CEO PERSPECTIVES - Key Persons

Cheryl Francis

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
  • Co - Chairman, Corporate Leadership Center
  • Co - Chairman, Corporate Leadership Center Co - Founder, CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives
Cheryl is a director of three corporate boards: Aon plc, Morningstar, and HNI Corporation. She is a Cornell University Emeritus Trustee and Presidential Councillor, and a board member of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Cheryl was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. from 1995-2000. She is a... Cheryl is a director of three corporate boards: Aon plc, Morningstar, and HNI Corporation. She is a Cornell University Emeritus Trustee and Presidential Councillor, and a board member of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Cheryl was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. from 1995-2000. She is a frequent lecturer and panelist in university and business settings on subjects ranging from corporate governance, strategy and leadership and the advancement of women.

Christine Leahy

Job Titles:
  • Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
  • President & Chief Executive Officer, CDW CEO Perspectives Fellow, 2006

Daniel Diermeier

Job Titles:
  • Academic Advisor
Daniel is an Academic Advisor to the CEO Perspectives program, having served as the first Academic Director in 2005. He is the 9th Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. Previously, he served as Provost of the University of Chicago. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Canadian... Daniel is an Academic Advisor to the CEO Perspectives program, having served as the first Academic Director in 2005. He is the 9th Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. Previously, he served as Provost of the University of Chicago. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Canadian Institute of Advanced Research (CIFAR). Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Daniel taught at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University and the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of CityBase, an urban technology company.

Daniella Levitt

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director, Leading Women Executives
Daniella is responsible for Leading Women Executives' strategic direction, curriculum, design and delivery of programs, events and digital assets, as well as marketing and growth. Prior to joining Leading Women Executives, Daniella founded two companies and held consulting roles at Aon and Deloitte. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the American Red... Daniella is responsible for Leading Women Executives' strategic direction, curriculum, design and delivery of programs, events and digital assets, as well as marketing and growth. Prior to joining Leading Women Executives, Daniella founded two companies and held consulting roles at Aon and Deloitte. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, and is a past Board member of the Chicago Sinfonietta, Access Community Health Network and the Anti-Defamation League.

Deborah DeHaas

Job Titles:
  • Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
  • Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Leadership Center
Deb is responsible for overseeing the operations and management of Corporate Leadership Center and its two programs, CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives. Most recently, Deb was Vice Chairman and National Managing Partner, Center for Board Effectiveness, at Deloitte, where she was responsible for boardroom programs and thought leadership that support corporate boards and directors... Deb is responsible for overseeing the operations and management of Corporate Leadership Center and its two programs, CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives. Most recently, Deb was Vice Chairman and National Managing Partner, Center for Board Effectiveness, at Deloitte, where she was responsible for boardroom programs and thought leadership that support corporate boards and directors in fulfilling their governance-related responsibilities. Deb is a director of CF Industries and Dover, as well as a noted community leader, serving as a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago; trustee at Northwestern University and University of Denver; and chair of the Civic Consulting Alliance.

E. Scott Santi

Job Titles:
  • Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
  • Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, ITW CEO Perspectives Fellow, 2007

Frederick Waddell

Job Titles:
  • Retired Chairman, Northern Trust

Gregory Wasson

Job Titles:
  • Co - Founder & President, Wasson Enterprise Former President & CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Perspectives Fellow, 2006

Jennifer Scanlon

Job Titles:
  • Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
  • President & Chief Executive Officer, UL Solutions CEO Perspectives Fellow, 2015 Leading Women Executives Fellow, 2009

John W. Rogers

Job Titles:
  • Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
  • Chairman, Co - Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer, Ariel Investments

Kunal Kapoor

Job Titles:
  • Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
  • Chief Executive Officer, Morningstar CEO Perspectives Fellow, 2013

Maurice Smith

Job Titles:
  • President, Chief Executive Officer & Vice Chair, Health Care Services Corporation CEO Perspectives Fellow, 2017

Michelle Warner

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director
  • Founder & Principal of MMW Advisors
In addition to serving as the Executive Director of CEO Perspectives, Michelle is the Founder & Principal of MMW Advisors, a strategic advisory firm that she established in 2020. Michelle previously worked at USG as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, where she was a member of the executive committee. Prior to that,... In addition to serving as the Executive Director of CEO Perspectives, Michelle is the Founder & Principal of MMW Advisors, a strategic advisory firm that she established in 2020. Michelle previously worked at USG as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, where she was a member of the executive committee. Prior to that, she served at Motorola Solutions, Inc., for 18 years, culminating in her role as Corporate Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Secretary. Michelle serves on the Board of Directors for MKS Instruments, Inc., and is a member of the President's Council for the Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago and a Board of Advisors member at Denison University.

Sheila Penrose

Job Titles:
  • Advisor
  • Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
  • Co - Chairman, Corporate Leadership Center
  • Co - Chairman, Corporate Leadership Center Co - Founder, CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives
Sheila is a trusted advisor to senior executives in association with Boston Consulting Group and ExCo Leadership. She has served as a director on five corporate boards across a wide range of industries, including as Chairman at JLL and Chair of Sustainability at McDonald's. In her executive career, Sheila was the first woman on Northern... Sheila is a trusted advisor to senior executives in association with Boston Consulting Group and ExCo Leadership. She has served as a director on five corporate boards across a wide range of industries, including as Chairman at JLL and Chair of Sustainability at McDonald's. In her executive career, Sheila was the first woman on Northern Trust's Management Committee and President of the Corporate Bank. She is a founding member of the 30% Club, advancing women on corporate boards, and advised the World Economic Forum on its Education, Gender and Work initiative. Sheila has also served on the Advisory Boards of Stanford Business School, the London School of Economics, and Catalyst. A frequent speaker of leadership and corporate governance, Sheila is the recipient of numerous business awards.

Shundrawn Thomas

Job Titles:
  • Founder & Managing Partner, the Copia Group, LLC CEO Perspectives Fellow, 2019