200 board & C-suite Executives attend WCD's two-day Global Institute in New York

Emerging technology, geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, supply chain difficulties, workforce changes, and a greater emphasis on environmental and social concerns all make it necessary for firms to reassess their strategy, business practises, and sustainable futures. In New York City, the Women Corporate Directors (WCD) held its yearly Global Institute and Visionary Awards ceremony. Over 200 people attended the two-day conference, which brought together executive and board leaders from all over the world.

For more than 20 years, the world's most powerful and important women have gathered at a special worldwide network called the Women Corporate Directors Foundation (WCD). They strive to encourage diverse and forward-thinking boards by increasing the number of women in business boardrooms throughout the world.

The top women business executives in today's industry are represented by WCD. WCD members serve on thousands of boards on six continents through 70 chapters globally. Their network comprises CEOs, board chairmen, lead directors, C-Suite executives, board members, and leaders of worldwide divisions in the main indexes, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 250, DAX, Nikkei, and more, with 2500 members working on 8500 boards.

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, CEO of MCC Productions and contributor to CNBC, Yelena Maleyev, Senior Economist at KPMG US, and Edie Weiner, CEO and President of the Future Hunters, served as the keynote speakers at the Global Institute. Attendees got the chance to listen to and interact with prominent business figures from across the world during the panel discussions, keynote addresses, and fireside chats.

Speakers offered advice on how boards should respond to inflation, try to keep talent, current advancements in AI, and more. Participants gained knowledge on what boards should do shortly, including:

The majority of boards are dealing with similar issues: Supply chain issues, post-pandemic conditions, and inflation continue to have an influence on boards.

Boards must adjust to the advances in technology, including AI, Chat GPT, and other developments. Every day, the importance of AI technologies increases, and companies are filling AI-specific positions.

Boards Need a goal in Transitional Times: Boards should re-evaluate conventional tactics and concentrate on procedures that support the board's goal.

Understand the demands of today's workforce: Building trusting connections with stakeholders, adjusting to distant work preferences, and retaining regular communication.

Optimising New Tech: The majority of the workforce, which is spread across a variety of industries, including healthcare, works with technology in some capacity. The use cases for technology, their potential applications to their businesses, and their potential for value creation should be carefully considered by the board.

Engaging the Workforce: Providing flexible scheduling helps recruit and keep talent; directors need to understand that there is no one size that fits all. 

The event also included the Global Institute and the Visionary Awards, which acknowledged organisations and people devoted to excellence in corporate governance, performance, diversity, and inclusion. LIXIL, Aquafil Group, Midmark Corporation, Henrietta Fore, and Luiza Helena Trajano were among the recipients. The keynote address at the awards ceremony was given by Elizabeth King, President, Sustainable Finance & Chief Regulatory Officer of Intercontinental Exchange.

The CEO of WCD, Jennifer Reynolds, stated that it is more important than ever to bring together corporate board directors to talk about the revolutionary challenges affecting businesses and the whole economy.

One important sponsor was KPMG. Additionally, Karen Mitchell Curran, Office Managing Partner, KPMG LLP, and Lead Director, Women Corporate Directors Foundation, stated that attendees of the two-day event found great value in networking with peers from around the world and exchanging cutting-edge strategies to improve corporate governance.

The 2023 Global Institute's Presenting Sponsor is KPMG LLP. The 2023 Global Institute and Visionary Award are also sponsored by Globant, Aquafil, LIXIL, and Midmark. KPMG, Spencer Stuart, Pearl Meyer, Edelman Smithfield, Vinson and Elkins, S&P Global, Equilar, Davis Polk, and IFC are WCD's yearly sponsors.