Ariel Smilowitz is a Director in PwC’s Governance Insights Center, which strives to strengthen the connection between directors, executive teams, and investors by helping them navigate the evolving governance landscape.

Drawing on her experience in corporate governance and investment stewardship, Ariel advises companies on opportunities to strengthen their board practices and build investor confidence. She also regularly authors PwC’s thought leadership on related governance trends, including the flagship Annual Corporate Directors Survey.

Prior to PwC, Ariel was a member of BlackRock’s Investment Stewardship team, where she led high-impact engagements with C-suite executives and board directors across a diverse portfolio of public companies. Earlier in her career, Ariel worked at Rabin Martin, a global health strategy firm, where she supported Fortune 500 clients in delivering strategic communications initiatives aligned with corporate responsibility goals.

Ariel earned her B.A. in Government from Cornell University and her M.P.A. in International Development Policy & Management from the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She is currently a member of the Council of Institutional Investors (CII) Markets Advisory Council.