Conversations & Cocktails with Merit Janow

Harvard Club of New York City  |  June 2, 2026  |  4:30 PM - 7:00 PM EDT

NACD New York hosted an evening of cocktails and conversation featuring a fireside chat with Merit Janow, Independent Chair of the Board of Mastercard and Dean Emerita of the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. A globally recognized expert on international trade, investment, and the digital economy, Janow brought experience spanning corporate board leadership, U.S. trade policy, and the global economic system.

In the environment of the time, with accelerating technological change, shifting geopolitical alliances, and evolving trade frameworks, boards had to navigate an increasingly complex global operating landscape. This conversation explored the forces reshaping international commerce—from supply chain realignment and technology competition to the digital economy and changing trade and investment regimes.

Drawing on her experience in business, government, and academia, Janow discussed how directors could engage management on geopolitical and technology risks, identify emerging warning signs, and develop the intelligence and relationships needed to guide companies through global disruption.

The discussion also addressed how boards could support management teams through scenario planning, policy shifts, and supply chain transformation—while maintaining strategic focus in a world where the speed of change continued to accelerate. This program offered practical insights into the global trends that would increasingly shape boardroom agendas in the years ahead.