In Conversation with Debra Reed-Klages, Ranked Number 3 WSJ’s Top 250 Board Directors

Attendees gained wisdom from the experience and insights of a national corporate leader on board dynamics and performance, joining and transitioning to boards, board challenges during uncertainty, board assessment and refreshment, and board responsibilities in AI and social media environments.

Debbie Reed, who has pretty much done and seen it all, shared how she rose from a (rare) female engineer to become (even rarer) among the top female CEOs and board members in the US. She shed light on how she transitioned and adapted to board director from CEO, how she juggled several major board directorships in very divergent industries, and how she and her board colleagues deliberate and decide at a time of extraordinary uncertainty and unpredictability. She also discussed board roles and future challenges relating to AI, social media, and stakeholder and social responsibility. She explained how boards can assure that they remain current, relevant and impactful.

AGENDA:
7:45 AM - 9:00 AM (PDT): Program
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM (PDT ): Optional Small Group Networking

Speaker

Presiding Director & Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, Caterpillar Inc.; Audit Committee Chair, Chevron Corp.

Debra L. Reed-Klages

Debra L. Reed-Klages was recently named #3 on the Wall Street Journal’s list of most influential directors in 2025. She is the Presiding Director of Caterpillar Inc., where she also chairs the Nominating and Governance Committee. She is Chair of the Audit Committee at Chevron Corporation and serves on the Compensation and Governance Committees at Lockheed Martin…
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Moderator

Chairman of the Board, Ensight

Rafael Pastor

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Rafael Pastor has an extensive and diversified track record in both running successful businesses and advising business leaders. His career has spanned the media/entertainment, education, and business/financial services sectors…
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