Donna Redel

Donna Redel is an American businessperson and philanthropist. Her most recent venture is Strategic 50, focuses on changing the career landscape for professional women over 50.

Career

Redel has managed global organizations, working especially in financial performance and governance issues, for 30+ years. Redel began her career as an investment banker, and made history in 1992 when she became the only woman ever elected Chairman of the Board of Commodity Exchange, Inc. (COMEX).^[1][2] Completed during her tenure was a merger with the New York Mercantile Exchange, creating the world's largest physical commodity exchange. From 1994 – 2000 Redel served as Chief Information and Technology Officer for both the International and Derivatives divisions of Prudential Securities.^[3]

In 2000, Redel joined the World Economic Forum as Managing Director and Board Member. At the Forum Redel was directly responsible for the 1000 corporate members and the development of the Strategic Partners. Redel is known for growing a major portion of the Forum's income base while expanding both geographic and gender diversity.^[4][5]

Redel was a founding member of the Executive Circle Professional Women of UJA, and is a member of both Women Corporate Directors and Golden Seeds – Angel Investors for Women Entrepreneurs.

Strategic 50

Strategic 50 is a social impact business that creates opportunities in the global workplace for exceptional professional career women, ages 50+, through its programs and advisory services. The concept was developed to respond to the reality that traditional jobs are contracting for women over 50. Strategic 50 educates, advises and promotes global opportunities for women.

Philanthropy & Women's Issues

Redel is an active philanthropist, advocating for women's health issues, financial literacy, and mentorship programs. She sits on various boards including the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University, the Alliance Française, Columbia University's Paris Alliance Program, the French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) . Jill-E Corp and formerly on the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. She is a member of the New York - Presbyterian Hospital Advisory Council, as well as its Dean's Council, and serves as President of its Lying-In Hospital executive committee. Redel has been instrumental in women's issues for over 20 years; she founded the Women's Leadership Initiative at the World Economic Forum^[6] and created the Women's Health program for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York - Presbyterian Hospital.

Education

Redel attended Barnard College (B.A. 1974), Columbia Business School (M.B.A. 1978) and Fordham University School of Law (J.D. 1995), where she later developed and taught a course on Risk Management and Derivatives.

References