Three Questions for 2025 Global Leadership Award Honoree Regina Cross

From her global career in finance to her work empowering others, Council Emerging Leaders Program alumna Regina Cross believes true leadership begins with empathy. As a 2025 Global Leadership Award honoree, she shares her perspective on what it takes to lead across borders and create meaningful, lasting change.

How do you see global finance playing a role in advancing inclusive and sustainable growth?

Advancing inclusive and sustainable growth can be achieved through collaborative efforts with global finance, public sector, and private sector partnerships. The evolving technology can be used to provide educational resources, access, and platforms that seek equity with marginalized groups. In doing so, global finance can assist populations around the world with economic mobility that ultimately leads to health improvements, family stability, infrastructure development, and a high quality of life for communities.

How has working across borders shaped your understanding of what effective global leadership looks like today?

My travels around the world have taught me that global leadership begins with empathic listening, seeking to understand without judgement, and empowering leaders at every level to action that matters most for their families and communities. Our diversity is our strength; our commonality is our resilience, love and humanity are paramount.

How did the Emerging Leaders Program influence the way you think about leadership and global engagement?

The Emerging Leaders program provided invaluable insights into foreign policy and civility at the intersection of government, private sector, legal, and nonprofit entities. The fond memories that I have of my fellow alumni resoundingly remind me that success can be achieved through sustained partnership, sometimes difficult conversations on dissenting views, and commitment to change.