Private Company Director’s Directors to Watch 2026 highlights 29 significant and diverse directors who have contributed to and will continue to expand ongoing dialogue on board best practices and corporate governance excellence.
Ladi Adefala
Delta Dental Missouri
Ladi Adefala serves as chair and director of Delta Dental Missouri. He served as board vice chair from 2023 to 2026. Previously, he served as chair of the governance and nominating committee and member of the finance, audit, compensation and executive committees.
He is the founder and CEO of Omega316, a values-driven consulting firm that specializes in technology/cyber strategy and leadership advisory. Adefala’s operating experience spans a variety of global leadership and transformative roles at Fortinet, World Wide Technology, AT&T and Accenture.
Adefala has advised global Fortune 500 organizations. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and a board member of End2End Solutions. He previously provided board advisory support to Cyber Threat Alliance.
Board miscommunication and AI oversight. “Sometimes, boardroom miscommunication on AI can feel like the classic Abbott and Costello routine, “Who’s on First?” Directors communicate with different reference points and these are often different from those of management. For some, AI risk is on first, “strategy/opportunity” is on second and “I don’t know the ROI” is on third. For others, these terms may mean organizational survival, acceleration or reinvention. This miscommunication and misalignment can make for ineffective AI oversight. Therefore, it’s important for directors to elevate their AI literacy for effective oversight and to align on who’s really on first.”