Samantha Kappagoda was invited to speak at the NACD Summit (National Association of Corporate Directors) that took place October 6-9, 2024 in Washington, DC. Samantha participated in a panel titled Blind Spots in the Boardroom, which explored topics that may be overlooked by corporate boards and C-suite executives. The panel was moderated by Frank Kurre, Managing Director and Lead for Governance and CEO Programs at Protiviti. Samantha’s fellow panelists were:
- Evelyn Dilsaver: Board Member, Tempur Sealy, Quidel Ortho, Health Equity and Ballard REIT
- Noni Ellison: SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Counsel of Tractor Supply
- Thomas Stith: Board Director, Old Dominion Freight Line
Samantha Kappagoda’s Contribution at the NACD Summit 2024
Samantha’s appearance at the NACD Summit — the premier gathering of corporate directors in the United States — reflects her standing as a governance contributor whose perspective on boardroom blind spots is grounded in active board service, technology operating experience, and sustained engagement with governance education forums. Her contribution to the Blind Spots in the Boardroom panel addressed the intersecting blind spots of AI and data governance, data quality oversight, and board composition — drawing on the convergence of her director, data scientist, and nominating committee chair roles that is increasingly distinctive in the governance community.
About NACD
NACD has been the premier association for board directors for over 45 years, providing a collective and peer-to-peer network of over 24,000 individuals, from over 1,750 boards, with more than 20 chapters across 35 locations. The NACD Summit brings together governance professionals shaping the future of boardrooms.
About Samantha Kappagoda
Samantha Kappagoda is a data and technology leader and strategist enabling data and technology-led strategic pivots, applying sound data principles to robust and ethical technology innovation across industries and sectors, spanning Fortune 100 and middle-market environments. Her boardroom perspective leverages her operating experience –- in data, analytics and technology –- to navigate emerging opportunities, drive ROI and mitigate risk, incorporating a distinctive blend of technology expertise, capital markets fluency and risk governance.
Samantha currently serves as an Independent Director, Nominating Committee Chair and Audit Committee Member for the Credit Suisse Funds, now under UBS (NYSE: UBS), and a Member of the Governing Council Business Board at the University of Toronto. She is also Chief Data Scientist and Co-Managing Member of Numerati® Partners LLC, and Visiting Scholar at Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University.
Recognized as a Director to Watch by Directors & Boards magazine, Samantha is an active contributor at governance forums in USA and Canada, addressing AI and data governance at Independent Directors Council, NYU Directors’ Academy, Private Directors Association and WGOB Canada. Samantha has been awarded the Certificate in Private Company Governance from the Private Directors Association, and has also completed the Harvard Business School Program Making Corporate Boards More Effective. For additional information, please see Samantha’s biography, recent news and conferences & events.
