50/50 Women on Boards™ Announces Featured Speakers for 2026 Breakfast of Corporate Champions

50/50 Women on Boards has announced the featured speakers for the 2026 Breakfast of Corporate Champions, which will be held on September 17, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET at 48 Wall Street in New York City. The event aims to honor CEOs from more than 230 S&P 500 and Fortune 1000 companies that have achieved at least 40% women directors on their boards.

During the event, Ron Vachris, President and Chief Executive Officer of Costco Wholesale, will receive the Muriel F. Siebert Leadership Award. This award recognizes his commitment to promoting women in leadership and corporate governance.

The Breakfast of Corporate Champions will also serve as the kickoff for the organization's annual Global Summit, themed "The Future Board Agenda." This summit will focus on governance, AI oversight, risk management, and the future of board leadership. Heather Spilsbury, CEO of 50/50 Women on Boards, stated that the companies being recognized exemplify effective board leadership that enhances performance for their organizations and stakeholders.

Notable speakers include Ruth Cotter from AMD, Richard Davis from Dow and Mastercard, and Jim Fitterling from Dow, among others. The event has also secured various sponsorships, including United Airlines as the official airline and multiple diamond and platinum sponsors.

The Breakfast of Corporate Champions, established in 2011 by the Women's Forum of New York, seeks to highlight the importance of gender balance in the boardroom as a key business strategy. The recognition of companies meeting or exceeding the national average for women on boards serves to inspire other organizations to pursue positive change.