Melanie Trent
Melanie Trent is an experienced independent board member and senior executive who has worked extensively in the energy industry. Ms. Trent serves on the Board of Directors of Diamondback Energy,
The annual Board Institute is a key way in which DirectWomen fulfills its mission.
Nearly 40% of DirectWomen alumni have been elected to serve on at least one corporate board, with alumni serving on over 210 total corporate boards, since the organization’s inception.
The application for the 2025 Board Institute is now closed. Please email yechevarria@directwomen.org to be notified when our application for 2026 opens.
More than 285 lawyers have participated in the Board Institute over the past 18 years and provide a rich pool of director candidates. Past Board Institute classes have been comprised of General Counsel of Fortune 500 companies, partners at top law firms, and leading lawyers from government and academia. These distinguished lawyers represent a wide range of business knowledge and experience in their industries, which include finance, energy, retail, media, and pharmaceuticals, among others. To learn more about DirectWomen’s Board Institute alumni, visit our alumni biography and resume database.
SUCCESS STORIES
Carrie Hightman
Ms. Hightman is an experienced director and executive and has held a broad range of leadership roles in highly regarded companies such as NiSource, AT&T, and Fifth Third Bancorp. In
Michelle M. Warner
Michelle M. Warner is a highly accomplished C-suite executive and board director with over two decades of global public company leadership experience, including extensive engagement with boards and their committees