David Rubenstein interviewed Adena T. Friedman, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Nasdaq, Inc. The dinner was held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Adena Friedman has spent most of her career at Nasdaq and has shaped the organization’s strategic transformation to a global technology company serving the financial system. She joined Nasdaq in 1993 and was a key member of the management team for over a decade, serving in a variety of roles. Adena served as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group from 2011 to 2014, playing a critical role in taking the company public. She then returned to Nasdaq and prior to her current role as Chair and CEO, held several senior leadership roles at Nasdaq including President and COO.
Adena serves on the Business Roundtable’s Board and is Chair of their Technology Committee. Forbes and Fortune have both repeatedly included Adena on their annual Most Powerful Women lists. She earned a BA in political science from Williams College and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
