Directors’ Academy 2025

Keynote Speakers

William “Bill” Ackman
Founder, Pershing Square Capital Management

Jennifer Arlen
Faculty Director, PCCE

Sandra Campos
President & CEO, PetMeds and PetCareRx

Kathaleen McCormick
Chancellor, Delaware Court of Chancery

Eugene Soltes
McLean Family Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
When and Where
October 9 and 10
Greenberg Lounge, 40 Washington Square South
All meals are in Lipton Hall, 108 W. 3rd St., Lower Level
Cost & Register
$550 (1 day)
$950 (both days)
Group Discount $800 per person (both days)
*Does not include taxes and fees.
About the Program
- New and experienced board directors of publicly-held and privately-held companies and nonprofits seeking insight and expert advice on the most pressing issues facing boards today, including directors’ legal risks, governance of new technologies, and geopolitical business risk.
- C-Level executives of publicly-held and privately-held companies and nonprofits that want to broaden their understanding of board service and responsibilities and learn how to more effectively raise legal risk issues with their boards.
- The Director's Academy provides a deep examination of corporate governance, AI, compliance, cybersecurity, accounting, DEI, activist investors, and the changing legal and regulatory landscape.
- Participants come away with practical insights from government speakers on current regulatory matters as well as actionable, academic-backed research that takes a critical look at emerging legal liabilities for boards.
- Board members get comprehensive in-depth insights on cutting-edge issues that impact the governance of enterprise and legal risk and financial performance.
- Attendees can expect to engage in dialogue with respected C-suite executives, experienced directors, regulators, and scholars from a variety of industries and fields. Participants can also connect during networking breaks, receptions, and meals.
- Participants can earn NACD Director recertification credits and lawyers can earn NY CLE credits.
- CLE credits for newly admitted and experienced attorneys
- NACD recertification credits
- PCCE Directors’ Certificate of Completion for each day attended
- Option to self-apply for CPE for IAPP certified attendees*
- Networking lunches, breaks and specialized breakouts
- Continental breakfast, catered lunches, and networking receptions
NYU School of Law is committed to the availability of quality affordable CLE programs for its alumni community and members of the bar-at-large. Prospective attendees interested in obtaining financial aid for this program should contact Carolyn Pautz at crp283@nyu.edu. Written requests for financial aid should include applicant name, phone number, email address, employment status and recent employment history, along with a brief statement of financial need. All requests for financial aid will be kept confidential. Retroactive applications for those who sought CLEs will be considered for past Directors' Academies. Find out more information on eligibility.
Select Past Speakers
- Bill Ackman, CEO, Pershing Square Capital Management
- Angela Braly, Board Director, Procter & Gamble, ExxonMobile, Brookfield Corp.
- Lloyd Campbell, Consultant, SpencerStuart
- Julie Daum, Consultant, SpencerStuart
- Erik Gerding, Director of Corporate Finance, SEC
- Todd Gibbons, CEO, BNY Mellon
- Tom Glocer, Board Director, BlueVoyant, Morgan Stanley, Merck & Co.
- Gurbir Grewal, Director of Enforcement, SEC
- Daniel Houston, CEO, Principal Financial Group
- Ellen Jewett, Board Director, JetBlue Airways, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Samantha Kappagoda, Independent Director, Credit Suisse US Mutual Funds
- David Katz, Partner, Watchtell Lipton Rosen & Katz
- Travis Laster, Vice Chancellor, Delaware Chancery Court
- Heather Lavallee, CEO, Voya Financial, Inc.
- Martin Lipton, Founding Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
- Marshall Miller, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, DOJ
- Larry Quinlan, Board Director, UBS Americas, ServiceNow Inc., JLL, Booking Holdings; Delinea
- Jane Sandowsky, Board Director, Allied Gold Inc, Nexa Resources, Scientific Games
- Daniel Schulman, President and Chief Executive Officer, PayPal
- Lisa Shalett, Board Director, PennyMac Financial, Accuweather, Bully Pulpit Interactive
- Jane Sherburne, Board Director, Perella Weinberg Partners, HSBC North America Holdings, Teledyne Technologies, Inc.
- Alicia Syrett, Founder, Madam Chair & Pantegrion Capital