Executive Circle
A leadership community of alumni and friends advancing global economic policy research, student opportunity, and high-level dialogue at GW.
The IIEP Executive Circle brings together senior leaders, accomplished alumni, and emerging professionals who want to strengthen IIEP’s role as a bridge between academic research, policy practice, and student opportunity. Through their philanthropy, expertise, and participation, members help IIEP support students, advance research, and convene timely conversations on global finance, trade, development, and more.
What the Executive Circle Advances
Student Opportunity
Investing in students through fellowships, research, and professional connections.
High-level Dialogue
Bringing leaders and scholars together around consequential global economic issues.
Research & Policy
Advancing rigorous research with relevance beyond the university.
Meet the Co-Chairs
The Executive Circle is led by Co-Chairs Lisa Schroeter and Carl Richardson. View the full list of members here.
Lisa Schroeter, BA '92
Global Director of Trade & Investment Policy, Dow
Co-Chair, IIEP Executive Circle
Carl Richardson, MA '99
Partner, Richardson Capital LLP
Co-Chair, IIEP Executive Circle
What Executive Circle Support Makes Possible
Executive Circle contributions help fund tangible opportunities for students, faculty, and the broader IIEP community.
Executive Circle Fellowships
Created and funded by the Executive Circle, the IIEP EC Fellows program provides financial and mentorship support for graduate students pursuing degrees in international economics and development.
Paid Student Researchers
Executive Circle contributions help IIEP hire students to support faculty and affiliated researchers on projects across international trade, finance, development, and global economic policy.
Special Initiatives
Executive Circle support helps advance timely policy conversations, student engagement, research-related programming, and emerging opportunities that further IIEP’s mission.
Member Experience
Executive Circle members are invited into the life of IIEP through conversations, gatherings, student engagement, and special opportunities throughout the year.
From faculty-led discussions to student networking lunches, Dean’s events, and select partnership opportunities, membership offers meaningful ways to connect with IIEP’s students, scholars, alumni, and broader policy community.
Executive Circle members are invited to join IIEP for biannual meetings in the fall and spring. These gatherings offer regular opportunities to hear Institute updates, engage with Elliott School and IIEP leadership, meet faculty, connect with students, and build relationships with fellow members.
Meetings often include faculty presentations, student conversations, receptions, lunches, and side events that create additional opportunities for connection.
IIEP IDEAS is a private, small-group discussion series created specifically for Executive Circle members. The series gives members an opportunity to engage directly with GW faculty, visiting scholars, and policy practitioners on timely issues in the global economy. Members can ask questions, exchange perspectives with one another, and engage directly with faculty on emerging trends, risks, and policy developments.
Executive Circle members visiting campus are also welcome to let us know if they would like to connect with faculty in a particular area of interest. When possible, IIEP can facilitate introductions or meetings. View our faculty affiliates
- Past IDEAS Sessions
2025-26
"Will the US Remain a Financial Safe Haven?"
Featuring GWU faculty Tara Sinclair, Sunil Sharma, Danny Leipziger, and Steve Suranovic."Regional Powers and their Business Prospects: Brazil, India, South Africa"
Featuring Ajay Chhibber, Danny Leipziger, and Barbara Stallings.“The Post-APEC Economic Outlook"
Featuring Jay Shambaugh (Professor of Economics and International Affairs, former Under Secretary for International Affairs, Treasury Department), Stephen Kaplan (Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs), and Barbara Stallings (Distinguished Visiting Scholar, IIEP, Distinguished Visiting Professor, Tsinghua University)"US-UK and UK-EU Trade Relations"
Featuring Meredith Broadbent, Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business at CSIS, and Emanuel Adam, Chief Trade and Policy Officer & Executive Director, BritishAmerican Business.2024-25
"US-China Relations & Hong Kong", September 20, 2024
Featuring EC Members Frank Wong, and Lisa Schroeter"The US Macroeconomic Outlook," December 4, 2024
Co-sponsors: IIEP, Elliott School Development Office, Boston Consulting Group
Featuring Tara Sinclair, Walt Vester, Carl Richardson2023-24
UBS Breakfast, September 26, 2023
Co-sponsors: IIEP, Elliott School Development Office, UBS
Speakers: Daniel Gerschel, Remi Jedwab, Lisa Schroeter, Mike RyanIIEP-IDEAS: Intro Webinar, November 7, 2023
Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, Carl RichardsonIIEP-IDEAS: WTO Ministerial, March 19, 2024
Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, Carl Richardson, Steve CharnovitzIIEP-IDEAS: The current wave of de-globalization; U.S. positioning towards China; and U.S. positioning vis-a-vis the WTO, May 2, 2024
Co-sponsors: Elliott School Development Office, DLA Piper
Speakers: James Berger, Steve Suranovic, Lisa SchroeterIIEP-IDEAS: Discussing the UK Elections, July 25, 2024
Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, Carl Richardson, Ed Owen1: IIEP-IDEAS: UBS Breakfast, September 26, 2023
● Co-sponsors: IIEP, Elliott School Development Office, UBS
● Speakers: Daniel Gerschel, Remi Jedwab, Maddie Fallon, Lisa Schroeter, Mike Ryan2: IIEP-IDEAS: Intro Webinar, November 7, 2023
● Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, Carl Richardson3: IIEP-IDEAS: WTO Ministerial, March 19, 2024
● Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, Carl Richardson, Steve Charnovitz4: IIEP-IDEAS: The current wave of de-globalization; U.S. positioning towards China; and U.S. positioning vis-a-vis the WTO, May 2, 2024
● Co-sponsors: IIEP, Elliott School Development Office, DLA Piper
● Speakers: James Berger, Steve Suranovic, Kyle Renner, Maddie Fallon, Lisa Schroeter5: IIEP-IDEAS: Discussing the UK Elections, July 25, 2024
● Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, Carl Richardson, Ed Owen
EXEC Student Networking Lunches. These small-group conversations connect Executive Circle members with Elliott School and other GW students interested in learning from the professional paths members have taken after graduation.
Student Opportunities and Career Connections. Executive Circle members are encouraged to share internship, early-career, and professional development opportunities that may be relevant to IIEP-affiliated students. Many of our students are preparing for careers in international economics, finance, trade, development, consulting, law, public policy, business, and related fields, and IIEP is always looking for ways to connect them with meaningful opportunities.
Past IIEP EXEC Lunches:
- 2025-2026 Academic Year
IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, September 4, 2025
● Speaker: Maxmillian AngerholzerIIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, October 3, 2025
● Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, Nick Pistentis, Erik Kiefel, Frank Wong, Ranjani SankaranIIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, October 23, 2025
● Speaker: Ranjani SankaranIIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, February 19, 2026
● Speaker: Lisa SchroeterIIEP-EXEC Student Networking Rounds & Reception, March 23, 2026
- 2024-2025 Academic Year
1: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, September 20, 2024
● Speakers: Frank Wong, Lisa Schroeter2: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, October 22, 2024
● Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, James Berger, Erik Kiefel3: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, November 14, 2024
● Speaker: Erik Kiefel4: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, January 31, 2025
● Speakers: Lisa Schroeter and featuring Nicole Bivens Collinson, Brenda Smith, and Rebecca Gudicello5: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, April 1, 2025
● Speakers: Lisa Schroeter, Carl Richardson, Andrew Brown, Karl Wachter, Sarah Hirsch, Daniel Forman, as well as Paul Faulkner.6: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, April 8, 2025
● Speaker: Ergem Senyuva Tohumcu7: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, April 24, 2025
● Speaker: James Quigley- 2023-2024 Academic Year
1: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, January 24, 2024
● Speakers: Ray Brimble2: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, January 26, 2024
● Speakers: James Berger & Lisa Schroeter3: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, March 1, 2024
● Speakers: Anthony Yu4: IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Event, March 26, 2024
● Speakers: Carl Richardson, Paul Faulkner, Walter Vester, Lisa Schroeter, Jim Wodarski, Walter Vester, Karl Wachter, Jim Quigley
Special Invitations. Executive Circle members may be invited to select ESIA and GW gatherings throughout the year, including Dean’s salon dinners, regional receptions, New York policy breakfasts, and special events connected to major IIEP conferences such as the India and China conferences. For questions about special invitations, please contact Elaine Garbe, Director of Constituent Engagement and Annual Giving, at egarbe
gwu [dot] edu.
Event and Conference Partnerships. Members and their organizations may also explore opportunities to sponsor or support IIEP events, conferences, panels, student engagement, or other special initiatives. To discuss possible partnership opportunities, please contact IIEP at iiepgwu [dot] edu (iiep[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Executive Circle Members
Executive Circle members include alumni, parents, and friends working across finance, trade, development, law, consulting, technology, public policy, entrepreneurship, and related fields.
Partner and Head of the London Office, BDA Partners
Managing Director, Spruce House; Senior Adviser, Upsher Management Company; Senior Fellow, Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.
Senior Director, Risk Management, KPMG
Partner, DLA Piper
Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Founder & Managing Partner, Canmore Capital
Global Enterprise Brand Executive, A.I.-enabled Hybrid Integration, IBM
U.S. Congressional Staff
Co-founder and CEO, Premier Logistics Properties
Community Leader
Partner, Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Director, Boston Consulting Group’s Center for Geopolitics
Managing Director & Group Chief Financial Officer, FWD
Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer, Zero Hash
Co-Head, TDS Automated Trading, TD Securities.
Director, Equity Investments, Siemens Financial Services
Managing Director, Blue Owl Capital
Vice President, Project Finance and Business Operations, Everest Clinical Research
Senior Manager, Public Sector Strategy, Accenture
Executive Vice Chairman, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Director, Corporate Private Equity, Carlyle Group.
Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets LLC
Managing Director, Labor & Government Strategies, GCM Grosvenor
Partner, Richardson Capital LLP; Co-Chair, IIEP Executive Circle
Executive Director, Project & Export Finance, Standard Chartered
Global Director of Trade & Investment Policy, Dow; Co-Chair, IIEP Executive Circle
SVP, Sustainable Investment Research Senior Lead, Citi Global Wealth
Co-Founder, FutureWise Partners; Adjunct Faculty and Head of Experiential Learning, Fordham University London Centre
Managing Director at Rock Creek Global Advisors
President and CEO, Westbrook Development Partners and Prism Workspaces.
Senior Director of Operations Excellence, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG); Founder, Huygens: The Tactical Robo-Advisor.
Partner and the General Counsel of Magnetar Capital
Partner, Mintz Levin
Senior Advisor, Regal Hotels International
Director, Renaissance Technologies
Finance and Business Development
Finance Expert, xAI; Limited Partner & Fund Advisor, Oxonian Ventures
