Leadership Team & Boards

Co-Chairmen Cheryl Francis and Sheila Penrose created Corporate Leadership Center as the leadership development forum to cultivate dynamic business leaders. Its two experiential programs -- CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives -- were launched in 2004 and 2009, respectively.

Corporate Leadership Center’s Board of Directors and Program Advisory Boards includes CEOs and Chairmen of Fortune 500 companies, who are committed to the development of strategic and compelling leaders.

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  Cheryl Francis

  Co-Chairman, Corporate Leadership Center; Co-Founder,
  CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives

  Cheryl is a director of three corporate boards: Aon plc, Morningstar, and HNI Corporation. She is a Cornell University Emeritus Trustee and Presidential Councillor, and a board member of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Cheryl was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of R.R. Donnelley...

  Cheryl is a director of three corporate boards: Aon plc, Morningstar, and HNI Corporation. She is a Cornell University Emeritus Trustee and Presidential Councillor, and a board member of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Cheryl was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. from 1995-2000.  She is a frequent lecturer and panelist in university and business settings on subjects ranging from corporate governance, strategy and leadership and the advancement of women.

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  Deborah DeHaas

  CEO, Corporate Leadership Center

  Deb is responsible for overseeing the operations and management of Corporate Leadership Center and its two programs, CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives. Most recently, Deb was Vice Chairman and National Managing Partner, Center for Board Effectiveness, at Deloitte, where she was responsible...

  Deb is responsible for overseeing the operations and management of Corporate Leadership Center and its two programs, CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives. Most recently, Deb was Vice Chairman and National Managing Partner, Center for Board Effectiveness, at Deloitte, where she was responsible for boardroom programs and thought leadership that support corporate boards and directors in fulfilling their governance-related responsibilities. Deb is a director of CF Industries and Dover, as well as a noted community leader, serving as a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago; trustee at Northwestern University and University of Denver; director of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Foundation; and chair of the Civic Consulting Alliance.

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  Sheila Penrose

  Co-Chairman, Corporate Leadership Center; Co-Founder,
  CEO Perspectives and Leading Women Executives

  Sheila is a former director of McDonald’s Corp and JLL Inc., where she served as Chairman of the Board from 2005-2020. She was the first woman on Northern Trust Corporation’s Management Committee, as President of Corporate and Institutional Services. Sheila is a founding member of the 30% Club in...

  Sheila is a former director of McDonald’s Corp and JLL Inc., where she served as Chairman of the Board from 2005-2020. She was the first woman on Northern Trust Corporation’s Management Committee, as President of Corporate and Institutional Services. Sheila is a founding member of the 30% Club in the US, which advances women on corporate boards; she served as an advisor on Education, Gender and Work at the World Economic Forum (Davos), and on the Advisory Board of Catalyst, the leading research organization on women in corporate roles.  A frequent speaker on leadership and corporate governance, Sheila is the recipient of several business awards.

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  Michelle Warner

  Executive Director, CEO Perspectives

  Michelle is the Founder & Principal of MMW Advisors, a strategic advisory firm that she established in 2020. Previously, she worked at USG as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, where she was a member of the executive committee. Michelle previously served at Motorola...

  Michelle is the Founder & Principal of MMW Advisors, a strategic advisory firm that she established in 2020. Previously, she worked at USG as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, where she was a member of the executive committee. Michelle previously served at Motorola Solutions, Inc., for 18 years, culminating in her role as Corporate Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Secretary. Michelle serves on the Board of Directors for MKS Instruments, Inc., and is a member of the President’s Council for the Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago and a Board of Advisors member at Denison University.

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  Daniella Levitt

  Executive Director, Leading Women Executives

  Daniella is responsible for the Leading Women Executives’ strategic direction, curriculum, design and delivery of programs, events and digital assets, as well as marketing and growth. Prior to joining Leading Women Executives, Daniella founded two companies and held consulting roles at Aon and Deloitte....

  Daniella is responsible for the Leading Women Executives’ strategic direction, curriculum, design and delivery of programs, events and digital assets, as well as marketing and growth. Prior to joining Leading Women Executives, Daniella founded two companies and held consulting roles at Aon and Deloitte. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, and is a past Board member of the Chicago Sinfonietta, Access Community Health Network and the Anti-Defamation League.

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  Kenneth Porrello

  Program Advisor, CEO Perspectives

  Ken served as Executive Director of CEO Perspectives from 2017-2021, and continues to be involved with the program as an advisor and Fellow (Class of 2005). Previously, Ken served as a senior principal with Deloitte, where he led significant client transformation assignments across a variety of industry...

  Ken served as Executive Director of CEO Perspectives from 2017-2021, and continues to be involved with the program as an advisor and Fellow (Class of 2005). Previously, Ken served as a senior principal with Deloitte, where he led significant client transformation assignments across a variety of industry sectors, including financial services and the public sector. Ken serves on the Board of Directors of SteelCloud, LLC, a leading cybersecurity provider, and chairs the board of advisors for the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. Ken is a graduate of McCormick and of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

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  Daniel Diermeier

  Academic Advisor, CEO Perspectives

  Daniel is an Academic Advisor to the program, having served as the first Academic Director for CEO Perspectives in 2005.  He is the 9th Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. Previously, he served as Provost of the University of Chicago. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the...

  Daniel is an Academic Advisor to the program, having served as the first Academic Director for CEO Perspectives in 2005.  He is the 9th Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. Previously, he served as Provost of the University of Chicago. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Canadian Institute of Advanced Research (CIFAR). Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Daniel taught at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University and the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of CityBase, an urban technology company.

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