Melinda Wolfe Chief Diversity Officer American Express

Melinda is a Senior Vice President Executive Talent and Chief Diversity Officer at American Express where she leads executive talent acquisition, development and integration with the company’s diversity strategy.

Previously, Melinda headed the Office of Global Leadership and Diversity, which strategically addresses the expansion of a more diverse and inclusive workplace at Goldman Sachs.  She joined Goldman as the Director of Staffing and Development in the Investment Management Division, responsible for staffing professional development and training programs. 

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Melinda directed the Office of Global Recruiting and Training at Credit Suisse First Boston. In addition to overseeing global campus recruiting activities for the U.S., Europe and Asia, Melinda was responsible for developing and managing training programs for all major businesses of the firm. 

Melinda joined CSFB from Merrill Lynch where she spent fifteen years in a variety of positions. In 1995, she was selected to head the Office of Diversity Strategy and Programs, reporting to members of Merrill Lynch’s Executive Management Committee.  In this
position, she was responsible for leading the effort to promote and value cultural diversity at all levels of the firm.  Prior to this appointment, Melinda was a managing director in the Fixed Income Division where she led and managed billions of dollars of municipal utility and project finance transactions.

She is chair of the National Council of Research for Women Corporate Circle, member of the Hidden Brain Drain Task Force,  member of the NYC Mayor’s Commission on Women, board member of Planned Parenthood New York City, and an adjunct faculty member at Columbia University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

Melinda received her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  She is married and lives in Manhattan with her husband, Ken Inadomi, and her daughter Molly.