Director Profiles.

• Author: Chase, Scott

CYNTHIA BRINKLEY

Director, Ameren Corporation, Energizer

Holdings Inc., Schnuck Markets

Cynthia Brinkley is a former C-suite executive for three Fortune SO companies. She is the former president and chief operating officer/chief administrative and markets officer of Centene Corporation. Prior to Centene, she served as chief human resource officer of General Motors, leading the post-bankruptcy team in transforming the corporation's human capital model.

She began her career at AT&T, where she served in several senior roles, including senior vice president of talent development and chief diversity officer, as well as president of AT&T Missouri and vice president of the Los Angeles market.

Brinkley serves on the nominating and corporate governance committees of both Ameren Corporation and Energizer Holdings. She also chairs the human resources committees of Ameren Corporation, Schnuck Markets and Energizer Holdings Inc. She is a former director of Ribera Salud, UMB Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Brinkley is a member of Women Corporate Directors and the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Company culture should be a key priority. "Examples abound of a company's culture derailing a sound business strategy, resulting in financial or even reputational damage. Peter Drucker's words about culture eating strategy for breakfast still ring true decades later. Directors play a key role. The board is responsible for understanding the company's culture and should hold management responsible for cultivating a healthy culture. Directors should receive updates on employee engagement surveys, culture studies and company review websites. Importantly, directors should hear directly from employees. By asking the right questions, the board sets the tone as to the importance it places on culture."

GAYLE CROWELL

Director, Envestnet, Hercules Capital, Pliant

Therapeutics Inc., Instinct Science LLC,

Centerbase, GTreasury

Gayle Crowell has over 25 years of experience demonstrating exceptional skills in strategy, management and corporate governance. Her success in various technology companies culminated in her role as CEO of RightPoint, a real-time data personalization software company. After a successful exit, Crowell joined Warburg Pincus as a strategic business advisor, collaborating with investment partners and technology portfolio company executives.

A passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Crowell believes that boards with a wide range of backgrounds, skills and experiences deliver the greatest value. As a speaker on this subject, Crowell inspires accomplished women to seek corporate board roles.

Crowell has served on more than 25 public and private boards and currently holds positions on the boards of Envestnet, Hercules Capital, Pliant Therapeutics, Instinct Science, Centerbase and GTreasury. She chairs the compliance and information security, compensation, and nominating and governance committees, and serves as a member of the audit and strategy committee.

Prioritizing cybersecurity oversight is key to digital innovation. "It is clear that digital transformation has fundamentally altered the oversight of cybersecurity. Rapid adoption of innovative technologies, including generative AI, in an ever more interconnected world has expanded the threat landscape and made organizations even more vulnerable to cyberattacks. These developments demand proactive, board-level education and engagement in cybersecurity strategy to ensure that we effectively manage these risks. Embracing this new paradigm and prioritizing cybersecurity oversight not only protects our organizations from potential breaches and financial losses but also enables us to harness the full potential of digital innovation, driving long-term growth and strengthening our competitive position in the marketplace."

MEREDITH MILLER

Director, Amalgamated Bank

Meredith Miller serves on the board of Amalgamated Bank, a full-service, 100-year-old, socially responsible bank with women leaders at the helm, including the CEO, chair, and audit and risk committee chairs. Appointed in 2022, Miller is a member of the compensation, risk, trust and governance committees.

Miller also serves as managing member of Corporate Governance and Sustainable Strategies LLC. Previous positions include chief corporate governance officer of UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust; assistant treasurer for policy of the state of Connecticut; deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration; and leadership functions at the AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union.

Miller's other board service includes Global Reporting Initiative, The Investment Integration Project and Washtenaw Community College Foundation. Miller has a bachelor's degree in critical theory and labor economics from Hampshire College and a master of science degree from The London School of Economics and Political Science.

The underlying threat of destabilization. "The pandemic, social unrest, persistent income inequality and climate change have focused directors on a broad set of system-level risks that can destabilize underlying social and economic systems upon which companies and communities are built. Boards should take a systems-level approach and work closely with management to integrate corporate social responsibility and ESG factors into business strategy and throughout the value chain. This means supporting the CEO when taking a public stance on an issue that is value-aligned and consequential for the company and its stakeholders."

TRACEY DOI

Director, Quest Diagnostics

Tracey Doi is an independent board director and seasoned executive trusted to advise companies on improving competitiveness and achieving sustainable growth. Doi serves as a director and member of the audit and cybersecurity committees of Quest Diagnostics, an innovative, Fortune 500 health services organization. She is also a board trustee for SunAmerica Series Trust.

Previously, Doi was a director and audit chair of City National Bank. She served as CFO of Toyota Motor North America, retiring in 2022. Prior to her retirement, she successfully steered the company through the financial challenges of the pandemic, drove enterprise strategy, and oversaw significant investment in Toyota's products, manufacturing footprint, supply chain and technology.

Doi holds a bachelor's degree in business economics from UCLA and is a qualified financial expert.

Nurturing a culture of respect. "A high-performing board is built on a foundation of talent, transparency and trust. Developing a board that is comprised of directors with diverse experience and expertise, along with a dedicated focus on keeping abreast of emerging regulatory and competitive issues, is critically important. In addition, encouraging regular touch points with key leadership enhances transparency and strengthens compliance. With the increasing complexity of economic and geopolitical challenges and advancing technology, nurturing a culture where different perspectives are respected leads to deeper strategic discussions and greater value creation."

BETH-ANN EASON

Director, Quad, Infillion

Beth-Ann Eason is a board director of Quad, a full-service marketing services agency, and Infillion, a private advanced media technology company. She has over 25 years of P&L and direct revenue generation experience in public, pre-IPO, private equity-owned and family-owned companies.

Eason was most recently managing director, senior digital transformation executive, of Accenture. She led C-suite engagements for the world's leading brands as they evolve and transform.

As the global president of Innovid, the world's largest independent connected TV and video advertising software platform, Eason leveraged her deep digital media and digital marketing expertise.

Eason was an inductee in the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement, the industry's premier award for outstanding advertising professionals under age 40.

Understanding the playing field fosters effective capital allocation. "Corporate strategy is more complex than ever. Many companies face new competitors and technological advances that change the way their consumers behave. Approving and overseeing the strategy in partnership with management requires a deep understanding of the rapidly changing landscape in which a company is operating and the technological advances that will impact the business in the short, medium and long terms. Only then can the board fairly evaluate the operating plan and support the strategy with the right capital allocation to achieve their goals."

ALISA C. NORRIS

Director, Standard Motor Products Inc.,

Vita-Mix Corporation, CP Direct

Alisa C. Norris is an experienced board director, board advisor and...