Deneen L. Donnley
Known as a strategic, resourceful, and collaborative leader with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion and a wealth of experience as a legal and business leader in fast-paced, dynamic,
The annual Board Institute is a key way in which DirectWomen fulfills its mission.
Nearly 40% of DirectWomen alumni have been elected to serve on at least one corporate board, with alumni serving on over 215 total corporate boards, since the organization’s inception.
The application for DirectWomen’s 2026 Board Institute is now open! Please contact Yessenia Echevarria at yechevarria@directwomen.org for more information.
More than 285 lawyers have participated in the Board Institute over the past 18 years and provide a rich pool of director candidates. Past Board Institute classes have been comprised of General Counsel of Fortune 500 companies, partners at top law firms, and leading lawyers from government and academia. These distinguished lawyers represent a wide range of business knowledge and experience in their industries, which include finance, energy, retail, media, and pharmaceuticals, among others. To learn more about DirectWomen’s Board Institute alumni, visit our alumni biography and resume database.
SUCCESS STORIES
Elisa D. Garcia
Elisa D. Garcia C. is an accomplished corporate executive and attorney with over 30 years of experience advising management and boards of directors on legal, business and government relations matters.
Melanie Trent
Melanie Trent is an experienced independent board member and senior executive who has worked extensively in the energy industry. Ms. Trent serves on the Board of Directors of Diamondback Energy,