The Influence of a Black Collective: Activating Black Leaders of Today and Tomorrow

Although the beginning of the year is a time for new beginnings and intentions, what remains the same is our commitment to uplifting Black women in our network.

In honor of Black History month How Women Lead presents a campaign and series of events featuring Black corporate directors, C-suite executives, and investors who will share their knowledge and experiences to further systematic change in leadership. All the events and their details are listed below:

Thursday, February 17, 2022 @ 8:00 - 9:00 am PST

How we create space for Black women to advance into the C-Suite and Board:

As we envision a future for ourselves, daughters, nieces, mentees, and friends, it’s important that we actively gather and learn how to create equitable pathways to leadership roles. We’ll be hearing these brilliant leaders talk shop and strategize ways to invest in, cultivate, and send the ladder down to Black women professionals to create more equitable pathways to leadership roles. 

Speakers include: 

• Shellye Archambeau, Fortune 500 Board Director, Strategic Advisor, former CEO & Author

• Nicole Taylor, President & CEO, Silicon Valley Community Foundation

• Nikole Collins-Puri, CEO, Techbridge Girls

• Julie Gordon White, Founder & CEO, Bossa Bars, LLC

• Kimberley Goode, Chief Communications and Social Impact Officer, BMO Financial Group

• Mary Stutts, Chief Global Inclusion & Health Equity Officer, Real Chemistry; Board Director, Zogenix 

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 @ 8:30 -9:30 am PST

Black Corporate Directors Passing the Torch:

How do you navigate the culture, conversations, and expectations of a board as the least represented member? It’s one thing to be the only woman at the table, and it’s another thing when you’re the only woman of color. With this initiative, we are discussing the nuances that come with navigating the culture, conversations, and expectations of a predominantly White board. Join Black Board directors to uplift and support Black women who are already in the room where it happens.

Speakers include:

• Anddria Clack-Rogers Varnado, GM | Head of Consumer Business, Kohler Co.; Board Director: PATTERN Beauty, Red Robin, Umpqua Bank

• Shannon Nash, CFO, Reputation; Board Director, UserTesting (NYSE: USER)

• Asmau Ahmed, Senior Leader, X, the moonshot factory; Board Director: Creative Artists Agency, QuinStreet

• Tiffany Stevenson, Chief People Officer, Patreon

Friday, February 25, 2022 @ 8:30 - 10:00 am PST

Investing as a Power Play: Meet Black Venture Investors:

In 2021 investments in black founders nearly doubled. One of the leading factors to this increase was the rise in representation of Black investors. The research is clear: REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

In the US today, over $130 billion is invested annually by venture firms and yet, black investors have been methodically excluded from mobilizing this capital. This is why we’re excited to bring together and feature Black women leading the way in investing for Investing as a Power Play: Meet Black Venture Investors. Join us in this movement to:

• Hear from ventures top leading black women about the power and influence of investing, and its direct effects on systemic change in leadership

• Discuss how to cement major institutional investments in Black-led funds

• Have the opportunity to network with Black investors and founders

Speakers include: 

• Melissa Bradley, Managing Partner, 1863 Ventures; Co-Founder, Ureeka

• Heather Hiles, Managing Partner, Black Ops Ventures

• Gayle Jennings-O'Byrne, Co-Founder, The WOCstar Fund

• Mandy Bynum McLaughlin, CEO & Co-Founder, Race Equ(al)ity Project

• Danielle Squires, Managing Director, Head of Diverse Segments, Wells Fargo

Featured Limited Partners:

• Adimika Arthur, Executive Director, Healthtech for Medicaid

• Vicki Wilkerson, Director, Supplier Risk & Compliance, Salesforce

• Rashida Hodge, VP, Azure Data & AI, Microsoft

• Nicole Streeter, General Counsel, Council of the District of Columbia

• Karen Clopton, GC and VP of Access & Inclusion, incendio international, Inc.

• Vanessa Small, Senior Director, Biologics, Cue Health Inc.