Change Conversations

Kevin Kwan, The New York Times Bestselling Author, Crazy Rich Asians; Executive Producer

— Author of Crazy Rich Asians, the international bestselling novel that has been translated into more than 30 languages. China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems are the second and final books in the trilogy. For several weeks in 2018, the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy commanded the top three positions of The New York Times bestseller list - an almost unprecedented single-author trifecta, and the film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians became Hollywood's highest grossing romantic comedy in over a decade.

Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, CEO, Dallas Mavericks

— A dynamic force for inclusion and diversity within the Mavericks organization and over a 36-year career at AT&T. Widely recognized for her visionary leadership and ability to get things done, Marshall was touted as one of Adweek’s 30 Most Powerful Women in Sports and was selected as one of the 2019 Women of Power Legacy Award honorees by Black Enterprise. As the new CEO of the Mavericks in March 2018, she embarked on a culture transformation for the Mavs organization to become the NBA standard for inclusion and diversity.

Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft

— Jenny’s team is at the forefront of creating positive experiences that apply technology to make a difference in the world and the lives of individuals – from how Microsoft hires and supports people with disabilities in employment, to innovative technology that aims to revolutionize what’s possible for people with disabilities. Jenny was recognized as a “Disability Employment Champion of Change” by the White House in October 2014 and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2017.

Pharrell Williams, Artist, Producer & Founder of Black Ambition

— Visionary recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams has been a creative force in the music industry and beyond for more than two decades. From his beginnings as a teenage prodigy and multi-instrumentalist in Virginia Beach back in the early ’90s, through enough hits to earn him Billboard’s Producer of the Decade in 2010, to his current status as multi-media superstar, Williams has never stopped creating.

Aly Raisman, gold medal gymnast, advocate, best-selling author

Aly Raisman, team captain of the gold medal winning Women’s Gymnastics teams in 2012 and 2016, is the third most decorated American gymnast of all-time. The most decorated U.S. gymnast at the 2012 Games, Raisman captured the hearts of millions as she became the first American gymnast to win gold in the floor exercise. One of only three U.S. gymnasts to make back-to-back teams in more than 20 years, she helped guide the team to gold and landed a silver medal performance in the All-Around competition at the 2016 Games.

A leader on and off the floor, Raisman uses her platform to help normalize the conversation around mental health, encourage positive body image and promote the importance of self-care. In her New York Times best-selling memoir, Fierce, she shares the highs and lows of her journey, including her survival of sexual abuse. Inspired by an army of survivors, Raisman continues to advocate for systematic changes within the sport of gymnastics and the eradication of sexual abuse.

Dr. Cheryl Pegus, Executive Vice President, Health & Wellness, Walmart

In this role, Cheryl will develop Walmart’s bold healthcare vision, leading Health & Wellness across the Walmart enterprise. She joins Walmart from Cambia Health Solutions where she was president of consumer health solutions and chief medical officer. There she was responsible for clinical and consumer strategy to increase access to affordable, equitable care. She directed platform consumer solutions including Journi, clinical services, pharmacy, provider and medical management activities.

After working in private practice for several years as a cardiologist, Cheryl joined Pfizer where she focused on the development of clinical protocols and early disease management programs. She also served at Aetna, where her work supported a focus on wellness, women's health, health equity initiatives and predictive analytics. Cheryl served as the first chief medical officer at Walgreens. Additionally, Cheryl is co-founder of A New Beat, an organization dedicated to improving the cardiovascular health and careers of women and under-represented minorities. She sits on the board of the American Heart Association and is the immediate past board chair for the Association of Black Cardiologists.

Cheryl received her bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University. Her medic al doctorate is from Weill Cornell Medical College, and she has a master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Bill Strahan, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Comcast Cable

Bill leads the Human Resources function for Comcast Cable. He has responsibility for all aspects of Human Resources including talent, compensation, benefits, learning, employee, and labor relations.

Bill has been involved in various aspects of Human Resources work for over 35 years. He began his career with over a decade of work at Macy’s Department Stores and Riggs National Bank. The second decade of Bill’s work included practicing law in Washington, D.C. in the area of Compensation and Benefits – mostly in the context of mergers and acquisitions and in initial public offerings. For nine years, Bill was a consultant and manager at Mercer HR Consulting.

Bill holds a B.A. in Religion from Villanova University; and a Juris Doctorate from the George Mason University School of Law. He is an Active Member of the Virginia State Bar. Along with his wife and two sons, Bill resides in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

Brenda Darden Wilkerson, president and CEO of AnitaB.org

Brenda is an advocate for access, opportunity, and social justice for underrepresented communities in technology. She currently serves as the president and CEO of AnitaB.org, an organization that connects, inspires, and strives for greater equality for women technologists in business, academia, and government. She founded the original Computer Science for All program, building computer science classes into the curriculum for every student in the Chicago Public Schools, and serving as the inspiration for the Obama administration’s national CS For All initiatives

Steven Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.

Prior to joining GII, Preston held leadership positions in the public and private sectors.

Preston served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and as the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, leading both federal agencies during times of national crisis. He orchestrated successful turnarounds as the CEO of two private corporations, Oakleaf Global Holdings and Livingston International. He was also the CFO of two Fortune 500 companies — Waste Management and ServiceMaster — during times of significant change and restructuring for each company.

Preston is a member of Fast Company’s Impact Council and has been featured in the Associated Press, Forbes, The New York Times, and in The Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on ABC’s “Pandemic”, Bloomberg TV, Cheddar, CNBC, C-SPAN, FOX Business‘ “Varney & Co.”, and Yahoo! Finance Live in addition to appearing on numerous radio shows, podcasts and YouTube series, including AEI‘s Hardly Working, Working Nation, Future of Work, Indeed‘s Here to Help, and Partnering Leadership. Preston is a sought-after speaker on workforce development and skills for the future and has served as a keynote speaker for the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Conference: Business Solves, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Forward Conference, the Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week, and the Tugboat Institute Summit.

Preston graduated with Highest Distinction from Northwestern University and holds an MBA from The University of Chicago. Preston currently serves on the Partnership for Public Service and Wheaton College Board of Trustees.

Debra Lee, Chairman & CEO Emeritus, BET Networks, Chair, Leading Women Defined Foundation and Co-Founder, Partner, The Monarchs Collective
— With a trailblazing career spanning over 3 decades, Debra L. Lee is one of the most influential female voices in the entertainment industry. Up until May 2018, Lee served as the Chairman & CEO of BET Networks, the leading provider of entertainment for the African American audience and consumers of Black culture globally.

During her tenure, Lee helmed BET’s reinvigorated approach to corporate philanthropy & authentic programming that led to hits such as The New Edition Story, Being Mary Jane, The BET Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors and many more.

In September 2009, Lee managed the launch of Centric, a 24-hour music and entertainment network. Under her guidance, Centric was rebranded in 2014 as the first network designed for Black women. She also oversees the company’s current growth initiatives, including international distribution of the brand in Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, France, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to her being named Chairman and CEO, Lee was President and COO of BET Networks for almost 10 years, during which she guided the company to consistent increases in viewership, revenue, and earnings. She first joined BET as Vice President and General Counsel in 1986 after serving more than five years as an attorney with Steptoe & Johnson, a Washington D. C. based corporate law firm. Prior to that, she served as a law clerk to the late Honorable Barrington Parker of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment and Billboard’s Power 100, Lee’s achievements in her 30+ year career in the industry have earned her numerous accolades from across the cable industry, as well as recognition as one of this country’s most respected business executives. Lee was honored with the Distinguished Leadership Vanguard Award by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.

Michele C. Meyer-Shipp, CEO, Dress for Success Worldwide, former Chief People & Culture officer at Major League Baseball
— Meyer-Shipp joins Dress for Success from Major League Baseball, where she served as Chief People & Culture Officer. While at MLB, she led the human resources, diversity and inclusion, and office operations functions for the League Office with an emphasis on launching new programs and policies to recruit and develop talent, advancing diversity and inclusion efforts, and enhancing workplace culture. Meyer-Shipp also served as a senior advisor to the Commissioner as well as leaders across 30 major league baseball teams and multiple Minor League teams.

Prior to MLB, Meyer-Shipp served as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at KPMG LLP, where she led programs and initiatives relating to talent recruitment, development and retention, supported the efforts of leaders across KPMG's 85+ national offices, and managed a portfolio of external strategic partnerships. Previously, she served as Global Chief Diversity Officer for both Prudential Financial and the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Do not include the numbers, just for reference Hauer & Feld LLP. Meyer-Shipp spent the first decade of her career practicing employment law in both the private and public sectors, where she advised clients on optimizing talent and equitable workplace initiatives. Meyer-Shipp is a graduate of Rutgers University and Seton Hall University School of Law.

Dee Poku-Spalding, Founder and CEO, The WIE Suite
— Dee is founder and CEO of The WIE Suite, a private membership community and peer learning platform for women in leadership. A former Hollywood studio executive, Dee oversaw the international campaigns on numerous award-winning films. She serves on the Board of Directors of the British Academy of Film & Television (BAFTA) and the Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy. Dee is also an advisor to various startups, and a contributor to Forbes Women. She was named one of Marie Claire Magazine’s 50 women changing the world.

Lisa Skeete Tatum, Founder and CEO, Landit
— Lisa is Founder and CEO of Landit, a personalized career pathing platform to increase the success of women and diverse groups in the workplace. Landit partners with Fortune 1000 companies around the globe to offer a turnkey solution to democratize success with a measurable ROI. Lisa serves on numerous public, high growth, and nonprofit boards, is a member of the 2012 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, and a Harvard MBA. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fast Company, Vanity Fair, Fortune, Inc., Black Enterprise, CNBC, BBC Business and named one of the Most Impressive Women Entrepreneurs by Inc.

Rachel Thomas, Co-founder and CEO, LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org
— Rachel is CEO of LeanIn.Org, the non-profit she co-founded with Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg to help women achieve their ambitions and create a more equal world. Under her leadership, Lean In has become a go-to resource for original research and data-backed tools to dismantle systemic bias at work, and the Lean In community has grown to include tens of thousands of small peer-support Circles in 188 countries. Rachel regularly speaks and writes on issues that affect women and is the host of Tilted, a LeanIn podcast.

Angela F. Williams, President and CEO, United Way Worldwide
— Angela is president and CEO of United Way Worldwide. A purpose-driven leader, she has more than 30 years of leadership experience across non-profits, business and government. She served on Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate Judiciary Committee staff as special counsel on criminal law, prosecutor on the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s National Church Arson Task Force, and an Assistant U.S. Attorney. She was named to Forbes’ 2021 List of Women 50 Over 50 Creating Social Change at Scale, and received a 2021 CEO Today Healthcare Award.

Kevin Kwan, The New York Times Bestselling Author, Crazy Rich Asians; Executive Producer
— Author of Crazy Rich Asians, the international bestselling novel that has been translated into more than 30 languages. China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems are the second and final books in the trilogy. For several weeks in 2018, the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy commanded the top three positions of The New York Times bestseller list - an almost unprecedented single-author trifecta, and the film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians became Hollywood's highest grossing romantic comedy in over a decade.

Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall, CEO, Dallas Mavericks
— A dynamic force for inclusion and diversity within the Mavericks organization and over a 36-year career at AT&T. Widely recognized for her visionary leadership and ability to get things done, Marshall was touted as one of Adweek’s 30 Most Powerful Women in Sports and was selected as one of the 2019 Women of Power Legacy Award honorees by Black Enterprise. As the new CEO of the Mavericks in March 2018, she embarked on a culture transformation for the Mavs organization to become the NBA standard for inclusion and diversity.

Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft
— Jenny’s team is at the forefront of creating positive experiences that apply technology to make a difference in the world and the lives of individuals – from how Microsoft hires and supports people with disabilities in employment, to innovative technology that aims to revolutionize what’s possible for people with disabilities. Jenny was recognized as a “Disability Employment Champion of Change” by the White House in October 2014 and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2017.

Thorkil Sonne, Founder, Specialisterne and Specialisterne Foundation
— Thorkil Sonne founded Specialisterne in Denmark in 2004 after his youngest son was diagnosed with autism. The purpose was to create an environment in the workplace where autistic people can excel. Based on overwhelming international interest, Thorkil founded Specialisterne Foundation with the goal to enable one million jobs for autistic people by 2025. The foundation is associated with the UN Department of Public Information and the World Economic Forum.

Kamilah Forbes, Executive Producer, Apollo Theater
— Cofounder and artistic director of HiARTS, Kamilah Forbes, is an award-winning director and producer. In her diverse body of work, Forbes is noted for having a strong commitment to the development of creative works by, for, and about the Hip-Hop Generation. Her talent in the range of aforementioned endeavors has been said to “cast a vivid and evocative spell on both the national and international stage.”

Kathryn Ross, Global Open Innovation Lead and Black Founders Development Program Lead, Accenture
— Kathryn is the Global Open Innovation Lead where she works to connect Accenture’s Ecosystem partners to clients to drive growth, and to help clients innovate and rotate to the new. She is also the lead for the Accenture Black Founders Development Program, focused on elevating black entrepreneurs through investment and community. Kathryn is passionate about working with cutting edge technologies and has translated that interest into delivering innovative solutions for clients.

Pharrell Williams, Artist, Producer & Founder of Black Ambition
— Visionary recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams has been a creative force in the music industry and beyond for more than two decades. From his beginnings as a teenage prodigy and multi-instrumentalist in Virginia Beach back in the early ’90s, through enough hits to earn him Billboard’s Producer of the Decade in 2010, to his current status as multi-media superstar, Williams has never stopped creating.

Jimmy Etheredge, CEO – North America, Accenture — As chief executive officer for Accenture North America—the company’s largest market—Jimmy Etheredge inspires 65,000-plus Accenture people in the United States and Canada to harness technology and human ingenuity to drive value and responsible change for clients and communities. Passionate about doing well and doing good, Jimmy encourages businesses to improve business value while simultaneously using their power and platforms to create opportunity for all.

Emmanuel Acho, FS1 Sports Analyst, former NFL Linebacker, and The New York Times Bestselling Author & Host, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man — Emmanuel Acho, the son of Nigerian immigrant parents, grew up in Dallas with his three siblings. He is a New York Times Bestselling author and the Host/Producer of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.  His ground-breaking online series to drive meaningful dialogue around racial insensitivity and ignorance launched in June 2020 with more than 80 million views to date. 

Emmanuel is a 2021 Sports Emmy winner, Fox Sports Analyst (Co-Host, FS1 “Speak for Yourself”) and television personality. He is a former NFL linebacker and has a master’s degree in Sports Psychology from the University of Texas.