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Part three of our webinar series on HR issues for boards will discuss the ever-important issue of succession planning. If boards have learned anything from the pandemic and recent economic rollercoaster, it’s that anything can happen.  Boards of directors can take specific steps to be prepared for planned departures and unexpected departures by having a solid succession planning process. Why is succession planning so challenging, and how to address the changing nature of it? What are the top reasons CEOs move on from their positions, and what are some leading practices in addressing succession successfully? Join this webinar to hear from a panel of experts and practitioners who have experienced succession planning ups and downs and best practices for boards hoping to tackle this tricky subject.

SPEAKERS

Elisa Bannon-Jones

Elisa Bannon-Jones, MHCS, Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at GNC, oversees global talent and employment strategies, implements recruitment and retention practices, and influences corporate culture to deliver upon overall business advancement. Her rich experience working cross-functionally – and through an international lens – has effectively created shareholder value through successful Human Resources initiatives that align with company and functional strategic plans.

Bannon-Jones is responsible for the full GNC employee experience from recruitment to onboarding, to retention, reviews, professional development and career acceleration. She oversees a group of strategic professionals leading the charge in benefits and compensation, talent acquisition, HR systems and operations, HR reporting and analytics and internal communications. This group is a high-touch part of the GNC global business interacting with associates across the world to ensure a top-notch experience.

Cynthia Burks

Cynthia Burks is a trusted leader, advisor, and board member with extensive experience in HR and business strategy across a number of industries. She currently serves as board member on multiple boards: WD40, Inspire Medical Systems, Sellars, and Torch. Additionally, she is an advisor at Maze Therapeutics, Taltrics, and Air Protein.  Cynthia was previously Chief People and Culture Officer for Genentech, where she led the company’s efforts to attract, develop and retain the brightest minds in the biotech industry and ensure Genentech remained the employer of choice for over 13,500 employees. An innovative leader, Cynthia brings system-thinking, strong analytical skills and expertise in all areas of human-capital strategy -- talent management; culture; diversity, equity and inclusion; organizational design -- to her work.

Alma Derricks

Alma Derricks is a Senior Client Partner in Korn Ferry Consulting’s Consumer and Culture, Change & Communications (C3) practices. An accomplished management consultant, operating executive, and serial intrapreneur, Alma has over 25 years of experience building inventive new ventures at the edges of established media, entertainment, technology, hospitality, and consumer products companies. She has created new businesses and customer strategies for an array of adventurous organizations including Verizon, NBCU, Fox, Redbox, Blue Man Group, SiriusXM, Amazon, and Southwest Airlines; launched ground-breaking digital networks for Star Trek, Peanuts, and Dilbert; and held senior management positions at HBO, Paramount, El Rey Network, and Cirque du Soleil. She is also the founder of a boutique “brand entrepreneurship” consultancy and served as a Managing Director in the Strategy and Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) practices of a leading Big Four advisory firm.She is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship Certified® board advisor and currently co-chairs the American Ballet Theatre RISE Advisory Council.

Banafsheh Akhlaghi, moderator

Banafsheh Akhlaghi is President and Chief Executive Officer at Akhlaghi Law, where she leads an international private law practice working with emerging companies. In addition to her role at Akhlaghi Law, she serves as a Member of the Board of Directors with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and an Advisory Board Member of Entefy, an AI startup in Silicon Valley. Banafsheh is a trusted advisor known for her expertise in Data Protection, AI Ethics, Environmental Social Governance (ESG), Human Capital, and Public Policy. She has a proven track record of working with startups in technology and social entrepreneurship, helping them scale from the startup level to eight-figure businesses. Banafsheh's strategic acumen and risk mitigation skills have resulted in millions of dollars in cost savings and revenue generation for her clients. She has advised heads of nation-states, industry leaders, and politicians on emerging legal and rights-based issues, and is often sought out for her transformative problem-solving approach, collaborative executive leadership, and consensus-building skills. She has been a keynote speaker and panelist at over 300 public speaking engagements and has provided expert analysis on CNN, NPR, BBC, AP, and KCBS Radio.