Linda Sanford

Linda Sanford retired from IBM in 2014, where she had been one of the company’s highest-ranking women and one of the technology sector’s senior-most executives. Prior to retirement, Sanford was the Senior Vice President, Enterprise Transformation for IBM. In this role, she was responsible for working across IBM to transform core business processes, create an IT infrastructure to support those processes, and help create a culture that fosters innovation.

Sanford is a member of the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Engineering. She has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Business by Fortune magazine, one of the Top Ten Innovators in the Technology Industry by Information Week magazine, one of the Ten Most Influential Women in Technology by Working Woman magazine, and one of the Top 15 Women in Business by PINK magazine. Sanford co-authored “Let Go To Grow: Escaping the Commodity Trap,” a book that details how successful companies are pursuing strategies to drive long-term growth and innovation.

She is on the Board of the New York Hall of Science, She formerly served on the Boards of St. John’s University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, The State University of New York, The Business Council of New York State, and The Partnership for New York City.

A graduate of St. John’s University, Ms. Sanford earned an M.S. in Operations Research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and was awarded an honorary doctorate in commercial science from St. John’s.

Ms. Sanford serves on the Board of Directors of Consolidated Edison Inc. and Pitney Bowes Inc.

Ms. Sanford has been a member of the Board of Directors of Interpublic Group since 2019.