Press Release
26 October 2026
New initiative brings together accomplished board leaders to strengthen corporate governance and expand opportunity for future directors as Summit registration increases by one-third.
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 — PRISM: The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors today announced the 13 inaugural members of its Leadership Circle, bringing together some of the nation's most accomplished LGBTQ+ corporate directors to strengthen relationships among senior board leaders and expand opportunities for the next generation of directors.
The founding group includes leaders serving on the boards of Dow, Bank of America, 3M, HubSpot, AIG, Macy's, Lowe's, CMS Energy and Edison International, among other major corporations. The announcement came at the Association's Fourth Annual Summit, hosted by Grant Thornton in New York, where approximately 160 directors, CEOs, investors and board recruiters registered, up from 119 last year.
The Leadership Circle is a selective, non-governing network of experienced LGBTQ+ corporate directors who have agreed to lend their leadership, experience and relationships to the Association's mission. It is designed to foster meaningful connections among senior directors, encourage the exchange of ideas and experience, and help create opportunities for emerging board talent through mentoring, sponsorship and professional introductions. The Circle will begin formally convening in 2027.
The 13 founding members are:
"Our community includes some of the most accomplished corporate directors and business leaders in the country, yet many of us have never had the opportunity to know one another," said Michael C. Camuñez, the Association's Board Chair. "The Leadership Circle is about changing that. By bringing these leaders together, we can build a stronger community of peers, share the experience and relationships we've gained, and help open doors for those who follow us. Ultimately, our goal is not simply greater representation, but stronger boards and better governance."
The Leadership Circle reflects the Association's broader evolution as a professional association focused on boardroom excellence. This year's Summit, organized around the theme "Sharper Perspective. Stronger Boards.," brought together corporate leaders to discuss the changing demands of board service, emerging governance challenges and the importance of developing the next generation of qualified directors.
The gathering also comes at a challenging moment for LGBTQ+ representation in corporate leadership. The Association's latest research identified 45 openly LGBTQ+ Fortune 500 board seats, down from 50 in 2024, the first decline since the organization began tracking representation in 2022. Much of that change reflects acquisitions, privatizations and changes in the composition of the Fortune 500, rather than evidence that companies removed directors because of their LGBTQ+ identities.
More significantly, the Association identified only one genuinely new, openly LGBTQ+ director entering the tracked Fortune 500 cohort since 2024, underscoring the continuing challenges surrounding visibility, access and pathways to board service. Separately, research by PeopleReturn (formerly DiversIQ) documented a sharp decline in corporate disclosure of LGBTQ+ board representation.
"At a time when many companies are reconsidering their diversity commitments, the growing participation in our Summit reflects the continuing importance of this community," said Fabrice Houdart, the Association's Executive Director. "Directors want somewhere to talk honestly about AI, recruitment and who gets a seat at the table, and they want to do it in the open. The Association is creating those connections and helping directors contribute to the most important conversations in corporate governance."
David Glasgow, Executive Director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law, delivered the Summit keynote, "How Equality Wins: Governing Through Backlash." The day's programming addressed substantive issues facing corporate boards and aspiring directors, including:
The Association also presented its inaugural Profiles in Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing corporate governance and opportunity. The corporate award was presented to Zimmer Biomet and accepted by Lori Winkler, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. The individual award honored Betsy Bernard, the former President of AT&T, who over nearly three decades has served on eight public and five private corporate boards, from financial services and technology to healthcare and aerospace. She chaired two boards, Telular and SITO Mobile, and major governance committees at Principal Financial Group and Zimmer Biomet. Her achievements earned her a place among the NACD Directorship 100.
The Summit marked another milestone in the Association's institutional development following the adoption of its new name and identity earlier this year. The organization is expanding its efforts to provide meaningful professional development, peer engagement, mentorship and connections with corporate boards, investors, governance organizations and executive search firms.
The Summit was supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Edison International, Amazon Web Services, the New York Stock Exchange, Cooley and Climate First Bank, and hosted by Grant Thornton.
PRISM: The Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022. Its mission is to advance boardroom excellence by educating, connecting and supporting LGBTQ+ directors and board-ready leaders, and to increase LGBTQ+ representation on corporate boards as a result. Through research, education, mentorship and partnerships with companies, investors and governance leaders, the Association works to strengthen corporate boards by expanding access to experienced leaders and diverse perspectives.
Media contact: Fabrice Houdart, Executive Director, info@prismdirectors.org