Rosalind (Roz) Brewer is known for her expertise in leading large complex global operations while driving innovation in technology, developing world class leadership teams and creating performance driven cultures. Ms. Brewer serves as the Interim President of Spelman College. Ms. Brewer previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. She served as Chief Operating Officer and Group President at Starbucks Corporation after serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sam’s Club, a membership-only retail warehouse club and division of Walmart, Inc. Ms. Brewer previously held several executive leadership positions with Walmart in retail operations.
Prior to joining Walmart, she served as President of Global Nonwovens Division of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a global health and hygiene products company where she began her career as an organic chemist and held various management positions at Kimberly-Clark.
She currently serves as a member of the board of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture. Ms. Brewer is also chair emerita at Spelman College and formerly served on the board of directors for Starbucks, Amazon.com, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Roz earned her BS degree in Chemistry from Spelman College.
As Global Brand President, Clinique and Dermatological Brands, Michelle Freyre guides the overall strategic vision and global growth strategies for Clinique, Origins and Dr Jart+ and leads the Global Dermatological strategy for The Estee Lauder Companies (ELC). Under Michelle’s leadership, Clinique underwent a critical strategic pivot, returning the brand to its authentic Dermatological brand equity articulated in a modern way.
Harnessing the brand’s unique point of difference, she delivers breakthrough omni-channel experiences worldwide through a consumer-centric approach, resulting in strong global growth. In her role overseeing Origins and Dr. Jart+, Michelle plays a strategic advisory role with a focus on transforming the brands to be modern and disruptive while ensuring they stay true to the brand DNA. Her personable leadership style and commitment to lead with empathy and authenticity fosters an inclusive culture across all brands.
Following her passion to develop future leaders, Michelle actively participates in corporate mentorship and sponsorship programs. She is the Executive Sponsor of ELC’s Hispanic Connections (HiC) ERG, serves in ELC’s Reverse Mentorship Program, and actively mentors diverse talent.
Michelle has a proven track for fostering workplace inclusivity receiving several industry awards and honors in recognition of her outstanding contributions, including being named to TIME Magazine’s 2024 “Latino Leaders” list celebrating Latinos making an impact across industries and reshaping their own industry. In 2024, she was also named to the WWD x Beauty Inc. “50 Women in Power” list, as well as the annual Glossy 50 list honoring changemakers who shaped the beauty, wellness, and fashion industries during the year. Michelle has also been inducted into The Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) Most Powerful Latina (MPL) Hall of Fame 2022 as a Corporate Trailblazer and recognized as a 100 Most Influential Latinos around the world by Bloomberg Línea 2022. She is also a founding member of CHIEF, a private network designed to accelerate women to the C-suite, as well as a member of the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) Board.
Previously, Michelle spent 20 years at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in various roles across Consumer marketing and sales. In her last role at J&J, she served as President, U.S. Beauty overseeing seven beauty brands. Prior to her service with J&J, Michelle held Brand Marketing positions with other companies including Pepsi-Cola Company. Michelle grew up in Puerto Rico. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Friend is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for NIKE, Inc., responsible for managing Nike’s Strategy, Finance, Procurement and Global Places & Services functions. In 2025, he also became responsible for Nike’s Global Sales and Direct-to-Consumer commercial functions.
Prior to his current role, he served as the Chief Financial Officer for Nike Operating Segments and Vice President of Investor Relations. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of the Nike Brand, including all of Nike’s externally reported operating segments, and Chief Financial Officer, Global Brands & Functions, including the Nike, Jordan, and Converse brands. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Friend served as Chief Financial Officer of Nike’s Emerging Markets operating segment, including Latin America, Africa, and most of Asia.
Prior to his operational roles, Mr. Friend served as Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and Corporate Development, with responsibility for managing the global strategic planning function. Prior to joining Nike in 2009, Mr. Friend worked in the financial services industry for over a decade, including roles as Vice President of investment banking and mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. He advised on numerous transactions across the media, telecom, and technology industries.
Mr. Friend is a member of Nike’s Executive Leadership Team and is the senior management representative to the Audit & Finance Committee of the Nike, Inc. Board of Directors. He also serves as an executive sponsor of the Black Employee Network at Nike. He is a graduate of the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley.
Mr. Harford served as Chief Operating Officer of Uber Technologies, Inc. from 2018 to 2019 and helped lead the company through its 2019 IPO, which valued the company at $82 billion. He brought strategic focus and operational rigor to the global technology company and led its global ride-sharing business, with responsibility for operations, strategy, marketing, customer support, safety and insurance, as well as its food delivery business, Uber Eats. Prior to joining Uber, Mr. Harford served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. from 2009 to 2015, where he returned the company to top- and bottom-line growth and led its sale to Expedia, Inc. Prior to Orbitz Worldwide, Mr. Harford spent nearly eight years in senior leadership roles at Expedia, where he founded the company's B2B private-label business, led its air and car businesses, and, as President of Expedia Asia Pacific, led its expansion into China, Japan and Australia. Mr. Harford currently serves on the boards of Cvent Inc., SavATree, Yummy Inc. and Arrivia. Mr. Harford holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BA and MA (Cantab) in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (Clare College).
Ms. Hooper is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Directors’ Council, which consults with corporate boards to increase their independence and effectiveness. Previously, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Voyager Expanded Learning from 1999 to 2000, and of Stadtlander Drug Company, Inc. from 1998 to 1999. Prior to joining Stadtlander, Ms. Hooper served as Corporate Vice President of Caremark International Inc. and President of Caremark’s International Business Group, responsible for the expansion of Caremark into Europe, Canada and Japan. She began her career at Baxter International and was President of Baxter Canada, Canada’s largest health care and laboratory supplies company.
With more than 25 years of corporate board experience, Ms. Hooper is an audit committee financial expert with over 20 years of experience chairing the audit committees of several major companies. In 2017, she was selected as the Director of the Year by the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Ms. Hooper currently serves on the board of directors of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. Ms. Hooper earned an MBA in Finance and Accounting at the University of Chicago and a BA in Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Isaacson is a Professor of History at Tulane University and an Advisory Partner at Perella Weinberg Partners LP, a financial services firm based in New York City. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of The Aspen Institute, an international education and leadership studies institute, from 2003 to 2018. Mr. Isaacson previously served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CNN from 2001 to 2003 and as the editor of Time Magazine from 1994 to 2001. He is the author of several books, including biographies of Elon Musk, Jennifer Doudna, Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein.
Mr. Johnsen has served as the representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (“IAM”) to the UAL Board since July 2021. He joined the IAM Executive Council as Air Transport Territory General Vice President in May 2022. Mr. Johnsen began his IAM career in Local 1781 as a Mechanic Assistant for United Airlines in 1988 and was promoted to Mechanic in 1990.
He served in many positions at the local and district level and was appointed as Assistant General Chairperson for District 141M in 2000, then a Grand Lodge Special Representative in 2001. He served as a Transportation Department Grand Lodge Representative and has been an IAM member for more than 37 years. He also served as the IAM Representatives Association (IAMRA) President from 2017-2021.
In February 2021, Mr. Johnsen was appointed Special Assistant to the International President before becoming Chief of Staff to the International President in June 2021. On May 1, 2022, Johnsen joined the IAM Executive Council as General Vice President of the Air Transport Territory.
Mr. Johnsen also serves on the executive boards of the AFL‐CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the board of directors of Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines (GDA | TLC) and the Aerospace Maintenance Council (AMC). He is also a Trustee on the IAM National Pension Fund.
Scott Kirby was appointed chief executive officer of United Airlines in 2020 just as United was facing the worst crisis in its history caused by the pandemic. Under his leadership, United has made a number of strategic investments to execute the company’s strategy including its United Next growth plan, a commitment to be 100% green by 2050 without relying on traditional carbon offsets, and taking real action on diversity, equity and inclusion with the opening of the United Aviate Academy. The goal of the academy is to train about 5,000 new pilots at the school by 2030 with at least half being women or people of color. Prior to United, Scott’s 30-year career in aviation included time at America West, US Airways, and American Airlines where he served as President up until being named President of United Airlines in 2016. Scott earned his bachelor’s degrees in computer science and operations research from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in operations research from George Washington University. He is married and has seven children.
Captain Noyes has served as the representative of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) to the UAL Board since January 2025. He joined the ALPA Master Executive Council as the Vice Chair in October 2023 and was elected to Chair in March 2025.
Captain Noyes began his career with United in January 1995 and has a wide range of experience across ALPA. At United, he served on the UAL MEC System Schedule Committee, Central Air Safety Committee, FRMS Working Group, as Chair of the Crew Rest Oversight Committee, and is a FAR 117 subject-matter expert. At ALPA-International he was the Chair of the Flight Time Duty Time Committee and a member of the Reduced Crew Operations Committee. For the International Federation of Air Line Pilots (IFALPA), he co-chaired the Fatigue Management Work Group and was a member of the Safety Management Work Group.
Captain Noyes graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-DB. He has operated the B-727, B737, B-747, B-757, B-767, B-777, B-787, A-319 and the A-320 aircraft with United.
Mr. Philip served as the Chief Operating Officer of Partners in Health, a global non‐profit healthcare organization, responsible for overseeing the operations of the Partners in Health projects globally including in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Haiti, from 2013 to 2017. Previously he served as Managing Partner of Highland Consumer Fund, a consumer‐oriented investment fund, from 2006 to 2013. Mr. Philip was one of the founding members of the internet search company Lycos, Inc. During his time with Lycos, Mr. Philip held the positions of President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at different times. Prior to joining Lycos, Mr. Philip spent time as the Vice President of Finance for The Walt Disney Company and also previously spent a number of years in investment banking. He currently serves on the board of directors of BRP Inc. and Strata Critical Medical, Inc. Mr. Philip received a BS in Economics and Mathematics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mr. Shapiro is the Managing Trustee of The Shapiro Foundation. Mr. Shapiro previously served as Managing Partner of PAR Capital Management, Inc., a Boston‐based investment management firm specializing in investments in travel, media and Internet‐related companies, from 1999 to 2016. Prior to joining PAR Capital, Mr. Shapiro was a Vice President at Wellington Management Company, and before that an Analyst at Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. Shapiro previously served on the board of directors of Global Eagle Entertainment, US Airways, Web.com, Lumexis Corporation and Sonifi Solutions (formerly LodgeNet Interactive Corporation). Mr. Shapiro earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
Ms. Laysha Ward is an accomplished C‐suite executive with 32+ years of leadership experience at Target Corporation. She has demonstrated an ability to lead through rapid change, solve problems, build innovative community programs, and collaborate with key stakeholders to support organizational goals and objectives.
Ms. Ward most recently served as Strategic Advisor (October 2023 to April 2024) for Target, and prior to that, as the retailer’s Executive Vice President, Chief External Engagement Officer (2017 to 2023), overseeing Target’s enterprise‐wide approach to engage and deepen cross‐sector stakeholder relations to drive positive business and community impact. Ms. Ward began her career with Target in 1991 as a member of the store sales and management team of Marshall Field’s in Chicago. She was named Director of Community Relations in 2000 and promoted to Vice President of Community Relations and Target Foundation in 2003. She served as Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer before being named Chief External Engagement Officer.
In 2008, President Bush nominated and the U.S. Senate confirmed Ms. Ward to serve on the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the nation’s largest grantmaker for volunteering and service. She continued on the board under the Obama Administration, where she served as board chair.
She is a member of the Economic Clubs of Chicago and New York, Executive Leadership Council, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Black Women on Boards and Women Corporate Directors – Tampa Bay Chapter. She serves on the board of MACRO, the nonprofit boards of the Minnesota Orchestra and the Northside Achievement Zone and the board of Minnesota Sports and Events. Ms. Ward served on the board of Denny’s Corporation from 2010 to 2025.
Ms. Ward received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, Master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Mr. Whitehurst currently serves as Executive Chair of Qualtrics, an experience management software company, and as a Managing Director of Silver Lake. Prior to these roles, Mr. Whitehurst served as President of International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) from April 2020 to July 2021 and as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Unity Software Inc. from October 2023 to May 2024. He previously served as Senior Vice President of IBM and Chief Executive Officer of Red Hat, Inc., a leading provider of open‐source enterprise IT products and services, from 2019 until April 2020, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Red Hat from 2008 to 2019. Prior to Red Hat, Mr. Whitehurst served in several roles at Delta Air Lines, Inc. including as Chief Operating Officer from 2005 to 2007, where he managed airline operations and drove significant international expansion, as Chief Network and Planning officer from 2004 to 2005 and as Senior Vice President, Finance Treasury and Business Development from 2002 to 2004. Before Delta, Mr. Whitehurst held several corporate development leadership roles at The Boston Consulting Group, with clients across a wide range of industries. Mr. Whitehurst previously served on the board of directors of Red Hat, SecureWorks Corp., Software AG, and DigitalGlobe, Inc. and currently serves on the board of directors of Unity Software Inc. and Amplitude, Inc. In June 2015, Mr. Whitehurst published a book with Harvard Business Review Press entitled "The Open Organization: Igniting Passion and Performance" showing how open principles of management, based on transparency, participation, and community, can help organizations navigate and succeed in a fast‐paced connected era. He is a graduate of Rice University with a BS in Computer Science and Economics and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.