30 Jan Elite 100: Black Women Are Setting the Pace

Diversity Woman pays tribute to Black women who are disrupting the status quo in executive leadership across industries both inside and beyond Corporate America

By Carolyn M. Brown

Black women continue to defiantly chip away at Corporate America’s concrete ceiling. For the third time in the past three years, a Black woman has taken the helm at a major US corporation, with the appointment of Toni Townes-Whitley as CEO of Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), which provides tech and engineering services primarily to the US government. This makes her one of two Black women running Fortune 500 companies, joining TIAA’s Thasunda Brown Duckett. (Rosalind Brewer left her CEO post at Walgreens Boots Alliance in 2023.)

Diversity Woman is proud to present its fourth annual Elite 100, honoring the achievements of Black women. The Class of 2024 highlights 100 extraordinary Black women in the C-suite and as executive leaders at some of the largest US and multinational corporations, major national nonprofit organizations, and leading business enterprises. They represent fields as varied as finance, tech, energy, health care, retail, food, beverage, sports, and entertainment. Without a doubt, these 100 executive all-stars are making their mark.

The story of women rising to leadership positions is both encouraging and exasperating. According to the latest Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey, in partnership with LeanIn.org, since 2015 the number of women in the C-suite has increased from 17 percent to 28 percent, and the representation of women at the VP and SVP levels has also improved significantly. However, progress is lagging in the middle of the pipeline, and women are leaving at a higher rate than in past years. Across the corporate pipeline, women of color (Black, Asian, and Latinx) are especially underrepresented. They make up 6 percent of leadership in the C-suite and 7 percent at the VP level. That number drops to 1.4 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively, for Black women.

Yet progress is slowly being made. A view from the top of the chief executive landscape shows that many Black women are disrupting the status quo in leadership across sectors and industries. Many are running multi-
million-dollar enterprises under the dual role of founder and CEO, giving them even greater clout and a higher stake in the success of their companies. The fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States is still composed of Black women.

The 2024 Elite 100 class amply demonstrates that Black women are transforming obstacles into opportunities and blazing new trails. For anyone who claims it’s too challenging to find qualified Black women leaders to promote into the C-suite or onto boards, look no further than our list. Please join us in honoring this year’s Elite 100.

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Methodology: How the Elite 100 Were Chosen

The Diversity Woman Elite 100, Class of 2024, highlights extraordinary Black women leaders. Our roster comprises some of the most powerful women executives in C-suite and senior level roles at Fortune 500, Fortune 1000, Fortune Global 500, S&P 500, and S&P 400 companies, as well as other leading business enterprises and national nonprofits. Our criteria: they must hold a senior level or executive officer position; oversee a major global, national or regional division, subsidiary, organization, or business enterprise; and demonstrate a record of leadership success, achieving results on the bottom line and enhancing company culture.(Note: All companies and titles are accurate as of January 1, 2024.)

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Pamela Abner

SVP, Chief Diversity Operations Officer and System Health Equity Officer | Mount Sinai Health System

Abner oversees system-wide administrative, fiscal, policy, and management activities to sustain diversity, inclusion, and equity at Mount Sinai. She establishes best practices in collaboration with hospital and school leadership. Utilizing research methodologies, creating education curriculum, and applying state-of-the-art procedures, she seeks to implement initiatives to identify disparities and eliminate barriers to medical care, employment, and education for underserved and underrepresented groups, as well as foster relationships with community partners.

Tinisha Agramonte

SVP, Chief Diversity Officer | The Walt Disney Company

A visionary and thought leader, Agramonte leads Disney’s DEI strategy, collaborating with business segments and leaders across the company to foster a culture of belonging. Her Disney career began in 2022 with the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products segment. Prior to joining Disney, Agramonte served as the inaugural CDO at Motorola Solutions and in senior executive positions with the federal government as CDO and director for the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Commerce.

Machelle Allen

SVP, Chief Medical Officer | NYC Health + Hospitals

Allen is a veteran of the health-care system, recognized for her service to vulnerable populations. In her current role, she established the Office of Clinical Operations, which instituted surveillance of the New York City health system’s wastewater to detect emerging infections. Allen, who holds a medical degree, also created a system-wide Office of Women’s Health Services, under whose aegis the NYC Health + Hospitals Maternal Home came about.

 

Tameka Alsop

Chief Administrative Officer | Moody’s Corporation

A member of Moody’s executive leadership team, Alsop oversees a range of strategic and operational initiatives that are vital to the company’s success. This includes leadership of the global enterprise technology team. Alsop has more than 20 years of experience helping to drive positive change and business results at Moody’s. Previously, she served as managing director, head of US financial institutions relationship management at Moody’s Investors Service. She is also a founding member of the Women’s BRG at Moody’s.

Sharifa A. Anderson

SVP, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer | Fannie Mae

Anderson leads Fannie Mae’s ongoing efforts to create measurable, positive diversity and inclusion outcomes across the enterprise and with Fannie Mae’s suppliers, business partners, and the people and communities it serves. In her role, she reports to the president and serves as a member of the management committee. Since Anderson joined Fannie Mae’s executive leadership team in 2022, the company has outperformed external benchmarks for workforce diversity.

Nadine Augusta

Chief DEI Officer | Cushman & Wakefield

Augusta drives a global commitment to DEI at the commercial real estate firm. She takes a holistic approach, with a focus on the workplace and marketplace in the areas of recruiting, talent development, and supplier diversity. Augusta boasts more than 20 years of experience in financial services, including key positions in management consulting, project management, sales and trading, and diversity and inclusion. She previously served as head of diversity and inclusion for the Americas at Goldman Sachs.

Pennie Ayers

SVP, Transportation and Final Mile | Lowe’s

A retail industry veteran, Ayers leads supply chain transportation and market delivery, with responsibility for the overall vision, strategy, and execution for domestic, international, and e-commerce transportation, parcel transportation, command center operations, planning and strategy, fulfillment, and final-mile delivery. Before joining Lowe’s, she was with the e-commerce company Radial, where she served as senior vice president of transportation and process improvement. Previously, she held leadership roles at Macy’s and Pier 1 Imports.

Kelly Baker

EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer | Thrivent

In her role at the Fortune 500 diversified financial services organization, Baker provides strategic human resources advice and enterprise support for talent acquisition, benefits and compensation, organizational design, diversity and inclusion, and workforce culture. Under her leadership, Thrivent is continuing to make strategic talent and resourcing decisions. Baker previously served as executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Pentair. Before that, she held various human resources roles at General Mills.

Alison Banks-Moore

VP, Chief Diversity Officer | Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

A 15-year veteran at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Banks-Moore has fortified personal and professional relationships to encourage and support a diverse, inclusive, and thriving workplace. With more than 40 years of experience as a human resources professional, she has held various positions at major corporations, including AT&T, KPMG, and Cablevision. She is a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Diversity Alliance.

Marla J. Blow

President and COO | Skoll Foundation

Blow is a seasoned, impact-oriented leader with deep financial services experience as an executive, federal regulator, entrepreneur, and angel investor. At the Skoll Foundation, a private foundation committed to social innovation and systems change, Blow leads the management of grants, investments, and finances, including operations, endowment, and portfolio partnerships. Previously, she was North America lead at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, and founder and CEO of FS Card Inc., a subprime- credit-card venture that she sold to a strategic acquirer.

Aisha Bowe

Founder and CEO | STEMBoard

Bowe is reaching for the stars. The former NASA rocket scientist turned entrepreneur bootstrapped her company into an eight-figure engineering powerhouse specializing in data analytics and IT modernization for large enterprises. Bowe also raised over $1.6 million to create LINGO, an edtech company that makes coding kits for kids. She is set to become a commercial astronaut when she takes flight on Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin spacecraft, a voyage planned for 2024.

LaTisha Brandon

VP of DE&I, Culture, and Charitable Giving | The Container Store

Brandon is a highly regarded diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner, having developed and executed comprehensive DEI strategies for Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits. She is charged with leading The Container Store’s DEI, employee engagement, and corporate-giving efforts. Brandon previously worked at the Celanese Corporation and JCPenney. She leverages her experiences and education to provide organizations with a clearly defined path to inclusion and equity.

Taiwan Brown

VP, Diversity and Workforce Strategies | Entergy Corporation

Brown leads the center of excellence within human resources to further drive Entergy’s overall strategies in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Her team supports the integrated energy company’s efforts to increase its presence in and partnerships with colleges and vocational-technical schools. Brown previously served as VP of inclusion and community relations at RealPage, a property management software company, and in various human resources leadership roles at Texas Instruments.

Jamika D. Burge

Head of Research & Insights Strategy, Enterprise Product, and Experience Design | Capital One

Burge describes herself as a computer scientist who understands people and their needs across a range of computing technologies. She leads Capital One’s enterprise research team to curate learning and insights across multiple customer and platform experiences. Burge, who holds a PhD in computer science, is the cofounder of blackcomputeHER.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting workforce development for Black women and girls in computing and tech.

Elizabeth A. Campbell

VP of Field and Cultural Marketing | McDonald’s USA

Campbell is responsible for elevating engagement across McDonald’s 13,000 restaurants, in the United States, of which 95 percent are owned and operated by independent business owners. She also partners with McDonald’s franchises through the Operator’s National Advertising Fund, executing a $1 billion marketing budget. A proven disruptor, Campbell has spent the past 20-plus years shaping how McDonald’s engages with consumers. She has led some of the brand’s most iconic consumer platforms, including the introduction of McDelivery with UberEats.

Keia Clarke

CEO | New York Liberty, WNBA

Clarke leads all business aspects of the Liberty organization, one of the eight original franchises of the WNBA league. She guided the team’s transition to Barclays Center in Brooklyn ahead of the 2021 season. Clarke oversees the organization’s P&L, business operations, and strategic planning. Additionally, she works with stakeholders on key elements of team business, including growing the fan base, maximizing sales, and driving fan engagement through innovation.

 

Nicole “Nikki” Clifton

President, Social Impact and the UPS Foundation | UPS

A 20-year UPS veteran, Clifton currently leads the company’s global philanthropy, social impact, and community affairs efforts on behalf of more than 500,000 UPS employees, who serve 220 countries and territories worldwide. Bringing decades of litigation, legislative affairs, and philanthropic expertise to her role, she oversees the UPS Foundation’s work delivering health and humanitarian aid. She has been instrumental in several signature initiatives at UPS, including coordinating the company’s anti-human-trafficking program and advocacy initiative.

Mamie Coleman

EVP, Creative Music | Fox Entertainment Music

A Fox veteran with over 30 years at the company, Coleman possesses broad experience in film, television, and music and has played an integral role in producing and developing innovative program launches, marketing strategies, and image campaigns. She is currently responsible for all music, in creative and administrative aspects, on Fox Entertainment productions, spanning scripted, unscripted, and animation shows, including such series as The Masked Singer and the animated comedy Krapopolis. Coleman is a voting member of the Recording Academy.

Lisa Cook

Board Member | Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Cook is a member of the governing body that oversees the operations of the 12 Reserve Banks. She holds the distinction of being the first Black woman to sit on the board. Prior to her appointment in 2022, Cook was a professor of economics and international relations at Michigan State University. She also served as a senior economist on the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.

 

Tia Counts

Chief Responsibility Officer, Chief Diversity Officer | MSCI

As chief responsibility officer, Counts oversees corporate responsibility policies, practices, and initiatives, a role that includes achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals. As chief diversity officer, she drives the diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy for MSCI—a leading provider of mission-critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community—and aligns DEI goals with MSCI’s business outcomes. She also leads culture transformation and employee engagement for the company. Previously, Counts was the global head of diversity and inclusion for JPMorgan Chase and the head of its Advancing Black Pathways initiative.

Janet Currie

President, Greater Maryland | Bank of America

Currie connects the banking and investment resources offered through the bank’s eight lines of business to companies, families, and individuals across Greater Maryland. Today, Currie, who joined Bank of America in
1993, is recognized as a highly experienced leader in the financial industry. During her time with the company, she has served in various leadership capacities within wealth management, consumer banking, operations, and business control functions.

Claudia Curtis

SVP, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer | BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)

Curtis is a key member of the law group’s leadership team at BD, a multi-national manufacturer and supplier of medical devices. She is responsible for reinforcing BD’s ethics and compliance culture and sustaining the company’s reputation for quality and integrity. Curtis was previously BD’s chief counsel for employment and privacy. She also served as a member of BD’s Crisis Management Team, guiding the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cheryl McKissack Daniel

President and CEO | McKissack & McKissack

McKissack Daniel is at the helm of one of the nation’s oldest Black-owned construction and design firms. The family- owned business, which has been in existence for more than 118 years, is an industry leader, having completed more than 6,000 plans, designs, and constructions. The company currently manages projects valued at more than $15 billion. Prominent projects include the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, and Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ebony David

Executive Director, Human Resources | Quest Diagnostics

David is the strategic HR business partner for four of Quest Diagnostics’ businesses: Molecular Genomics & Oncology, Clinical Solutions, Medical, and Pharma Services. With over two decades of HR experience, David specializes in managing talent, optimizing organizational capabilities, building a performance-oriented culture, and driving operational excellence. Prior to joining Quest, she held HR leadership roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific and Hess. She began her HR career in the retail sector with 1-800-Flowers.com, Avis Car Rental, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Ahtis Davis

VP, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy and Programs | TIAA

A global leader and diversity, equity, and inclusion champion, Davis advises executive leadership on DEI topics, delivers internal programs, and drives external impact aimed at ensuring that TIAA remains an employer of choice and a thought leader in DEI. Prior to working at TIAA, Davis built a 25-year career at JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo in New York and London, leading complex transformation initiatives in corporate investment banking and consumer and small business banking.

Morgan DeBaun

Founder, CEO, and Chairman | Blavity

Tech mogul DeBaun oversees Blavity, the digital media company for Black culture, focused particularly on millennials. She has grown Blavity into a market leader, reaching over 100 million monthly visitors through a portfolio that includes 21Ninety, AfroTech, Travel Noire, and Shadow and Act. DeBaun is an advisor to global brands and companies, including PepsiCo, American Airlines, and CES (Consumer Electronics Show). She is also an angel investor in Golde, Ness, Boxed Up, and Public.

Andrea Donkor

SVP, Global Regulatory Relations and Consumer Practices, Chief Compliance Officer | PayPal

At PayPal Inc, Donkor leads Global Regulatory Relations and Consumer Practices organization and serves as chief compliance officer of PayPal Inc. She has been a trailblazer, working closely with regulators on proposed regulations and helping PayPal obtain first-of-their-kind licenses. One of PayPal’s most visible leaders, Donkor is credited with building the regulatory relations function from the ground up, enabling PayPal to forge stronger and more trusted relationships with regulators and government officials.

Deneen Donnley

SVP, General Counsel |Consolidated Edison

Donnley leads the legal and compliance team at the multibillion- dollar energy company that powers 10 million people across New York City and Westchester. Donnley boasts over 20 years of corporate governance experience, serving as a corporate secretary for various major financial institutions. Prior to Con Edison, she spent nine years at USAA, a Fortune 150 diversified financial services group, serving as its executive vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary.

Bridgett Feagin

EVP and CFO | Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

Feagin leads Connecticut Children’s financial planning, analysis, and operations. She has a proven track record of successfully managing the financial operations of highly complex matrixed organizations, and her decades of financial leadership experience include the role of CFO for three of Tenet Healthcare Corporation/Detroit Medical Center’s seven hospitals and CFO at United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

Mitzabeth Garay

VP and General Manager of Field Engagement and Shared Services | ADP

Garay has been with management services company ADP for over 20 years and has led teams in traditional operations functions in addition to communications, digital transformation, client experience, compliance, and strategic workforce planning. She is highly regarded for her participation in such ADP business resource groups as Pride, Adelante, iWIN (International Women’s Inclusion Network) and WiL (Women in Leadership). Outside of work, Garay is committed to vigorous physical training and joins other Cycle for the Cause bike riders each year to raise funds and awareness to end the AIDS epidemic.

Gloria Goins

Chief DEI Officer | Cisco

Goins and her team are responsible for DEI strategy, inclusive communities, and fairness work at Cisco, an effort to remove barriers to inclusion and belonging at the company. For over 23 years, Goins has launched new employee and business strategies to reach and acquire underserved customers at Fortune 50 companies. As head of health equity and business development for Amazon Pharmacy, she helped lead Amazon’s expansion in the US health-care industry.

Shirell A. Gross

VP, Global Chief Counsel of Global Operations and Supply Chain | Medtronic

Gross has built a successful career as a senior executive and attorney at Fortune 500 companies. In her current role, she leads the legal team providing legal advice and support to global operations and supply chain organization for the worldwide leader in medical technology. Before joining Medtronic, Gross served as vice president, division counsel, and head of law for Bayer pharmaceuticals’ radiology business, and as corporate counsel at Quest Diagnostics.

Karen L. Hale

Chief Legal Officer | Novartis

Hale is helping to reimagine medicine, leading legal and global security functions, and sitting on the executive committee at one of the world’s most innovative medicines companies. With more than 20 years in the global pharmaceutical industry, Hale is dedicated to bringing together diverse perspectives and empowering trusted solutions for some of society’s greatest health-care challenges.

Amelia Hardy

Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer and SVP, Talent Acquisition | Best Buy

Hardy oversees Best Buy’s strategy for creating and sustaining a more equitable environment company-wide and in the communities the retailer serves. She utilizes her extensive background in marketing, strategy, brand, and business management to advance the many initiatives within the HR I&D space. Prior to joining Best Buy, Hardy held a variety of leadership roles at Fortune 100 companies.

Kisha Hortman Hawthorne

SVP and COO | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Care Network

With a health-care career spanning more than 20 years, Hortman Hawthorne has extensive experience in hospital operations, information services, and project and revenue cycle management. She provides strategic leadership of the Care Network of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in primary care, specialty care, urgent care, hospital affiliates, and behavioral health services. As COO, she manages net operating revenue across five P&L service lines. From 2015 to 2022, Hortman Hawthorne served as CHOP’s SVP and chief information officer. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, she holds a PhD in information studies.

Tiara Henderson

Head of CRE Diverse Segments and CIB Women’s Segment | Wells Fargo

Henderson is a leader in Wells Fargo’s Commercial Real Estate (CRE) and Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) diverse segments groups. She specializes in building relationships in the CRE space and across CIB, bringing a full range of services to corporate clients. Henderson boasts more than 20 years of experience in financial services and over 25 years in commercial real estate. She is a member of Wells Fargo’s DE&I Council.

Terri Hines

EVP, Communications | Fox Sports

Hines leads strategic corporate positioning and drives brand awareness for Fox’s live sports entertainment brand. She is a senior advisor on crisis, social justice, and DEI matters and a member of the communications leadership team for the Fox Corporation. She also serves as executive sponsor of the Fox Blk+ employee resource group and the Fox Sports Inclusion Council. Prior to working with Fox, Hines held leadership roles at Nike in the Converse and Jordan Brand divisions.

Natalie Holder

Chief Diversity Officer | SLAC National Accelerator Lab

Holder leads the vision and strategy for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, which is managed by Stanford University for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Prior to her work at SLAC, she led the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action Office for the US Capitol Police, helping to catalyze the advancement of historically underrepresented groups into senior leadership roles. As an employment lawyer, she has provided harassment prevention and diversity training to such organizations as the New York City Fire Department, Time Warner, and Columbia Law School. Holder has earned the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) credential from the Human Resources Certification Institute.

Shammara Howell

VP, Chief Field People Officer | McDonald’s USA

Howell is a consummate human resources professional who draws on her experience and passion for talent and diversity to create high-impact people strategies. In her current role, she is responsible for talent attraction, organizational design, talent functions (US and international), and talent strategy. She joined McDonald’s in 2017 to lead the Corporate HR Business Partner team. She has an extensive career in the retail space, including leadership roles at such organizations as PetSmart and Walmart.

Janice Bryant Howroyd

Founder, CEO | ActOne Group

Howroyd holds the distinction of being the first Black woman to build and own a billion-dollar company. ActOne, the nation’s largest certified, woman- and minority-owned full-service staffing agency, operates on a local and global level. Howroyd was appointed by President Barack Obama to his board of advisors for HBCUs. She shares her business and life lessons in The Art of Work: How to Make Work, Work for You and Acting Up: Winning in Business and Life Using Down-Home Wisdom.

Charisse Hughes

SVP, Chief Growth Officer | Kellanova

Hughes, who has been in her current role of driving iconic global brands at Kellanova—formerly Kellogg Company—since May 2023, is a member of Kellanova’s executive committee. Prior to this position, she served as Kellogg’s chief marketing officer and its chief brand and advanced analytics officer. Her expansive corporate experience includes marketing and brand leadership roles with Estée Lauder, Avon, and Sara Lee. She serves on the board of directors of Crocs.

Myah Moore Irick

SVP, Private Wealth Manager | Merrill

Irick leads a team of professionals who provide wealth planning strategies to successful executives, endowments and foundations, individuals, families, and a growing list of professional athletes. She developed a special interest in “sudden wealth” and the navigation of both excitement and challenge that comes with newly created wealth. Prior to joining Merrill, she served as an executive director at JPMorgan Private Bank and was a relationship manager at PNC Wealth Management.

Andrea M. Jackson

President and Chairwoman | Millennium Steel of Texas and Jackson Enterprises

Jackson leads Millennium Steel, one of the largest Black-owned companies in the nation, which provides steel processing, warehousing, and logistics services. She also serves as chairwoman and CEO of Jackson Enterprises—which she established along with her late husband, Henry Jackson—a holding company that delivers manufactured goods in the automotive, green energy services, and hospitality industries. Jackson’s leadership embraces shared responsibility through teamwork, mutual respect, empowerment, and positive community impact.

Tamika Jean-Baptiste

VP, Chief Diversity Officer | Amgen

Jean-Baptiste has earned a reputation as a DEI change agent. At Amgen, she is responsible for developing, putting into operation, and evaluating the execution of DEI strategies and initiatives. The Amgen career veteran boasts over 25 years’ experience in the biopharmaceutical space. She served as global cochair for the Amgen Black Employee Network and was an integral part of the leadership team that launched the first field-based employee resource group, Women Empowered.

Liz Jenkins

Chief Business Officer | NBCUniversal Studio Group

Jenkins oversees strategy and business operations across the organization’s film and TV studios and drives long-range business strategy to support the unified content hub that brings together Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation) and Universal Studio Group. Jenkins previously served as COO at Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s multimedia company. She is on the board of Snap Inc. and chairs its Audit Committee and is board chair for GLAAD, the LGBTQ advocacy group.

Tracey Jenkins

SVP, Human Resources, North America | Sodexo Live!

At Sodexo Live!, one of the largest hospitality providers for the world’s leading entertainment destinations, Jenkins focuses on promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity in recruitment, development, and management. She also works to foster a culture where its 40,000-plus employees across North America can grow successfully. In addition to supporting nine active employee business resource groups, Sodexo Live! recently launched She Leads, a global, nine-month mentorship program for high-potential women within the organization.

Nicole Jones

EVP, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel | The Cigna Group

Jones, who reports to CEO David Cordani, is a member of Cigna’s Enterprise Leadership Team. She has oversight of all legal, regulatory, compliance, government affairs, and communications functions for one of the largest health-service companies in the United States. Jones, who was previously Cigna’s deputy general counsel and corporate secretary, rejoined the firm after serving as senior vice president and general counsel for Lincoln Financial. She has held leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, MCI, and International Paper Company.

Valeisha Butterfield Jones

VP of Partnerships and Engagement | Google

Butterfield Jones is an award-winning leader with proven impact at the intersections of tech, entertainment, and politics. In her role at Google, she is responsible for driving change and accelerating DEI innovation for the global organization. Butterfield Jones broke new ground when she served as the first-ever copresident and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for the Recording Academy, home of the Grammys, helping to launch an inclusion rider that facilitated the implementation of racial equity commitments.

April Kelly-Drummond

VP, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Denny’s

Charged with leading the restaurant chain’s diversity initiatives, Kelly-Drummond plays a significant role in transforming the company’s image. She works directly with all members of Denny’s C-suite and marketing team and has been an integral player in championing an ongoing company-wide effort to create diversity at all levels, improve corporate culture, and strengthen and expand relationships with community partners. Kelly-Drummond was pivotal in establishing Denny’s first DEI Council, which she chairs.

Kelley Kenner-Patridge

VP, Chief People Officer | Nationwide Marketing Group

Kenner- Patridge helped establish the company’s human resources initiatives. Working with her team, she enables retailers to take the proper steps to be successful in the realm of talent and employee relations. With more than 5,000 members operating some 14,000 storefronts, Nationwide Marketing Group is North America’s leading buying, marketing, and operational support organization helping independent retailers, rent-to-own dealers, and custom installers grow their businesses.

Alexis Kerr

VP | Hallmark Mahogany

At Hallmark Mahogany, Kerr elevates how consumers experience the brand and expands it into new market spaces. Her notable work includes launching Mahogany.com, which features a community of writers reflecting the voices of Black women who uplift and empower one another and serves as a marketplace for products from Black-owned businesses. Kerr spent nine years at General Motors, most recently as head of multicultural marketing at Cadillac.

Dena LaMar

EVP, Chief Operating Officer | AAA Northeast

LaMar boasts over 20 years of experience in P&L, strategy, operations, customer experience, and financial services. She is currently responsible for operations and results for AAA Northeast’s revenue-generating business lines, including automotive services and roadside assistance programs, travel, financial services, real estate, and retail. Prior to AAA, LaMar held leadership roles at Advance Auto Parts as its inaugural chief DEI officer and SVP of Global Enterprise Growth Strategy and Productivity.

Sherri Landry

SVP, Chief Marketing Officer | Denny’s

Landry is a strategic and innovative marketing executive with decades of experience in consumer packaged goods, family entertainment, and the restaurant industry. Her business acumen spans brand development, marketing strategy, menu innovation, digital and social marketing, research, and consumer insights. Landry has held various positions and leadership roles at recognized company brands, such as Procter & Gamble, Sara Lee, Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, and Main Event Entertainment.

Yolanda Courtney Lyle

Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff to CEO and New York Headquarters Site Lead | Pfizer

Lyle serves as a strategic advisor and thought leader to Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla and is responsible for driving communication, collaboration, and alignment across all executive operations. A corporate attorney, she previously served as chief compliance counsel for Pfizer’s research and development, medical, and manufacturing operations. Lyle was named a 2022 David Rockefeller Fellow by the Partnership for New York and was appointed to the executive committee of the Boston College Wall Street Business Leadership Council.

Traci Mack

Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | DoorDash

Mack is a leader at the intersection of media and technology. Prior to her position at DoorDash, she led DEI efforts for Meta’s family of apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. She got her start in tech with Google, spearheading the first inclusion partnership strategy and leading workforce diversity. Mack, who spent 19 years with ESPN and Disney, is also a two-time Emmy winner for her work in television production.

Kimberly Markiewicz

VP, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer | DuPont de Nemours

Markiewicz advances global DEI programs and initiatives to help fuel innovation for the specialty-materials company. She joined DuPont as a chemical engineer in 1995 and, prior to her current role, served as its vice president of environmental, health, and safety. Markiewicz has been a leader in advancing underrepresented populations in STEM fields. She leads the DuPont Pride employee resource group and presents LGBTQ+ workshops at national events.

Sabrina Mays-Diagne

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer | Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (US)

Mays-Diagne leads Otsuka’s DEI office and the company’s global DEI strategy and vision. Her responsibilities include integrating DEI goals into Otsuka’s business and people processes, collaborating across the organization to execute a shared vision and strategy, and building out a matrixed team to drive DEI across the enterprise. Prior to her current role, she served as Otsuka’s associate general counsel, leading a high-performing global legal team of in-house attorneys.

Machell W. Mims

SVP, Human Resources | Lowe’s

With 30 years of experience in human resources, Mims has served Lowe’s in multiple leadership roles. She is responsible for total rewards, talent acquisition and management, HR strategy and operations, and the HR business partnerships for finance, human resources and legal, with oversight of the HR team serving Lowe’s office in Bangalore, India. She owns the overall talent strategy supporting the development and growth of associates in these organizations.

Gwen Mizell

SVP, Chief Sustainability, Diversity, and Philanthropy Officer | Ameren Corporation

Building on her previous position as Ameren’s chief sustainability and diversity officer, Mizell’s current role at the power company is an expansion of her leadership, expertise, and guidance of Ameren’s DEI and corporate philanthropy efforts and is a direct report to CEO Marty Lyons. Mizell has extensive experience in the energy industry, having served in leadership roles at Westinghouse Electric Company, ABB’s Enterprise Software Product Group, Siemens, energy consulting firm GSM Development, and Calpine. She serves on the board of directors for Gibraltar Industries.

Christine M. Moore

EVP, General Auditor |Comerica

Moore, a member of Comerica’s executive committee, is responsible for the strategy, direction, and management of the audit division. Additionally, she is in charge of establishing and maintaining effective communications and working relationships with external auditors, regulatory examiners, and senior and executive management. Moore began her accounting and auditing career at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Executive Leadership Council, as well as various community boards and professional organizations.

Elizabeth A. Morrison

Chief DEI Officer |Levi Strauss & Co.

Morrison is focused on implementing and elevating diversity and building a vibrant and inclusive workplace for all employees, with a strategy anchored in dynamic communications and branding, change management, workforce data, and innovative program development. Prior to her post at Levi Strauss, Morrison was vice president of Diversity and Belonging at Live Nation Entertainment, where she drove a 60 percent growth in employee resource groups and established the company’s annual day of family belonging, KidNation.

Shannon Nash

CFO | Wing (Alphabet Inc.)

An attorney, CPA, C-suite leader, and financial expert, Nash is currently focusing on the long-term success of drone delivery for Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. She sits on several boards, including NetScout Systems, SoFi, and Lazy Dog Restaurants. Nash is an award-winning film producer whose documentary OnBoard, which premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, chronicles the evolution of corporate board diversity and the rise of Black women on America’s boards from 1971 to the present day.

Chonda J. Nwamu

EVP, General Counsel and Secretary | Ameren Corporation

Nwamu is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. She serves as the primary legal advisor to Ameren’s board of directors and senior management, and leads the general counsel function—which includes the company’s legal, corporate governance, federal regulatory, and legislative affairs and its enterprise ethics and compliance departments. She also serves on Ameren’s executive leadership team as a contributor to overall strategic direction of the power company.

LaShonda Oglesbee

Global VP, Head of Talent Enablement | Assurant

With over two decades of strategic consulting experience, Oglesbee leads insurance provider Assurant’s global talent strategies, programs, and services. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to drive employee engagement, which is accomplished by leveraging insights from the voices of over 14,000 employees. She is also in charge of boosting productivity and positioning Assurant to attract, develop, and retain key talent. In addition, Oglesbee is a member of the Assurant leadership team.

Jacqueline Nwando Olayiwola

SVP, Chief Health Equity Officer | Humana

Nwando Olayiwola is a Nigerian American physician and health equity leader, with expertise in health-care transformation, technology and innovation, and health disparities improvement. She became Humana’s inaugural chief health equity officer in 2021, a role in which she is responsible for setting a company-wide health equity agenda and strategy. A women’s empowerment leader with both an MD and an MPH, she is also the founder and CEO of Inspire Health Solutions and founder of the Association of Minority Women Professionals.

Pamela Oliver

EVP, Chief Medical Officer | Novant Health

Oliver enjoyed math and science at a young age, and when her father began a battle with cancer, she chose to pursue medicine to impact lives like his. With two decades as an ob-gyn and in leadership roles at Novant Health, she is transforming health care by creating access, providing remarkable experiences, and building relationships. She oversees the safety and the quality of medical staff across Novant as well as the corporation’s health equity, medical education, and clinical research.

Ndidiamaka (Ndidi) Oteh

Senior Managing Director | Accenture

Oteh serves as a global client account lead for Accenture and as the retail strategy and consulting lead for the West Coast, where she focuses on driving growth and expansion of retail companies worth $5 billion to $50 billion. Oteh started her career in the retail industry, working for multiple brands and categories within the areas of merchandising, product development, sustainability, innovation, and marketing.

Shawn Outler

EVP, Chief DEI Officer | Macy’s

Outler is a retail industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience and business acumen. She was appointed to her current position in 2018 to help forge a DEI blueprint at the department store chain and, by extension, in the fashion industry overall. She first joined Macy’s in 2006 and has attained rising levels of leadership ever since. Prior to her position at Macy’s, she worked for Lord & Taylor as a divisional merchandise manager and buyer.

Leslie Patterson

Americas and US DEI Leader | EY

Patterson drives EY’s DEI strategy and anti-racism efforts in the United States. She cochairs the company’s Americas Inclusiveness Advisory Council and is a member of the EY US executive committee. In her 30-year tenure at the firm (formerly Ernst & Young), Patterson has helped develop initiatives to promote a culture of inclusion. She has supported employee resource groups for racially and ethnically diverse professionals and worked on the task force to create the EY LGBT+ professional network.

Gena Pemberton

Chief DEI Officer | Omnicom Health Group

Pemberton develops and drives the diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy for Omnicom’s network of agencies in health-care marketing and communications. She joined OHG in 2020 and has been driving healthy inclusion at OHG by attracting talent through training and development and by launching health equity initiatives. Previously, Pemberton spent 13 years at Johnson & Johnson, where she held various corporate finance roles.

Anne Goodwill Pritchett

EVP, Revenue Operations | Hackensack Meridian Health

Goodwill Prichett is an executive leader who is deeply patient focused. In her role at Hackensack University Medical Center, an 803-bed acute-care facility in northern New Jersey, she is tasked with making revenue operations more efficient across the health organization. This includes collaborating with IT and clinical operations to accelerate processing and payments. Her work ensures that the network is positioned to deliver on its mission to transform health care and lead positive change.

Melissa Proctor

EVP, Chief Marketing Officer | Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena

Proctor oversees day-to-day operations of the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club’s marketing, including Hawks Studios (an in-house creative team), live experience and production, brand merchandising, entertainment industry relations, and community impact and basketball programs. A trailblazer in her field, she started her career with Turner Broadcasting System. Her book From Ball Girl to CMO, part memoir and part career guide, offers insight into her journey and decision-making process.

Felecia J. Pryor

SVP and Chief People Officer | Deere & Company

Pryor joined the senior leadership team of Deere in 2022, reporting directly to chairman and CEO John May. This newly created role gave her responsibility for the company’s human resources, labor relations, enterprise security, aviation sector, and brand and communications functions. Before joining Deere, Pryor garnered nearly two decades of experience in human resources and related fields at BorgWarner and Ford Motor Company.

Tonya Quarles

VP, Gulf Coast Central Sales | Dell Technologies

Quarles has spent a little over two decades advancing in the tech sector. In her current role, she leads a team made up of more than 250 sales leaders and account executive professionals who are responsible for selling Dell’s portfolio of products to its largest corporate, public, and health-care customers. In her prior role, she was vice president of Dell’s workforce solutions group. Quarles sits on the board of Ascend Federal Credit Union.

Susan K. Reid

Global Head of Talent | Morgan Stanley

A long- standing HR executive with global experience, Reid oversees Morgan Stanley’s recruiting, talent development, and DEI efforts. She also serves as director of the Institute for Inclusion, launched in 2020, leading the firm’s directives to invest in and support underserved communities and to drive diversity and racial equity. Reid discovered her passion for diversity and equity while working in human resources at New York University, her alma mater.

Lita Richardson

EVP, Content and Brand Strategy | CBS Media Ventures

Richardson, who began her career as a practicing entertainment attorney, has an extensive history in television and film production. Prior to her current role at the television broadcast syndication arm of the CBS Entertainment Group, Richardson was a senior supervising producer for the TV series Dr. Phil and The Doctors. The four-time Daytime Emmy Award nominee has worked as executive producer on various projects and as executive vice president of Magic Johnson Entertainment.

Lori Spicer Robertson

VP, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Spicer Robertson is a creative change agent always pursuing opportunities to transform lives and foster sustainable progress. Before joining St. Jude, she held the role of vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Saks Fifth Avenue, where she was charged with designing a more inclusive experience for employees, customers, and partners. Spicer Robertson is the founder of the DEI Collective, an industry-agnostic collaborative of leaders creating just work environments and communities.

Edwige A. Robinson

SVP, Network Engineering, Operations & Transformation | T-Mobile

As a transformational leader and innovator, Robinson consistently bridges the gap between engineering, technology, and business. The West Africa native, from the Ivory Coast, is recognized as one of the top women in tech in the United States. Robinson is responsible for T-Mobile’s operations in 23 states, with a P&L of more than $3 billion, and for leading more than 5,000 employees and contractors who design, build, and maintain a cutting-edge 5G network. Before joining T-Mobile, Robinson was vice president of engineering services for Xfinity Mobile.

Ursula Robinson

President and CEO | PACE of the Triad

Robinson developed a passion for helping other people at an early age and worked in hospice and palliative care for over 18 years. Currently, she
is responsible for the overall development, direction, performance, and growth of PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a community-based health plan and human services agency. Under Robinson’s leadership, PACE’s innovative and integrated model of care provides medical and comprehensive support services to aging adults in the Triad area of North Carolina.

Radina Russell

Chair, US Corporate Affairs Advisory, and General Manager, Southeast Market | Edelman 

Russell oversees an integrated US operation that spans around 400 employees across corporate reputation and other key specialty areas. At Edelman, she is a trusted advisor to executives and boards of Fortune 500 companies, with a track record in leading major capital market transactions, launching high-profile executive thought leadership campaigns, navigating complex reputation issues, and managing crisis and risk matters. Russell sees her superpower as anticipating what lies ahead and finding a path through the noise. In 2020, she collaborated with former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns to establish the Board Diversity Action Alliance.

Tanya Sanders

EVP, Head of Wells Fargo Auto | Wells Fargo

Sanders is a trained engineer and a thought leader with more than 20 years of financial services experience at Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and General Electric. Sanders oversees the consumer lending division for Wells Fargo Auto, which offers vehicle financing. She is also a sought-after speaker at industry events, sharing her perspective on the importance of digital technologies in transforming the customer experience and the evolution of electric vehicles.

Kim Seymour

Chief Human Resources Officer | Etsy 

Seymour brings more than two decades of experience in building world-class teams. As Etsy’s first CHRO, she advances a high-performing, equitable, and inclusive culture, aligning global talent to growth opportunities. Before Etsy, she served as the chief people officer of WW International (formerly Weight Watchers) and held roles of increasing responsibility at American Express, Home Depot, and General Electric. Seymour is a trustee of Fisk University and a board director at RHR International, a leadership consulting firm.

Suzanne Shank

President and CEO | Siebert Williams Shank & Co.

The company that Shank cofounded holds the distinction of being the top-ranked minority- and woman-owned investment banking firm in the country. Shank, a veteran of more than 30 years in the financial services industry, leads the full-service firm offering debt and equity-origination services to Fortune 500 companies and debt underwriting for municipalities across the country. She serves on several boards, including Rocket Companies and CMS Energy.

Peggy Simmons

EVP, Utilities | American Electric Power

Simmons leads the seven operating companies under the public utility holding company, serving 5.6 million customers across AEP’s 11-state footprint. Additionally, she oversees AEP’s customer support, sales, economic, and business development operations. Previously, Simmons served as president and chief operating officer of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma. She currently sits on the board of the BOK Financial Corporation and, in 2022, chaired the Tulsa Area United Way’s $25 million campaign.

Dia Simms

CEO | Lobos 1707

Simms leads Lobos 1707, an award- winning Mexican tequila and mezcal company, alongside founder and chief creative officer Diego Osorio, with early backing by NBA icon and businessman LeBron James. Simms was previously president of Combs Enterprises, where she oversaw a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of brands including Cîroc, Blue Flame Agency, Bad Boy Entertainment, and Revolt Media and TV. Simms is also cofounder of Pronghorn, a 10-year initiative to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion in the spirits industry.

Sherina Smith

VP, Chief Marketing Officer | Main Street America Insurance and Main Street America

Smith is a marketing leader with deep expertise in identifying the intersection of consumer insight and P&L value creation. Her 20-year track record in guiding marketing teams spans retail, consumer packaged goods, and pharmaceutical categories. She began her career in brand management at Kraft Foods, leading iconic billion-dollar brands such as Kraft Singles and Kraft Mac & Cheese. She also held leadership roles at JCPenney and AbbVie pharmaceuticals.

Stephanie A. Smith

Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer | Fifth Third Bank

With more than 20 years of expertise, Smith is responsible for executing a holistic internal and external strategy that supports Fifth Third’s employees, customers, and communities. She oversees inclusion and diversity programming for the bank’s enterprise and regional business resource groups, as well as supplier diversity, strategic sustainability initiatives, neurodiversity inclusion among employees, and Project SEARCH (a school-to-work program), along with other activities. Under her leadership, the bank’s spending with diverse suppliers increased by more than 900 percent.

Tamika Curry Smith

SVP, Chief DEI Officer | Arm

Smith is a global business executive with expertise in DEI, human resources, and environmental, social, and corporate governance. At Arm,a leading semiconductor IP company, Smith is credited with elevating and launching a multitude of DEI resources, events, and employee resource groups, as well as delivering various employee learning and development sessions. Prior to Arm, she led a global team across Nike, Jordan, and Converse brands and at Mercedes-Benz USA.

Beverly Stallings-Johnson

VP, Chief DEI Officer | Wendy’s

Stallings-Johnson sets the vision and strategy for DEI at Wendy’s, driving efforts to create an inclusive culture for employees, franchisees, and suppliers. Prior to Wendy’s, she was chief diversity officer for the city of Columbus, Ohio, helping to advance an equity agenda impacting disparities across nearly one million residents. Stallings-Johnson, who holds a PhD in management and organizational effectiveness, spent over 25 years in roles of increasing responsibility at Xerox. She is a member of the Ohio Diversity Council.

Sylvia Stein

SVP, General Counsel | Veralto

Stein was tapped as the new senior vice president and general counsel for Veralto when the Washington, DC–based Danaher Corporation spun off its Environmental and Applied Solutions segment, a provider of water quality and product identification solutions that became Veralto. Previously, she was vice president, general counsel corporate secretary, and chief compliance officer at Modine Manufacturing. Stein has also served as associate general counsel, marketing and regulatory, for Kraft Foods and chief counsel for Kraft Foods.

Carin Taylor

Chief Diversity Officer | Workday

Taylor has global responsibility for the development and execution of Workday’s inclusion and diversity strategy. She serves on the board of Watermark, a nonprofit that is on a mission to change the narrative of women in the C-suite by increasing the number of women in leadership positions. Taylor previously served as head of diversity, inclusion, and innovation at Genentech and held various positions at Cisco Systems.

Benita Thompson-Byas

SVP and Vice Chairman of the Board | Thompson Hospitality

Thompson- Byas is an accomplished executive with expertise in marketing, business development, and communications. The unassuming powerhouse joined the company 32 years ago to help founder and CEO Warren Thompson—her brother—position the company as the largest minority-owned food service company in the United States. She oversees all aspects of Thompson Hospitality’s strategic partnership with Compass Group food service, including operational responsibility for more than 600 dining centers in 46 states and 6 countries.

Adrienne Trimble

Chief Diversity Officer | Sysco 

Trimble is a thought leader known for advancing corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She has led DEI and social innovation programs for large, complex organizations nationally and globally. She began her work in inclusion at Toyota Motor North America, working closely with the company’s senior leadership team in developing advocacy and accountability measures to integrate DEI processes across business operations. Additionally, Trimble is a former president and CEO of the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Janice Bell Underwood, PhD

Chief Diversity Officer | U.S. Office Of Personnel Management

As the Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Underwood shares her expertise in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) across multiple sectors. She leads an interagency team for oversight of agency DEIA strategic plans, and provides strategic vision for the national DEIA mission, which touches more than 2.3 million in the federal workforce. She has made a measurable impact in the public and private sector. Underwood earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Old Dominion University.

Angela Wasunna

Vice President and Chief Counsel, Corporate Affairs, Policy and Privacy | Pfizer

Wasunna is responsible for Pfizer’s global biopharmaceutical business, an organization of over 26,000 colleagues that delivers all 600 of Pfizer’s medicines and vaccines to patients in 185 countries. Previously, Wasunna was vice president of global policy in emerging markets at Pfizer and assistant general counsel in Pfizer’s legal division. A proud native of Kenya, she is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

Natasha Miller Williams

VP, Head of DE&I | Ferrara USA 

Miller Williams leads multiyear strategies on the workforce commitments, organizational culture, and partnerships for the confections and sweet-snacking company. She is responsible for implementing and monitoring programs to promote diversity and foster an open and inclusive work environment. Prior to her work at Ferrara, she served as senior vice president of D&I at Nielsen, overseeing the strategic development and implementation of diversity and equity initiatives. Miller Williams is a highly regarded thought leader and TEDx speaker.

Teri Williams

President and COO | OneUnited Bank

Williams, key executive leader and member of the board of directors of the nation’s largest Black-owned bank—with assets over $650 million—is responsible for OneUnited’s strategic initiatives and daily operations. Under her leadership, OneUnited has consolidated four banks and launched a digital platform. Williams has 30 years of financial services experience with such institutions as Bank of America and American Express, where she was one of its youngest vice presidents.

Lorna Wisham

VP, Corporate Affairs and Community Involvement, and President of FirstEnergy Foundation | FirstEnergy Corporation

As a vice president of FirstEnergy Corporation, Wisham is responsible for charitable giving, employee volunteerism, and executive nonprofit board placements. In her role as president of FirstEnergy Foundation, she oversees an annual $15 million investment portfolio. Wisham joined the corporation in 2005 as regional vice president and held roles in external affairs, including senior advisor with FirstEnergy’s federal team, a post in which she lobbied Congress and the White House on utility operations, cybersecurity, and other issues.

Ida Jackson Woods

Assistant VP, Chief Diversity Officer | Educational Testing Service

Woods leads the implementation and evaluation of strategic efforts aimed toward advancing an organizational culture of equity. She is focused on embedding equity, inclusion, and diversity across the enterprise to enhance employees’ sense of community and belonging. A proud US Army veteran, Woods served as a human resources director for the College of New Jersey and court executive EEO/AA officer for the Superior Court of New Jersey.