Mary Dillon, a seasoned business leader with over four decades of experience in retail and consumer industries, is known for her values-based and consumer-centric leadership approach, ability to cultivate aligned teams, and her emphasis on workplace cultures that uplift the contributions and insights of team members at all levels.
Mary is one of only three women to have led two Fortune 500 companies, having served as CEO and Board Director at Foot Locker, Inc. and CEO at Ulta Beauty. Previously, she was President and CEO of US Cellular, Global CMO at McDonald’s Corporation, and President of Quaker Foods at PepsiCo.
Mary is on the Board of Directors at KKR & Co. Inc., a global investment company.
Recently, Save the Children US Board of Trustees has selected Mary as the next Chair of the Board, effective February 2026. Having previously served on the board from 2016-2023, Mary is inspired to work with Save the Children to advance health, education, and protection for children in the United States and around the world.
Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and Asian studies from the University of Illinois in Chicago. She and her husband Terry have four children and one grandchild. As a family, they enjoy adventure travel, tennis and pickleball.
Events create magical experiences when you prioritize intimate connections over crowd size, transforming how attendees engage and remember your gathering.
Read More
Pioneers build what doesn't exist yet. Learn how keynote speaker Gaby Natale's Virtuous Circle framework helps teams execute when the path isn't obvious.
Read More
Financial planning in 2026 requires clarity over noise. Discover keynote speakers who'll help you build resilience when markets and social media start shouting.
Read More
Crisis leadership lessons from September 11 reveal how everyday Americans build national resilience through interconnected work and shared purpose.
Read More
Discover the best artificial intelligence speakers for cybersecurity conferences, curated for CISOs, security leaders, and event planners seeking real-world AI insights.
Read More
Learn practical communication strategies from expert Sarita Maybin that transform difficult workplace conversations into productive dialogue.
Read More