People, Purpose and the Path Ahead: Susan Kearney, PDA’s 2026 Board Chair

Susan Kearney began her term as chair of the Private Directors Association Board of Directors on Jan. 1, 2026, bringing more than 25 years of experience as a board director, executive adviser and governance leader across the civic, nonprofit and private company sectors.

A managing director and board director at Newport LLC, Kearney works closely with owners and CEOs of private companies to help them scale, strengthen and successfully exit their businesses. Her career has been shaped by a focus on organizational growth, coaching senior leaders and building alignment around change. Among her most meaningful governance roles was serving as chair of her local school board, where she helped guide initiatives that impacted thousands of students. She has also served on the boards of technology companies, experiences she describes as both challenging and energizing.

Kearney’s journey with PDA began seven years ago when she joined as an at-large member. She went on to become a founding member and the first co-president of the DC Metro Chapter, joined the national board in 2023, chaired the Nominations and Governance Committee in 2023 and 2024, and served as vice chair in 2025. Drawn to PDA’s focus on private company governance, she often notes that effective boards are a “secret weapon” for private company leaders. She has remained deeply engaged because of the organization’s mission and its welcoming, collaborative culture.

“Looking ahead, Kearney sees PDA at an important point in its evolution and is working closely with the Board to set and advance priorities for 2026. Key areas of focus include growing individual and corporate membership, expanding participation in PDA’s education, and certificate programs and continuing to invest in the infrastructure that supports a connected and thriving community. ‘It starts and ends with people,’ she said. ‘Building strong relationships, listening and supporting others is the top priority. People don’t work for me; I work for them.’”

That people-first philosophy is reflected not only in Kearney’s leadership style, but also in how she spends her time outside the boardroom. She values time with her family, enjoys gathering friends around the table for good food and conversation, and is an avid fan of team sports, especially the Washington Nationals and UVA basketball. Gardening, reading, theater and time along the Gulf Coast of Florida round out the ways she recharges, often in the company of those closest to her.

Reflecting on her first board role, Kearney learned that boards are most effective when they operate as true teams. “When a board acts as a unit,” she said, “the whole is truly more than the sum of its parts.” It’s a lesson that continues to guide her as chair and shapes her advice to members in 2026: build relationships, engage across chapters and programs, and consider stepping into volunteer roles. PDA’s impact, she believes, grows when members show up for one another and lead together.