Vice Chair & Head of Growth | AI Transformation | Board Director | Creator of the WisdomCards

Dr. Anita Sands is a distinguished board director and sought-after strategic advisor who guides organizations through technology disruption and pivotal change. She brings a rare and potent combination: a Ph.D. in Atomic and Molecular Physics, an MPP, and extensive C-suite and board-level experience at the nexus of global finance, technology, and academia. This unique multidisciplinary lens empowers her to decode complex trends and and translate them into actionable, forward-looking strategies for growth and resilience. Her current research is focussed on the leadership, change management and workforce implications of AI. A respected change agent, Dr. Sands blends a futurist’s vision with a pragmatist’s execution. For over a dozen years, she has enabled senior executives and boards to think differently, accelerate growth, and confidently navigate transformation. Her non-traditional and differentiated skill set as a director is highly valued, particularly in contexts of major disruption, hyper-growth, and CEO transitions. Currently, Dr. Sands serves on the boards of ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) and Nubank (NYSE: NU) as Lead Independent Director, alongside private technology firms Rokt, Cyderes, and Jumpcloud. Her past directorships include Symantec Corporation, Pure Storage, Circle, and ThoughtWorks. This extensive board portfolio followed significant executive leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer for UBS Wealth Management Americas, and senior positions at RBC and Citigroup. A Fulbright Scholar (Ph.D., Queen’s University Belfast; Masters with highest distinction, Carnegie Mellon), Dr. Sands has also served as the James Wei Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship at Princeton University and as a Venture Partner at NEA. As a dynamic and engaging keynote speaker, Dr. Sands is recognized worldwide for her ability to illuminate complex themes—including navigating change, future-leaning leadership, and career development—with clarity, humanity, and wit. She is also the creator of the "Wisdomcards," a collection of over 7,000 bite-sized gems of wisdom she has gathered over the course of her career, which she now shares on social media. Dr. Sands, originally from Ireland, now resides in NJ with her husband and daughter. She is also the proud step-mom of five wonderful millennials and four grandchildren.