NACD PSW | UCLA Corporate Directors Symposium

Please join us, as we partner with UCLA Anderson Executive Education, for our 17th annual Corporate Directors Symposium on Friday, November 15 from 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles, CA.

Our theme this year is “The Catalyst Board: Building Thriving Organizations”.

Schedule

7:00 AM - 7:30 AM:  Check-In
7:30 AM - 9:15 AM:   Hot Topic Sessions & Breakfast
9:15 AM - 3:30 PM:   Keynote, Main Sessions & Lunch 
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM:  Cocktail Networking Reception

Keynote: Building It To Last: A Futurist Outlook
Jim Hackett, Keynote Speaker
Karen Bogart, Moderator

Our Keynote Speaker James (Jim) P. Hackett left a lasting impact on the industries he has served, from revolutionizing office furniture design as CEO of Steelcase to steering the historic Ford Motor Company as its CEO into the future of smart and electric vehicles. He will share his perspectives on companies which have not moved quickly or effectively enough into the future and those which have and why. He will also share how he has taken risks and led companies both as CEO and in the boardroom through significant transformations into future states and provide us with key takeaways to practice in the boardroom.   

Mr. Hackett currently serves as Board Director of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (since 2021) and La-Z-Boy, Incorporated (since 2021), along with several non-profit organizations.   

Karen Bogart, President of the NACD PSW Chapter, will moderate this session. She currently serves as Board Director of Mohawk Industries (since 2011) and of Michelman, Inc. (since 2015) and of Fielding Graduate University. Ms. Bogart is President of Smith Bogart Consulting, LLC. 

Session #1: Fostering Talent & Culture
Deborah Martin & Christobel Selecky, Speakers
Kate Duchene, Moderator

This session will explore strategic and tactical needs and opportunities to develop talent and a culture that advances organizational capability, agility, resilience, and goal achievement, now and into the future. It will consider the responsibilities of company leadership and the board in defining strategic needs, alternatives, and shaping key investments.

Kate Duchene, CEO and Director, RGP, will moderate this discussion with Deborah Martin, Vice President, People and Culture, Sempra Energy, and Christobel Selecky, Former CEO and now Director, Teleperformance (TEP.PA), ImmunityBio (IBRX), Satellite Healthcare, and Griswold Home Care. 

Session #2: Building Long Term Value & Brand Equity
Richard Davis, Speaker
Susan Mallory, Moderator

Known as one of the most effective banking CEOs in US history, Richard K. Davis led US Bank through the Great Recession and developed its brand in the banking industry for reliability, exceptional service and outstanding financial stability. During this session, Mr. Davis, former Executive Chair and CEO of US Bancorp, parent company of U.S. Bank and former President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation will share with us his wisdom, lessons learned and valuable examples both leading companies and in the boardroom on building long term value and differentiated sustainable brand equity.   

Mr. Davis currently serves on the board of directors of Mastercard International (since 2018), Dow Inc. (since 2015, including appointment as Lead Director in 2021), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2022), and the Mayo Clinic.  

This session will be moderated by Susan H. Mallory, former banker and financial services executive who held several executive roles with Northern Trust Corporation and serves on the Board of Directors of two subsidiary boards of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Fire & Casualty and Life Insurance Companies (since 2021), as well as two private company advisory boards (since 2021), and several non-profit boards, including the NACD Pacific Southwest Chapter.

Session #3: Being Digital To Win
Cheryl Ainoa & Das Dasgupta, Speakers
Dominique Hanssens, Moderator

Being Digital in this day and age is almost a given. However, both the speed of digital innovations and the power that they bring are stunning, to the point where their clamor may be deafening the very audience who should be tuning in. 

During this session, Dr Dominique “Mike” Hanssens, Distinguished Research Professor of Marketing, UCLA Anderson School of Management, will moderate this panel of two practicing luminaries in leading-edge consumer product companies: Dr. Das Dasgupta, Chief Data and AI Officer of Starbucks; and Cheryl Ainoa, EVP and CTO, Sam’s Club of Walmart Inc.   

Framing his questions in the context of “The Age of AI”, Dr Hanssens will explore our expert panel’s opinions on the role that people, processes and technologies have to play together, to yield optimal business results so that businesses are investing “in IT to win it”. Our panel will share practical stories from their vast experiences.  

Session #4: Contrarian Perspectives: Challenging Your Business Model
Mellody Hobson, Speaker
Antonio Bernardo, Moderator

During this capstone session, Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments, Chairman of the Board of Starbucks and a director of JPMorgan Chase, will share her thoughts on the benefits of contrarian perspectives in the boardroom and throughout the organization. This fireside chat will be moderated by Antonio Bernardo, Dean of the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Ms. Hobson will elaborate on when a board needs to be transformative in its thinking about the future and have the courage to disrupt the “go along to get along” attitudes that too often mire board deliberations. Occasionally, it is necessary to challenge other directors in a lively discussion of the short-term and long-term consequences of future company strategy. Given the increasingly complex board agendas for many companies, this will be a timely discussion, and this session will tie together the topics of Sessions 1, 2 and 3, and will help to define “The Catalyst Board”. 

Pricing

- Early Bird Pricing (ends 9/30/24): $575 NACD members, $650 non-members
- Regular Pricing (begins 10/1/24): $675 NACD members, $750 non-members

Sponsors

Hotel Accommodations

We recommend the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel for attendees that are staying overnight. This hotel is one block away from The Jonathan Club. 

HOTEL WEBSITE

Terms & Conditions

NACD Pacific Southwest takes your health and safety seriously. However, despite our efforts, as at any public gathering, there is a risk of contracting COVID-19 at our event. Given this risk, by registering, you agree that YOU ARE ATTENDING THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK regarding the special dangers associated with COVID-19. Further, you are agreeing to comply with any requested safety protocols, and you agree that you will not attend the program if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have knowingly been in contact with persons who have tested positive for COVID-19.