Erin Essenmacher is a board director, advisor, media professional and accomplished c-suite executive with a knack for driving growth, sparking innovation and connecting people with purpose. From scaling early-stage startups to doubling the membership of the largest organization for board members in just seven years, Erin thrives on tackling complex challenges and turning big ideas into tangible results. She is passionate about the power of sustainable capitalism and a student of the levers that drive long term value creation.

An expert in corporate governance and the future of the boardroom, Erin is a go-to speaker, advisor, author, and podcast guest on everything from board dynamics, culture, and board diversity to digital transformation, emerging risk and competitive disruption. As President and Chief Strategy Officer at the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), she quadrupled revenue, launched groundbreaking programs, and transformed the organization into a thought leader on critical topics like culture, ESG, digital transformation and cyber resilience. She has served on nearly a dozen boards across sectors including education, professional services, media, retail, and venture capital.

An award-winning filmmaker, Erin’s storytelling chops have helped elevate brands including Sony, Apple, Acura and the Gap and graced the screens of PBS, the Discovery Channel, History Channel, and high-profile film festivals including SXSW. She is a proud aunt to ten nibblings and a proud Wolverine, holding a BA with concentrations in Political Science, Communications and American Studies from the University of Michigan.