B L AC K H I S TO RY M O N TH
DUANE MORRIS LLP
ACCENTURE
Nolan N. Atkinson, Jr. Partner and Chief Diversity Officer MY INSPIRATION
I’m inspired by anyone who has overcome great adversity in fighting for equal justice. Their stories have motivated me to strive to improve myself and to work to better the lives of others—especially those who have talent, but need instruction and guidance as they enter adult life.
GIVING BACK
I give back by mentoring and sponsoring AfricanAmerican talent of the next generation. As a young lawyer, I had the good fortune of having several mentors and sponsors who guided me in overcoming barriers to building a successful law practice. Having many senior colleagues and friends, whom I respected greatly, guide and advocate for me was invaluable. Helping the next generation find opportunities for success is a major focus for me.
CAREER ADVICE
Life is a marathon. There will be “ups and downs.” Try and maintain a steady and positive attitude each day.
CORE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN & FAMILIES, INC. Chandra Diggs Small President and CEO MY GREATEST STRENGTH
My greatest strength is the ability to discern talent in others. I pride myself on recognizing that talent, and planning programs that are mutually beneficial to the team and the business.
OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE
The greatest issue facing the African-American community today is the lack of commitment to nurturing and growing strong families. Family is the foundation of everything we do as humans. A solid family support system builds confidence and strengthens our young people to become leaders in the community and around the world.
GIVING BACK
I’ve always had a heart for low-income women and the families they support. I started helping poor families when I was ten years old by feeding and bathing neighborhood kids that had no running water in their home. My heart hurts for people when I see them hurting—and I have to take action.
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PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL
January/February 2014
Martin William Rodgers Managing Director MY INSPIRATION
I often say that I came to Washington, D.C. to work for my heroes and sheroes (to borrow a term from Dr. Johnetta Cole), and I was honored to work for two amazing leaders: Dr. Marian Wright Edelman and Senator Harris Wofford. Both are legends of the civil rights movement, having worked with the Kennedys and Martin and Medgar, and they have dedicated their whole lives to social justice, to education and children…to the idea that people—especially young people—can change the world. They have been a part of the struggle and been fighting for ideas and for ideals for over 40 years. These inspiring individuals have taught me that who gets credit doesn’t matter, that the struggle is hard but necessary, and that in the end (as Martin King paraphrased Theodore Parker) “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” So, in both small and big ways, I hope to “bend the arc” and be part of the struggle—from helping to create Americorps to working to turn the MLK, Jr. Day into a National Day of Service, and from serving the poor on Native American reservations and in inner-cities to serving on nonprofit boards, to helping large, nonprofit enterprises become highperformers and to advancing inclusion and diversity and corporate citizenship at Accenture and beyond.
I STRIVE TO INSPIRE OTHERS
By being myself, by being committed to the people I mentor and motivate, and to the ideas and ideals that inspire me,and by believing—without question—in the ability and responsibility of each of us to create positive change for our families, for our clients, for our communities, and throughout the world.