
Elisse B. Walter
Elisse B. Walter was appointed Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission by President George W. Bush and served beginning in July 2008. She was designated the 30th Chairman of
The mission of DirectWomen is to increase the representation of women lawyers on corporate boards.
Research by Catalyst and many other organizations, including McKinsey & Company and Credit Suisse, reveals that companies with women board members, particularly those with three or more women board members, financially outperform, on average, those with fewer or no women board members.
Empirical studies indicate that lawyer-directors’ professional judgment, legal expertise, and familiarity with regulation and risk management improve the value and operation of the company.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
DirectWomen is pleased to offer a variety of virtual video programs. To watch past programs, visit our on-demand virtual programs library.
SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR BOARD EXCELLENCE AWARD LUNCHEON
At the Luncheon, DirectWomen presents awards that celebrate lawyer directors and excellence in board service. DirectWomen’s awards include: the Sandra Day O’Connor Board Excellence Award, the Distinguished Alumna Award, the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Corporate Board Award, and the Mary Ann Jorgenson Board Empowerment Award.
BOARD INSTITUTE
The annual Board Institute is a key way in which DirectWomen fulfills its mission.
More than 285 lawyers have participated in the Board Institute over the past 18 years and provide a rich pool of director candidates.
INTERNATIONAL BOARDS PROGRAM
In 2023, DirectWomen hosted its first-ever program outside the United States, Unlocking the Secrets of International Board Opportunities, in London. The sold-out program brought together more than 100 CEOs, board directors, search firm executives, general counsel, top law firm leaders, and aspiring board directors.
Seeing a demand for DirectWomen’s unique programming abroad, the organization held its International Boards Program again in 2024 at the United States of America Embassy in London. The program sold-out again in 2024, with nearly double the capacity.
The 2025 International Boards Program will be held at the London Stock Exchange in June.
Elisse B. Walter was appointed Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission by President George W. Bush and served beginning in July 2008. She was designated the 30th Chairman of
C. Kay McCall is a senior energy executive with broad industry expertise, including strategy, project development, operations, acquisitions, and governance. In addition to more than a decade of experience in
Marla Persky is CEO and President of WOMN LLC, a company dedicated to helping women succeed in the business of law by increasing their knowledge of and acuity with financial