Cynthia H. Bowman is the Chief Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) and Talent Acquisition Officer for Bank of America. She serves as the chief strategist for D&I and talent acquisition globally, focused on leading programs, initiatives and policies that actively support the bank’s diverse and inclusive workplace and recruitment strategies. In this role, Cynthia helps steer the bank’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Council – which is chaired by Bank of America’s CEO – comprised of senior leaders from across the company and also leads the company’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Organization (GDIO), which supports enterprise-wide diversity initiatives, diversity conferences, strategic partner management and sponsorships, diversity awards and recognition, diversity metrics and data reporting, and oversight to the employee networks for more than 180,000 memberships and allies across the globe. She also leads a team of talent acquisition professionals responsible for filling tens of thousands of positions annually with the highest quality candidates to meet business needs. In both roles, Bowman partners with the lines of business and the bank’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council to drive key talent outcomes across the enterprise. Bowman joined Bank of America in 2007 and has served in various leadership roles throughout Global Human Resources. Prior to joining Bank of America, she was a Partner at Accenture where she was responsible for the deployment of performance sales and consulting projects. Bowman has been recognized on the 2016 EBONY POWER 100 list, named one of Black Enterprise’s Top Executives in Corporate Diversity, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and was recognized in 2020 by American Banker as a member of one of the Top Teams in Banking. She was named one of the 30 must-follow Diversity and Inclusion Thought Leaders by Findspark.com (2019), one of North America’s Most Influential D&I Leaders by Hive Learning (2020), and on the Top 100 HR Influencers List by Engagedly (2019). Bowman’s leadership contributed to Bank of America’s recognition by various organizations and media around the world, including the 2019 Catalyst Award, being named by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, and being named by Euromoney in 2016, 2018 and 2019 as the world’s best bank for diversity and inclusion. Bowman graduated from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management with an MBA in Organization Behavior and Operations. She also has a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science from Spelman College. Bowman is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Midwestern Region). Bowman is also a member of the 30% club steering committee and sits on the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Corporate Advisory Board on Diversity and Inclusion and The Sphinx Organization Board of Directors. She is married and the mother of four children.

Belinda Grant-Anderson has responsibility for AT&T's talent development programs and processes and implementing the company’s diversity and inclusion strategy. Belinda and her team partner across the enterprise to develop and implement the company's Talent Review and Succession Planning process. They create and deliver industry leading talent development programs, including the company’s flagship Leadership Development Program and innovative initiatives targeted toward building the company’s pipeline of diverse leaders. Her team also oversees the company's mentoring and coaching resources and the general summer intern program. Belinda recently resumed leadership of the Diversity and Inclusion team, working with them to partner with business units to build a diverse and inclusive culture. Her team engages the company’s employee groups, builds external relationships, manages awards and sponsorships, and collaborates across internal stakeholders to implement the broader D&I strategy. Belinda joined the former BellSouth Corporation in 1998 where she served as Vice President - People Development, Vice President - Policy Resolution for Regulatory & External Affairs, Division PresidentOperator Services, and Executive Director - Strategic Management Unit. Prior to joining BellSouth, Belinda was a consultant with the Atlanta office of McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, for seven years. She began her career with Procter & Gamble’s Product Development Division in Cincinnati, Ohio. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Belinda received her Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Business Administration degrees from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She currently serves on the Owen School of Management's Board of Visitors, Vanderbilt’s Dores of Distinction Advisory Board, and the Ursuline Academy of Dallas Board of Trustees. Belinda and her husband reside in the Dallas area with their two daughters

Porter Braswell is the CEO and co-founder of Jopwell - the leading career advancement platform for Black, Latinx, and Native American students and professionals. Additionally, Porter is the host of Race at Work with Porter Braswell (an HBR podcast), author of Let Them See You (published by Penguin Random House), and has received many awards/recognitions from major publications including LinkedIn's 2015 "Next Wave, Top Professionals Under 35," Inc. Magazine's 2016 "30 Under 30," Fast Company's 2017 "100 Most Creative People In Business," Crain's 2018 "40 Under 40," Vanity Fair's 2018 "Future Innovators Index," Adweek's 2018 "Young Influentials,” Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year New York Winner 2020 and National Finalist,” and most recently LinkedIn’s 2020 “Top Voices.” He started his career at Goldman Sachs on the foreign exchange desk after graduating from Yale in 2011, where he was a three-year starter on the men's varsity basketball team.

Carla Grant-Pickens serves at the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for IBM, where she leads a global team dedicated to creating an inclusive culture and a workforce that reflects the world, while responding to societal issues that impact IBM employees and the communities they live and work in. Diversity and inclusion has been a pillar of IBM’s culture for over 100 years and under Carla’s leadership the company has been globally recognized as a leader in in the space, being named as a “Top 10 Working Mother Best Company,” a “Top 10 Company for Dads,” and a “Top Place to Work for LGBTQ Employees” by the Human Rights Campaign, among others. During her 20+ year career at IBM, Carla has held roles HR Leadership, Talent Strategy and Programs, and Executive Succession & Development across the company, and has worked and lived in both the U.S. and Asia. Carla holds an IBM patent and the prolific title of “IBM Inventor” for Workforce Retention and Compensation Analytics. Prior to IBM, she worked in Consulting at Oracle and Northup Grumman. Raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, Carla is a graduate of the University of Maryland where she attained a B.S. in Economics and M.S. in Human Resources. Carla sits on the boards of the Federal City Council and Connected DMV and enjoys volunteering with youth in her area; most notably as a Mentor and the Executive Champion of the Carver High School P-TECH program in Baltimore, Maryland. When not at work, Carla can be found spending time with her husband, Eric, and her two sons, Eric, Jr. and Louis – most likely watching a College Basketball game… Go Terps!

Selena Hill is an award-winning, multi-media journalist with a passion for social justice and women’s empowerment. She currently works as the Digital Editor for Black Enterprise magazine, where she covers general news stories affecting African Americans and the black business community. She also conducts on-camera interviews with celebrities and business luminaries like Phylicia Rashad, Spike Lee, Charlamagne tha God, and Janice Bryant Howroyd, the first African American woman to build a billion-dollar business. Selena has appeared on WNBC, WNYC (NPR), and Bold TV.

Infusing her passion for journalism and social justice, Selena created “Let Your Voice Be Heard!," a radio show and podcast that addresses current events, politics, and social issues from a diverse millennial perspective. The award-winning talk show broadcasts on WHCR 90.3 FM "The Voice of Harlem" and is streamed via Facebook Live Sundays at 11 a.m. ET. A number of high-profile speakers have appeared on the show,including Sen. Cory Booker, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Russell Simmons. The show has been featured in The Guardian, The Source, and Woman Around Town.

Selena also works as a TV correspondent and assistant producer for “What's Eating Harlem,” which airs on PBS local affiliate station NYC Life. On the show, she books and interviews entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and movers-and-shakers in Harlem like restaurateur and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and playwright Vy Higginsen.

Previously, Selena has worked as the Special Election Coverage Reporter covering the 2012 presidential election under Russell Simmons at GlobalGrind.com. In addition, she freelanced for the New York Amsterdam News, one of the nation’s longest running historically black newspapers, and has worked at NV (New Vision in business) Magazine, where she's landed on-camera interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Angela Simmons, and Big Sean.

Selena was honored by The New York Association of Black Journalists Award for Best Blog Commentary in both 2017 and 2016. “Let Your Voice Be Heard!” won a New York Press Club Award for Best Commentary in 2016.

Netta Jenkins is a leading voice in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, Anti-Racism, Anti-Blackness field whose soaring audience engagement was doubtless a key factor in Forbes naming her as one of the top 7 anti-racism consultants in the world. An acclaimed author with a deep background in communications, leadership, and behavioral psychology, Netta has been advising corporations and audiences of all kinds for years on the most effective strategies to address systemic gaps in the workplace, its traumatic impact, and the path to change. Netta is the Co-Founder of Dipper, a data review technology platform empowering companies to tackle diversity and inclusion. As well as a digital safe-place that guides professionals of color to a better workplace one review at a time, whether good, bad or indifferent. She is currently VP, Global Inclusion for leading tech company, Unqork. For 5 years, Netta created and executed strategy as Vice President, Global Inclusion for IAC/InterActiveCorp, tech and media brands with her research data driven knowledge that has over 150 different brands: Match.com, Ask, Vimeo, Care.com and more. Netta has won multiple awards for her corporate and startup diversity impact. Netta founded Holistic Inclusion Consulting LLC; and offers diversity sessions to companies with a focus on anti-racism, product inclusion, and systemic bias globally. She has been featured in Black Enterprise, Forbes, Business Insider, Blavity, CNN and more for her work. Along the way, Netta has won multiple awards for her impact on corporate and startup diversity. Netta’s 50k+ followers on LinkedIn draw on her knowledge and insights on key DEI concerns such as corporate accountability, leadership authenticity, product inclusiveness, history and policy of structural racism, and career strategy through her main feed. As a result, she was listed as 2020 Linkedin top voice.

Sandra Phillips Rogers is chief legal officer, chief diversity officer, board director, advisor and ally. Her legal career and community leadership spans nearly 30 years; with extensive expertise in the private, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and automotive sectors. Importantly, Phillips Rogers has been at the center of large-scale global transactions, complex litigation management and strategy including issues/crisis management. Today, she oversees the vast legal services function for Toyota’s North American operations, compliance & audit office, sustainability & regulatory affairs and social innovation. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, she is passionate and devoted to the success of women in the legal field and was a founding member of her alma matter’s Center for Women in Law. In 2018, she received The University of Texas School of Law Outstanding Alumna Award. Phillips Rogers has been recognized by foundations, universities and media organizations for her many contributions. Awards include: Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women and All Stars in 2020, D-CEO’s General Counsel Impact Player of the Year, D-CEO’s Dallas 500 and Black Enterprise’s Most Powerful Women in Business. As a change agent, and Toyota’s top D&I champion, Phillips Rogers is committed to drive unity, equity and respect for all people through education, engagement and action. Thanks in part to her vision and leadership, Toyota was recognized in DiversityInc’s Top 10 list in 2020.

• Public Boards: MSA Safety Incorporated (Law Committee Chair; Audit, Nominating and Governance Committee Member) [NYSE: MSA]
• Non-Profit Boards: United Way of Metropolitan Dallas; UnidosUS; University of Texas Law School Foundation; Texas A&M Transportation Institute; Executive Leadership Council

Wendy John is the head of global diversity and inclusion for Fidelity Investments. Wendy assumed her current position in 2020 and leads the effort to ensure that Fidelity is a workplace and service provider where everyone can fully be themselves. She is responsible for creating and attracting a more diverse workforce, tapping into the power of our differences to develop and retain talent, creating a culture of inclusion, and showcasing Fidelity’s reputation and brand as an inclusive employer and service provider.

Wendy is a 23-year Fidelity veteran who has served in several key leadership roles across Relationship Management, Client Services/Operations, Global Workforce Strategy, Program Management, Implementation and Benefits Consulting. Most recently, she served as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Fidelity Charitable, an independent 501(c)(3) public charity. In that role, she was responsible for overall risk, compliance, external communications, legislative policy, government relations and associate engagement.

Wendy is a global “road warrior” who has lived in 3 countries and racked up millions of airline miles for work and personal travel. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, she moved to Canada to attend the University of Waterloo after high school. She lives in Durham NC and enjoys reading, sports, and the arts.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyejohntt/

Derek T. Dingle is senior vice president/Chief Content Officer of BLACK ENTERPRISE. He is responsible for the strategic planning and editorial direction of the magazine and BLACK ENTERPRISE live events; including Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit and Black Enterprise Golf and Tennis Challenge. He also oversees content development for all other Black Enterprise special events or partnerships related to the company. Dingle has authored countless BLACK ENTERPRISE cover stories throughout his tenure with the magazine and has appeared as a business expert on numerous television networks and radio programs, including CNN, CNBC, NBC’s Weekend Today, and National Public Radio. Prior to becoming Chief Content Officer of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine, Dingle served as the publication’s executive editor from 2000 to July 2008, and managing editor from 1987 to 1990. Prior to rejoining BLACK ENTERPRISE, he was a senior writer at Money magazine, covering mutual funds and small business issues. Earlier in his career, Dingle founded and served as president and CEO of Milestone Media Inc., the nation’s largest black-owned comic book company. Distributed by DC Comics, Milestone produced an average of eight monthly titles and sold more than 10 million copies from 1992 to 1998. One of the characters he co-created, Static Shock, was developed into an animated series that ran from 2000 to 2005 on the WB Network and the Cartoon Network. An award-winning editor, Dingle is the author of Titans of the B.E. 100s: Black CEOs Who Redefined and Conquered American Business, and he received the 1999 International Reading Association Award for his book First in the Field: Jackie Robinson, Baseball Hero. Dingle is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the American Society of Magazine Editors. He also serves on the board of Norfolk State University’s School of Communications. Dingle graduated from Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He also holds a diploma from New York University’s Magazine Management Program.

Valerie Irick Rainford is uniquely qualified to advise CEOs and boards after delivering historic results at two iconic organizations on Wall Street. She founded Elloree Talent Strategies a consulting firm that partners with senior leaders to drive strategies that visibly increase the representation of diverse talent within their companies. A savvy business executive with a passion for equity and diversity, Valerie is a soughtafter speaker, author and thought-leader on advancing diverse talent with 30 plus years’ experience driving business transformations with people at the center. She spent the first 21 years of her career at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York where she rose to become the most senior black woman and the first to achieve a Senior Vice President title. As Executive Business Sponsor, she is credited for launching the Fed’s first employee resource group and hiring the first Chief Diversity Officer in the organization’s history. She then went on to spend 12 years at JPMorgan Chase leading numerous complex business transformation programs, including serving as head of Advancing Black Leaders, a unique and first of its kind role where she was charged with delivering increased focus on attracting, hiring, retaining and advancing top black talent at all levels of the organization. In three short years in that role, Valerie led the firm’s representation of black professionals to historic results, including increasing the black senior executive talent by over 70%, embedding strategies that led to increases across all representation of diverse talent. Elloree Talent Strategies takes Valerie’s transformative approach and strategies for increasing workforce diversity to organizations across corporate America

Earl G. Graves Jr. (Butch) is President & CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE. He joined the company in 1988 after earning his M.B.A. from Harvard University. During his tenure at BLACK ENTERPRISE he has served in many positions, including VP of Advertising & Marketing, and Chief Operating Officer. In 2006 he was promoted to his current position.

Under Butch’s guidance BLACK ENTERPRISE has grown from a single-title publication into a robust multimedia company. Today, the company delivers content across five platforms, including magazine publishing; two nationally syndicated television shows; professional development events; digital and social media.

In 2000, he co-founded the Black Enterprise/Greenwich Street Corporate Growth Fund – A unique private equity firm seeking to finance the growth of established minority-owned or – managed businesses across various industries. Mr. Graves is also an active Partner in S & C Robinson, LLC – an Airport Concessions Enterprise formed in 2016.

Butch received his B.A. in economics from Yale University in 1984, distinguishing himself both academically and athletically. As a four-year starter and Captain of the Yale basketball team, he graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer and the second leading scorer in Ivy League history. He was drafted in the third round by the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers in 1984, and enjoyed a brief professional basketball career with the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

In 2002 Butch was inducted into the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Hall of Achievement. In 2006 he was awarded the Jack Avrett Volunteer Spirit Award from the Boy Scouts of America, and in 2009 he was honored with the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award.

Butch serves on the board of directors of AutoZone, Bermuda Tourism Authority, and is a Trustee for The Committee For Economic Development. In addition to serving on numerous non-profit Boards, Mr. Graves is a strong national advocate for the importance of education and athletics, and served as an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) head basketball coach for more than 15 years.