Global Summit

The Future Board Agenda: Reforming Corporate Governance

September 17, 2026

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET

48 Wall Street, New York, NY

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 Corporate 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

Dambisa Moyo transparent background small

Agenda

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Registration

12:00 PM – 12:20 PM

Welcome & Setting the Stage

12:20 PM – 12:45 PM

Keynote: Governing What Comes Next

Featured Speaker:

Baroness Dambisa Moyo of Knightsbridge Member of the House of Lords Board Member, Chevron, Condé Nast and Starbucks
12:45 PM – 1:15 PM

The Global Reality Check: The World Has Changed. Has Your Board?

Moderator:

Hema Widhani Chief Experience, Brand & Marketing Officer Edward Jones

Speakers:

Jan Elizabeth Tighe Retired Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy, Independent Director, General Motors, Goldman Sachs, and the Huntsman Corporation
Laysha Ward
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Lunch & Networking

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Director Dialogue Series

Dialogue #1: Risk, Resilience & Reputation: AI, Cyber and the New Oversight Standard

Speakers:

Sonita Lontoh Board Member, Sunrun and TrueBlue Partner, Alpha
June Yang Board Member UiPath, NetApp, and MSCI

Dialogue #2: The Future of Leadership: Succession & Power Transfer in Public Companies

Moderator:

Gloria Lin Senior Managing Director Evercore
3:15 PM – 3:25 PM

Presentation of our 2026 50 Women to Watch Honorees Cohort

3:25 PM – 3:45 PM

Networking Break

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM

Breakout Sessions

Room A: Board Composition and Succession Strategy (Directors Only | Closed Session)


Gloria Lin Senior Managing Director Evercore

Room B: Capital, Growth & Long-Term Value (Investors, Directors and Corporate Executives)


Lori Keith Portfolio Manager Parnassus Investments
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Networking Break

5:00 PM – 5:45 PM

The Global Debate: Public Trust — When Should Boards Speak?

Moderator:

Kimberly Petillo-Décossard Co-Head, Global Mergers & Acquisitions and Partner White & Case

Speakers:

Dr. Sylvia Johnson Senior Executive and Presidential Appointee to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
Ed Magee Chief Operating Officer Belmont University's Thomas F. Frist Jr. College of Medicine
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM

Closing Remarks & Leadership Commitments

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Cocktail Reception

Speakers

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Sponsorship Opportunities

Access decision-makers committed to improving governance and board leadership, elevate your brand, and provide your women talent with exclusive opportunities in board-readiness programming and events.

Sponsorship Engage

Engage

Build meaningful relationships and position your brand among corporate leaders.

Sponsorship Influence

Influence

Share your expertise and support stronger, more inclusive board leadership.

Sponsorship Advance

Advance

Prepare and elevate your senior executives for board service.

Sponsor Benefits

For sponsorship inquiries, please email Shane Cullen, Director of Development at shane@5050wob.com.

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