Donna James is a trusted resource and advisor to leaders in the public and private sector. Prior to
starting her own business, Lardon & Associates, she retired as President of Nationwide Strategic
Investments, a division of Nationwide Insurance and Financial Services Company. She serves on the
board of directors for public companies Victoria’s Secret & Co., The Hartford, American Electric Power
and the private company Xponance. Ms. James is chairwoman of the board for Victoria’s Secret & Co. In
her community, she is on the board of Trustees for OhioHealth hospital system. She is a past board
member of Boston Scientific, L Brands, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Time Warner Cable, Coca‐Cola
Enterprises, Inc., Intimate Brands and CNO Financial Group.   
  
Donna’s passion for enabling others to find their best next drives her personal and community
engagement. She is co‐founder of the Center for Healthy Families, a collaborative focused on
transforming the lives of pregnant and parenting teens and their children. She is co‐executive director of
the African American Leadership Academy, focused on strengthening a diverse pipeline of leadership
talent across the business, nonprofit, government, education, and entrepreneurial communities. She has
received numerous honors including a past appointment by President Obama to chair the National
Women’s Business Council.  
  
She is the wife of attorney Larry James, managing partner with Crabbe, Brown & James in Columbus,
Ohio. They have two adult children, Christopher and Justin, several grandchildren, great grandchildren
and an abundance of nieces and nephews