Jan Fields is the former president of McDonald’s USA, LLC, and one of the most widely recognized women leaders in business.

Ms. Fields has an incredible career story, having gotten her start on french fries in a McDonald’s restaurant in Dayton, Ohio, in 1978. Her hard work and dedication took her through all levels of the company, from restaurants to management, before reaching the executive suite. Before leaving McDonald’s USA, Ms. Fields was responsible for the strategic direction and overall business results of the 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the United States.

An advocate for people development, an accomplished marathoner and respected speaker, Ms. Fields regularly gives motivational speeches on the topics of women’s empowerment and the importance of health and nutrition.

Outside of McDonald’s, she currently serves on the boards of St. Louis-based Monsanto and The Field Museum, as well as chairs the board of United Cerebral Palsy and the advisory board of Catalyst, a leading women’s organization.  She is also a member of The Chicago Network, an organization of professional women in the upper echelons of business, the arts, government and academia.

Ms. Fields has also been named to Forbes’ list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business list, the Wall Street Journal’s 50 Women to Watch list, and Crain’s Chicago Business’ lists of 25 Women to Watch.

Ms. Fields and her husband, Doug, reside in the Chicago area.