Sheila Talton

President and Chief Executive Officer, Gray Matter Analytics

Sheila Talton is an innovative global leader and Big Data strategist with over 30 years of experience in helping organizations increase value, build successful businesses within larger companies and expand into emerging markets.

Her experience in governance extends to corporate, civic and not-for-profit sectors; currently serving on the boards of Deere & Company (NYSE: DE), Wintrust Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:WTFC), OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE:OGE), Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital Foundation, The Chicago Network, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Chicago Urban League and Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY). She served for 10 years on the board of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and for five years at Acco Brand Corporation (NYSE:ABD). She was a founding member and chairperson of the Information Technology Senior Management Forum, where she continues to serve on their advisory board. She also served on the Advisory Committee to the Board Selection Committee for Agenda, a Financial Times Company.

She was the founder and CEO of Unisource Network Services; she was a Senior Managing Partner at Ernst &Young/Cap Gemini, President of EDS’ Business Processing Information Services and the VP Globalization Officer for Cisco Systems in China and South America. She currently serves on the boards of companies focused on agriculture, finance, energy, healthcare, food services and the performing arts.

Most recently, she was designated a “Woman of Influence” by The Chicago Business Journal and an honoree in “Those Having Significant Impact on Business and Technology” by TechWeek. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.