CONTACT THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
If not us, then who? If not now, then when? CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
FEATURE STORY
ELC Rises Above Challenges of 2020 PAGE 4
ELCINFO.COM
2020 EDITION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURED STORY
ELC Rises Above Challenges of 2020
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6 Building on the Past, Focused on Our Future A message from Outgoing ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry.
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7 New ELC Board Officers Named
20 2020 Virtual Gala: A Look Behind the Curtain
A message from ELC Interim President & CEO Crystal E Ashby.
This year’s virtual experience was a night of fundraising and recognition for our scholarship programs.
CONTACT • Winter 2020
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LC Leadership Institute E Recalibrates for Successful 2020
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Member Services Produces Vast, Diverse Virtual Programming
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Record Numbers and Elevated External Presence for Communications in 2020
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ELC Awards Largest Number of Scholarships in 2020
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2020 CEO Juneteenth Convening Delivers Valuable Insights
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CEO GameChanger Conference Delivers Impact, Path Forward
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Members On The Move In The Media &
The ELC Board elected new officers for the positions of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
2020: A Year Like No Other
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Uncertainty abounds as the number of people affected by the pandemic continues to grow and people and businesses struggle. The ELC leadership, members and staff remain confident. PAGE 4
ELC LEADERSHIP
CONTACT The Official Publication of The Executive Leadership Council 2020 Edition
elcinfo.com/contact-magazine EDITOR Leon Tucker CONTRIBUTORS Libi Sprow Rice Damon Williams Michael Dutton DESIGNER Mike Utaegbulam, Black Creative Group
1301 K Street NW, Suite 210 West Washington, DC 20005 (202) 655.2952 ABOUT US The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) is a national organization comprising current and former Black CEOs and senior executives at Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies. For more than 34 years, The ELC has worked to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline. We open channels of opportunity for the development of Black executives to positively impact business and our communities. For more information, please visit elcinfo.com.
ELC SENIOR STAFF Crystal E. Ashby Interim President & CEO Christopher C. Butts, Ed.D. Vice President and Chief Learning Officer LaTese Briggs Vice President/Chief Philanthropy Officer
Teresa Payne-Nunn Vice President and Chief Membership Officer Libi Sprow Rice Vice President/Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Vasquez Chief of Staff
Camilla McGhee Vice President/Chief Corporate Partnership Officer 2020 ELC BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Tonie Leatherberry, Chair Deloitte LLP (Retired)
Leilani M. Brown, Secretary Stride, Inc.
Thomas R. Harvey, Vice Chair AT&T
Gregory E. Deavens, Treasurer Independence Health Group
Valerie I. Rainford, Vice Chair Elloree Talent Strategies DIRECTORS Nancy Armand HSBC
William Gipson P&G (Retired)
Chloe Barzey Accenture
Marc A. Howze Deere & Company
Kimberly A. Blackwell PMM Agency
Gale V. King Nationwide
Lloyd W. Brown II Citi
Sena Kwawu FrontDoor
Gerald T. Charles, Jr. Under Armour
Ken B. Robinson Exelon (Retired)
Ed Dandridge Boeing
Jeff G. Webster ExxonMobil (Former)
EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Orlando D. Ashford Immediate Past Chair Holland America Line Crystal E. Ashby, Interim President & CEO The Executive Leadership Council
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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A CHALLENGING YEAR IN REVIEW
ELC Rises Above Challenges of 2020
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he year started out like any other. Following a December 2019 Annual Board Meeting, The ELC entered a new year with new leadership and set out to prepare for an early Winter Meeting and an ambitious schedule of 2020 events. Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry and Interim President and CEO Crystal E. Ashby have a long history of familiarity and close collaboration. Both participated in The ELC’s leadership development programs before advancing through successful corporate careers and taking on leadership roles in the organization. As active members of The ELC, they cultivated strong bonds with other members and management, preparing them to lead the organization.
At the 2020 Winter Meeting in Manalapan, Florida, with a new slate of board members, Tonie and Crystal demonstrated the strength and enthusiasm of their synergy. We were off to a strong start. Within weeks of the meeting, The ELC leadership was faced with the disruption of a rapidly spreading global pandemic and a severe economic downturn. Every week brought new challenges and The ELC senior leadership team and staff worked with The ELC Board to chart a way forward, focusing first on the health and safety of members and staff. Without knowing how long or how serious the pandemic would eventually be, The ELC rescheduled and restructured events, shifting to virtual online formats. New operating procedures enabled the entire staff to work remotely. As painstaking progress was made to adjust to the impact of Covid-19, a series of murders of Black individuals at the hands of police and civilians made it clear that The ELC, more than ever, needed to support social justice initiatives. Following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor among too many others, the graphic and widely publicized death of George Floyd forced people across the racial and socio-economic spectrum to take note. The shocking video of Floyd’s death universally opened the eyes of people and business leaders to the brutality of racism. In the midst of a pandemic, the fact that Black lives do matter resonated with people of every ethnicity around the globe.
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A CHALLENGING YEAR IN REVIEW
The ELC stepped up to organize a Juneteenth Convening of more than 250 corporate CEOs, executives and ELC members to search for a way to achieve equality and inclusion in board rooms, CEO seats, C-Suites and communities. Recognizing the tragic consequences of systemic racism compelled many companies to seek the leadership and expertise of The ELC to help them address and eradicate historic disparities. Data from two recent studies supported by The ELC, “The Black P&L Leader” and “Being Black in Corporate America,” reinforced The ELC’s credibility and value at this critical time.
ELC JUNETEENTH CEO CONVENING CEOs Combat Systemic Racism A Framework For Success ©
Frequent virtual meetings and engagement opportunities kept members involved and informed. Virtual leadership development experiences, including Leadership Development Week, the Power of Women at Work and the 26th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium accommodated record numbers of participants. The virtual 2020 CEO GameChanger Conference and an extraordinarily successful Virtual Gala were held. Uncertainty abounds as the number of people affected by the pandemic continues to grow and people and businesses struggle. The ELC leadership, members and staff remain confident. The ELC will chart its course through these difficult times to increase its relevance and impact representing the “Power of Inclusive Leadership” and strengthening our communities. Only weeks away, our 35th year looks promising. With the support of members and partners, we will continue to strive for Black Excellence.
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MESSAGE FROM THE ELC BOARD CHAIR
Building on the Past, Focused on Our Future By Tonie Leatherberry, Outgoing ELC Board Chair
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fter an exciting and deeply rewarding two years as your Board Chair, I’ve been proud to serve the membership and work with our corporate partners to build on The ELC’s continued success. We introduced a philanthropic strategy refresh as the Chair’s Initiative and launched the Black Male Cohort Initiative with several Historically Black Colleges and Universities to improve the graduation rates of Black males. Our first board meeting in 2020 held so much promise for a full and productive year. Then, before the end of the first quarter, the spread of Covid-19 changed everything. I professionally grew up in The Executive Leadership Council, having attended the Institute’s leadership development programs and benefitting during my entire career from the advice and counsel of ELC members. I became a member, served on committees, was elected to the Board, and was honored to be named Chair of an organization that I love. During our efforts to stay on course, The ELC has been summoned to use its voice and resources to address threats to our communities. The power of our influence in social justice cannot be denied. We have made the work with members and their companies to find ways to permanently break down the barriers a priority. Black participation at every level of society,
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particularly in leadership roles, is a must. At the end of the day, we continue our fight for equity for our people in leadership and wealth creation through alliances and collaboration. As a servant leader, I knew that we would find a way to succeed through these uncertain times. With the support of our talented board officers and directors, we worked with Interim President and CEO Crystal E. Ashby and the senior staff to quickly establish a course correction. Within days we positioned The ELC to move forward, keeping the membership informed and engaged. Representing Black Excellence, The ELC continues to assert itself as a reliable source for Black leadership talent. We worked to overcome the pain of loss to hold our corporate partners accountable for sustainable systemic change. Not a day has gone by that we are not approached by companies seeking The ELC’s perspective and counsel. At the same time, we are working hard to reinvent ourselves. We are resilient and more than capable of adapting to the challenges of a new normal. Throughout a difficult year we expanded The ELC’s visibility and influence to bring more people into the fold through significantly increased participation in our events and programs. We used new tools and welcomed non-traditional participants, including young
MESSAGE FROM THE ELC BOARD CHAIR
The power of our influence in social justice cannot be denied. We have made the work with members and their companies to find ways to permanently break down the barriers a priority. Black participation at every level of society, particularly in leadership roles, is a must. entrepreneurs, artists and thought leaders. Our social media presence increased as we used our channels to introduce our members and celebrate their career advancements. We had an awesome inspiring virtual Gala, took people to “church” and had members texting that they were dancing in their kitchens. Still, we recognize there are many executives who are alone and isolated and want to be a part of The ELC. As we see an increased demand for C-Suite and board talent, we will explore new ways to help members prepare for those roles. We will work with affiliated organizations like Calibr to increase the visibility of younger Black executives, thereby strengthening the pipeline. The ELC has the opportunity in its 35th year to define what the next 35 years should look like - to set an ambitious agenda as we anticipate new challenges. You may be aware that I have chosen to take my life in a new direction. I recently retired from Deloitte to continue investing in the future of our talent. I remain steadfast as an advocate for equity through education as students at every level face tremendous change. I believe my experiences have prepared me to contribute to this vital area. The ELC has increased my exposure to the needs of our children and communities, and the need to prepare them to take full advantage of the opportunities that will come. As my term as ELC Board Chair ends on the eve of The ELC’s 35th Anniversary, I want to express my deep gratitude to all of you for your encouragement and collaboration. I will continue as Chair Emeritus with the board as you welcome a new slate of officers. I look forward to celebrating The ELC’s 35th Anniversary with you in 2021. I wish you continued health and happiness. Please make the best of your holiday season and be confident that we will build a brighter future, together.
New ELC Board Officers Named
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he Executive Leadership Council, Inc. (ELC) Board of Directors held its Annual Meeting virtually on December 18, 2020. At the meeting, The ELC Board elected new officers for the positions of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Congratulations to the newly elected officers for The Executive Leadership Council, Inc. Board of Directors:
CHAIR
Lloyd W. Brown II
VICE CHAIR
Ed Dandridge
SECRETARY
Valerie I. Rainford
TREASURER
Sena Kwawu
The terms of the officers, effective as of December 18, 2020, are two years. A big congratulations to them all. The ELC Board thanks the outgoing officers: Thomas R. Harvey, Outgoing Vice Chair; Valerie I. Rainford, Outgoing Vice Chair; Leilani M. Brown, Outgoing Secretary and Gregory E. Deavens, Outgoing Treasurer for their leadership and service. Lloyd W. Brown II succeeds Tonie Leatherberry as Chair. Tonie becomes Immediate Past Chair and continues to serve on the board in an ex-officio capacity. At The ELC’s 2021 Winter Membership Meeting, new and outgoing officers will be formally recognized and acknowledged.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE ELC INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO
A Year Like No Other An Interview with Crystal E. Ashby, ELC Interim President & CEO
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hen Crystal E. Ashby took the helm of The Executive Leadership Council in January as the Interim President and CEO, and first woman to hold the seat, few could have imagined how life-altering 2020 would become. With the support of The ELC board, staff, members and member companies, she led the organization through some of the most history making moments of our time. Ashby shared her reflections on 2020.
What would you like members to know about what it took for The ELC to overcome the unique challenges of 2020? ELC members were consistently first and foremost in our minds. Our objective was to deliver a firstclass experience with the knowledge that many people were sitting at home, alone. We wanted to reach and engage members where they were. We postponed Power Of Women at Work, a new program from the Institute which was scheduled in March in New York. As we began to research the best way to use technology to keep members engaged virtually, we launched our first “Who’s Zooming Who” in April while also launching webinars for the Institute Fellows. Doing these events virtually helped us grow. We realized we could replicate virtual gatherings on a regional or functional basis and could pivot our training format to accommodate more people without the need to travel. This connectivity allowed members to share their experiences during the lockdowns and restrictions caused by the pandemic. Our National Business Case Competition was held virtually in April as well, with confidence and great success. As we prepared for a virtual Summer Meeting, the death of George Floyd moved us to issue a strong statement as the world took to the streets to express outrage at the horrific, heartbreaking tragedy. Hundreds of members participated in our Summer Meeting where they heard from speakers including Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the co-chairs of The Black Economic Alliance. We held our ‘Family Session’ which was more than timely and much needed (Thank You Dr. Bill Carson!)
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Only two weeks later, we galvanized corporate CEOs, thought leaders and ELC members for The ELC’s Juneteenth Convening to amplify what members were dealing with in their companies, communities and personally around the dual pandemics of Racism and Covid-19. We pledged to sustain our members and support their companies in navigating the critical next steps of this defining moment that many were not prepared to face. I am particularly proud of CEOs Combat Systemic Racism – A Framework for Success©, the resource we shared with CEOs and members at the close of the Convening. There was outreach from a number of CEOs who were charting new paths in the face of all the issues that this unprecedented time created for them and their teams. Our resource gave CEOs a reference point for making sustainable change in their corporations. It exemplified The ELC’s thought leadership that both member and non-member affiliated companies valued in 2020. We increased our external visibility on the critical issues facing our people through media engagement (all forms) and exposure. My hope is that ELC members share my sense of pride in seeing the almost daily job promotions and board appointments in our social media feed. Our members are making big moves! We participated in podcasts with Kearney and Chevron, and our op-eds were featured in Fortune and CNBC. The ELC’s special section in Forbes attracted more advertisers than ever and reached millions. Recognizing The ELC’s reputation for Black Excellence, companies beyond our member companies approached us in record numbers to help identify Black candidates for board seats and C-Suite roles. The Biden-Harris Transition Team asked for interest
A MESSAGE FROM THE ELC INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO
by candidates for senior positions or board appointments within the administration. In October 2020 we extended our reach enhancing our corporate development offering to include thought leaders, authors, and artists, as speakers for our 26th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium. We recognized the need for this segment of the talent pipeline to hear all aspects of “non-traditional” voices of Black leaders who are actively disrupting the status quo and charting their own successful paths, both in and out of corporate America. Powerful messages were shared about authenticity at a time when our mid-level managers are expected to show up and outperform in spite of the impact of Covid-19 and Racism that are disproportionately affecting our communities. We continued our embrace of the virtual environment enabling a larger number of participants for this year’s CEO GameChanger Conference. Our participating CEOs and speakers demonstrated an unparalleled level of transparency that fostered authentic dialogue. Eddie Glaude, distinguished Princeton University professor and author, started our journey for the day. That evening, we were honored to have welcomed record participation with nearly 4,500 guests joining us for our celebration of our 81 ELC Scholars, who had just completed their Honors Symposium programming - career coaching and development opportunities to advance them on their path to their futures. We fulfilled our civic duty, joining national partners, The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and When We All Vote to launch “#ELC Votes,” our initiative to increase Black participation in the 2020 General Election. What we know – our staff, members and Board embraced the challenges of 2020 and turned them into tangible, impactful accomplishments during a year like no other.
What do you consider the most significant achievement of The ELC in 2020? Our most important achievement this year was enhancing the engagement of our stakeholders – the members, their companies, our external audiences, the Board, senior leadership team and staff – while keeping the team healthy. As we recognized the importance – significance of this time, we got stronger as we embraced our roles and responsibilities.
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF BLACK TALENT IN CORPORATE AMERICA CRYSTAL E. ASHBY We raised our voice for the members who go into battle every day against systemic racism. We celebrated Black talent and filled board seats and executive roles. The Institute published its first two Research Journals for Black Professionals, allowing ELC members to share their knowledge and expertise. We delivered valuable virtual programming sustaining and strengthening member connectivity.
What do you see on the horizon for 2021 and the 35th Anniversary of The ELC? We approach 2021 and our 35th Anniversary year with the same innovation, creativity and vigilance as in 2020. We are already working to continue the momentum of this year. While we do not yet know if or when we will see each other in person again, we will strive to maintain the connectivity so deeply rooted in the culture of our organization. We will acknowledge and celebrate The ELC’s 35th Anniversary across our 2021 programming and initiatives, leading up to what has affectionately become known as Gala Week, with scholars, Institute programming and CEO connectivity.
What should ELC members know about their organization and the roles they can play in its future success? During a demanding year, members “showed up” and stayed connected and THAT speaks to the foundation of who we are supposed to be – a Member organization that thinks of each other first and foremost. Member engagement was high, and we need to stay on that path. We go farther together – and we must embrace that. Members are the heart of The ELC. Their success is our success. To whom much is given, much is required. Together, we can assure The ELC’s relevance and impact for another 35 years.
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ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH
ELC Leadership Institute Recalibrates for Successful 2020 An Interview with Dr. Christopher Butts, ELC VP and Chief Learning Officer Tell us about the programs and initiatives produced by The ELC Institute for Leadership Development & Research in 2020 and how you were able to deliver in this virtual environment. One of the overarching initiatives was to differentiate ELC Institute programs from any other programs by insuring each one was competency based and centered around the Black experience. Some of the feedback we’ve heard from the participants was this was their first time being in a development program with only people “who look like me.” We still were sure to use industry leading frameworks, models and strategies and centered them around the unique experiences Black professionals have. This allowed us to be extremely successful and deliver on the hopes and expectations participants had for the programs. We redesigned all program curriculum and modified it to accommodate a virtual delivery model. With these redesigns, we infused specific engagements during the programs so participants could feel connected. We delivered 17 different webinars from March through July. With those, it was important to have consistency on when they were going to be delivered because the participants looked forward to it week after week. Regarding our virtual operations, we received glowing remarks for the production, AV, slides, moving people to virtual breakout rooms and using virtual whiteboards. We were fortunate to have enjoyed a lot of success in 2020.
What were you able to accomplish with the Power of Women at Work (POWW) program? With the transition from delivering it live and in person to a virtual platform, we went from a limitation of no more than 100 participants to 300 plus. We were able to deliver a program that allowed participants to feel a greater sense of connection. There were so many learning moments that there was not enough time for all to be shared by the presenters
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and speakers. The empowerment took place, and the learning and development pieces were ones we could not predict. We were very fortunate to allow the 300 plus women to stay connected and leave with so many learning moments with the speakers. It was more than we could have anticipated.
Tell us about Leadership Development Week (LDW) and how you were able to pull off a multi-day program virtually? Part of the reason we were able to pull it off is we had team members internally and externally who had clearly defined roles and responsibilities. We were also able to lean on the ELC membership to incorporate their expertise in the presentations. We had over 15 different member speakers throughout the delivery of the seven programs. Reaching out to all these members and having them respond with “yes” was phenomenal. They were all very open and welcoming, and enthusiastic about doing so. Having them and their experience there for our mid-career professionals made it very valuable for them.
ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH
Some of the feedback we’ve heard from the participants was this was their first time being in a development program with only people ‘who look like me.’ We still were sure to use industry leading frameworks, models and strategies and centered them around the unique experiences Black professionals have. What was different about this year’s MidLevel Manager’s Symposium (MLMS) compared to previous gatherings? This year had to be different because it was virtual and had so much competition from other virtual conferences. It also had to speak not just to leadership development but the entirety of the Black professional. We had to think about and incorporate what was taking place with the pandemic and what people were going through with the social justice experience. How do you balance that and operate from a position of power? We had to take all these things into consideration, and it revealed so many topics that needed to be considered. We increased the number of speakers – more than 40 ELC member speakers and more than 40 media personalities, subject matter experts and celebrities. Speakers included Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Misty Copeland, to name a few. We were fortunate to have more than 5,000 people participate and we reached 14 countries. The level of engagement from our sponsors was also different. We had 20 that partnered with us. They were all great to work with, very excited about the program and their involvement. No matter what session you attended, an ELC member was also on that screen moderating the panel discussion or fireside chat or was a member of the panel. It was their expertise that took these presentations to the next level and provided more value for those mid-career professionals. There was a lot different this year, but I think we came away successfully.
The Institute produced two editions of The ELC Research Journal for Black Professionals. Gauge the success of these publications and tell us the plans for the Journal in 2021. One of the things this research journal does is add credibility to what The ELC does for our midto senior-career professionals. We are highlighting research for Black professionals. The success of the initial journal in February was so great that we had member companies wanting to purchase it in bulk quantities. The second offering came out in September and we transferred it to an electronic version, which increased the desire for it. We’ve heard nothing but positive things about the journals and as we move forward to 2021, we look to deliver two per year. One will be delivered for the Winter Meeting and another in September. We are also in a constant cycle of increasing our reach and ensuring the articles are relevant, peer-reviewed and speak to our audience. The Institute is looking into collecting its own data and producing its own research as well. In 2021, the Institute is looking to conduct interviews to produce its own research articles.
How did the Institute interact with its Fellows this year and what did they walk away with in the way of career tools in 2020? This year we created and delivered a monthly newsletter to our Fellows highlighting current topics and trends for Black professionals. We highlighted programming to Fellows open to them at no cost and shared listings of our upcoming staple programs. We also spotlighted our Fellows who were on the move
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ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH
with advancements in their careers and informed them of current research and articles that were noteworthy. We delivered 17 different webinars at no cost to our Fellows on a wide variety of topics, which will continue in 2021.
What is the Institute’s outlook for 2021 and what can members and the public alike expect in the way of an eventful year ahead? We have a new redesigned Corporate Board Initiative kicking off in March and will continue with all our other programming with new designs for Power Of Women at Work, LDW and C-Suite Academy. We will also continue with MLMS and the research journal. We have two other unique projects in store for 2021. We’re working on a new Learning Management System (LMS) where Fellows will be able to take advantage of thousands of self-directed learning programs, webinars, interviews, and thought leadership on topics to continue their professional development. It’s going to be something that will be a game changer for our Fellows and we look forward to incorporating this into the Corporate Board Initiative as well. With this, they will have access to executive-level learning programs to increase their board readiness. The other offering we’re designing is a men’s development program, which will be a similar one-day design offered for the POWW program.
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SAVE THE DATE
2021 ELC Institute Programs Power of Women at Work April 6, 2021 Men’s Development Program May 18, 2021 C-Suite Academy June 8-10, 2021 Leadership Development Weeks August 2021 Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium October 13-14
ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | MEMBER SERVICES
Member Services Produces Vast, Diverse Virtual Programming An Interview with Teresa Payne-Nunn, ELC VP and Chief Member Officer Tell us about the programs and initiatives produced by The ELC Member Services department in 2020 and how you were able to deliver in this virtual environment. Normally, in any given year, Member Services hosts five events. In 2020 we hosted 39 events, so a big increase. Ten of those were in support of the Executive Office, while 29 events were Member Services events. Our virtual programs were in three categories: 1. Virtual Engagement Series, which were general topics of interest to all Members. 2. Functional Meetups were designed to bring Members together in the same function to share best practices, ideas, and challenges. 3. Regional Meetups, which were designed to bring Members together from the same geographical areas to discuss activities happening in their region and share resources and ideas.
What went into the success of the Winter Meeting – the only Member event of 2020 that was not virtual? A record number of Members participated in the Winter Meeting. During the meeting, we inducted 58 of the 78 new Members from the Class of 2020. Special programming was created to onboard our new Members. With the help of our board members and Membership Committee members, we ushered in the new class by bringing them into the ELC family, getting to know them and helping them get to know the organization. The dinner and pinning ceremony were special, as well as our general programming, which covered the gamut - from the discussion on board culture to “What’s at Stake” today in corporate America.
Summer Meeting was Member Services’ first larger virtual event. How did you pull it off? It was really the first virtual event focused on Members in general and we had a lot to learn about producing a virtual meeting and incorporating that knowledge into all the typical meeting planning elements. Though we had produced smaller events, we had not hosted multiple sessions at one time. We were very fortunate to have the speaker line up we did. We certainly did not know during our planning what we would be facing as a country with the murders of George Floyd and countless other Black people, occurring eight days before our meeting. So, having the Black Economic Alliance and Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, as a keynote speaker was fortuitous. The Family Chat, led by Dr. William Carson held at the end of the meeting, was an intimate discussion among Members only to talk about the challenges they face as Black people in our country and senior executives in business. Clearly, this year the need for the Family Chat was imperative.
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ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | MEMBER SERVICES
Normally, in any given year, Member Services hosts five events. In 2020 we hosted 39 events, so a big increase. Ten of those were in support of the Executive Office, while 29 events were Member Services events.
Where did the idea come from for the Virtual Member Meetups? When we conducted our 2020 planning in November 2019, we made the commitment to host Regional and Functional Meetups. We believed it would be a good way to engage Members around their regions and functions. The feedback was very positive as participants frequently commented, “I wish we had more time,” and it encouraged people to want to get back together and connect one on one as well. We hosted multiple sessions for several regionals and multiple sessions for some functionals, which I believe speaks to the value Members found in these sessions.
What were you able to accomplish with the CEO GameChanger Conference®? It was a huge success largely because of the thoughtful planning we put into our speakers and invited guests. They were very authentic in recounting their experience, forthcoming with what they didn’t know and voiced an earnest committment to learning to do better. They discussed their goals around advancing Black talent and demonstrating their efforts to make a difference by supporting the Black community and encouraged their peers to do likewise.
What else did you accomplish in 2020? We are in the second phase of our value proposition work and expect to have that completed by year end. We’re really looking forward to learning the results and using those findings to inform what ELC should stop, start and continue doing to bring value to our various stakeholder groups. International Presence Members met with subject matter experts and thought leaders from our Member affiliate companies to discuss the financial impact of COVID 19 and the racial unrest globally. The ELC has been a proud sponsor of the Powerlist Awards, the premiere UK event recognizing Black Excellence in business, arts, community and more, which aligns
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with The ELC’s mission and purpose. This year, ELC Interim President & CEO, Crystal E. Ashby, presented its Executive of the Year Award, to ELC Member, Keith Levy. We also supported the Black British Business Awards and the Talent Accelerator program. Additionally, ELC awarded a grant to Amos Bursary, an organization that supports Black male youth in the UK transitioning from college to the workforce. Through our relationship with the Powerlist Awards, Black British Business Awards and the Talent Accelerator, The ELC has been able to expand our presence and share our messaging in the UK, particularly among Black and African diaspora corporate executives and business leaders.
What is Member Services’ outlook for 2021 and what can Members expect in the way of an eventful year ahead? We will continue with Winter Meeting, Summer Meeting, the Women’s Leadership Forum and Black Economic Forum. We will continue to host the Virtual Engagement series quarterly and Regional and Functional virtual sessions annually. We are also developing programming for what we’ve coined “Transformation Second Half Life Strategies.” This will be a program designed for Members who are transitioning out of corporate America within the next five years. The program will provide assistance in determining and planning their next stages in life. We anticipate having a 2021 new member intake for a class of 2022 with the nomination process taking place in March or early April. Stay tuned for details. We will continue our efforts to automate and simplify our processes by further refining our Member database and automating the member intake platform. Finally, we’re excited to share that we’ll debut our new electronic Member Handbook and Entrepreneur Resource Guide publications.
ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | MEMBER SERVICES
Meet the 2020 Class of New Members
B
efore the coronavirus changed the trajectory of 2020, 58 of the 78 new members of The Executive Leadership Council were inducted during the Winter Membership Meeting in Manalapan, FL. Nearly three fourths of the 2020 class were surrounded and warmly welcomed by ELC members attending the meeting.
NEW MEMBER DIRECTORY CLASS OF 2020
In an elegant setting at the Eau Palm Beach Resort Hotel, new members received a thorough orientation to The ELC from the Board, staff, Legacy Members including Founding Members Milt Irvin and James Kaiser, and Membership Committee Co-Chairs Gale V. King and Ramon Gregory. Due to the impact of the pandemic, new member intake was placed on hold. The ELC intends to resume the new member intake process in 2021 for the member Class of 2022. The Board will make this decision in early 2021. If you have not had the opportunity to meet the Class of 2020, click the image on the right to review their profiles.
WWW. ELCINFO.COM THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Record Numbers and Elevated External Presence for Communications in 2020 An Interview with Libi Rice, ELC VP and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer In 2020, what was the main priority for the Marketing and Communications Department with regards to public messaging and member engagement? The Marketing and Communications Department had three overarching goals for 2020 that guided all our member engagement efforts and outreach to the general public and external stakeholders: 1. Foster and promote Member Engagement 2. Support Key 2020 CEO/Organizational Priorities 3. Grow and enhance The ELC’s external brand MEMBER ENGAGEMENT The Communications team doubled down on efforts to engage ELC members by utilizing social media to highlight member successes – promotions and board appointments – with more intentionality. Our efforts resulted in a 25% increase in member social media engagement. We leveraged our media tools more effectively to better identify news by and about The ELC, leadership and our members, which also enabled us to publicly share more member-focused content. In turn, our members also submitted more content than in previous years, giving us a rich selection of information to share. We packaged some of this content into targeted “themed” campaigns that allowed us to further highlight ELC members, thereby elevating their brands. For example, during Black Entrepreneurs Month, we highlighted several ELC members who own their own businesses. CEO/ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES The majority of our time and efforts this year went to positioning the thought leadership of our organization and Interim President & CEO Crystal E. Ashby on issues impacting Black talent from the pipeline to the boardroom in corporate America and our communities. We identified and facilitated opportunities to publicize, promote and position
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CONTACT • Winter 2020
Crystal as ELC’s spokesperson, garnering the greatest amount of publicity for the organization in this year alone than in recent ELC history. An unexpected, yet critical organizational priority that quickly surfaced was managing the shift from in-person to virtual engagement. In addition to managing the Communications-led projects and initiatives, our team touched each and every new and existing event or initiative across all departments, with a major focus on Institute and Member Services endeavors. We crafted what we deemed “mini campaigns” to keep members informed of event and programming changes, utilizing a variety of brand treatments, graphics, banners, invitations, reminder notices, etc. to distinguish the more than 50 planned and unplanned virtual events across departments. ELC’S EXTERNAL BRAND We more than doubled The ELC’s external footprint in 2020 through media coverage, OpEds, CEO speaking engagements, virtual events, social media and digital advertising, partnership development and social media engagement. We exponentially increased our overall social media engagement: •
Gained 54,000 followers across all of our social media platforms, including a 265% increase in LinkedIn followers
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Experienced an unprecedented increase in social media engagement by ELC and industry standards: 26 Million impressions (98% increase), 1.3 Million engagements (363% increase) and 560,000 post link clicks (305% increase).
These stats exemplify the success of our social media content and our use of social media advertising – a new element for The ELC this year – used to promote MLMS and the Gala.
ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
We had the attention of the nation, and most importantly, of people in positions of power to affect real and sustainable change, and we seized the opportunity. How did the murder of George Floyd and the Covid-19 pandemic impact The ELC’s communications efforts? The dual pandemics of racism and Covid-19, both of which disproportionately affected the Black community, gave us an elevated platform to talk about the issues that are core to our purpose and mission. This moment was different for a number of reasons, but relative to The ELC, it was the first time the racial injustice conversation spilled over into corporate America and the workplace – which is at the core of who The ELC is as an organization. The spotlight turned to racial inequity in corporate America, from lack of representation in CEO roles and the boardroom all the way down to the talent pipeline. We had the attention of the nation, and most importantly, of people in positions of power to affect real and sustainable change, and we seized the opportunity. We proudly shared with the world that The ELC’s focus is ‘unapologetically Black,’ and declared ‘there is no shortage of Black talent in corporate America.’ It was the beginning of a year of unprecedented media coverage and speaking engagements for The ELC and it helped solidify our role as a global thought leader on what’s Black in business and a trusted partner for corporations and CEOs alike.
Tell us about some of the department’s highlights and accomplishments over the course of the year – what are some of the “wins” The ELC experienced in communications? This was a solid year for Communications because it gave us license to tell “The ELC Story” in a way we have not been able to in the past. Thanks to ELC Board Members and Marketing and Communications Committee Chair Ed Dandridge and ELC Board Secretary Leilani Brown, we launched a partnership with CNBC that continues to yield global exposure for The ELC. The Communications team co-produced
the ELC/CNBC Inclusion in Action Forum, a virtual event on CNBC’s platform featuring corporate CEOs, board directors, ELC members and industry leaders addressing various topics around race in corporate America. The event attracted more than 30,000 viewers and led to several additional engagements with CNBC, including a live interview with Crystal Ashby on CNBC’s popular tv show “Power Lunch” on the day of our Juneteenth event, an ELC OpEd, ELC quotes in subsequent CNBC articles, and ELC panel sessions during other CNBC virtual events. For the past four years, the Communications Team has produced the Black Economic Forum on Martha’s Vineyard in partnership with Beta Iota Boule and McKinsey and Company. While we could not be in person this year, we hosted the event virtually, successfully structuring the agenda and programming to maintain our annual theme of wealth creation in the Black community while organically addressing current issues around Covid19 and the economic downturn. We had 3x (tripled) our in-person attendance, attracting 1000+ registrants and 750+ member and non-member attendees. We secured new speakers, industry leaders and moderators of interest to ELC members, including Bruce Gordon, Kevin Lofton, Jotaka Eaddy and Ellen McGirt, all of whom received positive feedback from attendees. Our ability to not only maintain, but elevate the integrity of this marquee event during these unprecedented times was a big win for the organization. I was proud of The ELC’s desire to educate the broader Black community on voting rights issues through our Government Affairs Committee’s #ELCVotes Voter Education initiative. We partnered with Michelle Obama’s organization, When We All Vote, and led a voter education drive for Howard University students, alumni and the greater Howard community. The event garnered record attendance for WWAV events of this type. We also partnered with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
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ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
on its two Town Hall events focused on voter education and getting out the votes. Leading voices, including Valerie Jarrett, Spencer Overton (Joint Center), members of the Caucus and organizations like Google, Color of Change and Jotaka Eaddy, who spearheaded Oprah Winfrey’s get out the vote efforts, contributed their thought leadership to the events. Last but certainly not least, ELC was featured in a record number of articles and media mentions across 2020. Our thought leadership was front and center on a global scale and featured in the most valued media outlets, particularly for business issues. The following is a list of media activity and event participation for ELC Interim President & CEO Crystal E. Ashby as of December 17, 2020:
PRESS/MEDIA Cision: The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Wins First Place in the 2020 Executive Leadership Council National Business Case Competition, April 15, 2020 Sirius XM: Interview with Laura Coates discussing the role corporations play in addressing racism in America, June 2, 2020 Fair Play Talks: CEOs Promise to Reinforce DE&I Efforts to Stamp Out Inequality, June 3, 2020 Fortune: Providing bereavement leave is one way companies can support black employees right now, June 4, 2020 Fortune: 4 steps corporate leaders can take toward genuine allyship, June 4, 2020 ABC News: Corporate America weighs in on protests, racism as companies struggle with diverse staffing, June 5, 2020 CNN: What CEOs and managers should be doing for black employees, June 5, 2020 Fortune: Fortune focuses on racism and allyship, June 5, 2020 CNN: How to smash the ‘concrete ceiling’ at work, June 9, 2020 NewsWeek: The 20 Largest Public U.S. Companies Without a Black Person On Their Board, June 17, 2020
Fortune: There is no shortage of black talent in corporate America, June 18, 2020
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CNBC Video: Crystal E. Ashby discusses the importance of strengthening the pipeline of Black talent to the C-suite and on corporate boards, June 19, 2020 Fortune: These black women are leading the way in business, politics, and economics, June 22, 2020 Businesswire: Modern Governance 12.0: Diligent Launches Modern Leadership to Help Organizations Build More Diverse and Inclusive Boards and Leadership Teams, June 26, 2020 The Wall Street Journal: Black Executives Are Sharing Their Experiences of Racism, Many for the First Time, June 26, 2020 Diversity Global Magazine: 2020 Top 10 Influential Women in Diversity Bring a Vision to Organizations, July 14, 2020 Congressional Quarterly: As firms condemn racism, investors ask to see measurable action, June 17, 2020 PR Week: Top firms consulting on racism have one big problem: They’re all White, July 30, 2020 CNN, There’s no excuse for not having racially diverse boards. Here’s how to do it, August 12, 2020 Salamanca Press: Teneo, The Ford Foundation And The Executive Leadership Council Launch The Board Diversity Action Alliance, September 8, 2020 Yahoo Finance: The Executive Leadership Council Seeks To Amplify The Success Of Black Professionals With 2020 Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium October 14-15, September , 17, 2020 Philadelphia Tribune: Gregory E. Deavens named first African American leader of Independence Blue Cross, September 23, 2020 Fortune: ‘There is no shortage of Black talent’—CEO of Black leadership organization says October 1, 2020 Black Enterprise: NEW ALLIANCE AIMS TO BOOST BLACK REPRESENTATION ON CORPORATE BOARDS, October 6, 2020 CNBC: The Evolving Workplace: ELC CEO Crystal Ashby and Boeing’s Ted Colbert at CNBC Evolve, November 10, 2020 CNBC: Op-ed: Taking Black executives to the next level and beyond, November 13, 2020
ELC DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES | MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
USA Today: Kamala Harris may finally change how corporate America sees and treats Black women, November 13, 2020 Yahoo! Finance: Walmart and North Carolina A&T State University Team up to Launch ‘Equity in Education Initiative’, November 19, 2020 CNBC: Could Nasdaq’s proposed diversity mandates be the key to changing corporate America? December 3, 2020 Yahoo! Finance: The Executive Leadership Council Names LaTese Briggs as Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, December 8, 2020 Fortune: The business community is tackling diversity with new seriousness, December 11, 2020
EVENTS Fortune CEO Gathering – Featured Speaker: June 2, 2020 Fortune Most Powerful Women event on Allyship & Racism – Featured Speaker: June 3, 2020 Conference Board: Council for Economic Development’s Trustees Only Briefing Call on Meeting the Need for Sustained Change: An Action Agenda for Business Leadership – Featured Speaker: June 16, 2020 Conference Board: Webcast Series of CEO Forums on Building A More Just and Civil Society – July 29, 2020 CNBC/LinkedIn: Race & Opportunity in America – Panelist: September 9, 2020 CNBC: Inclusion in Action Forum – Panelist, CEO Session: September 10, 2020 Deloitte: Alliance for Board Diversity Forum Empowering Corporate Boards Through Diversity – Panelist, CEO Session: September 29, 2020 World Economic Forum: Jobs Reset Summit 2020 - Accelerating Racial Justice in the Workplace – Panelist: October 23, 2020 Invited to participate in the Fortune CEO Initiative and in the Working Groups established to host the main event on October 26, 2020
Kearney: Joy@Work: Reckoning and reconciliation with Crystal Ashby – Webcast Interview conducted by Kearney Board Chair: November 2, 2020 CNBC: The Evolving Workplace: ELC CEO Crystal Ashby and Boeing’s Ted Colbert at CNBC Evolve Summit – Panelist: November 10, 2020 2020 Women on Boards: The Detroit Conversation on Board Diversity: November 18, 2020
Where will The ELC be focusing its Communications efforts and attention in 2021? In addition to maintaining the great PR and brand momentum garnered in 2020, The ELC will focus on our Government Affairs strategy in 2021. On the heels of a new administration and at a time where The ELC’s voice is stronger than ever, we need to determine how we want to play in the government and policy arenas. There are opportunities within our 501(c)(3) construct to affect change around diversity in business. We will work with the ELC Board to define the priorities in this space and devise a strategic plan in accordance with these priorities. We are in discussion with CNBC about another Inclusion in Action Forum, possibly as early as February. We are working on CEO panel opportunities, including a Black women on boards event, with a focus on the untapped audience of the Tech community, also in February. We are exploring new media partnerships and will research innovative ways to elevate our members’ brands on social media. There is an inherent sense of pride in seeing our members’ numerous promotions, board appointments and key successes highlighted on almost a daily basis now across our social media channels. Our members are making record career moves and advancing the ranks into the highest levels of corporate leadership. Their stories are ELC’s stories, and we look forward to continuing to highlight them as the ultimate display of Black Excellence.
Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit: Data Driven Transformation – Panelist: October 1, 2020
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | ANNUAL RECOGNTION GALA
2020 Virtual Gala: A Look Behind the Curtain An Interview with Camilla McGhee, ELC VP and Chief Corporate Partnership Officer What went into planning the first ever virtual Gala and how was it different from planning a live event? Like any in-person event such as a gala, The ELC 2020 Virtual Gala, a night of fundraising and recognition for our scholarship programs, had to have a message, theme, honorees, and entertainment. Unlike in years past, food and beverage selection, rooming lists, travel, space allocation, and security, to name a few, were not part of the planning as we pivoted for 2020. Since Gala attendees would participate remotely, we needed to ensure the platform was user friendly, engaging, best suited the needs of the program, and didn’t look and feel like a meeting interface but a high level visual production. It was a mission accomplished, though it was a difficult time with Covid-19 and the social justice issues we were facing. That said, The ELC has been very resilient in all we do.
What were some challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? A big question on the table was whether we were going to have a Gala, but after I did the research and the findings were presented to the leadership we decided to move forward virtually. Then I had to identify a
production platform for streaming the event. We had to deliver an event where attendees felt a part of the program. For the production platform, the quality of the show was extremely important and had to have a televised feel. We needed to determine the important elements of an ELC Gala and how we could virtualize them - all within a shortened program. We also had to virtualize sponsorship packages to ensure sponsors felt valued and had the right amount of exposure for their sponsorship level. It was different but we put our nose to the grindstone and understood planning, messaging, delivery and value were important. And you can see we clearly accomplished that.
Talk about the elements that most contributed to the success of the Gala? The program was produced like a TV show with condensed content, impactful segments that included award recognition, formal remarks, and entertainment. The platform provided special engagement opportunities for attendees that most importantly allowed networking. This was accomplished through creating interactive Gala break-out rooms and social media engagement. An additional highlight allowed participants who viewed the streamed program an
WATCH THE VIDEO RECAP
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | ANNUAL RECOGNTION GALA
When the Gala is successful, people walk away not just wanting to support the scholars but the organization’s mission as well. The Gala elevated and increased the commitments from companies and that too added to our success. opportunity to follow the event by flipping through a digital program book containing information on honorees and companies that supported the Gala. Participants were also able to interact with the virtual photo booth, donate to The ELC’s scholarship programs, link to social media and schedule one-on-one video chats with other attendees. Because we implemented all those things it helped people to feel connected and contributed to the success of the event.
How many people signed on to participate in the Gala? A total of 4,468 people attended The ELC 2020 Virtual Gala with 2,490 staying on to participate in the virtual after set featuring Doug E. Fresh. We had 664 who participated in the virtual photo booth, taking 1,335 photos. There were 971 Gala goers who registered for the one-on-one video conversations and 326 comments posted to the platform during the program. While I’m very happy with the turnout, I’m not surprised because we were very intentional on securing as much research on how to have a successful virtual Gala. The dollars raised to support our scholarship programs, guest’s attendance overwhelmingly positive feedback, reflected the evenings success.
Discuss the kind of feedback you received from Gala participants? The feedback we received was amazing and The ELC felt honored that we provided our members the value that is expected of the organization. It was also fulfilling to be able to showcase our scholars in such a prominent way. When the Gala is successful, people walk away not just wanting to support the scholars but the organization’s mission as well. The Gala elevated and increased the commitments from companies and that too added to our success.
How will the Gala commemorate the 35th anniversary of The ELC? At the beginning of 2021, The ELC will kick-off a year-long marketing campaign and celebration. The 35th Anniversary will be the highlight at the Recognition Gala, which is scheduled for Thursday, October 14, 2021 and will include the following: •
Special recognition of Founding Members, past and present ELC members of the Board of Directors and Presidents, and of course ELC members past and present to name a few
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35th Anniversary limited edition/commemorative branded items for purchase
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Timeline of ELC milestones throughout the organization’s history
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Custom ELC member lapel pin signifying the 35th Anniversary
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Highlights of The ELC’s future strategic direction
Amazing surprises to celebrate the 35th anniversary are planned and of course will include special opportunities for members to engage in many ways. At the end of the day we especially want our members to understand the history of the organization, our plans as we innovatively move forward as well as feel valued and proud to be part of The ELC Family. We will make that happen.
SAVE THE DATE
35th Anniversary Gala October 14, 2021 Location TBA
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
ELC Awards Largest Number of Scholarships in 2020
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he ELC awarded 81 scholarships in 2020 – the largest number in the history of our organization – totaling nearly $850,000 to students across 24 colleges and universities. Of the schools represented, 11 were Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The scholarships were awarded to students who demonstrated academic excellence, leadership skills, and a commitment to community service. In addition to receiving a scholarship award, the students were invited to participate in The ELC’s Honors Symposium.
The mission of The ELC’s Scholarship Program is to build a pipeline of Black corporate talent by supporting the academic achievement and development of Black undergraduate and graduate students.
Past Honors Symposium activities were conducted in person. Despite this year’s symposium taking place virtually, students were still provided with first-class instruction and valuable tools to help them plot their courses to success.
In 2020, The ELC offered seven undergraduate scholarship programs: •
Three are designed for students pursuing business degrees.
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One is designed for students currently enrolled in a mechanical or chemical engineering program.
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One is designed for students pursuing degrees in business, insurance and risk management, or a related field.
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Two are designed for students pursuing degrees in STEM, Business Management, or a related field.
CONTACT • Winter 2020
During the 2020 Honors Symposium, for example, Scholars connected during weekly one-hour sessions called Honors Hour. These sessions provided various formats for interaction, including expert panels, leadership development sessions and network engagement. Scholars had the opportunity to discuss timely issues and topics relevant to living, learning, and leading in the current environment and beyond. In addition to Honors Hour, scholars were given access to LinkedIn Learning’s vast library of content, pre-recorded sessions, and practical resources centered on leveling up, building business acumen, overcoming business challenges, and more.
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2020 WINTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2020 Winter Meeting Welcomes Largest Class of New Members
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he town of Manalapan in Palm Beach, FL and the luxurious Eau Palm Beach Resort Hotel, welcomed more than 250 members of The ELC for the 2020 Winter Membership Meeting, February 19 – 22. Opening night featured a special dinner uniting our newest members with our legacy members, followed by a social event for the entire membership. The first full day of the 2020 Winter Membership Meeting featured four stimulating and thought-provoking presentations. ELC Member Paula Cholmondeley introduced Sarah Fortt of Vinson & Elkins LLP, who captivated members with her perspective on corporate culture and how corporate leaders can effectively influence and inspire corporate cultural wellness. ELC Board Vice Chair Valerie I. Rainford introduced a panel on Emerging Trends in Technology. Kirk McDonald, Chief Business Officer of AT&T’s Xandr, moderated the panel including Jim Anderson of Google Cloud, Aisha Bowe of STEMBoard, and Don Hobson of Visa. They highlighted the opportunities and the creation of jobs in a digital world, minimizing the replacement of jobs by technology. ELC Board Director Ed Dandridge, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Boeing, conducted a Fireside Chat on Politics in 2020 and Key Domestic and Global Trends with Ambassador Ron Kirk, Senior of Counsel, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. The former United States Trade Representative (USTR)
and Mayor of Dallas, TX encouraged ELC members to continue their intentional efforts to break down barriers to Black business leadership and success. A panel curated by The ELC Legacy Committee was moderated by Ann Fudge, Retired Chairman & CEO, Young & Rubicam, with Boston Consulting Group Senior Advisor Jim Lowry, Author of Change Agent: A Life Dedicated to Creating Wealth for Minorities, and Carl Ware, Retired Group President, Africa, The Coca-Cola Company and Author of Portrait of an American Businessman. They shared their views on corporate accountability, community wealth and public policy. Members gathered in the evening for a reception sponsored by Google. Each new member was introduced by ELC Vice President and Chief Membership Officer Teresa Payne-Nunn, initiated and pinned. Interim President and CEO Crystal E. Ashby, Vice Chairs Thomas R. Harvey and Valerie I. Rainford and Board Director and Membership Co-Chair Gale V. King posed for photos with each new member. A champagne toast and member social followed in celebration of the new members. ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry started the day Friday by opening the business meeting and acknowledging Interim President and CEO Crystal E. Ashby and introducing Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder and West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James who welcomed The ELC to the Palm Beach community. As Black mayors of cities in wealthy Palm Beach County,
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2020 WINTER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
each expressed great pride in having The ELC hold its meeting in their community and they invited ELC members to return often. During the Business Meeting, Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry introduced new officers and members of The ELC Board, including Vice Chairs Thomas R. Harvey and Valerie I. Rainford, and new Board Directors Kimberly A. Blackwell, Lloyd W. Brown II, Ed Dandridge and Sena Kwawu. The Board acknowledged Geri Thomas and thanked her for her past service to the board as her term ended. Reports from the Audit Committee, Governance Committee, Finance Committee and Membership Committee were delivered by Thomas Harvey, Leilani Brown, Greg Deavens and Gale King, respectively. Interim President and CEO Crystal E. Ashby reflected on her experiences with The ELC, her new role and the steps the organization is taking to implement the Strategic Vision 2021. Ashby introduced guest speaker Julia Taylor Kennedy, Executive Vice President of the Center for Talent Innovation, now Coqual, who presented an overview of a research report titled “Being Black in Corporate America: An Intersectional Exploration.” The report measures the challenges faced by Black professionals in their encounters with prejudice and microaggressions. The ELC is the official research partner on the report. ELC Member Tyronne Stoudemire, Global Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, spoke about the impact of The ELC at last year’s Summer Meeting in Chicago on his company’s implementation of diversity and inclusion awareness. Stoudemire’s presentation spoke to the power of The ELC’s voice and his company’s rapid and sincere efforts. The Senior Leadership Team brought members up to date about The ELC’s strategies and plans for the coming year. Vice President and Chief Member Offi-
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cer Teresa Payne-Nunn covered membership and upcoming work on the member value proposition, and the introduction of Cvent and more effective communications methods. Dr. Christopher Butts, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer, reviewed the programs of the Institute for Leadership Development and Research, and introduced the first edition of The ELC’s Research Journal for Black Professionals. Former Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Satonya Fair reviewed last year’s CEO GameChanger Conference, plans for 2020 and the shift in responsibility for the scholarship programs to her department. Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Libi Rice spoke about the expanded focus on marketing and branding of The ELC, increased opportunity for The ELC to leverage its voice, and the growth of the Corporate Board Initiative (CBI). As a result of this growth, CBI has become a formal program of The Institute. Libi also updated members on Government Affairs, the International Presence and the 2020 Black Economic Forum. Camilla McGhee discussed plans for the 2020 Recognition Gala, which had been scheduled for October 15, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC, but eventually became virtual. During a closing luncheon, then Chief Philanthropy Officer Satonya Fair was joined by Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry and Interim President and CEO Crystal E. Ashby to present two grants to local organizations, the Urban League of Palm Beach County and the OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center) of South Florida. Satonya also briefed members on The ELC’s Philanthropic Strategy under The ELC Chair’s Initiative and addressed questions about the new Black Male Cohort Initiative and the HBCUs that are the first beneficiaries of the Chair’s Initiative. At the conclusion of the Winter Meeting, ELC member committees met in advance of the board meeting held on Saturday.
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2020 SUMMER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
ELC Summer Meeting Zeroes In On Race and Equality
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romising to deliver insightful and engaging conversation with some of the nation’s most influential thought leaders, the 2020 ELC Summer Membership Meeting – our first big virtual event of the year –did not disappoint. Thank you to our members who were able to come together. For those of you whose schedules didn’t permit, you were missed. The two-day meeting started on the evening of Thursday, June 4th with Who’s Zooming Who: Summer Meeting Edition, where ELC members came together to fellowship and get caught up. During back-to-back sessions on Friday, June 5th ELC members heard from Black Economic Alliance Co-Chairs Dr. Tony Coles and Charles Phillips, and Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. These conversations centered on public policy and social issues impacting the Black community. Black Economic Alliance: Prosperity and Economic Security for the Black Community Dr. Tony Coles and Charles Phillips focused on the work of the Black Economic Alliance as it relates to the effect politics and civic engagement are having on Blacks in business in 2020 and beyond. “We want to be at the table when major decisions are made with regard to the Black community,” said Phillips. The BEA also shared some of its collaborations, including with the National Bankers Association and Robert Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, in advocating for Black-owned banks. “Minority banks are very much in the conversation,” said Coles.
“Most of the BEA members are business leaders,” said Coles. “We’re all interested in advancing Black people to the C-suite and corporate board rooms to help shape policy.” Phillips: It is important “to get aligned with The ELC, NAACP and other organizations on issues and push the message broadly together.” Equality in healthcare was another important topic. “There is no social justice without health justice,” said Coles. “To the extent that we can extend the work we’re doing with social, economic and health justice, this is part of the mandate of leading in this time of unrest.” It was the 2020 election, however, that brought the discussion to a close: “2020 is a watershed year,” said Coles. “As we zoom out over the next three years, we want to increase the members and build on the work of policy development, political advocacy and supporting candidates who will support a political agenda for reform.” Click here to view the BEA’s presentation deck.
Coles discussed BEA’s engagement in the second round of CARES Act legislation and how they “worked very aggressively with House and Senate members on Cares 2.5 with specific earmarks for small and minority businesses,” he said. On aligning with The ELC, both Coles and Phillips pointed to a key commonality among the two organizations.
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2020 SUMMER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
A Defining Year for the Black Community Sherrilyn Ifill focused on the state of the nation in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. “People often say we have been here before,” she said. “But I contend we are not in the same place. We are in a new place.” Ifill said when we saw the video of Floyd on the ground there was something different. “Watching this officer with his knee on the back of George Floyd’s neck and hearing George Floyd plead for his life … while (the officer had his) hands in his pocket showed me that he had no fear that anything was going to happen to him,” Ifill said. “It was a transformative moment for me.” The law is not a perfect instrument, Ifill said, but it is a vital instrument to securing the longer existence of Black people in this country. Ifill and the NAACP are pushing for a national database of police misconduct. “People are determined now that there must be change,” she said. “And that change must be seismic.” When asked if the movement around the death of George Floyd has staying power, Ifill said: “Because it’s also connected to COVID and it’s connected to people’s sense of future, that’s not going anywhere,” she said. “We all have an obligation to
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not let it die. Keep the pressure on. We still need to be elevating this issue.” As for our Black corporate business leaders, Ifill said it is important for us to talk about what it means to be good citizens at a time of democratic crisis. “Those of you in leadership in successful businesses, you are able to be successful because of the democracy surrounding the company,” she said. “In your conversations, that has to be part of the identity of the company - that we are in a time of democratic crisis.” “If this democracy falls it won’t be good for their business,” Ifill added. “This is not a climate in which we can do business. It’s the obligation of business leaders to play a leadership role in the salvation of this democracy. We are teetering and need the voices of your community. While you have their attention, you have the obligation.”
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2020 CEO JUNETEENTH CONVENING
2020 CEO Juneteenth Convening Delivers Valuable Insights
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early 250 ELC Members and CEOs of our member companies participated in The ELC’s CEO Juneteenth Convening this Summer. They were the beneficiaries of invaluable insights on the issue of Racism in corporate America shared by some of the top leaders in business. ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry opened the June 19th session with reflections on the defining moments of racism she experienced in her life. “The trauma is real,” she said before turning to the present. “We are at the tipping point in our businesses and within ourselves.” “This is a pandemic that affects us more broadly,” she added. “It’s an economic and business issue.” During the hour-long session moderated by ELC Interim President and CEO Crystal E. Ashby, topics discussed included the importance of educating non-Black colleagues about the prevalence of Racism, succession planning to include Black employees, the need for sustainability, the commitment to Black businesses, education, and communities, and disrupting the status quo. Convening speakers who participated in the program included: •
Marvin R. Ellison, President and CEO of Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
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Clarence Otis, Jr., Lead Director, Verizon; Former Chairman and CEO, Darden Restaurants, Inc.
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Carol Tomé, CEO, UPS
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David G. Clunie, Executive Director, Black Economic Alliance (BEA)
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Dr. Robert W. Livingston, Lecturer of Public Policy, Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
Marvin R. Ellison discussed the importance of educating white colleagues on the realities of Racism and sharing our knowledge with them. He said that making changes across the organization early in his tenure at Lowe’s, to include a more diverse leadership
team, was key. He was clear that it was not about making change for the sake of change, but to make change which would transform the culture and improve business at the same time. Ellison shared that he has had great success in finding qualified Black executives by calling on The ELC. Clarence Otis, Jr. said he was encouraged by the amount of attention now being paid to Racism against Black people, especially within the corporate ranks. He shared that in order for corporations to confront Racism within company walls it is important that the leadership understands the burden that Black workers inherently bring to work with them every day. Carol Tomé talked about UPS’s commitment to diversity, sharing that four of her 11 direct reports are African American. Tomé discussed the organization’s active support of the Federal hate crime bills, its committed funding of the education of Black youth and investment in professional development programs for its Black employees. Dr. Robert W. Livingston’s strategy for addressing Racism is rooted in the fact that many white people do not believe Racism exists in a systemic way. His formula for dealing with the issue calls for: •
Being aware Racism exists
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Identifying what is causing the problem
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Caring enough to do something about it
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Developing a strategy to address it
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Being willing to make the sacrifices to see it through
Read more about Dr. Livingston and his research and views on race in “The Teddy Bear Effect” published in Harvard Magazine. David Clunie discussed the need for cultural awakenings within corporations and the role organizations play in responding to them. He encouraged CEOs to think about the role their companies play in the rebuilding of the Black community, both inside and outside the organization, and publicizing their successes.
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2020 CEO JUNETEENTH CONVENING
Crystal Ashby concluded the convening with the following asks to the CEO’s: that they “own the path forward” at the Board, CEO, C-Suite, and employee talent pipeline levels by acting with intent. She told CEOs that investing in Black talent is not a risk. She asked corporations to invest in our HBCUs and invest and cultivate Black businesses, through Supplier Diversity and other ways, to impact Black communities for the long term. Immediately following the event, The ELC forwarded to the participants “CEOs Combating Systemic Racism: A Framework For Success©” – a strategic series of actions for organizations to use on this journey. The framework focuses on driving systemic change, transparent tracking of progress, and creating strategies that sustain the change needed for racial justice.
ELC JUNETEENTH CEO CONVENING CEOs Combat Systemic Racism A Framework For Success ©
The ELC’s Juneteenth message to CEOs was clear. The organization continues to be unapologetically Black on the issue of systemic Racism in corporate America and the advancement of Black Excellence. The ELC expects change from corporate America, and CEOs are accountable for taking the lead.
Click here to view CEOs Combating Systemic Racism: A Framework For Success©
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CONTACT • Winter 2020
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2020 CEO GAMECHANGER CONFERENCE
CEO GameChanger Conference Delivers Impact, Path Forward
T
his Fall The Executive Leadership Council hosted its second annual CEO GameChanger Conference®. The conference theme was “Driving a Systemic Breakthrough: The Eradication of Racism in Business.”
data – as issues around unequal treatment of Black employees have come to the forefront. This is a tool that focuses on examples of disruptive, new practices created with a goal of more than just finding a solution, but to change the game.
With the help of the leaders of AT&T, JPMorgan Chase, P&G and Target, known as the Early Adapters, the conference, focused on these companies’ efforts and positive results toward increasing opportunities for Black executives. The session informed and sought to equip other CEOs through a highly engaging peer-to-peer experience. The Early Adapters shared their internal collaboration at all levels of their organizations and the important data analytics that assisted them in decisions to pivot or pursue during the journey. During the conference, CEOs, C-Suite experts and thought leaders also shared compelling data-driven insights and enlightening best practices through panel discussions, fireside chats, and impactful keynote speakers.
“These CEOs sought to change their companies’ cultures by working to inspire and motivate those within to embrace these tactics that also yield bold and transformational actions to deliver tangible results,” Ashby said. “But there’s still more work to be done and the challenge is timeless. We cannot turn back and are convinced that by working together, we will continue to usher in the kind of effective change that will be meaningful and lasting.”
“This conference represented some of the most transformative work The ELC has embarked upon in its 34-year history,” said Crystal E. Ashby, ELC Interim President and CEO. “The CEOs and other business leaders featured at the conference have not just pledged to tackle the issue of racism in the workplace but are already doing the work. Their candor and authenticity during this summit were both awakening and inspiring.” After the conference and to assist participating business leaders on their path forward, The ELC, with direct input from the four Early Adopters, created The Impact of Disruptive Strategies on Racial Equity in Business©. This resource contains real examples from the Early Adopter companies on strategies and practices they’ve implemented – and are measuring with
The Impact of Disruptive Strategies on Racial Equity in Business©
Created by The Center for Workforce Excellence in Partnership with The Executive Leadership Council
Click here to view The Impact of Disruptive Strategies on Racial Equity in Business©
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
Members on the Move & in the Media Members of The Executive Leadership Council continue to be recognized by their companies and in the media for their accomplishments. This issue covers information received during the fourth quarter of 2020.
JOB TRANSITIONS Niki Allen, former VP of Information Technology at Boeing, is now SVP Technology for Kohl’s Corporation. Tiffany Atwell, former Leader, Global Government and Industry Affairs at Corteva Agriscience, is now VP Government Relations for Ecolab.
Michael Chapman, former Managing Director at Accenture, is now Partner and Americas Media Lead at Kearney.
Nadja Bellan-White, former Executive Partner, WPP Team Leader at Ogilvy is now Global Chief Marketing Officer at Vice Media.
Carlton Charles, former VP and Treasurer at Hearst, is now SVP, Treasury and Risk Management at Hearst.
Ray Bennett, former Chief Global Officer, Global Operations at Marriot International, is now President of North America Franchising at Marriott International.
Bruce Chinn, former President of Chevron Oronite Company, is now President, Chemicals for Chevron.
Andre Branch, former SVP, Strategic Initiatives at The Estée Lauder Companies, is now senior SVP, General Manager at MAC North America Cosmetics, at The Estee Lauder Company. Dani Brown, VP and CIO at Brunswick Corporation, is now SVP and Chief Information Officer at Whirlpool Corporation.
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Earl Burns, Jr., former Principal for BT Family Office, is now General Manager, Peanut Crush & Fiber Businesses at ADM (Archer Daniels Midland).
CONTACT • Winter 2020
Pascal Desroches, former EVP and Chief Financial Officer of WarnerMedia Inc, is now Chief Financial Officer at AT&T. Pamela Edwards, former CFO, Mast Global at L Brands, Inc., is now CFO of Citi Trends. Earl Ellis, former SVP, Finance at Best Buy, is now EVP and CFO for ABM Industries.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
JOB TRANSITIONS Earl Exum, former Vice President, Commercial Spares & Material Solutions is now President of International Aero Engines. Rhonda S. Ferguson, former EVP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Union Pacific Railroad, is now EVP, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary at Allstate Corporation. Denise Russell Fleming is now VP and CIO for Boeing Defense.
Vicky L. Free, former CMO for Novant Health, is now SVP, Global Marketing at Adidas. Keith Holmes was promoted to EVP of Cox Business, the commercial division of Cox Communications. Janice Innis-Thompson has joined Nationwide as its new SVP, Corporate Litigation & Legal Operations.
Melonie Johnson was appointed as President and Chief Operating Officer of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and MGM Resorts Luxury Destination. Sekou Kaalund, former Head of Advancing Black Pathways at JPMorgan Chase & Co., is now Head of Consumer Banking, Northeast Division at Chase. Lance LaVergne, former SVP, Enterprise Talent Acquisition Strategy and Targeted Programs at Wells Fargo, is now Chief Diversity Officer and SVP Global Talent Acquisition and Associate Experience at PVH Corporation. Phil McKoy, former CIO, UnitedHealthcare, is now EVP, Digital Transformation, UnitedHealth Group. Johnbull Okpara, former Managing Director, Global Head of FP&A and CFO of Infrastructure at Morgan Stanley, is now Chief Accounting Officer and Controller for Citigroup.
Stephon Jackson has been named Head of T. Rowe Price Investment Management.
Chris Roberts, former EVP, Chief Customer Officer at Land O’Lakes, Inc., is now EVP, Strategic Initiatives at Ecolab.
Ralph Jardine, former Head of US Business Management Commercial Banking at HSBC, is now US Head of Inclusion and Culture at HSBC.
Joan Robinson-Berry, former SVP and Chief Engineer for Boeing Global Services is now Founder and CEO of Datalingual.
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
JOB TRANSITIONS Victoria Russell, former Chief of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Papa John’s International, is now Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Beam Suntory. Kurt Small, former President, Federal Government Solutions at Anthem, is now SVP and Chief Operating Officer for the Government Business Division at Anthem, Inc. Rodney W. Whitmore, former Chief Human Resources Officer at George Washington University Medica Faculty Associates, is now Chief Human Resources Officer at Great Minds. Barbara H. Whye, former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Corporate Vice President of Social Impact at Intel Corporation, is now VP of Inclusion and Diversity at Apple. Neil Wilcox, former SVP and General Counsel - Enterprise Shared Services Company at USAA, is now EVP and Chief of Staff at Fiserv.
Kamilah Williams-Kemp, former VP, Disability and Long Term Care and President and CEO at Northwestern Long Term Care Company is now VP & Executive Officer, New Business at Northwestern Mutual. Dalila Wilson-Scott, former SVP, Community Impact of Comcast Corporation, is now EVP and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation. Marc Womack, former Chief Operating Officer for TD Auto Finance, is now President and CEO of TD Auto Finance. Kris Wright, former Vice President - Global Footwear (NSW Mens), is now Vice President, Global Mens Footwear, Life is Sport Product, Nike. Rudolph Wynter, former Chief Operating Officer, Wholesale Networks and Capital Delivery at National Grid, is now New York President at National Grid.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS Gerald Adolph, former Senior Partner at Booz Allen Hamilton, was appointed to Abt Associates Board. Beverly Anderson, President of Global Consumer Solutions at Equifax, joined the board of Expedia Group.
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CONTACT • Winter 2020
Angela Archon, former VP, Operations at IBM, was appointed to the Board of Switch. Stephanie Bell-Rose, Senior Managing Director, TIAA Head, TIAA Institute, was appointed to the Board of Payden&Rygel Mutual Fund Complex.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
BOARD APPOINTMENTS Gloria Boyland, former Corporate VP of Operations & Service Support for FedEx was named to the Board of Vontier. Julia Brown, Chief Procurement Officer at Mars Wrigley, was appointed to Shutterfly’s Board of Directors. Earl Burns, Jr., General Manager, Peanut Crush & Fiber Businesses at ADM (Archer Daniels Midland), was appointed to the Board of the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation. Brett C. Carter, EVP and Chief Customer and Innovation Officer of Xcel Energy Inc., was appointed to the Board of Graco Inc. Fumbi Chima, CIO for BECU, was appointed to the board of Azek.
Wole Coaxum, President and CEO of Mobility Capital, was appointed to the Board of Selective Insurance. Richard “Dick” Daniels, former EVP & CIO for Kaiser Permanente was appointed to the Boards of SVB Financial and CSSA Insurance. Jerri DeVard, former EVP & Chief Customer Officer for Office Depot joined the board of Root Insurance.
William “Bill” Easter, former former Chairman, President, and CEO of DCP Midstream LLC was appointed to the Board of Emerson Electric. Pamela Edwards, CFO of CitiTrends, was appointed to the Board of Neiman Marcus. Pamela El, former EVP and CMO at the NBA, was appointed to the board of Ranpak Holdings. Vicky L. Free, SVP, Global Marketing at Adidas, was appointed to the Board of Omnichannel Acquisition Corp. Brenda Freeman, CEO of Arteza, was appointed to the Board of Blue Apron. William P. Gipson, former President, End-to-End Packaging Transformation and Chief Diversity Officer at Procter & Gamble, was appointed to the Boards of ManpowerGroup and Rockwell Automation. C. Kim Goodwin, President, Merchant Joint Venture & Acquiring Process at Fiserv, was appointed to the Board of TJX Companies. Barry M. Granger, former VP, Government Marketing and Government Affairs at Dupont, was appointed to the Board of Black Hills Corp.
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
BOARD APPOINTMENTS Cain A. Hayes, President and CEO of Gateway Health, was appointed to the Board of DocuSign. Darrel Hackett, President, BMO Wealth Management – U.S, was appointed to the Board of Glatfelter. Susan Somersille Johnson, CMO of Prudential, was appointed to the Board of National Vision. Tammy K. Jones, CEO and Founder of Basis Investment Group, was appointed to Crown Castle’s Board of Directors. Tonie Leatherberry, former President of the Deloitte Foundation, was appointed to the Boards of Zoetis and American Family Insurance Mutual Holding Company, as well as Boston University Board of Trustees. Anthony Lewis, Region VP of State Public Policy for Verizon Communications, was named as Chair of KIPP DC’s Board of Directors. Michael Lewis, recently named interim CEO of PG&E was named to the Boards of both PG&E and NewPark Resources. Patricia Lewis, EVP & Chief HR Officer for UnitedHealth Group joined the board of Lear.
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CONTACT • Winter 2020
Teri McClure, former General Counsel, Chief Human Resources, and Vice President Labor Relations and Communications for UPS, was appointed to the Board of Fluor. Ronald D. McCray, Advisor to RLJ Equity Partners, was appointed to the Board of TESSCO Technologies Inc. Rose McKinney-James, Managing Principal at McKinney-James & Associates, was named to the board of CLEAResult. Deidra Cheeks Merriwether, SVP, North American Sales and Services at Grainger, was appointed to the Board of Weyerhaeuser. Rhonda Mims, EVP at Centene Corporation, was appointed to the Boards of Kymera International and Athena Alliance, Inc. Lanesha Minnix, SVP and Chief Legal Officer at Flowserve was appointed to the Board of Advanced Energy. Valerie Mosley, Founder and CEO of Upward Wealth, was appointed to the Board of DraftKings. Kim Nelson, former SVP, External Relations at General Mills, Inc., was appointed to the Board of Cummins Inc.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
BOARD APPOINTMENTS Lionel Nowell, former SVP and Treasurer of PepsiCo Inc., was named as Lead Board Director for Bank of America.
Michael Sneed, Chief Communications Officer for J&J was appointed to the board of Wayfair
Jill Rahman, COO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository recently joined the Boards of Berry Global and TreeHouse Foods.
Byron Spruell, President of League Operations at the NBA, was appointed to the Board of Aon.
Joan Robinson-Berry, Founder and CEO of Datalingual, was appointed to the Boards of Valmont Industries and Unaka Corporation. Michele Samuels, SVP, General Auditor and Corporate Compliance Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan was named to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Black Leadership Advisory Council. Agnes Bundy Scanlan, President of The Cambridge Group LLC was named to the board of AppFolio Kim Seymour, Chief People Officer at WW (formerly Weight Watchers), was appointed to Fisk University’s Board of Trustees. Dasha Smith, EVP & CAO for the National Football League (NFL) was appointed to the board of CAPTRUST.
Russell Stokes, President and CEO of GE Power Portfolio, was appointed to the Board of UPS. Kevin A. Stephens, former EVP and President, Business Services at Altice USA, was appointed Crown Castle’s Board of Directors. Colleen Taylor, President of Merchant Services for American Express was appointed to the Board of Bill.com. Matthew Thornton III, EVP & Chief Operating Officer at FedEx Freight, was appointed to Crown Castle’s Board of Directors. Kellye Walker, EVP & Chief Legal Officer for Eastman Chemical Company was appointed to the board of Lincoln Electric. Kevin Warren, CMO of UPS, was appointed to the Board of Fiserv.
Salaam Coleman Smith, former EVP of Programming and Strategy at Disney’s ABC Family, was appointed to the Board of Pinterest. THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
BOARD APPOINTMENTS Steven White President of Comcast Corporation’s West Division, was appointed to the Board of Grainger.
Denise Young, Executive in Residence at Cornell Tech, was appointed as Board Chair of SFJAZZ in San Francisco.
MAJOR AWARDS & RECOGNITION Crystal E. Ashby, ELC Interim President and CEO, was named to Lawyers of Color’s Top Lobbyists and Influencers list. Joan Robinson-Berry, Founder and CEO of Datalingual, was named by Women In Aviation International as a 2021 inductee into its International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Chloe Barzey, Managing Director, Atlanta at Accenture, was honored with the annual Community Leader Award at 20th Anniversary TechBridge Digital Ball. Denise Cade, SVP, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel at IDEX Corporation, received the Paul R. Dean Alumni Award from her alma mater, Georgetown University Law Center. Gary Eppinger, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Carnival Corporation & plc, was recognized as a Global CISO 100 by Forcepoint. Denise Russell Fleming was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women of Influence by Diversity MBA Magazine. Rosilyn Houston, U.S. Head of Talent and Culture at BBVA, was named to American Banker’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking list. Dr. Jennifer Jackson, President, Capital One Canada, was honored on the HERoes top 100 women role model executives of 2020. Juliette Pryor, EVP and General Counsel at Albertsons Companies, was featured on the cover of the 2020 Black In-House Counsel Annual Report. Andrew Pearce, Managing Director, Accenture, was honored on the HERoes top 50 advocate executive role models of 2020. Michele Samuels, SVP General Auditor and Corporate Compliance Officer Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to Michigan’s Black Leadership Advisory Council. Lyndon Taylor, Managing Partner, Diversity and Inclusion Practice, Heidrick & Struggles, was honored as an inaugural recipient of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) IDEA Award for outstanding contribution to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (or “IDEA”).
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CONTACT • Winter 2020
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
MEDIA ARTICLES & MENTIONS Gregory Adams, Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente, was featured in a HealthCare Dive article: Kaiser CEO Promises Strategic Shift to Stronger Focus on Equity: HLTH 2020. Crystal E. Ashby, ELC Interim President and CEO, was quoted in a CNBC article: Could Nasdaq’s proposed diversity mandates be the key to changing corporate America? Ashby was also featured in the following articles: • CNBC: Op-ed: Taking Black Executives to the Next Level and Beyond • Black Enterprise: New Alliance Aims To Boost Black Representation On Corporate Boards • Yahoo Finance: ‘There is No Shortage of Black Talent’—CEO of Black leadership organization says • Financier Worldwide: Time for Change: Diversity Dynamics in the Boardroom Orlando D. Ashford, former President and CEO of Holland America Line, released his book How Did You Get THAT JOB?: 8 Principles To Accelerate Your Career and Soar In Corporate America. Chloe Barzey, Managing Director, Atlanta at Accenture, was featured in an Atlanta Business Journal article: Chloe Barzey: In successful teams, members can leverage their strengths. Barzey was also featured in another Atlanta Business Journal article: Q&A with Chloe Barzey, 2020 Women Who Mean Business Honoree. Susan Chapman-Hughes, EVP, Global Head of Digital Capabilities, Transformation and Operations, GCS at American Express, was featured in a Forbes article: Blazing A Path To Success, One Decisive Experience At A Time. Kenneth I. Chenault, former Chairman and CEO of American Express, was featured in a Forbes article: These Are Former American Express CEO Ken Chenault’s Tips On How To Lead Through A Crisis. Carla A. Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, was featured in a Barron’s article: The Best Financial Advice for Women in Their 30s. Harris was also featured in the following articles: • CNBC: Morgan Stanley’s Head of Multicultural Client Strategy: Investors Can Do ‘Quite Well and Do Good’ • CNBC: Morgan Stanley’s Harris says Black Lives Matter has Helped Sparked Interest in Diverse Companies • CIO Dive: 8 tips for leading with intention from a Morgan Stanley exec • Barron: The Wealth Gap Is Widening. Here’s How to Combat It, According to 10 Experts Lisa Jackson, VP of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives at Apple, was featured in a Black Enterprise article: Using Technology To Create Social Change And Knowing When To Make Your Exit. ELC Founder Mannie Jackson was featured in The Inteligencer article: Community Spotlight: Why I bought the Harlem Globetrotters. THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
MEDIA ARTICLES & MENTIONS Sena Kwawu, SVP, Operations at Frontdoor, Inc., was featured in a Village Reach article: Thinking Outside the Box: Reflections from VillageReach Board Member Sena Kwawu at the 16th TechNet Conference. Rhonda Mims, EVP at Centene Corporation, was featured in a Fortune article: Breonna Taylor’s case is as painful as it unsurprising David Motley, CEO of MCAPS LLC, was mentioned in a SaportReport article: We Can Do Better Atlanta by Adding More Diversity to Our Corporate Ranks. Marva Smalls, EVP, Global Head of Inclusion at ViacomCBS’, was mentioned in a Variety article: ViacomCBS Kicks Off Inclusion Week Amid Industrywide Calls to Action: ‘We Can Leave Nothing to Chance’. Michael Sneed, EVP, Global Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Johnson & Johnson, was featured in a Medical Marketing and Media article: J&J Makes a $100 Million Diversity Pledge. Does It Go Far Enough? Bonita Stewart, VP of Global Partnerships at Google, was featured in a NBC News article: How Two Industry Leaders are Helping Women of Color Team Up and Thrive in Business Geri Thomas, former Chief Diversity Officer and Georgia State President for Bank of America, was featured in an Atlanta Daily World article: Tech Founders Donate $160K to Morris Brown for eSports. Thomas was also featured in a Georgia State University article: Honoring an Educator. Laysha Ward, EVP, Chief External Engagement Officer at Target Corporation, authored a Harvard Business Review article: What an Anti-Racist Business Strategy Looks Like. Keith Wyche, VP, Community Engagement and Support at Walmart, was mentioned in a Yahoo!Life article: Walmart Reopens Supercenters In This Major City Several ELC Members were featured in a Directors&Boards article: DIRECTORS TO WATCH: New Guidance Invites Investor Action on Diversity and Inclusion: • Herman Bulls, Vice Chairman, Americas at JLL • Ken Robinson, former SVP, Audit Services at Exelon • Susan Chapman-Hughes, EVP, Global Head of Digital Capabilities, Transformation and Operations, GCS at American Express Two ELC members were mentioned in a HR Dive article: Were the Diversity Promises of the Summer for the Long Haul?: • Carla A. Harris, Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Morgan Stanley • Dalila Wilson-Scott, EVP, Chief Diversity Officer at Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation at Comcast
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CONTACT • Winter 2020
SAVE THE DATE
Make Plans for These ELC Programs & Events in 2021 EXECUTIVE OFFICE Annual Recognition Gala October 14, 2021
INSTITUTE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH Power Of Women at Work April 6, 2021
Men’s Development Program May 18, 2021
C-Suite Academy June 8-10, 2021
Leadership Development Week August 2021
Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium October 13-14, 2021
MEMBER SERVICES Winter Membership Meeting March 4-5, 2021
Summer Membership Meeting June 10-11, 2021
Women’s Leadership Forum July 21-23, 2021
Black Economic Forum August 18-19, 2021