Board Member, The Carlyle Group, World Kinect, Land O'Lakes
Sharda Cherwoo is a trailblazing executive with decades of global experience in organizational leadership, P&L management, and transformative business innovation. As a respected board member and C-suite advisor, Sharda currently serves on the Boards of Directors of The Carlyle Group Inc. and World Kinect Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, and is a member of the Advisory Board of Land O’Lakes, Inc., a Fortune 250 company. Her extensive governance experience includes roles on Board Committees, including Audit, Nomination and Governance, Operations and Technology, Corporate Sustainability, Finance, and Risk and Policy.
As a former Senior Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (EY), Ms. Cherwoo founded and grew EY’s Global Shared Services, pioneering EY’s first offshore operations, which now employ over 75,000 people, across five countries, and has contributed to over $1 billion in cost savings to EY. Her visionary approach to digital and process transformations and intelligent automation, helped position EY as a leader in adopting advanced technologies, leading to significant revenue growth.
Ms. Cherwoo’s strategic insights and innovative thinking have made her a recognized thought leader and sought-after speaker on topics, such as business and talent transformation, innovation and technology, entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, diversity, global shared services strategies, and global tax strategy. Ms. Cherwoo’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as long-term value initiatives, is evident in her mentorship and advocacy for the next generation of talent and seasoned executives alike.
Ms. Cherwoo’s pioneering spirit was recognized early in her career, when in 1991 she became the first woman of Indian origin to be admitted to the U.S. partnership in a “Big 8” professional services firm. Her dedication to fostering cross-cultural understanding extends beyond her professional life, as evidenced by her service on the Board of Trustees of International House of New York, and her role as an Executive in Residence at Columbia Business School. In her advisory capacity, Sharda mentors an innovative GPT-based AI technology start-up, driving value through AI-enabled efficiency and effectiveness. She also serves on the non-profit board of Tax Analysts, contributing to important discussions on tax policy.
Sharda is an immigrant to the U.S., and was born and raised in India, through high school. Her passion for global trends and innovations carries into her personal pursuits in fashion, the arts and design. As a purpose-driven leader, she has a deep passion for mentoring people and business leaders. She is an influential leader and passionate advocate in the areas of community building, democratizing opportunity for the under-represented, access to education, fostering cross-cultural understanding and building lifelong connections between the world’s next changemakers.
Ms. Cherwoo holds a B.S. in Accounting from Sacred Heart University, in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she was the class valedictorian. She has competed executive leadership programs at Harvard Business School and The Kellog School of Management. Residing in Manhattan with her husband, Ms. Cherwoo’s love for travel and exploration, reflects her global mindset and appreciation for cultural diversity.