Reimagining Boardroom Leadership in a Time of Turbulence

Don Thompson is the Founder and CEO of Cleveland Avenue and the former President and CEO of McDonald’s Corporation. Retiring in 2015 after a 25-year career with the Golden Arches, Thompson and his wife, Liz, formed Cleveland Avenue, LLC and the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (The CAFE). Bringing together global restaurant expertise, a passion for consumer innovation, and a deep respect for entrepreneurs, Thompson and the Cleveland Avenue team are investing in and accelerating the growth of emerging restaurant, food and beverage brands. Constantly giving back, Thompson is a member of numerous civic and community organizations throughout the city of Chicago. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, the Commercial and Economic Clubs of Chicago, Business Council, World Business Chicago and the Arthur M. Brazier Foundation. He serves as a Trustee on the boards of the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Purdue University. Thompson also serves on the boards of The Northern Trust Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, Beyond Meat and as an Advisory Board member of DocuSign, Inc. Thompson previously served as a Director on the Exelon Board from 2006-2012 and the McDonald’s Corporation Board from 2011-2015. Thompson received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an Honorary Doctorate degree in Science from Excelsior College.

A driving force in the growth of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Laura Alber has served as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a member of the Board of Directors since 2010. In her tenure, she has held various leadership roles, executing effective growth strategies, strengthening brand recognition and bolstering profits for the company’s portfolio of multi-channel brands—Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm, Mark & Graham, and Rejuvenation. She also serves on the Board of Trustees at the University of Pennsylvania, and on the Board of Directors of Fitbit, Inc. Laura received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Susan Crown is a business executive and philanthropist with a strategic, results-oriented approach. She is Chairman of Owl Creek Partners, Chairman and Founder of the Susan Crown Exchange (SCE), and Chair Emeritus of Rush University Medical Center and Rush University System for Health.

Owl Creek Partners is a private equity company with focused investments in real estate, securities, educational services, manufacturing, and consumer products. The Fund seeks opportunities to invest with female leadership, although the primary objective is to participate in companies and funds in new markets with high potential.

Unlike most foundations, SCE uses “the exchange model” - a non-traditional approach to grantmaking by fostering partnerships and collaborations to create social change. SCE’s mission is to help youth develop the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing, highly connected world. SCE is focused on three areas: Social and Emotional Learning, Tech and Society, and Youth Sports as a channel to support the development of lifelong skills. These programs are carried out by convening and supporting the best and brightest in each area and sharing learnings with the field at large.

Rush is an academic health system whose mission is to improve the health of the people and the diverse communities it serves through the integration of outstanding patient care, education, research, and community partnerships. The Rush system comprises Rush University Medical Center, Rush University, Rush Copley Medical Center, and Rush Oak Park Hospital, as well as numerous outpatient care facilities. Susan led a $1 billion effort to transform the medical center campus, including the development of Chicago’s first LEED-certified hospital, which won the World Architecture Prize for best designed health care facility in 2014.

She is the first woman board member of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), a multi-faceted manufacturing and engineering business with a market cap in excess of $75 billion. She also serves as a board member of Northern Trust Corporation and formerly served as a director of Baxter International.

Susan Crown graduated with honors with a B.A. from Yale University, earned an M.A. from New York University, and attended the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She has been married for more than 40 years to William C. Kunkler III. They have two adult children.