Anne Chow

As the first woman of colour to serve as CEO in AT&T’s 140-year history, Anne Chow led AT&T Business, a $35 billion global operating unit of 35,000 employees. In her role, she navigated unprecedented market upheaval while championing inclusion, culture, and sustainable growth. Today, as an Independent Board Director for companies including 3M, CSX, and FranklinCovey, and as a Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Chow continues to shape the future of leadership, talent, and technology.

Over her 32-year career at AT&T, Anne Chow always emphasised that meaningful relationships with clients, colleagues, partners, and communities form the foundation of organisational success. She believes that technology should amplify — not replace — human connection. She also recognises that today’s business world is full of constant disruption. In this environment, one of the most overlooked sources of impact is early-career employees. These rising leaders face complex challenges but also have enormous potential to drive meaningful change. Chow advocates for intentionally investing in them to build confidence, business skills, and resilience so they can navigate technology, culture, and market shifts with agility.

Born to Taiwanese immigrants in the United States, Anne Chow’s upbringing instilled in her the values of curiosity, discipline, and a relentless commitment to education. From studying piano at Juilliard to earning dual degrees in Electrical Engineering and an MBA with Distinction from Cornell University, she learned early that excellence requires focus and purpose. These lessons shaped a career defined by mentorship, inclusivity, and a drive to unlock greatness in people, teams, and organisations.

Anne Chow’s book, Lead Bigger, translates her decades of experience into a fresh blueprint for leadership. Moving beyond traditional DEI frameworks, she reframes inclusion as an active skill for expanding perspectives, unlocking innovation, and boosting organisational performance. Chow has been named to Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business twice, included in Forbes’ inaugural CEO Next List, and awarded multiple lifetime achievement honours. A highly sought-after speaker, she champions causes from education and gender equity to STEM initiatives and health organisations.