CONTACT THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
2019 EDITION
IN MEMORIAM
Bernard J. Tyson A Leader For Our Time
ELCINFO.COM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURED STORY
Bernard J. Tyson
A Leader For Our Time
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The ELC pays tribute to our former Board Chair Bernard J. Tyson, who passed away on November 10, 2019. As an active member of The ELC for more than 20 years, Tyson was a shining example of what our founders hoped for the organization. PAGE 4
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8 The Power of Family A message from the ELC President & CEO Skip Spriggs. PAGE 8
14 A Phenomenal Year in Review A message from ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry. PAGE 14
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
Women’s Leadership Forum Recap
The Origins of the MidLevel Mangers’ Symposium
This year’s sold-out forum raised over $200K to support numerous beneficiaries. PAGE 26
ELC Member Maurice Cox provides insight on the launch of MLMS. PAGE 42
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T he ELC Focuses on Strategic Vision 2021 During Gala Week
F rom Success to Significance: CEO GameChanger Conference
E LC Members Gather for 2019 Member Meetings
E xecutives Named to the ELC Senior Staff
T he Institute Expands Its Programs
H onors Symposium Welcomes 2019 Scholars
M embers On The Move & In The Media
ON THE COVER: Bernard J. Tyson, ELC board chair (2012-2014), was chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. The portrait accompanied a profile on Tyson in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper in 2015. (Credit: Liz Hafalia/San Francisco Chronicle/Polaris)
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ELC LEADERSHIP
CONTACT The Official Publication of The Executive Leadership Council 2019 Edition elcinfo.com/contact-magazine EDITOR Michael Dutton DESIGNER Mike Utaegbulam CONTRIBUTORS Libi Sprow Rice Damon Williams
ELC SENIOR STAFF Skip Spriggs President and CEO Crystal E. Ashby Interim President & CEO Beryl Isaac Vice President/Executive Director, Finance Christopher C. Butts, Ed.D. Vice President and Chief Learning Officer Teresa Payne-Nunn Vice President and Chief Membership Officer
Camilla McGhee Vice President/Chief Corporate Partnership Officer Libi Sprow Rice Vice President/Chief Communications Officer Satonya C. Fair, JD Vice President/Chief Philanthropy Officer Jennifer Vasquez Chief of Staff
2019 ELC BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS
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 33 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.
Tonie Leatherberry, Chair Deloitte LLP
Leilani M. Brown, Secretary K12, Inc.
Thomas R. Harvey, Co-Vice Chair AT&T
Gregory E. Deavens, Treasurer Independence Health Group
Valerie I. Rainford, Co-Vice Chair JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Former) DIRECTORS Nancy Armand HSBC Holdings plc
Gale V. King Nationwide
Chloe Barzey Accenture
Sena Kwawu Starbucks (Former)
Gerald T. Charles, Jr. Under Armour
Ken B. Robinson Exelon
William Gipson P&G (Former)
Geri P. Thomas Bank of America (Former)
Marc A. Howze Deere & Company
Jeff G. Webster ExxonMobil (Former)
EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Orlando D. Ashford Immediate Past Chair Holland America Line
Skip Spriggs, President & CEO The Executive Leadership Council
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IN MEMORIAM
BERNARD J. TYSON A Leader For Our Time Tyson was an active and engaged member of The ELC, serving in leadership roles and regularly attending events as a participant or speaker.
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IN MEMORIAM | BERNARD J. TYSON
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My journey has always been to be the different person in the room. Since I started my career, I would go in the room, and I’d be the different person. Then I figured out how to make my voice known in the room. BERNARD J. TYSON
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t seemed only fitting that upon the sudden and unexpected passing of Bernard J. Tyson, a former ELC board chair and chairman and CEO of health system Kaiser Permanente, that another ELC member, Gregory A. Adams, would be named interim chairman and CEO. Within a month, the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Boards of Directors named Adams as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. It is what Tyson worked so hard to achieve as an active ELC member. It is what he would want to see happen in other major companies and throughout society: A member of The ELC rising to become a CEO and being succeeded by another member of The ELC. The impact and influence of Bernard J. Tyson may not have been fully appreciated until immediately after he was gone. To his ELC family, he was the authentic leader who could stir things up as he preceded his remarks by pulling out his smartphone to play a few bars from Lil Wayne, letting the audience know “that’s how he rolled.” In the next minute, he would dive deep into the serious message he wanted to deliver about the value of ELC membership and the power of diversity and inclusion. Or, if it was a health care conference, the World Economic Forum at Davos, the AfroTech Conference in Oakland where he was a speaker on the last day of his life, he ad-
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vocated for the integration of technology and health care. Combining high tech and high touch was Tyson’s mantra. Underlying all that Tyson strived to accomplish was his deep hope for the health and humanity of society, domestically and worldwide. He was a champion of diversity and inclusion and the need to have more minorities enter the healthcare professions. He encouraged his company to use its resources to address homelessness, teenage smoking and vaping, and the crisis in affordable housing. As an active member of The ELC for more than 20 years, Tyson was a shining example of what The ELC’s founders hoped for the organization. Tyson’s legacy will live on as his company names its new school of medicine the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. Opening in 2020 in Pasadena, Calif., the school will be dedicated to “graduating a diverse community of compassionate healers, lifelong learners, and courageous leaders of change within the profession and in society.” Within The ELC, there are hundreds of leaders poised to have the impact and influence of Bernard J. Tyson, to carrying on his work of demonstrating every day and in every way, the “Power of Inclusive Leadership.”
IN MEMORIAM | BERNARD J. TYSON
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MESSAGE FROM THE ELC PRESIDENT & CEO
The Power of Family By Skip Spriggs, ELC President & CEO
Spriggs with his children, the youngest is Mia.
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here is nothing more powerful than the relationships we cultivate in creating a family. Families today come in many forms and manifest themselves in many ways. I’m so proud of my personal family and my ELC family. The past two years have been some of the most rewarding of my professional career. It’s been an honor to lead this organization while being a fulltime parent. After nearly two years of working with two ELC Board Chairs, board directors, the senior leadership team and staff, and hundreds of ELC members and strategic partners, I am confident and excited about the future of The ELC and the work yet to be done. During my tenure, we brought onboard a cadre of new senior level executives. We welcomed our Chief Member Officer Teresa Payne-Nunn, Chief Learning Officer of the Institute Dr. Christopher Butts, and Chief Philanthropy Officer Satonya Fair. They are eager to help implement our Strategic Vision 2021 and philanthropic strategy under the Chair’s Initiative. This year, ELC member participation was at an alltime high with record attendance at member meetings in San Diego and Chicago. We inducted more than 70 new members and expect to induct more than 80 in early 2020. Our Institute programs attracted record numbers of registrations for C-Suite Academy, Leadership Development Weeks East and West and the 25th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium (MLMS)
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where we honored two of the original organizers of the gathering, former PepsiCo executives Maurice Cox and Ronald C. Parker, my predecessor. The Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF) in Atlanta under the leadership of ELC member Kimberly A. Blackwell, CEO of PMM Agency, raised record sponsorship support. More than 300 women attended WLF where ELC founding member Elynor Williams and one of the organizers of the first ELC women’s symposium, Westina Matthews, shared their experiences. We hosted our first CEO GameChanger Conference with 40 CEOs, their ELC colleagues and select thought leaders. During the conference we joined Korn Ferry to introduce a groundbreaking study on the strength of black P&L leaders who are often overlooked for CEO and C-Suite opportunities. The Annual Recognition Gala sold out as early as it ever has, by August, catching many by surprise. We were honored to recognize UPS with our Corporate Award, accepted by UPS chairman and CEO David Abney. Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners received our highest honor, the Achievement Award, after addressing MLMS and CEO GameChanger participants earlier that day. We also recognized an impressive group of scholarship recipients and celebrated the departure of The ELC’s original employee, Camilla McGhee. Lastly and regretfully, I pay tribute to one of our
MESSAGE FROM THE ELC PRESIDENT & CEO
greatest ELC members, Bernard J. Tyson, a former ELC Board Chair and chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. It feels like I may never get over the fact that Bernard passed away so young and only one month after he was with us at our Annual Gala in Washington. Bernard set a shining example for all of us to emulate as black executives . . . to be successful in our professional endeavors, be thoughtful and empathetic with the people we encounter, and leave the world a better place for all that we do. I look forward to continuing to be an active contributing member to The ELC. It has been a joy and an honor to serve the members, partners and sponsors of The ELC and I look forward to continuing to participate as a member for many years to come. Thank you for your support and understanding. I wish you and your family all the very best over the holidays and into the new year.
Spriggs with ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry, Bernard J. Tyson and Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-3).
Spriggs at Leadership Development Week West in Las Vegas, the Apollo Theater in New York and the 2018 Recognition Gala in Washington, DC.
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
The ELC Focuses on Strategic Vision 2021 During Gala Week R&B Sensation Gladys Knight served as the Marquee Entertainment during the 2019 ELC Recognition Gala.
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2019 GALA WEEK
Caroline Wanga, Deneen Donnley, Cindy Kent, Valerie Rainford, Skip Spriggs, Trudy Bourgeois, Kristina Weeks at the GameChanger Conference.
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ala Week 2019 was one for the record books. Early in the week, The ELC welcomed the top 42 of this year’s 58 scholarship recipients to the Honors Symposium with a reception at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. On Wednesday, nearly 1,000 aspiring mid-level managers and executives crammed the Liberty Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC. to participate in the 25th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium (MLMS). In this milestone year, we recognized former PepsiCo executives Ronald C. Parker and Maurice Cox, along with the late Dr. Price M. Cobbs, for their leadership roles in creating this signature ELC leadership development and networking program. Dozens of enterprise CEOs joined their ELC colleagues to participate in the CEO GameChanger Conference, where The ELC and Korn Ferry introduced groundbreaking research on the obstacles to placing more black executives in profit and loss positions, a pipeline to C-Suite and CEO posts. In a Bloomberg article on the research, it was noted that black executives are often steered to assignments off the path to CEO. Billionaire Robert F. Smith, the founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, spoke to MLMS and CEO GameChanger conferees, delivering an important message -- his success should not be an anoma-
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ly. Smith returned to address an audience of more than 2,300 guests at the Annual Recognition Gala, where he accepted The ELC’s highest honor, the 2019 Achievement Award. These multiple layered events served as platforms to enlighten, engage and motivate participants to join The ELC on its path to accomplishing its Strategic Vision 2021, to open channels of opportunity for the development of black executives. Goals include The ELC’s “North Star,” increasing the number of ELC members in C-Suites and boardrooms and expanding our emphasis on community. Among the messages delivered at the Annual Gala, The ELC announced it will invest $2 million in 2020 to launch a series of new philanthropic initiatives to help increase opportunities for young black women and men to succeed as business executives. It’s part of ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry’s Chair’s Initiative to support our communities. The ELC Legacy Committee also organized two panel discussions, 2020: What’s At Stake—Politically, Economically, Culturally and Economic Empowerment – The State of Black America. With all of the activities during Gala Week, there was still room for a traditional New Orleans style second line to honor and celebrate the contributions of Camilla McGhee,
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2019 GALA WEEK
SAVE THE DATE
2020 Recognition Gala Thursday, October 15, 2020 Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
vice president and Chief Corporate Partnership Officer, as she bids farewell to the organization and prepares for the next phase of her career. It was a fitting tribute, leading guests from the Gala to the post-Gala receptions. Photos from the week’s events are available on The ELC’s website Photo Gallery and click here for video highlights of the Gala. Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2020 Recognition Gala on Thursday, October 15, 2020, at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC. Table registrations will be available at the Winter Membership Meeting in February. Secure your table(s) early.
Cain Hayes, Corie Barry, Lori Fouche and UPS Chairman and CEO David Abney at the GameChanger Conference.
Founding ELC Member Elynor Williams (left) attended a Legacy meeting.
Robert F. Smith spoke at the CEO GameChanger Conference.
Sam Combs, co-chair of The ELC Legacy Committee.
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MESSAGE FROM THE ELC BOARD CHAIR
A Phenomenal Year in Review By Tonie Leatherberry, ELC Board Chair
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y first year as chair has gone by so quickly and has been so rewarding. Participating in my official capacity at so many ELC events, from member meetings to Institute programs and Gala Week, provided an opportunity for me to gain many perspectives and receive valuable advice from ELC members. I am very much looking forward to 2020. In many ways, this year’s transitions have strengthened my resolve. The passing of former ELC Board Chair Bernard J. Tyson was difficult. He meant so much to me and The ELC. I know that he would want and expect the best from each of us, and for us to support each other and our communities. Bernard was an extraordinary leader and role model for the values we should hold true as ELC members. We also learned that Skip Spriggs would retire at the end of the year after guiding The ELC through the process of establishing its Strategic Vision 2021. I am grateful for the energy and focus Skip brought to the organization and wish him and his family well as he enters a new chapter in his life. As an ELC member, I expect him to continue to play an active role in The ELC in many ways.
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We are fortunate to have ELC Vice Chair Crystal E. Ashby in a new role as The ELC’s Interim President and CEO. Crystal will work with the staff and members to assure continuity and a smooth transition as we conduct our search for permanent leadership. Not a day goes by that I am not humbled by the awesome responsibility I have been given as your board chair. Collectively, our careers as business executives have afforded us many advantages such as productive lives in society, opportunities to contribute, lucrative incomes, and wealth accrual. We want no less for the young black women and men in our communities who aspire to emulate us. The ELC is committed to paying it forward to help them succeed. Under my Chair’s Initiative, we have combined several new and existing programs. The Black Male Cohort Initiative is the newest to launch. Created in collaboration with the business schools of three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the initiative seeks to increase successful internships and graduation rates of black males. An emphasis on data will help drive the success of the program. We will continue our signature Scholarship/Business Case programs to provide scholarships for under-
MESSAGE FROM THE ELC BOARD CHAIR
graduate students and monetary awards for successful graduate case study submissions. And gap funding for rising Juniors and Seniors will help ensure college and university students can afford what is too often the financial challenge of the final years of study. The ELC Institute for Leadership Development and Research is embarking on an expansion of its research and programs. The Institute will continue its support for members preparing for board, C-Suite and CEO opportunities. Our research collaborations such as the recently released “Being Black in Corporate America” featured in The New York Times and Forbes will establish The ELC as a voice of consciousness in our continuing efforts to break down barriers to black leadership success. As we enter the new year, I want you to know that I am so appreciative of your support and active participation as ELC members. Please know that I am here for you and want to hear from you and see you at our upcoming events. The ELC will move into 2020 without missing a beat. I wish you, your family, and colleagues the very best for a joyful holiday season and exceptional new year!
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
From Success to Significance By all accounts, The ELC’s first CEO GameChanger Conference was a resounding success, with nearly 100 CEOs, thought leaders, and ELC members in attendance.
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2019 CEO GAMECHANGER CONFERENCE
Cindy Kent facilitated the GameChanger Conference.
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t’s time for us to move from success to significance.” Those are the words of an ELC member during a conversation with ELC President and CEO Skip Spriggs. In that conversation, they discussed the path The ELC is treading. For more than 30 years, The ELC existed as two entities - one focused on members and the other on leadership and pipeline development. In our new construct as one organization we are focused on the support and amplification of individuals in their journeys up the corporate ladder. We now support how each of those singular paths, when combined, create a strong foundation to support our communities. This year, we held our first CEO GameChanger Conference the day of the Gala. By all accounts, it was a resounding success, with nearly 100 CEOs, thought leaders, and ELC members in attendance. With a focus on closing the gap of black representation in the C-Suite, we were able to underscore that less than 1% of Fortune 500 CEOs are black. With discussions facilitated by ELC members Cindy Kent and Mike Hyter, we highlighted the Korn Ferry Black P&L Leader report findings that black leaders score on par with or better than their white peers, yet still are not provided the advancement they have earned.
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Target CEO Brian Cornell and P&G CEO David Taylor are advancing the promotion of black talent in their organizations and shared their successes, opportunities and plans. Other Initiative companies currently include JPMorgan Chase and AT&T and The ELC is exploring ways to introduce more companies in the future. Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chair and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, and 2019 ELC Achievement Award recipient, delivered closing remarks about his focus on the full spectrum of the leadership continuum. It starts with the exposure of young, black talent to strong educational opportunities and paid internships to ensure they gain the exposure to the workforce to help them start strong in their career paths. The CEO GameChanger Conference challenged each participant to lead the charge in creating structural, systemic changes to their leadership and human resources strategies that will yield tangible results and measurable success. Work has begun on the 2020 conference, which will highlight the stories and work of participating CEOs and organizations. The 2020 CEO GameChanger Conference will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2020 in Washington, DC.
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2019 CEO GAMECHANGER CONFERENCE
SAVE THE DATE
2020 CEO GameChanger Conference Thursday, October 15, 2020 Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
Marvin Ellison, chairman and CEO of Lowe’s, addresses the GameChanger Conference.
ELC Interim President and CEO Crystal Ashby greets an executive attending the GameChanger Conference.
CEOs David Taylor of P&G and Brian Cornell of Target spoke at the GameChanger Conference.
Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, spoke at the GameChanger Conference.
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ELC PROGRAM
ELC Member 2019 Membe in San Diego
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M HIGHLIGHT
rs Gather for er Meetings and Chicago
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2019 MEMBER MEETINGS
Deloitte Chair Janet Foutty, Helene Gayle, Skip Spriggs, Valerie Jarrett, Crystal Ashby and Tonie Leatherberry.
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he 2019 Winter Meeting in San Diego got off to a fast start with a special orientation and celebratory dinner for new members and was attended by The ELC board and Legacy Committee members. ELC President and CEO Skip Spriggs and ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry joined former ELC Treasurer Lloyd W. Brown II and Immediate Past ELC Board Vice Chair Donna M. Wilson to welcome nearly 55 of the 67 new members in the Class of 2019. Founding Member James “Jim” G. Kaiser shared his recollections of the origins of the organization and spoke about the value of active, engaged membership. Concurrent afternoon sessions included CBI (Corporate Board Initiative) Cohort 4 and a panel discussion on Opportunity Zones Investments presented by the Legacy Committee. Members were briefed on the status and direction of The ELC and the Strategic Vision 2021. Click here for slides of The ELC Strategic Vision, the result of months of effort by the board with assistance from Accenture. In a Winter Meeting luncheon keynote, Dr. Ira Kalish, Chief Global Economist for Deloitte, presented his assessment of the state of the global economy and its impact on the U.S. In June, the 2019 Summer Membership Meeting opened at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago with nearly 20 members arriving early to participate in a lively daylong CBI Cohort 4 NACD Board Director Professionalism Course. Michele J. Hooper, president and CEO of The Directors’ Council, and Mary Beth Vitale,
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CEO and Principal for Pellera LLC, shared their deep experience in board preparation and governance. An additional 35 ELC members participated in a CBI Boot Camp, an intense half-day orientation on the roles and responsibilities of corporate board directors. Hyatt Hotels Corporation hosted a Welcome Reception with ELC Member Tyronne Stoudemire, Hyatt Vice President of Global Diversity & Inclusion, and Hyatt President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian. They were joined by several Hyatt executives who presented information about Hyatt Corporation’s business philosophy and branding. ELC leadership delved deeper into The ELC’s Strategic Vision to clarify how the organization will work with communities beyond traditional leadership development programs to strengthen outcomes. With The ELC’s statement of purpose, The ELC will strive to increase its impact and visibility. ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry introduced The ELC’s Philanthropy Strategy, outlining how The ELC will apply its purpose and vision to be an innovative leader in the community on behalf of members. ELC Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Satonya Fair and Philanthropy Advisory Committee Chair Willie Deese, formerly with Merck, presented a compelling case for ELC member support for the strategy. The initial effort focuses on improving the academic performance and college graduation rates for young black men pursuing higher education with an intensive effort to narrow the higher education performance and achievement gap.
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2019 MEMBER MEETINGS
SAVE THE DATE
2020 Membership Meetings Winter: February 19 - 21, 2020 Manalapan, FL Summer: June 1-5, 2020 Denver, CO A panel moderated by Michele J. Hooper, President and CEO, The Directors’ Council and a Board Director of United Airlines, discussed state legislative efforts to support corporate board diversity. The panel featured the sponsor of Illinois House Bill 3394 on board diversity, Illinois State Representative Chris Welch of the 7th District, ELC Board Director Marc Howze of Deere & Co., Best Buy Board Director Cindy Kent, and CBI Co-Chair Billy Dexter of Heidrick & Struggles. All shared their perspectives on the prospect for legislated board diversity from their unique perspectives. A luncheon Fireside Chat with Valerie Jarrett, former senior advisor to President Obama, was conducted by Helene Gayle, President and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. Jarrett shared stories about her background, upbringing, and experiences in Chicago, and her experiences with national and global public affairs. Copies of her new book, Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, were distributed to attendees. Members gathered at Taste 222, the restaurant of ELC Member and former McDonald’s Chairman and CEO Don Thompson. Don and Liz Thompson hosted members at the restaurant and spoke about their business and community initiatives. Photographs from the 2019 Winter and Summer meetings are posted in The ELC website gallery. For social media posts on the meetings, search for the hashtags #ELCWGMM19 or #ELCSMM19. Make plans now to join us for the 2020 Winter Membership Meeting at the Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa in Manalapan, Fla. on February 19-21, 2020.
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ELC LEADERSHIP UPDATES
Executives Named to the ELC Senior Staff
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Crystal E. Ashby is Interim ELC President and CEO
rystal E. Ashby has been named as The ELC’s interim president and chief executive officer. Ashby succeeds Skip Spriggs who served as president and chief executive officer since March 2018 and retired at the end of 2019. She is the first woman president and CEO of the organization and traces her association with The ELC to her participation in the first class of The ELC’s Strengthening the Pipeline leadership development program. Ashby is an accomplished senior executive, board member and lawyer with more than 33 years of leadership success, significantly in the energy sector. She was most recently vice chair of The ELC. Her corporate leadership experience was gained over a 22-year career with BP where her roles spanned government and external affairs, law, compliance and ethics, university relations, and retail. Ashby will lead the organization’s ongoing efforts to increase the number of global black executives in C-Suites, on corporate boards, and in global enterprises. Ashby earned her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a double major in English and Psychology, from the University of Michigan.
Butts, Fair and Payne-Nunn Take Posts
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hristopher C. Butts, Ed.D. is Vice President and Chief Learning Officer for The ELC’s Institute for Leadership Development and Research, Satonya Fair is Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer and Teresa Payne-Nunn is Vice President and Chief Membership Officer, responsible for developing, leading and coordinating programs, benefits, marketing, and initiatives that promote membership intake and engagement for the organization’s more than 800 members. Fair is responsible for the organization’s philanthropic engagement strategy ensuring that all charitable efforts support The ELC’s strategic vision of opening pathways of opportunity for the development of Black executives to positively impact business and our communities. Prior to The ELC, Fair served as the Director of Grants Management at the Annie E. Casey Foundation where she and her team were responsible for administration of more than $100MM in charitable investments annually. Fair earned a JD from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Psychology and Political Science from Miami University (Ohio). Butts will lead The ELC’s Institute in every aspect of the design, development, marketing, business development, execution, and evaluation of its leadership development programming, research, consulting, and coaching offer-
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ings. He is an author, thought leader, and educator who has advised C-suite executives in both the private and public sectors on complex human resources and employee relations issues. Butts received a Master of Education in Higher Education degree and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education and Policy Studies degree from the University of Central Florida. Payne-Nunn most recently served as Americas Senior Vice President at Xerox Corporation where she had executive and profit and loss fiduciary oversight for Government, Healthcare and Education markets in the United States. As a member of the senior leadership team for the Americas, Ms. Payne-Nunn was responsible for strategic planning, profitable business growth and overall client satisfaction. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Marketing from The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business, and Executive Management Certificates from Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business, University of Maryland Baltimore County and Smith College. She serves on the Hampton University School of Engineering Advisory Board, and on several other boards, including Leadership Greater Washington, Washington Area Women’s Foundation and Port Discovery Children’s Museum.
STRATEGIC VISION 2021 OUR PURPOSE The ELC opens channels of opportunity for the development of black executives to positively impact business and our communities.
OUR S T R AT E G I C V I S I O N
OUR PHILANTHROPY
By 2021, The ELC will be an innovative leader in the community, on behalf of our members, amongst business leaders, and via the organization brand. Philanthropy is key to accomplishing our vision.
In 2020, ELC will invest $2 million to launch a series of new philanthropic programmatic pillars created to help ensure increased opportunities for young black women and men to succeed as business executives.
The new pillars will increase collaboration among ELC members and other organizations as we seek to address the problems of communities with intentionality, action, impact and positive outcomes. While the pillars are intended to help our communities, the philanthropic strategy and new initiatives are foundational to growing The ELC’s future philanthropic programs.
PHILANTHROPIC PILLARS ELC Scholars
Student Leadership Development Program
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ELC Community Impact Grants
The Black Male Cohort Initiative in collaboration with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) business schools
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Scholarship/Business Case Recipients Program
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Gap Funding for Rising Juniors and Seniors
Black Entrepreneurship Support
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ELC PROGRAM
Women’s Lead Sets High Is More I
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M HIGHLIGHT
dership Forum Standard, Inclusive
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FORUM
ELC members, leadership and planning committee at the 2019 Women’s Leadership Forum in Atlanta.
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he Executive Leadership Council’s (ELC) 2019 Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta attracted nearly 300 black women who heard uplifting and motivating speakers describe the origins of The ELC and WLF and framed elements of the theme, “Bold Yet Balanced: The Intersection of Excellence, Magic and Purpose.” ELC President and CEO Skip Spriggs opened the WLF to welcome attendees, recognizing the WLF Host Committee under the leadership of WLF Chair Kimberly A. Blackwell, CEO of PMM Agency. Blackwell assembled a record number of generous sponsors including Capital One and Bank of America. Shavonne Gordon, Head of Card Talent Acquisition at Capital One, and Tiffany Eubanks-Saunders, a senior vice president with Bank of America, spoke about their experiences with The ELC and their companies’ efforts on behalf of women. A high point of the WLF Opening Session was a conversation between Founding ELC Member Elynor Williams and Westina Matthews, a former Merrill Lynch executive and one of the original organizers of the WLF. Williams recounted being the only woman founding member and her role in keeping the organization focused on its mission.
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ELC Vice Chair Crystal Ashby brought greetings from the ELC Board. Panels on day two of WLF covered the power in “being the only one” in a room, making it to the C-Suite, participating in public affairs, the value of mutual support, negotiating compensation, and building better relationships with men. ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry, a principal with Deloitte and president of the Deloitte Foundation, emphasized the mission and purpose of The ELC. Brittany Packnett and Jewel Burke Solomon encouraged attendees to take bold risks to blaze new trails. ELC members participated in a panel about their experiences in the C-Suite. Moderated by Caroline V. Clarke of Black Enterprise, former ELC Board Chair Carla Harris of Morgan Stanley, Susan Chapman-Hughes of American Express and Best Buy Board Director Cindy Kent shared their perspectives on excelling in the C-Suites of major enterprises. Stefanie Brown-James of The Collective joined cable news commentator Angela T. Rye of Impact Strategies and Communications Strategist Jeff Johnson to discuss the impact of black women in recent elections. During a fireside chat Jennifer Jackson of Capital One, the Leading Sponsor of WLF, engaged Jessica Matthews, the founder and CEO of Uncharted Power, to discuss Matthews’ background and the socio-psychological impact of technology on human behavior
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP FORUM
SAVE THE DATE
2020 Women’s Leadership Forum July 15-16, 2020 Washington, DC
and self-actualization. Other speakers included Kimberly Evans Page of Sundial Brands and Gale Hill, an entrepreneur and president of AJH, Inc. Jana Brown, Head of Talent and Total Rewards at Caresource, interviewed John Nixon, a compensation specialist and partner with Duane Morris LLP in Philadelphia, about the importance of negotiating employment compensation packages. Two men, Steve Pamon of Parkwood Entertainment (Beyonce’s company), and communications strategist Jeff Johnson, spoke about how men should support the aspirations of successful black women and be comfortable in a supportive role. A high point of the WLF was the awarding of grants to beneficiaries. Enthusiastic cheers accompanied the award of $10,000 to the Morehouse College of Medicine and $50,000 to Spelman College. The ELC’s Ann Fudge Scholarship, named in honor of The ELC’s first woman board chair and the former CEO of Young & Rubicam Brands, received $130,000.
WLF provided a $130,000 contribution to the Ann Fudge Scholarship Fund.
Jeff Johnson, Angela Rye and Stefanie BrownJames.
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ELC INITIATIVES | INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE
The ELC Expands its International Presence
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nder the leadership of committee co-chairs Arlene Isaacs-Lowe of Moody’s Corporation and Andrew Pearce of Accenture, The ELC’s International Presence Committee introduced its “Inside Track” series of events in London that are designed to connect ELC members with UK opinion and thought leaders focused on significant current events and trends. The most recent Inside Track event in September featured Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary of the UK Department for International Trade. Romeo heads the Department for International Trade and is the Secretary of State’s principal policy adviser. As Permanent Secretary, she is responsible for global trade promotion and finance, inward and outward investment, trade policy, and trade negotiation and market access arrangements with countries outside the European Union. Prior to this, Romeo was Her Majesty’s Consul General in New York and Director General Economic and Commercial Affairs USA, and Special Envoy to the U.S. technology companies. When the June 2019 scheduled speaker Right Honourable Sajid Javid, a Member of Parliament, Home Secretary of the UK, had to cancel at the last minute because he was a candidate for the next UK Prime Minister and made it to the ballot for the elections the next morning, attendees heard from ELC member and policy expert Trevor Phillips about the state of UK politics. International Presence Co-Chairs Arlene
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Isaacs-Lowe and Andrew Pearce acknowledged recent notable achievements of UK members and led an informative conversation on the black narrative in the UK. The Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards) founded by ELC Member Sophie Chandauka of Morgan Stanley, is the only premium Awards program that celebrates exceptional performance and outstanding achievements of Black people in British business. The ELC was a sponsor. The ELC also signed a two-year agreement as the Key Partner of the Talent Accelerator program associated with the BBBAwards. Touted as the UK equivalent of The ELC’s Mid-Level Managers Symposium, the goal of the Talent Accelerator is to fast track the progression of high potential professionals from middle management roles to senior executive functions and prepare delegates for mobility opportunities, including international assignments. We are delighted that six ELC members on the International Presence Committee were among fifty 2019 BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) Women to Watch for future nomination to FTSE 350 boards, as part of the prestigious Female FTSE Report published by the Financial Times: Runa Alam, Nancy Armand, Julia Brown, Rob Knight, Suzan Kereere and Jacky Wright.
For the second year, ELC President and CEO Skip Spriggs hosted the International Presence Committee and a select group of special guests in late October in the UK for a breakfast on the morning of the Powerlist Dinner. Powerful Media Ltd hosts the celebration to launch the publication of its Powerlist focused on leadership by influential men and women of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage in the UK. The ELC sponsored the Powerlist Black Excellence Awards where Spriggs spoke and former Xerox Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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ELC INITIATIVES | EXTERNAL ADVOCACY
Leading with Purpose, ELC External Advocacy Committee Had An Active Year
Event Committee Chair Valerie Lewis, CBCF Executive Director David Hinson, Earle Jones of Comcast, The Links Incorporated National President Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Skip Spriggs and Sigma Pi Phi GSA Gregory Vincent.
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he ELC External Advocacy Committee participated in events, attended a House Financial Services Committee hearing on “Diversity in the Boardroom: Examining Proposals to Increase the Diversity of America’s Boards,” and organized the Ninth Networking Reception during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference.
Committee members Howard Woolley, Karen Morrison, Diane Ashley, Tiffany Atwell and ELC staff Libi Rice and Michael Dutton joined ELC President Skip Spriggs at the hearing and in separate visits to the offices of U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA3), chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE) to discuss The ELC’s Strategic Vision 2021.
In May, The ELC was invited to participate in a discussion about jobs and justice hosted by the Black Economic Alliance at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. ELC President and CEO Skip Spriggs joined Charles Phillips, BEA Co-Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Infor; U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Sarah Wartell, President, Urban Institute; and Geoffrey Stark, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission. Each spoke about the impact of the digital economy on employment and expectations for leadership to help strengthen communities.
The ELC was a lead sponsor of the Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG) Tin Cup Awards Dinner in July at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The WGRG Tin Cup Awards Dinner pays tribute to black elected officials and government relations professionals. The dinner benefits minority students preparing to pursue full-time undergraduate studies or currently enrolled and majoring in such fields as political science or public administration. WGRG is a non-partisan, independent association founded to advance the careers and leadership abilities of African American government relations professionals.
During the Financial Services Committee hearing in June, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-3) acknowledged The ELC and the presence of ELC External Advocacy representatives. Committee Co-Chair Barry Granger,
Just weeks before the Annual Gala, The ELC once again joined The Links, Incorporated and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Boulé) to host a networking reception during the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference at the
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law firm Skadden Arps in Washington. More than 250 members and guests of the host organizations attended, as did Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Karen Bass. CBCF President and CEO David A. Hinson accepted a ceremonial check for $20,000 from the three host organizations for the 2020 CBCF Summer Internship Program. The External Advocacy Committee is planning to invite a special guest and deliver a brief presentation on the role of business leaders in Government Relations during an election year to ELC members at the 2020 Winter Membership Meeting in Manalapan, Fla. in February.
Skip Spriggs with Kenneth Gross of Skadden Arps (right) and a guest at the Washington Government Relations Group Tin Cup Awards.
Howard Woolley, Karen Morrison, Libi Rice, Diane Ashley and Skip Spriggs join Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH3, center) for a House Financial Services Committee Hearing on Corporate Board Diversity.
Ronald C. Parker, Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-3), Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-3), Valerie Lewis, Skip Spriggs and Gregory Vincent at the CBCF Networking Reception.
Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke at the CBCF Networking Reception.
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
The Institute Embarks on Expanding Its Programs The 25th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium featured game changing speakers including billionaire Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners.
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 25TH ANNUAL MID-LEVEL MANAGERS’ SYMPOSIUM
Leadership Development Week East class in Miami.
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hroughout 2019 the Institute for Leadership Development and Research significantly extended its reach and impact. All programs including C-Suite Academy in Philadelphia, Leadership Development Week East in Miami, Leadership Development Week West in Las Vegas, and the 25th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium saw near- or full-capacity registrations. In addition, the Institute partnered with two major studies on documenting the obstacles to greater representation of black executives on boards, in C-Suites and as CEOs. For the fourth year, this year in Philadelphia, the C-Suite Academy was held June 10-12, 2019, at McKinsey & Co. Twenty-five C-Suite executives gathered to expand their skills and competencies during the two-day executive leadership program that featured seasoned facilitators, coaches and executive speakers. The 2020 C-Suite Academy is scheduled for June 9-10, 2020 in Chicago. More than 200 aspiring executives met at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami for Leadership Development Week East (LDW-E) to benefit from five of the Institute’s programs. More than 40 participated in one program during Leadership Development Week West (LDW-W) in Las Vegas. In 2020, look for changes of venue as LDW-E will be August 3-7, 2020 at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, and LDW-W takes place
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September 14-18, 2020 in San Francisco. In March 2020, the Institute will introduce a new program, The Power of Women at Work (POWW). This new one-day women’s symposium is expected to bring together some of the foremost leaders and thinkers in workplace development, technology, healthcare, and social issues that matter most. POWW will be designed to equip women managers and executives with tools, takeaways, and tactics to ascend the ladder in corporate America.
Future Black Leaders Gather for Inspiration and Motivation at MLMS
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early 1,000 black mid-level managers and executives packed the Liberty Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC to celebrate the 25th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium (MLMS). The two-day professional development seminar, once again led by ELC Board Secretary Leilani M. Brown, provided actionable takeaways from the opening general session, the ELC member panel, industry dinners, structured breakout sessions, and an uplifting closing session featuring Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners.
SAVE THE DATE
26th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium October 14-15, 2020 Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
Morgan DeBaun, cofounder and CEO of Blavity, the internet media company serving black millennials, and Emmy Award-Nominated and a two-time Peabody Award Winner Keith Clinkscales, the CEO of First World Media and former CEO of REVOLT Media, were featured speakers during the Opening Session. Also, on hand were two former PepsiCo executives and ELC members, Maurice Cox and former ELC President and CEO Ronald C. Parker. Both were very instrumental in establishing MLMS as an annual event. During the closing session, Smith shared his personal journey from his childhood in Denver to becoming a CEO of more than 60 CEOs of the companies he owns. He left participants with a call to action to hire black interns to help strengthen the pipeline of talent in corporate America. “We have to develop people, practices, and on-ramps at every level. There is a need for more talented people,” Smith said.
ELC Board Secretary and MLMS Emcee Leilani M. Brown of K12, Inc. with Morgan DeBaun of Blavity, Inc.
Plan now or identify deserving candidates for the 26th Annual Mid-Level Managers Symposium from October 14 - 15, 2020 at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC.
First World Media Founder and CEO Keith Clinkscales
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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ELC PROGRAM
Honors Sy Welcomes 20
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CONTACT • Winter 2019
M HIGHLIGHT
ymposium 019 Scholars
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2019 HONORS SYMPOSIUM
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he Honors Symposium is a four-day professional development experience with a series of events and meetings that connect and expose The ELC’s scholarship recipients to leading corporate executives and hiring managers from major global corporations. During this experience, the scholarship recipients participate in career development opportunities and enriching social activities. This year the best of The ELC’s scholarship recipients were invited to participate.
five programs: Alvaro L. Martins Scholarship; Ann Fudge Scholarship; Award for Excellence in Business Commentary; Nationwide’s Future Leaders Scholarship; and the Linde Engineers of Tomorrow Scholarship. In addition, teams of MBA, MA and MS students from U.S. graduate schools of business in the National Business Case Competition shared $70,000.
Symposium attendees were welcomed during a reception at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. They also were introduced at the 25th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium before an audience of more than 1,000 aspiring executives. For the first time, we hosted a Scholars Networking Lounge sponsored by the National Basketball Association. The event was designed to give ELC scholarship recipients an opportunity to engage with as many senior-level executives and professionals as possible. ELC members were invited and encouraged to participate. The scholars also attend The ELC’s Annual Recognition Gala where they were recognized on stage before a capacity audience of more than 2,300 corporate, education, civic and community leaders. The nearly 50 Honors Symposium participants were among the more than 60 students who received scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $12,000 through
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The ELC awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships in 2019 and will significantly increase our support for college students through our Philanthropic Strategy announced earlier this year.
ELC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT | 2019 HONORS SYMPOSIUM
SAVE THE DATE
2020 Honors Symposium October 13-16, 2020 Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL • elcinfo.com
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ELC HISTORY | MID-LEVEL MANAGERS’ SYMPOSIUM
Recollections on the Origins of Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium By ELC Member Maurice Cox, Former PepsiCo Executive
Ronald C. Parker, Laysha Ward and Maurice Cox.
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epsiCo’s Naylor Fitzhugh was a towering figure and an advisor to the founding members of The Executive Leadership Council (ELC). He and Harvey Russell were two of the early African American vice presidents at PepsiCo. Russell received The ELC Achievement Award in 1996. Also, Ron Harrison was PepsiCo’s first ELC member and persuaded the company to get involved and support ELC’s programs. The Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium (MLMS) started with a small group of PepsiCo African American executives in the early 1990’s who had a practice of holding conference calls every Sunday night during the broadcast of 60 Minutes on CBS. The calls were largely strategic in nature, to share information with each other across business functions. It was a support group to test big, bold business ideas before moving them forward to senior management. We were determined to be better informed and conversant on business performance, strategies, what was working and what wasn’t. We also wanted to share information on who was advancing in their careers and why. Two conditions to be a member of the group included having the courage to ask for help and accept the
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gift of honest feedback. It was tough love at times. We also thought younger African American managers could benefit from these experiences. On one of the calls, with The ELC Recognition Gala approaching, Ron Parker and I proposed bringing along some younger, high potential PepsiCo managers. Fellow colleague and ELC member Lawrence Jackson said taking people out of the market for two days would be a big deal. He said it can’t be just good. It would have to be great. We enlisted the help of the late Dr. Price Cobbs to help design the program. Cobbs insisted that the program go beyond the traditional classroom and that it needed to be based on the experiences, realities and successes of African American leaders. He told the group this could only work if we were willing to sacrifice ourselves for the younger group, including running interference when they returned to work. In addition to Parker and me, Price worked with Addie Perkins Williamson and another PepsiCo ELC member at the time, Debra Sandler, Lawrence Jackson, and Ron Harrison to pull the program together. We carefully selected 30 managers to participate in the program and attend the dinner.
One of the invited speakers at the program was Ann Fudge, ELC board chair at the time. Ann noted the energy and the rich content and asked why we couldn’t do this on behalf of The ELC for more African American middle managers. The following year, MLMS was launched. Cobbs moderated that first program and introduced the concept of getting in touch with your power. Attendance was just under 100 people. About 20 ELC members served as facilitators. PepsiCo was the first sponsor. A few years later, Laysha Ward got the Target team to join as a co-sponsor and they brought a lot of value. It has always been about quality of the program and not high attendance. In the early years, we were in the 400-600 participant range. Through the years, hundreds of ELC members have dedicated their time as presenters, table facilitators and advisers. We continue to call on ELC members to send their deserving colleagues and to volunteer their time as facilitators and speakers.
Carla Harris
Tara Jaye Frank
Ronald C. Parker, Clarence Otis, Lucia Riddle, Michael C. Hyter and Maurice Cox.
Clarence Otis, Jr.
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ELC INITIATIVES | CORPORATE BOARD INITIATIVE
Corporate Board Initiative Enters Its Tenth Year
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n 2019, several Corporate Board Initiative (CBI) events were held during member meetings in San Diego and Chicago. At the Winter Meeting in San Diego, concurrent afternoon sessions were held for CBI Cohort 4. At the Summer Meeting in Chicago, more than 35 ELC members participated in a CBI Boot Camp with CBI Co-Chair Billy Dexter, Partner with Heidrick & Struggles; CBI Committee Member Gena Ashe, President & CEO of GLA Legal Advisory Group LLC; Vanessa Griffith, Partner, Labor & Employment with Vinson & Elkins LLP; Ibi Krukrubo, Managing Partner with EY in San Jose, CA; and CBI Committee Member Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, former Vice President of Public Affairs with Duke Energy. Also, a daylong CBI Cohort 4 NACD Board Director Professionalism Course was conducted by Michele J. Hooper, president and CEO of The Directors’ Council, and Mary Beth Vitale, CEO and Principal for Pellera LLC, who shared their deep experience in board preparation and governance. In November, The ELC partnered with the African American Directors Forum (AADF) to host a gathering of ELC members and local CEOs in Atlanta. Atlanta
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Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms participated and CEOs, Board Chairs and Lead Directors representing companies such as Atlantic Capital, Coca Cola, Crawford & Co, GNG, Havertys, North Highland, Pulte Group, SunTrust, H. J. Russell, and UPS registered to attend. AADF-Atlanta focused on: •
Increasing the representation of Blacks on the boards of Atlanta-based, publicly traded companies
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Sharing knowledge, tools and best practices that companies use to increase the representation of Blacks in the boardroom
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Heightening the competence and confidence that all attendees have in discussing these topics
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Promoting interaction between board ready ELC members and CEOs, lead directors and executives who can influence their placement on corporate boards.
In December, The ELC launched a mentoring program to pair seasoned ELC board executives with members of Cohort 4 to use as a sounding board or resource as the cohort members progress in their
board journeys. We will graduate CBI Cohort 4 and launch CBI Cohort 5 at the 2020 Summer Meeting. Keep an eye out for the Cohort 5 application in Q1 2020. A Salon Dinner with John Deere for Cohort 4 to round out their experience is being planned for 2020. Building on the success of the CBI Boot Camp for ELC members who are not in a cohort, we will host a second Boot Camp at the Summer Meeting in June. Another ELC/AADF event in partnership with ELC new member David Motley and Darlene Motley will take place in 2020 at a location to be announced.
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 2019.
JOB TRANSITIONS Gregory A. Adams, former EVP and Group President of Kaiser Permanente, is now Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. Phyllis Anderson, former SVP & Chief Marketing Officer of Express Scripts, is now SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Sentara Healthcare. Law Burks, former VP & GM, Commercial Construction NA at ITW, is now President, US Forming & Shoring at BrandSafway. Ted Colbert, former CIO and SVP of Information Technology & Data Analytics at The Boeing Company, is now EVP of The Boeing Company and President & CEO of Boeing Global Services. H. Keith Jennings, former VP, Finance at Eastman Chemical Company, is now EVP and CFO at Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. Cindy R. Kent, former President & General Manager of 3M Infection Prevention Division, is now EVP & President of Senior Living at Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
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Ernest Nicolas, former VP, Global Supply Chain at Rockwell Automation, is now SVP, Operations & Engineering Services (OES) at Rockwell Automation. George Nichols III, former EVP, Office of Governmental Affairs at New York Life, is now President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. Ronald C. Parker, former ELC President & CEO, is now President & CEO of The National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP). Jill Pemberton, former VP, Finance at Johnson & Johnson, is now SVP, Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis for Viacom, Inc. Steve Richard, former Chief Audit Executive, SVP, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management at Becton Dickinson, is now SVP, Chief Risk Officer at Becton Dickinson. Kurt C. Small, Former President of Government Markets for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, is now President of Federal Government Solutions at Anthem, Inc.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
JOB TRANSITIONS Marva Smalls, former EVP and Global Head of Inclusion Strategy for Viacom and EVP of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff for Nickelodeon, is now EVP, Global Head of Inclusion at ViacomCBS. Deirdre Stanley, former General Counsel for The Thomson Reuters Corporation, is now EVP and General Counsel at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Wanji Walcott, former General Counsel and SVP at PayPal, is now EVP, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel at Discover Julie Washington, former CMO at Champion Petfoods, is now SVP & Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Trinity Health.
Thomas Stanley, former SVP and General Manager, Americas at NetApp, is now Chief Sales Officer at Tanium.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS Courtney D. Armstrong, EVP of Worldwide Business Affairs at Warner Bros. Pictures, was appointed to Northwestern University’s Board of Trustees. Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking at JPMorgan Chase, was appointed to Nike, Inc.’s Board of Directors. Rosilyn Houston, SEVP Chief Talent & Culture Executive at BBVA, was appointed to the Boards of Courtroom Sciences, Inc. and Ludlow Litigations, Inc. Kim Harris Jones, former SVP and Corporate Controller of Mondelēz International, Inc., was appointed to Fossil Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors.
Daphne Jones, former SVP, Digital/ Future of Work at GE Healthcare, was appointed to Barnes Group Inc.’s Board of Directors. Singleton McAllister, Partner at Husch Blackwell LLP, was appointed to Chart Industries, Inc.’s Board of Directors. Leslie Parker, Partner at A.T. Kearney, was appointed to A.T. Kearney’s Board of Directors. Nadia Rawlinson, Chief Human Resources Officer at Live Nation Entertainment, was appointed to Vail Resorts’ Board of Directors.
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
BOARD APPOINTMENTS Debra Sandler, President and CEO of La Grenade Group, LLC, was appointed to Gannett’s Board of Directors. Shelley Stewart Jr., former Chief Procurement Officer at DuPont de Nemours, was appointed to United Technologies Corp.’s Board of Directors.
Kamilah Williams-Kemp, VP of the New Business Department at Northwestern Mutual, was appointed to Rogers Behavioral Health’s Board of Directors. Lloyd M. Yates, former EVP of Customer and Delivery Operations and President, Carolinas Region for Duke Energy Corporation, was appointed to Sonoco’s Board of Directors.
MAJOR AWARDS & RECOGNITION Julia M. Brown, Chief Procurement Officer at Carnival Corporation & plc, was recognized as one of the 2019 “Women to Watch” by Cranfield University. Lloyd H. Dean, CEO of CommonSpirit Health, was honored with the Museum of the African Diaspora’s (MoAD) 2019 Visionary in Philanthropy Award. Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President & CEO of TIAA, was inducted into Crain’s New York Business 2019 Hall of Fame. Rosilyn Houston, SEVP Chief Talent & Culture Executive at BBVA, was recognized by American Banker as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking in 2019. Charles D. King, Founder and CEO of MACRO, was named on The Hollywood Reporter 100: The Most Powerful People in Entertainment 2019 ELC Board Chair Tonie Leatherberry was featured in The Top 10 Moments From Dreamforce 2019. Rose McKinney-James, Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC, was honored with DirectWomen’s 2019 Sandra Day O’Connor Board Excellence Award. Rhonda Mims, EVP & Chief Public Affairs Officer at WellCare Health Plans, Inc., was honored with PR Week’s 2019 Diversity Distinction in PR Award.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Mel Parker, President and CEO of Take The Limits Off, LLC, was the featured keynote speaker at the Constellation Brands Diversity and Inclusion Summit in Rochester, NY on September 17, 2019. Parker was also the featured keynote speaker at the Dell Technologies Senior Leadership Summit Diversity in Cork, Ireland on November 12, 2019.
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE & IN THE MEDIA
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Josie Thomas, EVP, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at CBS Corporation, was a keynote speaker at ColorComm’s NextGen Summit on November 14-15 at Chelsea Piers in New York. Marva Smalls was a keynote speaker at WrapWomen’s 2019 Power Women Summit on October 24-25 in Santa Monica, CA.
MEDIA ARTICLES & MENTIONS Kenneth I. Chenault, former Chairman & CEO of American Express, was featured in a WCBI article: Why There Are So Few Blacks in Top Corporate Jobs. Chenault was also featured in the following article: • Fortune: How to Talk About Race at Thanksgiving Brickson Diamond, CEO of Big Answers LLC, was mentioned in The Brown Daily Herald article: University should further clarify its ethical gifts policies. Diamond was also featured in the following articles: • Hollywood Reporter: The Blackhouse Foundation Teams With Strayer University for Criminal Justice Screenwriting Contest • The Charleston Chronicle article: Strayer University and The Blackhouse Foundation Launch Scriptwriter Competition to Bring Real Perspectives on Criminal Justice to the Classroom Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, was featured in a Yahoo Finance video: Morgan Stanley Vice Chairman of Global Wealth Management on Access and Opportunity. Harris was also featured in the following article: • Black Enterprise: Venture Capital Firms Abandoning $4.4 Trillion Opportunity To Invest With Black And Women Entrepreneurs Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, was featured in a CNN article: The Dallas Mavericks were plagued by a toxic culture. She is turning it around. Dr. Westina Matthews Shatteen, Adjunct Professor, Center for Christian Spirituality at The General Theological Seminary, wrote and released a book Dancing from the Inside Out: Grace-Filled Reflections on Growing Older. ELC President & CEO Skip Spriggs was featured in a Forbes article: Dearth Of Black CEOs: How Corporate Diversity Initiatives Ignore People Of Color. Curt Tomlin, President & CEO at Tomlin & Associates, released a book: The Book of Proverbs and Wisdom, A Reference Manual. Caroline A. Wanga, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Vice President of Human Resources at the Target Corporation, was featured in a Fortune article: Target’s Caroline Wanga Is Here to Change the World: raceAhead.
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SAVE THE DATE
Make Plans for These ELC Programs & Events in 2020 Winter Membership Meeting February 19 – 21 Manalapan, FL
Leadership Development Week East August 3 – 7, 2020 Miami, FL
C-Suite Academy June 9 - 10, 2020 Chicago, IL
Black Economic Forum August 13 – 14 Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Summer Membership Meeting June 3 – 5 Denver, CO
Leadership Development Week West September 14 – 18, 2020 San Francisco, CA
Women’s Leadership Forum July 15 – 16 Washington, DC
26th Annual Mid-Level Managers’ Symposium October 14 – 15 Washington, DC
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Annual Recognition Gala October 15 Washington, DC
CONTACT • Winter 2019