The George Washington Law Review, along with co-sponsor Lisa M. Fairfax, Leroy Sorenson Merrifield Research Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School and Founder and Director, GW Corporate Law and Governance Initiative, announces its Fall 2018 Symposium, Women and Corporate Governance: A Conference Exploring the Role and Impact of Women in the Governance of Public Corporations.
The Symposium will explore the role of women in a changing corporate environment, particularly in light of the 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath. Recent social, political, and economic events have brought renewed attention to the ways in which the corporate environment is impacted by, and responsive to, women. It is important to further this discussion today, as corporations grapple with the under-representation of women on their boards, in their C-suites, and in a host of other managerial positions.
Specifically, the conference will address timely concerns such as the effect of the #MeToo movement on corporate board composition, the importance of networking and mentoring as women climb the corporate ladder, and current efforts to reform corporate leadership, such as the recently passed California law requiring the inclusion of female directors on public company boards.
In place of the traditional individual keynote, we will host a fireside chat featuring the three women who have served as Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission – Mary Schapiro, JD ’80; Elisse Walter; and Mary Jo White, moderated by Professor Lisa M. Fairfax. The Symposium also will feature many leading scholars and professionals to discuss the status of women in corporate America; the issues women confront when monitoring, managing, and advising corporations; and the extent to which gender impacts one’s ability to successfully face those issues.
Agenda*
8–8:40 am: Registration and Continental Breakfast
Art Gallery Lobby, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
8:40–9 am: Introduction and Welcome Address
Jack Morton Auditorium, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
- Lisa M. Fairfax, Leroy Sorenson Merrifield Research Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School and Founder and Director, GW Corporate Law and Governance Initiative
9–10 am: Women and Boards
Jack Morton Auditorium, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
- Douglas Branson, W. Edward Sell Chair in Business Law, University of Pittsburgh
- Aaron Dhir, Florence Rogatz Visiting Professor of Law and Oscar M. Ruebhausen Distinguished Senior Fellow, Yale Law School; Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law
- Janet Hill, Principal in Hill Family Advisors; Board of Directors of Carlyle Group, Dean Foods, Esquire Bank, Echo360
- Amanda Packel, Managing Director, Stanford Rock Center for Corporate Governance; Co-Director, Stanford Directors’ College
- Moderator: Lisa M. Fairfax, Leroy Sorenson Merrifield Research Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School and Founder and Director, GW Corporate Law and Governance Initiative
10–10:15 am: Coffee Break and Networking
Art Gallery Lobby, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
10:15–11:45 am: Women and the C-suite
Jack Morton Auditorium, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
- Susan Baker, Vice President, Shareholder Advocacy, Trillium Asset Management, LLC
- Naomi Cahn, Harold H. Greene Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Development, The George Washington University Law School
- June Carbone, Robina Chair of Law, Science and Technology and Associate Dean for Research and Planning, University of Minnesota
- Margaret M. “Peggy” Foran, Chief Governance Officer, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Prudential Financial, Inc.
- Laura Paugh, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations at Marriott International
- Cindy Schipani, Merwin H. Waterman Collegiate Professor of Business Administration and Professor of Business Law, University of Michigan
- Kellye Testy, President and CEO, Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
- Moderator: Theresa Gabaldon, Lyle T. Alverson Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School
11:45 am–12:45 pm: Fireside Chat
Jack Morton Auditorium, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
- Mary Schapiro, JD ’80, former Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Public Company Board member
- Elisse Walter, former Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Mary Jo White, Senior Chair and Litigation Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton; former Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Moderator: Lisa M. Fairfax, Leroy Sorenson Merrifield Research Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School and Founder and Director, GW Corporate Law and Governance Initiative
1-2 pm: Lunch
Dee J. Kelly Law Learning Center Lobby, 2028 G Street, NW
2–3:30 pm: Women as Counsel and Gatekeepers
Jack Morton Auditorium, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
- Jill Fisch, Saul A. Fox Distinguished Professor of Business Law; Co-Director, Institute for Law and Economics, University of Pennsylvania Law School
- Kristin Johnson, McGlinchey Stafford Professor of Business Law and Financial Markets Regulation, Tulane University Law School
- Sung Hui Kim, Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law
- Hillary Sale, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center and Affiliated Faculty, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
- Anne Simpson, Senior Portfolio Manager of Investments and Director of Corporate Governance, California Public Employees’ Retirement System
- Karen Valihura, Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware
- Moderator: Joan Heminway, Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
3:30–3:45 pm: Coffee Break and Networking
Art Gallery Lobby, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
3:45–5 pm: Women as Regulators
Jack Morton Auditorium, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
- Sharon Y. Bowen, former Commissioner, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Tracey L. McNeil, Ombudsman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Donna Nagy, Executive Associate Dean and C. Ben Dutton Professor of Law, Indiana University Maurer School of Law
- Cheryl Scarboro, Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
- Linda Thomsen, Partner, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
- Moderator: Sherrisse Smith, Partner, Corporate Department, Paul Hastings
5–6 pm: Closing Reception
Art Gallery Lobby, Media and Public Affairs, 805 21st Street, NW
*Subject to change