Connie Lindsey

Connie L. Lindsey is the former Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Northern Trust, Chicago. Prior to her retirement, she was responsible for the design and implementation of the global Corporate Social Responsibility, Community Development and Investments, and Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy for Northern Trust and the development of goals, policies, and programs appropriate to the brand and business unit strategies. In addition, Ms. Lindsey provided oversight and leadership to the firm’s response to environmental matters as well as social issues, within the marketplace, workplace, and the community. Prior to becoming the Head of CSR, Ms. Lindsey led teams in the Corporate & Institutional Services business, serving public fund and not-for-profit clients. Over the course of her Northern Trust career, she held several leadership roles, including Deputy Business Head in Operations and Technology, Group Head in Northern Trust’s Wealth Management business, Director of Enterprise Relationship Management, and Manager in Treasury Management Consulting. She was the first African-American woman to be named Executive Vice President in the history of the firm. Ms. Lindsey is a former National Board President of Girl Scouts of the USA. She joined the Girl Scouts board in 2005 and was elected National Board President, the highest-ranking volunteer of this 2.5-million-member organization, in 2008 and 2011 for three-year terms. In this role she provided guidance in three vital areas— policy, fund-raising, and leadership. She was an integral part of the Girl Scout transformation, committed to building and sustaining membership growth and ensuring girls receive a premier leadership development experience. Ms. Lindsey serves on several civic and charitable boards to include American Cancer Society (Board Secretary ), Chicago Urban League; Chicago Community Trust; Leadership Greater Chicago (Former Board President, Fellow since 2001); McCormick Theological Seminary (Chair of the Board of Trustees); United Church Funds (Board Member), Obama Foundation Inclusion Council (Co-Chair) and Trustee WTTW. Ms. Lindsey received her BA in Finance at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has completed the Harvard Business School Executive Education Corporate Social Responsibility program, and is also a Licensed Qualified Administrator of The Intercultural Development Inventory®. She is a public and motivational speaker, corporate responsibility, leadership, and personal and professional empowerment and consultant on topics of non-profit board governance. She has been recognized for her leadership contributions by the Anti-Defamation League’s Woman of Achievement Award, Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award, Chicago United’s Business Leaders of Color Award, Leadership Greater Chicago’s Distinguished Fellow Award, National Diversity Council’s Most Powerful and Influential Women Award, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Advocacy Award, YWCA’s Outstanding Leader Award in Community Leadership and the Chicago Urban League Humanitarian Award. She is an Inroads, Inc. Alumna. She and her husband, John M. Blackburn, CPA, MBA, MST reside in Chicago, Illinois.