Black Women On Boards

That sound you hear is the excitement in the air in anticipation of next week's Black Women On Boards summit in North Carolina, one of two of them happening this month given past demand. Looking forward to catching up with longtime friends and to making new ones as we gather for an epic day of growth and community with fellow leaders in Charlotte. We all have something to learn, and we all have something to teach, right? Always lifting as we rise, always shaping the future of boardrooms. #BWOBsummit 

Thanks to Black Women On Boards member Dianna Renea Jones from Uber for hosting a robust Talent Landscape panel conversation at our recent Driving Innovation event at Lucid Motors. We were proud to feature the insights of some of the top venture capital Talent Partners and thought leaders in Silicon Valley: David Belden from Andreessen Horowitz, Jenny Kang from Battery Ventures and Elizabeth Arnsdorf Patterson from Sapphire Ventures. Our thanks to all of you. Together, their firms have roughly $70 Billion in assets under management and work with approximately 1,300 portfolio companies, so we’re deeply grateful for their seasoned perspectives on a wide range of key topics. #innovation #leadership #lucidair

Thanks to Nichelle Maynard-Elliott, board director at Lucid Motors and member of Black Women On Boards, for hosting the excellent opening fireside chat with Lucid CEO & CTO Peter Rawlinson at our recent Driving Innovation event. They were able to cover substantial ground in a short time, touching on everything from an overview of the electric vehicle industry, trends in consumer sentiment, aspects of addressable market, and great audience questions. Thanks to all who raised their hand! Fun fact: Many drivers who love the roar of a V8 engine also buy an 100% electric vehicle because they love the difference in the driving experience. #leadership #innovation

Our thanks to Janet S. Wong, board member at Lucid Motors, and to Lakecia Gunter, a CTO at Microsoft, for sharing their insights during a fantastic fireside chat at our recent Fueling Innovation event. Members and guests of Black Women On Boards gained perspective on a wide range of topics. Including, to name just a few: 🚀 The dynamics of working even more effectively with fellow board directors and with company management. 🚀 How to ensure one’s company is in compliance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission cybersecurity rules. 🚀 The latest trends in the landscape of board refreshment and executive compensation. And a robust Q&A session with the audience, making it a high value event for all who joined us in the East Bay! #innovation #leadership #lucidmotors

Auto makers are in a global race to compete in a future where electric propulsion will be an even greater force of digital transformation, shaping our collective futures. So it was a fast yes when Lucid Motors invited Black Women On Boards to their headquarters for an incredible afternoon of learning more about the EV landscape, the evolving roles of board directors, and the dynamics of fueling innovation while managing risk. Our thanks to CEO Peter Rawlinson, shown here with BWOB Co-Founders Robin Washington and Merline Saintil, and all his team for the warm welcome to the East Bay. Thanks also to all our guests and speakers (more about them in our next posts) who made it a perfect summer afternoon of actionable insights and inspiring conversations among members and allies. Great to hear that you all found it so meaningful. The optional (read: hugely popular) test drives of the award-winning Lucid Air were a nice touch, too. #innovation #leadership #lucidair

In commemoration, celebration, and commitment to a bright future for all. Which Black-owned business are you supporting this week? #juneteenth #equality

From São Paulo to Shanghai, a great book makes for a perfect summer day. So as a public service we asked some members of Black Women On Boards for their recommendations. We're happy to share some of their favorites, in hopes that it fuels fresh inspiration for the reading lists of other busy executives. Suggestions from Claire Cormier Thielke 柯丽, Chief Investment Officer in Asia for Prologis, include: 📚 The Presidents Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, exploring how presidents from Hoover through Obama worked with, and sometimes against, each other when they were in and out of power. 📚 Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts by Annie Duke, a former World Series of Poker champion. By shifting your thinking from a need for certainty to a goal of accurately assessing what you know and what you don't, you'll become more successful. Our thanks to Claire, a three-time alumna of Stanford University, a board director at Zillow, and with previous leadership service at Hines. #summerreads #leadership

In celebration of our fathers and father figures who helped shape our journey, we join with all giving thanks and hugs this Father's Day weekend. That includes Brandi Thomas, daughter of Michael, shown here with him (and dog Thunder), circa 1979. “Yes, he’s always been cool like that,” says Brandi, Chief Audit Executive at General Motors and board director at Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC and Nextracker Inc. #leadership #parents

From Mackinac Island to the San Juan Islands, a great book makes for a perfect summer day. So as a public service we asked some members of Black Women On Boards for their recommendations. We're happy to share some of their favorites, in hopes that it fuels fresh inspiration for the reading lists of other busy executives. Suggestions from Ayanna Clunis, Partner and Head of Operations at TPG Global, include: 📚 The Diary of a CEO: Laws of Business and Life by Steven Bartlett, exploring a set of principles that nurture excellence, whether you want to build something great or become someone great. 📚 Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, challenging conventional thinking and suggesting how to start thinking about long-term health, to create the best roadmap for physical and mental health. Our thanks to Ayanna, an alumna of Duke University and Cornell University, whose previous leadership roles included JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, and Citi. #summerreads #leadership

From Banff to Boca, a great book makes for a perfect summer day. So as a public service we asked some members of Black Women On Boards for their recommendations. We're happy to share some of their favorites, in hopes that it fuels fresh inspiration for the reading lists of other busy executives. Suggestions from Melique Jones, EVP and Chief People Officer at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, include: 📚 Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, by Will Guidara who was 26 when he took the helm of Eleven Madison Park, at the time a struggling brasserie. Eleven years later, it was named the best restaurant in the world. His view is that every business can be a hospitality business, and that we can all transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences. 📚 The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, physician, author and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine who began his medical training in Ethiopia. It's set in South India and follows three generations of a family seeking answers to a secret. It's seen as a humbling testament to the difficulties experienced by past generations for the benefit of those thriving today. Our thanks to Melique, an alumna of New York University and Brooklyn Law School, whose previous leadership included service at The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. #summerreads #leadership