Melissa Donaldson

Global Head of Inclusion and Giving | Morningstar

Melissa Donaldson is a well-regarded executive diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist, leadership advisor and coach with multi-industry experience. The consummate trailblazer, Melissa counts many firsts across her career, including pivotal roles leading DEI efforts at iconic brands. She was the first chief diversity officer at Wintrust Financial Corporation where she reported to the CEO and served as strategist and advisor across a matrix of community bank charters and specialty financial services businesses. She coined the ubiquitous One Wintrust masthead as a unifying guidepost, established the annual executive diversity forum assembling top eight executives from across the enterprise, and launched Paired to Win, a hybrid mentorship-sponsorship program to accelerate the development of a multicultural senior leadership bench. American Bankers Association honored Wintrust with the inaugural 2023 Outstanding DEI Efforts Award in 2023.

Prior to joining Wintrust, Melissa served as the first director of diversity networks and communication for Walgreens and the first director of inclusion practices at CDW. Her leadership resulted in CDW earning the Exemplary Voluntary Efforts (EVE) Award from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2008. While at Walgreens she launched the inaugural Walgreens Boots Alliance Global Executive Women’s Conference, regional diversity councils and the award-winning Walgreens Diversity & Inclusion Annual Report.

Melissa has received numerous accolades for her achievements and expertise, including being named Notable Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Executives by Crain’s Chicago Business, and to the prestigious Business Leaders of Color by Chicago United. She frequently shares her thought leadership through a variety of mediums, published articles, conference appearances, graduate school guest lectures, media appearances including webinars, podcasts, SiriusXM satellite radio and creator and host of Generation Flex on Chicago Access Network Television.

Melissa holds an MS in Communication from Northwestern University, an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a BS in Management Science from Wright State University. She serves on a variety of boards and councils serving the performing arts, DEI, and civic leadership. Melissa is a Leadership Greater Chicago Daniel Burnham Fellow and member of the Economic Club of Chicago. A prolific executive coach with a focus on leadership and talent development, career strategies, and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.