Leadership

Linda Crompton (Dallas, Texas) is an international thought leader with a passion for helping women advance personally, financially and professionally. With more than 25 years’ experience in leading organizations to achieve both profitability and mission-driven objectives in various markets, she has served as senior executive, consultant and strategy advisor in nonprofit and for-profit sectors.

In 1987, Linda began her career in the Canadian banking industry, where she advocated for organizational and regulatory change. In less than 10 years, she made history, becoming Canada’s first female bank president. Linda served as Founding President/CEO of Citizens Bank of Canada in Vancouver from 1996 through 2001. Since 2001, she has called the U.S. home, when she was named President and CEO of the Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute. From 2007 to 2013, Linda was named President/CEO of BoardSource. A lifelong advocate for women, she has used a gender lens in her work to ensure equality and leadership opportunities for women. In the banking industry, Linda spearheaded the creation of Return to Work, a program designed to encourage women to stay engaged with their work while taking maternity leave. As CEO of Citizens Trust, the predecessor to Citizens Bank of Canada, she revised loan criteria in order to level the playing field for female entrepreneurs.

Linda has also been a columnist for Woman to Woman magazine and, in more recent years, advocated for more women candidates in corporate board roles. Since 2013, she has been an adviser to organizations wanting to expand their capacity and respond to new market demands. Linda has served as President & CEO of Leadership Women since 2015, focusing on expanding Leadership Women’s role in preparing women to lead in an increasingly global environment.

In addition to her commitment to equity for women, Linda has advocated for global sustainability and action on climate change for almost thirty years. She served on the first boards of directors for ethically screened funds, and was an early supporter of ESG factors to be included in mainstream investment decision making – serving as CEO of IRRC (Investor Responsibility Research Center) in the mid 2000’s. In 2020, she was appointed Co-Chair of the Global Advisory Board of Ethical Markets Media, a leading provider of sustainability-based research and technologies worldwide.

Heidi K. Murray (Dallas, Texas) began her career in programming and special events at the John. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., working with logistics for international touring companies. From the performing arts arena, she began her 11-year career with Omni Hotels in various events management positions, including Director of Catering and Conference Planning at Omni’s flagship hotel, the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Heidi has also served as the National Director of Sales for a destination management company, producing conventions, meetings, and a variety of special events throughout the U.S.  Heidi’s work in the hotel business introduced her to Leadership Women and she has remained involved with the organization since graduating from the Leadership Pipeline Class of 2004. She first served as a member of the Leadership Pipeline Committee of the board and was a part-time contractor for Leadership Women before joining the team as the Director of Logistics and Alliances over 10 years ago. Now, she serves as the program director for the Leadership Texas and the Leadership International programs while also providing operational and logistics management for the Leadership America and Leadership Pipeline programs.  Heidi has been a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) since 2001 and is active in the meeting planning community, regularly lecturing for Meeting Planners International. She serves as a Director of the Board of Dallas Black Theatre, the VisitDallas Diversity & Inclusion Committee – and as the Vice President of her HOA (by far her most challenging role).  Heidi is a graduate of the 2015 class of Leadership Dallas, the 2010 class of Leadership Arts and holds an honors degree in communications with a minor in psychology from the University of North Florida.

Heidi has been a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) since 2001 and is active in the meeting planning community, regularly lecturing for Meeting Planners International. She was part of the 2010 Leadership Arts Class in Dallas and serves as a board member of the Dallas Black Dance Theater, Leadership Arts Alumni Association, and the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Heidi is a graduate of the 2015 class of Leadership Dallas and holds an honors degree in communications with a minor in psychology from the University of North Florida.

Laura Logan (Dallas, Texas) began her career with the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS), starting as an assistant to the Executive Director and eventually working her way up to the position of Director of Office Operations and Legislative Affairs. In addition to overseeing office operations, Laura served as the staff liaison to the board of directors, bylaws committee, and legislative committee. As Director of Legislative Affairs, Laura was responsible for tracking state legislation and HCFA regulations that affected ultrasound and was instrumental in organizing volunteers to help testify for or against those statutes.

After her seven years tenure with SDMS, she began an 11-year career with the Association of Blockbuster Franchisees (ABF) as Associate Director, working with over 127 Blockbuster franchise owner groups representing over 1,200 stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico. Laura began her career with Leadership Women in 2010 in a contract position and officially joined the staff in 2012. With her 18 years of experience in association management, she brings such skills as database management, meeting planning, event registration, and accounting. Laura holds a degree from the University of North Dakota in political science.