Summit 2026
A private convening for the leaders shaping the future of corporate governance.
August 26–27, 2026
Limerick Lane Cellars, Healdsburg, California
Sponsored by:
About the Summit
The Boardroom Governance Summit is designed as an intimate, high-quality forum for practical discussion, peer learning, and relationship-building among leaders who are actively shaping boardroom decision-making.
The 2026 Summit will explore the changing role of directors across public companies, private companies, venture-backed companies, private equity-backed companies, and the broader innovation economy.
Topics will include board leadership, CEO succession, artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, adaptive governance, life sciences, CFOs in the boardroom, risk, strategy, value creation, and the evolving expectations of directors and executives.
Speakers
Leo E. Strine Jr.
Former former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court; Of Counsel, WLRK
Teresa Briggs
Board Member at DocuSign, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Warby Parker
Karen Francis
Board Member at Vontier, CelLink, and NAUTO
Jeff Epstein
Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners; board member at Autodesk, AvePoint, Okta, and Twilio
Thomas Evans
CAIO | Head of AI, Lucid Motors; Board Member at OLI Systems and iARx
Victor Gustaf Gao
Portfolio Chief Commercial Officer, Americas and Managing Director, Carlyle Group; board member at Acentra Health
Barney Harford
Former COO, Uber; Former CEO, Orbitz Worldwide; board member at United Airlines, Arrivia, Cvent, SavATree and Yummy
Penny Herscher
Board Member at Lumentum, Penguin Solutions, Forvia SA, and Modern Health
Vivas Kumar
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Mitra Chem
Jack Lazar
Board Member at Astera Labs, Box, GlobalFoundries, and Resideo
Jackie Liu
Partner, Morrison & Foerster; Board member at CEVA, Inc.
Sabastian Niles
President and Chief Legal Officer, Salesforce
Sue Siegel
Board Member at Illumina, Align Technology, Nevro, The Engine (built by MIT), and the Kaiser Family Foundation
Yvonne Wassenaar
Board Member at Forrester, Rubrik, Arista Networks, JFrog, Alation, and Braze; Senior Advisor, Lightspeed Venture Partners
Alla Whitston
Chief Information Officer at MUFG
Agenda
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
1:00–3:00 pm
and 3:30–5:30 pm
Optional Wine Tastings
sponsored by:
N/A
5:30–6:30 pm
Cocktail Reception and Registration
N/A
6:30–9:00 pm
Fireside Chat and Dinner
Leo E. Strine, Jr.
Of Counsel, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court
Thursday, August 27, 2026
8:00–9:00 am
“No Breakfast” Coffee, Tea, and Juices
9:00–9:15 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Evan Epstein
9:15–10:00 am
Panel Discussion
CEO Succession: Getting It Right When It Matters Most
Karen Francis DeGolia – Owner, Limerick Lane Cellars; Chair, Vontier; Board Member, CelLink and NAUTO; Co-Founder and Partner, The Chairs Circle
Penny Herscher – Board Member, Lumentum, Penguin Solutions, Forvia SA, and Modern Health; Co-Founder and Partner, The Chairs Circle
10:05–11:00 am
Fireside Chat
Boardroom Intelligence: Directing in the Age of AI
Yvonne Wassenaar – Board Member, Forrester, Rubrik, Arista Networks, JFrog, Alation, and Braze; Senior Advisor, Lightspeed Venture Partners
Alla Whitston – Chief Information Officer, MUFG
11:00–11:15 am
Coffee Break
11:15 am–12:00 pm
Fireside Chat
Board Leadership at the Pace of Change
Sabastian Niles – President and Chief Legal Officer, Salesforce
Jackie Liu – Partner, Morrison & Foerster; Board Member, CEVA, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEVA)
12:00–1:30 pm
Fireside Chat
Critical and Vulnerable: Governing America’s Energy Infrastructure
Vivas Kumar – CEO and Co-Founder, Mitra Chem
2:20–3:05 pm
Panel Discussion
Board of the Future: Adaptive Governance
Barney Harford – Former COO, Uber; Former CEO, Orbitz Worldwide; Board Member, United Airlines, Arrivia, Cvent, SavATree, and Yummy
Thomas Evans – CAIO and Head of AI, Lucid Motors; Board Member, OLI Systems and iARx
Victor Gustaf Gao -Managing Director, The Carlyle Group
3:05–3:20 pm
Coffee Break
3:20–4:05 pm
Fireside Chat
Innovation, Life Sciences, and Governance in a Changing World
Sue Siegel – Board Member, Illumina, Align Technology, Nevro, The Engine, and the Kaiser Family Foundation
4:10–5:00 pm
Panel Discussion
CFOs in the Boardroom: Strategy, Risk, and Value Creation
Jeff Epstein – Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners; Board Member, Autodesk, AvePoint, Okta, and Twilio
Teresa Briggs – Board Member, DocuSign, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Warby Parker
Jack Lazar – Board Member, Astera Labs, Box, GlobalFoundries, and Resideo
5:00–5:05 pm
Closing Remarks
Evan Epstein
5:05–8:00 pm
Poolside Reception and Dinner
Admission
Attendance is limited and curated for board members and governance leaders.
Select Admission
A limited number of spots are available for board members, investors, and governance leaders interested in attending the Summit. Priority will be given to board members, with special consideration for devoted listeners and members of the Boardroom Governance community.
Past Podcast Guests
Reserved for former guests of the Boardroom Governance Podcast in recognition of their role in building the community around the show.
Sponsors
The Boardroom Governance Summit is made possible with the support of leading organizations committed to advancing thoughtful corporate governance and boardroom leadership.
Location
Join us at Limerick
Lane Cellars
Limerick Lane Cellars
1023 Limerick Lane
Healdsburg, California
Questions
Have a question?
For questions about attendance, sponsorship, or logistics, please contact summit@boardroom-governance.com.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you
Secure your place at the Boardroom Governance Summit 2026