcare, mining and metals, media, cable, technology and telecommunications industries.
The American Lawyer named George a “Dealmaker of the Year” and “Transatlantic Corporate Dealmaker.” He has been recognized as a leading M&A practitioner by Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR. George has been inducted by Legal 500 into the Corporate/M&A “Hall of Fame,” one of only 21 M&A lawyers across the United States who were awarded this recognition, and is included in the 2023 Legal 500 US M&A Powerlist. He was named by clients as one of nine M&A “Super All-Stars” in a survey of US M&A lawyers by BTI Consulting.
In addition to his work with clients, George is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he teaches a course on mergers and acquisitions. He is also a regular lecturer on U.S. M&A at L’école De Droit De La Sorbonne – Université Paris I.
George is a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Audit Committee of the American University and American College of Greece and a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for European Policy Analysis, a Washington DC think tank.
Office Managing Shareholder, Littler
Jeanine Conley Daves has represented many of the nation’s leading companies in employment-related disputes and workplace investigations. She has successfully tried cases in both state and federal court and has significant experience litigating race, age, gender, religion and disability discrimination lawsuits, wage and hour class and collective actions and whistleblower and retaliation claims. Jeanine advises and counsels clients in all industries, particularly the manufacturing, retail, financial services and media and entertainment industries and has represented clients before numerous government agencies. She navigates clients through all areas of employment law, from hiring to termination, and regularly counsels clients on issues related to:
Through her experience as a trial lawyer, Jeanine is able to strategize with her clients to resolve employment disputes through the most cost-effective and efficient means for the client by obtaining favorable settlements, dismissal of actions through summary judgment or full defense verdicts at trial. Jeanine also provides extensive pre-litigation advice and counsel to clients and regularly conducts trainings on all facets of employment law and assists clients with revising employee handbooks, policies, and procedures and drafts employment agreements and restrictive covenants.
Jeanine served as a clerk to the Hon. William G. Bassler in the District Court of the District of New Jersey and has been recognized frequently for her civic and community engagement. She is a Past Chair of the Board of the New York Urban League and is actively involved in several organizations.
2:10 – 3:00 pm
Intentional Evolution: The Board’s Role in Challenging Assumptions and Anticipating Change
Shareholder, Littler
In Brendan Fitzgerald’s labor and employment law practice, he regularly advises and represents employers in a broad range of labor and employment law matters arising under international, federal, and state laws. He assists clients with a wide range of issues related to labor management relations, including:
As a complement to this domestic labor management relations practice, Brendan helps multinational corporations based in the United States and abroad formulate and implement strategies to respond to efforts by labor unions and nongovernmental organizations to discredit them through global campaigns. His work includes:
Brendan also regularly counsels employers on complex labor and employment issues that arise in the context of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy, downsizing, reorganization and turnaround work with troubled companies or industries. This includes transaction planning, due diligence, deal documentation, assistance with plant closure and notification obligations, renegotiation of labor agreements and pre-and post-closing integration activities.
Brendan practices in various federal and state courts and administrative agencies on a variety of employment law matters, including a wide range of discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, and he has assisted in the defense of a number of class actions arising under federal and state laws.
Brendan’s entire practice is guided by his having spent more than two years in-house within the healthcare field. During his time away from the firm, Brendan developed and implemented comprehensive labor relations and positive employee relations strategies. This experience has given Brendan a unique lens to assist clients in developing and implementing practical solutions.
2:00 – 2:50 pm
A People-Centric Approach to Building Resilience
Principal, Meridian Compensation Partners
Adam currently advises clients on a broad range of executive compensation matters, including benchmarking, peer group design, short-term and long-term incentive plan design, change-in-control and severance arrangements, and board of director compensation. His clients include both public and private companies from a wide range of industries.
Adam began his career as the head of acquisitions for a national commercial real estate company. After going to law school, Adam worked at a global law firm practicing in the area of executive compensation and employee benefits. As an attorney, Adam assisted public companies and private equity funds with the compensation and benefits aspects of corporate transactions and the drafting and administration of a wide variety of compensation arrangements and equity plans. Prior to joining Meridian, Adam worked as both an attorney and as an executive compensation consultant.
He has a J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Illinois and received his M.B.A. from Loyola University Chicago. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Illinois.
2:00 – 2:50 pm
A People-Centric Approach to Building Resilience
Managing Director, FW Cook
Eric Henken has over ten years of executive compensation consulting experience and works with companies from a diverse mix of industries, company sizes, and life-cycle stages. He has experience partnering directly with compensation committees in the development of executive compensation programs that align the interests of executives and stakeholders.
He has recently worked with over 30 organizations on the calculation and communication of their CEO pay ratio disclosures. He is a featured speaker at national industry conference events.
Prior to joining FW Cook in 2018, he served as a director in Willis Towers Watson’s Executive Compensation practice.
Co-Chair, Shareholder Activism and Corporate Defense practice, Sidley Austin
Kai co-chairs Sidley’s Shareholder Activism & Corporate Defense Practice. He has over 20 years of experience in the U.S., Europe and Asia. In the past five years, Kai has defended around 150 proxy contests globally and approximately 25% of all late-stage U.S. proxy fights, more than any other defense attorney in the world.
Under Kai’s leadership, Sidley rose to the top of all activism defense league tables in recent years, including No. 1 rankings by Bloomberg, FactSet, Diligent, and LSEG (formerly Refinitiv/Thomson Reuters) for 2022, 2023 and H1 2024. Sidley is ranked in Band 1 for “Takeover Defense” by Chambers USA and in Tier 1 for “Shareholder Activism – Advice to Boards” by The Legal 500.
The American Lawyer named Kai “Dealmaker of the Year” for the Wynn Resorts proxy contest in 2019. Since 2017, Chambers USA has recognized Kai individually as leading lawyer for “Takeover Defense”, ranking him in Band 1 and noting that “Kai is a pioneer in the field of shareholder activism defense.” Kai has also been listed as one of the leadings lawyers for “Shareholder Activism – Advice to Boards” by The Legal 500, calling him and his partner Derek Zaba “two of the best lawyers in America.” He has been included for the NACD Directorship 100 as a Governance Professional every year since 2022. Kai has been selected as one of the Lawdragon 500 “Leading Dealmakers in America” every year since 2021. In 2020, Kai was elected to the American College of Governance Counsel, the honorary association of lawyers recognized for their achievements in governance.
Kai serves on the board of the New York Chapter of the NACD and has served on the Law360 Mergers & Acquisitions Editorial Board for several years. He speaks regularly on panels and at universities around the world (including Harvard and Frankfurt). He is frequently interviewed and quoted as a thought leader by the media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, The Economist, TIME, Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, CNN, USA Today, Forbes, Law360 and The Deal.
10:40 – 11:30 am
Preparing for a Proxy Fight
Partner, Meridian Compensation Partners
Jeff is a lead executive compensation consultant and currently advises clients on a broad range of executive compensation and corporate governance matters, including setting executive and director pay levels, designing short- and long-term incentive plans, analyzing pay and performance alignment, assessing custom peer groups, developing severance arrangements and aligning compensation programs to business strategy and results.
Jeff began his career as a public accountant in the insurance industry. Prior to joining Meridian, he worked in the client finance group of a global advertising agency, supporting national and multi-national client accounts, and spent several years trading commodity options on the trading floor of the Chicago Board of Trade.
Jeff’s clients span across multiple industries including Construction, Distribution, Financial Services, Industrials, Insurance, Pharmaceuticals, Transportation and Utilities. He works with both public and private companies, ranging in size from small cap to the Fortune 100.
Jeff has been a presenter for such organizations as the NYSE Governance Series and the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, has guest-hosted Meridian’s Executive Compensation podcast and has published numerous articles on executive compensation and corporate governance topics.
Jeff received his M.B.A. from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University with concentrations in finance and management information systems. He has a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing from the University of Dayton and is a Certified Public Accountant.
10:40 – 11:30 am
Preparing for a Proxy Fight
Partner, Meridian Compensation Partners
Jim has over 19 years of experience in executive compensation consulting. He provides guidance to Compensation Committees, Boards of Directors, and management teams regarding executive and outside director compensation program design. His areas of expertise
include:
He has worked with organizations with revenues from $100 million-$100+ billion. His specific industry experience includes retail, chemicals, technology, manufacturing, hospitality/gaming, and financial services. His primary role
with clients is to lead engagements with the Compensation Committee or Senior Management in addressing the
organization’s most critical compensation design issues.
Jim is a member of the NACD chapter in Philadelphia and a frequent speaker at various executive pay related
forums.
Jim received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
2:25 – 3:25 pm
The Board’s Ultimate Cautionary Tale: Lessons From Enron’s Former Finance Chief
Shareholder and Board Member, Littler
Charlotte Main is a legal innovator and legacy member of the Littler team that developed the firm’s award-winning Littler CaseSmart (LCS) and Littler onDemand (LoD) platforms. Providing employers with client-dedicated teams, streamlined processes, and unparalleled dashboard reporting, LCS and LoD enhance Littler’s partnership with clients, delivering cost-conscious and data-driving employment litigation and advice and counsel services.
In her current role, Charlotte routinely consults with clients to identify how Littler can best meet their needs, whether through traditional service models, the firm’s innovations, or a custom combination of Littler’s resources. Charlotte also speaks on issues related to legal innovation, data reporting and analytics, legal process management, and pricing of legal services. Among others, she has been published in the International Legal Technology Association’s Peer to Peer Magazine.
Charlotte has provided counsel across a wide-range of employment matters and successfully represented her clients in single-plaintiff employment litigation and jury trials in federal and state courts across the country. Today, she oversees teams of Littler attorneys who defend and resolve thousands of administrative agency charges in every U.S. jurisdiction.
Committed to her community and environmental sustainability, Charlotte is a member of the firm’s Environmental Working Group. She is an avid “birder” who supports local nonprofit organizations that rehabilitate injured and orphaned native wildlife.
Charlotte joined Littler in August 2001. She was executive editor of the Loyola Consumer Law Review and flexed her former All-American college debate team skills as a member of the National Moot Court Team and the American Bar Association Moot Court Team.
10:40 – 11:30 am
Preparing for a Proxy Fight
Director, PwC Governance Insights Center
Carin is a Director with PwC’s Governance Insights Center, with a focus on corporate governance and enterprise risk management. Throughout her career she has provided advisory and implementation services that enable private and public companies to efficiently and effectively meet their governance, risk management, and compliance responsibilities. She also assists organizations with integrating governance and risk considerations into their strategy setting, business planning and performance management processes. Her background includes corporate governance strategy and structure; corporate governance training; managing board relations; director succession and recruitment; board planning and operations; enterprise risk management; compliance program development; and corporate policy & procedure development.
8:35 – 9:25 pm
The Leadership Litmus Test: Measuring and Improving Board Leadership Effectiveness
National Managing Partner – Governance, Emerging Issues and External Communications, BDO
Amy has spent over 16 years with BDO as part of the National Assurance practice office. She founded and directs BDO’s Center for Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting, designed for financial executives and those charged with governance of both public and private companies. She is responsible for the development and presentation of a significant volume of BDO’s continuing professional education (CPE)-worthy webinar, on-demand and podcast programs and thought leadership pieces on a variety of matters related to corporate governance, including cybersecurity, fraud, succession planning, and audit quality. Amy further develops certain of our firm’s board of director forums as well as participates in external events for corporate directors.
She also participates in the development and implementation of BDO’s national strategies and initiatives that support industry, business, technical, and client service goals. She is responsible for publication and issuance of BDO’s annual voluntary Audit Quality Reports and tools and templates supporting communications with our client Audit Committees.
Amy currently serves as BDO’s Policy Lead to and participates on the Center for Audit Quality’s (CAQ) Advisory Committee and has assisted in CAQ initiatives, including audit committee communications and audit quality indicators. She has participated in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)’s EDMAX forum for accounting firm learning specialists to share knowledge/practices on learning methods.
She fully supports BDO initiatives aimed at flexibility, development, and career progression, and serves on the BDO’s Women’s Inclusion initiative and the Virtual Parenting Network as well as BDO’s focus on the audit of the future.
1:10 – 1:55 pm
Closing the Gap: Board Assumptions versus Investors’ Expectations
Senior Vice President, Leadership Insights, DDI
Dr. Matt Paese is a globally recognized author, CEO coach, C-suite consultant, keynote speaker, and pioneer of many of today’s leading approaches for helping leaders succeed at the top. He is the lead author of Leaders Ready Now: Accelerating Growth in a Faster World (2016) and co-author of its award-winning predecessor, Grow Your Own Leaders (2002), which have shaped over two decades of impact in growing leaders into skilled, self-aware, compassionate enterprise executives. Matt is now Senior Vice President of Executive Services for DDI.
Matt has advised thousands of CEOs, senior teams, boards and C-suite executives in more than 20 countries across the world. He is sought-after for his expertise in CEO succession and onboarding, senior team effectiveness, board effectiveness, and executive succession and development. He has authored scores of articles and white papers, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, Chief Executive, The Conference Board, and Human Resources Executive to name a few. His team’s research has generated countless insights and discoveries in C-suite leadership, executive team and individual effectiveness, and enterprise succession planning.
As an entrepreneur, Matt was one of several originators who launched DDI’s Executive Services business in 1995. DDI has since provided coaching, development, and consulting to hundreds of thousands of executives in more than 3,000 organizations worldwide. He has led the development and implementation of industry-leading solutions in the areas of executive assessment, coaching, team effectiveness, and board leadership. Matt is the principal architect of many DDI proprietary services, including Business Driver Analysis, Executive Focus CoachingTM, and the newly released Pressure Point CoachingTM, which is rapidly altering the global landscape of high-speed, just-in-time coaching for executives.
1:55 – 2:40 pm
Rethinking CEO Succession for What’s Next
Shareholder & Co-Chair, Workplace Policy Institute, Littler
James A. Paretti, Jr. is an experienced management-side employment and labor relations attorney with in-depth political and policy knowledge of labor, pension, healthcare and employment law, regulations and legislation. Jim is well versed in all aspects of legislative and political processes with demonstrated knowledge in the substance of federal labor and employment policy. He has over two decades of experience working with federal legislators and policymakers, including former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Chairmen of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and senior level administration officials.
Prior to joining Littler, Jim was chief of staff and senior counsel to the acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He provided legal and political counsel with respect to all aspects of agency business, administered and managed the Office of the Chair where he was responsible for over 2,200 employees and a 375 million dollar annual budget, and served as primary liaison to regulated stakeholders and Capitol Hill.
His extensive experience includes developing policy and providing legal counsel on the Committee on Education and Labor in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as coordinating external communications and media relations for a senior member of Congress. Jim represented corporate and nonprofit clients in employment litigation in federal and state court, before administrative agencies and in private arbitration while with two Boston firms.
During law school, he held positions as editor as well as note and comment editor for the New York University Law Review.
9:25 – 10:15 am
Navigating AI Oversight: The Board’s Role in Governing the Future
Partner, Meridian Compensation Partners
Bob Romanchek, Partner, has more than 30 years of experience in consulting on executive compensation matters and has advised Compensation Committees and executive management at a significant number of large, small, and mid-cap companies, both public and
private.
Bob leads numerous client engagements and provides expert consulting advice on issues relating to executive compensation including, but not limited to, equity and cash-based long-term incentive design and grant structure, short-term incentive program design, employment
contract design including change-in-control and severance provisions, supplemental retirement and deferred compensation program design and funding, responding to proxy advisory firms, and proxy and CD&A disclosure. Bob also consults on committee meeting process, overall executive compensation
philosophy development, outside director pay, and capital structure change transactions including private equity
buyouts, initial public offerings, divestiture and spinoffs, and bankruptcy confirmation and emergence.
He is a frequent presenter at board and compensation committee meetings, and has lectured extensively and has
been interviewed on executive compensation matters for such organizations as the National Association of Corporate Directors, Corporate Board Member, Boardroom Resources, Equilar, and various industry groups. Bob
also has authored numerous articles and has been published in business periodicals such as the NACD Directorship magazine, CEO magazine, the Corporate Board Member Board Governance Series, WorldatWork Journal, the International HR Journal, the Journal of Compensation and Benefits, CFO magazine, the Agenda,
Insights, and Board Room Reports.
Bob is an attorney and a Certified Public Accountant, and is a Certified Executive Compensation Professional. He
is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law, and also holds an M.B.A., cum laude, from the DePaul
University College of Commerce. His undergraduate degree is in accounting and economics.
2:25 – 3:25 pm
The Board’s Ultimate Cautionary Tale: Lessons From Enron’s Former Finance Chief
Executive Director, Diligent Institiute
In her role as Executive Director of the Diligent Institute, the think tank and global governance research arm of Diligent Corporation, Dottie provides thought leadership on governance, cybersecurity and technology topics through presentations to boards and executives dozens of times each year at events around the globe. She is co-author of the book, “Governance in the Digital Age: A Guide for the Modern Corporate Board Director,” and she co-hosts the fortnightly show, The Corporate Director Podcast. Dottie brings over 20 years’ experience in governance-related roles, including serving as a director, officer, committee chair, senior executive, governance consultant and trainer for private, public and nonprofit boards.
9:25 – 10:15 am
Navigating AI Oversight: The Board’s Role in Governing the Future
Founder and CEO, Advantage Media and Forbes Books
Adam Witty is the Founder and CEO of Advantage Media and Forbes Books, a global leader in publishing and Authority-building content media services for top business leaders and entrepreneurs. Today the select community comprises more than 2,000 authors across 44 U.S. states and 14 countries.
A sought-after speaker, teacher, and advisor on marketing and business growth, Adam has shared the stage with Steve Forbes, Gene Simmons of KISS, and other industry icons. His expertise in “Authority Media” is showcased through his best-selling books, including The Authority Advantage and Authority Marketing. His latest book, The Authority Advantage: Building Thought Leadership Focused on Impact Not Ego, became a #1 Amazon bestseller in
five categories and received acclaim from major reviewers like Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Indie.
Adam’s insights have been featured in prominent publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, and USA Today. Adam, wife Erin, and sons Ellis and Warren are proud to call Charleston home.
1:55 – 2:40 pm
Rethinking CEO Succession for What’s Next
