About the Contributors

Dr. Akosua Barthwell Evans is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Barthwell Group. Prior to launching The Barthwell Group, Dr. Evans was an accomplished banker, lawyer, and management consultant. In addition, throughout her career, Dr. Evans has provided leadership to a variety of not-for-profit organizations throughout the United States through her board service. Peter A. James, PhD, MBA, PCC is the President and CEO of HCG Consulting Solutions - a firm which helps to strengthen organizational cultures via leadership development, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and executive & leadership coaching. Dr. James’ career has taken him from an officer in the U.S. Army to Marketing in a major pharmaceutical firm, a professorship in Business and Entrepreneurship, to various entrepreneurship ventures and of course, executive and leadership coaching. Dr. James possesses a PhD in Organizational & Management. Ramien R. Pierre, Ed.D. is the Director of The Executive Leadership Council’s Institute for Leadership Development and Research. He is also an adjunct faculty member of the Organizational Leadership Program at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development. He has more than 30 years of experience as an educator—more than half of which he spent designing and administering professional development programs for leaders in the aerospace and not-for-profit sectors. Amanda Rey, MA is the Senior Manager for Custom Client Learning Solutions at The Executive Leadership Council and Adjunct Faculty at The George Washington University. Her portfolio features Global 1000 companies focused on the empowerment, development and promotion of Black professionals including Merck, Capital One, Salesforce and more. Shelley Stewart, Jr. is the Managing Partner/Founder of Bottom Line Advisory, LLC. Retired Former Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, DuPont USA. Experienced Chief Procurement Officer and Supply Chain professional with a demonstrated

history of working in multiple industries. Skilled in Negotiations, Operations Management, Pricing Strategy, Strategic Sourcing and a track record of building global teams. He serves on boards of Otis Elevator Co and Kontoor Brands Inc. Justina Victor is a senior research manager at The Executive Leadership Council. She is responsible for facilitating the production of quantitative and qualitative research that positions the ELC as a thought leader and go to source on a variety of areas such as global Black executives, diversity among corporate boards. LaTanya White, PhD, MBA is an inclusive scholar-practitioner working at the intersection of racial equity and leadership development. Over the course of her professional career, she has coached and consulted more than 600 Black urban entrepreneurial leaders. A 2x author, TEDx Speaker, leader and strategist, Dr. White is the founder and principal consultant for Concept Creative Group, a technical assistance firm focused on business development, capacity building, and Dynastic Wealth™ transfer for Black entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals.

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A Research Journal for Black Professionals

The Executive Leadership Council

The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) is the preeminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of Black executives in C-suites, on corporate boards, and in global enterprises. Its mission is to increase the number of successful Black executives, domestically and internationally, by adding value to their development, leadership, and philanthropic endeavors, thereby strengthening their companies, organizations, and communities across the life cycle of their careers. Its purpose is to open channels of opportunity for the development of Black executives to positively impact business and its communities.

ISBN 978-0-578-39991-1

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