Adena Friedman

Adena Friedman is an American business executive who serves as the president and chief executive officer of Nasdaq, Inc., a global technology company serving the capital markets. She is the first woman to lead a major exchange operator in the United States. Friedman has held various leadership roles at Nasdaq and The Carlyle Group, driving the company's evolution from a traditional stock exchange into a leading financial technology and market infrastructure provider.

Early life and education

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Friedman developed an early interest in finance and economics. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Williams College in 1991. Following her undergraduate studies, she began her career in investment banking at Alex. Brown & Sons before pursuing a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management, which she completed in 1993.

Career at Nasdaq

Friedman first joined Nasdaq in 1993 as an intern and rapidly ascended through the ranks in its corporate strategy and data products divisions. She held pivotal positions including head of data products and chief financial officer, where she oversaw the company's initial public offering in 2002. Her work was instrumental in expanding Nasdaq's suite of market technology and analytics services. In 2011, she left to become chief financial officer and later managing director at the global alternative asset management firm The Carlyle Group, gaining valuable experience in private equity.

Leadership and tenure as CEO

Friedman returned to Nasdaq as president in 2014 and was appointed chief executive officer in January 2017, succeeding Bob Greifeld. As CEO, she has spearheaded a strategic transformation, emphasizing technology solutions for other market operators and financial institutions. Key initiatives under her leadership include significant investments in anti-financial crime technology, the expansion of the Nasdaq Financial Framework, and the acquisition of companies like Verafin and eVestment. She has also been a prominent advocate for corporate diversity and environmental, social, and corporate governance standards on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Board memberships and other roles

Beyond her role at Nasdaq, Inc., Friedman holds influential positions on several corporate and non-profit boards. She serves on the board of directors for The Home Depot and previously served on the board of Fidelity Investments. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Vanderbilt University and the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics. Friedman is an active member of the Business Roundtable and has contributed to policy discussions on capital formation and market regulation.

Personal life and recognition

Friedman is married to Michael Camden Friedman, a private equity investor, and they have two children. She has received numerous accolades for her leadership, including being named to Forbes' "World's 100 Most Powerful Women" list and Fortune's "Most Powerful Women in Business" list. In 2021, she was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for corporate citizenship by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Friedman is also a noted speaker on topics of financial innovation, corporate governance, and workplace inclusion.

Category:American chief executives Category:Nasdaq Category:1969 births Category:Living people