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Accelerate Program Details - Corporate Directors Forum Institute-04

Accelerate - The Modern Boards Project

Enhancing corporate board governance in the U.S. and Japan.

in partnership with:

Accelerate: Pioneering Cross-Cultural Excellence in Board Governance

Accelerate – The Modern Boards Project launched in 2025 to strengthen corporate board governance in the U.S. and Japan. The project brings together women corporate directors from both countries to build expertise and exchange best practices for diversifying and modernizing corporate boards. The practices and strategies developed and shared will serve as a model for other countries seeking to build effective, diverse boards.

Designed to unite visionary leadership across borders, the Accelerate program:

  • Consists of 12-14 female board directors from U.S. and Japan
  • Program runs June 2025 to March 2026
  • Have participants selected for "change agent" track records
  • Participants must demonstrate commitment to improving corporate governance

Meet Our Program Hosts

The Accelerate initiative is jointly hosted by the Corporate Directors Forum Institue and the KPMG Board Leadership Center, two pioneering organizations with decades of experience in advancing corporate governance excellence across international markets.

CEO, Corporate Directors Forum Institute

Jessica N. Grounds
Senior Advisor, KPMG Board Leadership Center

Annalisa Barrett

CEO, Corporate Directors Forum Institute

Jessica N. Grounds

Jessica N. Grounds is a global authority on leadership, diversity practices, and mentorship. Over the last 20 years, she has founded multiple organizations to expand diversity in leadership including Running Start, Mine The Gap, and most recently, Corporate Directors Forum Institute. Jessica is the CEO of Corporate Directors Forum (CDF), a membership organization for modern board and executive leaders. Jessica serves on Nasdaq’s Center for Board Excellence Insights Council, the Policy Committee for Invest Ahead, and the board of Running Start. Jessica served as an expert witness in state and federal court cases which defended first-in-the-nation California legislation requiring women be added to public company boards.

Senior Advisor, KPMG Board Leadership Center

Annalisa Barrett

Annalisa Barrett is a Senior Advisor at the KPMG Board Leadership Center. She is a respected thought leader in corporate governance and board effectiveness and composition. She serves on the board of the Corporate Directors Forum and Corporate Directors Forum Institute, the National Association of Corporate Directors’ Southern California Chapter and the Society for Corporate Governance’s Southern California Advisory Council. She is also a member of the Kyoto Symposium Organization board, a Fellow of the US–Japan Leadership Program, a Council Leader of the US–Japan Council, and a member of the Japan Board Diversity Network. Annalisa teaches graduate courses in corporate governance at the University of San Diego School of Business.

Session Details

Directors will participate in curated cohort conversations to discuss major trends in governance practices and building effective boards.

Each session will comprise:

Peer Exchange

An interactive ‘deep dive’ confidential peer exchange between cohort members

Expert Insights

Expert speakers on cutting-edge topics on themes related to better governance and modern/ethical leadership practices

Practical Application

Discussions regarding ways to operationalize learning from the program to current and future board service and advocacy

Join The Program

Program costs for mentees: $2,500
Corporate sponsorships available

Following the completion of the year-long engagement, mentees will be added to the BoardReady Talent Vault to help with their placement on their first company board.

  • Accepting applications beginning Oct. 28, 2024.
  • Mentees will be announced by December 6, 2024.

Mentee applications are now open! Please fill out the survey here or click the button below.

Mentees will be notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis on or before December 6, 2024.
APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 are now closed

Interested in Accelerate?

For more information, contact Jessica N. Grounds

Contact Us

Our pilot cohort for Avenue to the Boardroom will launch in January 2025.

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Corporate Directors Forum fosters modern leaders at the top of organizations. We curate cutting-edge education and connections for our dynamic network of board members, company decision-makers, and governance experts. Based in San Diego, California with a national reach, our members include public and private companies, business leaders, board members, board experts, and leading educational institutions.


Corporate Directors Forum is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization founded in 1991.


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