Black Executive CMO Alliance (BECA)’s Post

Let's talk about International Women's Day and #allyship. So many talk the talk but very few walk the walk when it comes to putting their money where their mouth is. Ronika Lewis is the real deal. She's all of that. She's sponsoring a few passes to NVIDIA GTC, THE tech conference of the year. I mean, who does that? Who the hell does that? Not the tech billionaires, not the so-called female 'angel' investors. Neither my boy Satya, not my man Sundar, much less Zuck is doing that. She's doing it. So before you dare call yourself an ally, ask yourself: What have I done to prove my allyship? Eligibility and instructions are simple:  If you are an UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), aka: - a woman and - an underrepresented person and - are in school (or self taught), or are a recent graduate that's unemployed or underemployed, you qualify. DM her to apply. And remember, responsible #ai = inclusive #ai. #internationalwomensday2024 #responsibleai #nvidiagtc #tech #responsibletech #allyship.

Spring Semester 2024 Recap Thankful for the invitation to tour Google's Austin headquarters and interact with dynamic Black executives in a range of industries, including scouting, sales, human resources, and education. A really rewarding experience that highlights the value of representation and diversity in the workplace. Black leadership, diversity, and inclusion. #GoogleAustin #BlackLeadership #DiversityandInclusion

You are the driver of your career, what car are you choosing to take you for the ride? 🚗 I thought I loved luxury cars, I thought I’d be a Mercedes or bmw girlie but it turns out that just wasn’t my style. 💯 The same goes for my career. I thought I wanted to be an executive and even a CDO at one point until I realized I was trying to be someone I thought people would want me to be instead of what I wanted to be. I know it can be tempting to aspire to have goals to reach the top of the corporate latter and I’m definitely grateful for all of you Black women and WOC who have risen to those ranks because you’ve been an inspiration to so many including myself. However, I realized even with my experience, knowledge and skill set I don’t want to be a CDO. I do want to impact people’s lives, help people, create and ideate new ways of working and creating equity and really making those connections that matter. I do want to make sure whatever it is that I do that my role regardless of it’s official title will always be seen as a leadership role because of how I work not because of what the title reads. Taking up space for me means having a title that allows me to still do the things I love and do with ease, so that I can show up as the leader I know I am. I get to make that call, not my title. 🗣️ I know a lot of you are like me, you’re on similar journeys to take up space YOUR way and I'm genuinely curious and would love your feedback when it comes to how you’ve done this. Is there one aspect of your development, personal and professional that you feel is missing that keeps you from taking up space? AND Is there one aspect of your development, personal and professional that has helped you take up space that you want to celebrate? Any feedback is appreciated and if you’d like to share in a safe space send me a DM.

1/12/2023: Black At stands as a dynamic movement dedicated to transforming opportunities for black creators in the fields of advertising, media, and the creative arts on a global scale. Recognizing the evident lack of pathways for this specific demographic, we have established a platform with the goal of nurturing inclusive environments that foster meaningful engagement and business collaboration, irrespective of geographical constraints. Our approach unfolds these stages: 30/12/2023 **Stage 1: Brand Leaders** onboarding senior executives in brands. This process will take a period of 60 days. We aim to onboard 100 CMOs and C-suite executives from some of the world’s biggest brands. So far we have 20 signed up. 1/03/2024 **Stage 2: Vendors** Prospective vendors will be onboarded starting 90days from today. Further information on the application process will be provided through an introductory email. 1/06/2024 Onboarding of more users. **What the platform Will Offer:** - **B2B Engagement Room:** Providing black vendors access to some of the world's biggest brands for potential opportunities. - **Masterclasses:** Available to those who wish to learn from our community and senior executives in major global brands. - **Mentorship/ thoughts leadership forums:** Globally accessible to those who sign up for this feature, through an invite-only process. Monteization: We are creating an opportunity where users can monetize this platform and create more value each day. - **Connect Anywhere:** Facilitating connectivity for black creators to meet at any global event, be it CES or afrotech, to engage with like-minded individuals. We look forward to emerging opportunities ahead and various applications and we move towards on 5 year strategic plan. For more information: black@blackatcannes.org

Celebrating Visionary Leaders: Honoring Black History Month | This #BlackHistoryMonth, we are spotlighting 8 pioneering scientists, engineers, and software developers whose brilliance and innovation have left an indelible mark on the #technology landscape. These barrier-breaking innovators have not only shaped the future of tech, but have also paved the way for future generations to follow in their footsteps. These innovators have transformed how we live, work, and connect. While their stories may not always be found in textbooks, their impact is undeniable. They remind us that greatness is born not just from talent, but from the courage to pursue our dreams against all odds. Their legacy inspires us to continue forging ahead, breaking barriers, and creating a more inclusive and innovative future for all. #ConnectingTechnologytoLife #TechInnovators #Victra  #Excellence #BlackHistory

To celebrate Black History Month, we asked our people to tell us about some of the most extraordinary Black brand-side marketers they’ve been lucky enough to work with, and why they’re legends in the making. Our first legend is Tarshena Armstrong, Director of Diversity Marketing & Development at General Motors, where she leads the task of driving measurable business results for multicultural audiences in addition to human capital development initiatives to reskill marketing employees as modern marketers.   Tarshena joined GM in 2006 as a marketing intern with the Service Parts Operations, before working her way up to Business Planning Manager for GM’ Chair & CEO, followed by several critical regional and sales assignments before her promotion to Director of Diversity Marketing & Development in 2021. In 2023 Tarshena was named an honoree for The Michigan Chronicles - Women of Excellence and Black Enterprise 40 under 40. In 2022 Armstrong was appointed to the General Motors Inclusion Advisory Board, a participant in the Deloitte 2022 Rising Leader Collective, 2022 DBusiness Magazine 30 In Their Thirties, 2020 Michigan Chronicles “40 Under 40” Honoree and was featured in the Working Mother’s Magazine representing GM as the Best Companies for Multicultural Women. With a resume like hers, it’s obvious why Tarshena is a marketing legend in the making, but Nyron Fauconier, VP, Group Account Director, who works closely with Tarshena, put it best when he nominated her for this feature: “A successful Black woman in a male-dominated industry, Tarshena Armstrong is a strong, business-savvy professional who has accomplished a great deal during her career at GM,” says Nyron. “Tarshena expects nothing but the best from her team, believing that if we all do our jobs to the best of our abilities, we can accomplish anything. What people learn from collaborating with Tarshena is: One must strive for greatness to attain greatness. She is a true marketing legend in the making!” #BlackHistoryMonth #JackMorton #LegendsInTheMaking #BlackHistory #BlackMarketers #BlackTalent #BlackInAdvertising #BlackAtJack #DEIB #culture #Diversity #GeneralMotors #GM

I am deeply honored to be featured by ACG Cleveland in their Black History Month spotlight. This recognition not only highlights my professional journey and the work we do at Parker Revenue Growth Strategies & UBIZ Venture Capital but also underscores our collective commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to advance and have their voices heard. Thank you, ACG Cleveland, for this esteemed acknowledgment. ----------- ACG Cleveland is excited to introduce you to our Black History spotlight this week: William H. Parker, Founder and Chief Revenue and Restructuring Officer of Parker Revenue Growth Strategies, and Executive in Residence for UBIZ Venture Capital. “DEI means that everyone has the ability to earn a seat at the table, and have the ability to have their voices heard. To me, it also means that I champion the advancement of minorities and women who have been marginalized by systemic placism to participate in the advancement of their career endeavors.” ACG: How long have you been in your current role? William: I have served as the Chief Revenue and Restructuring Officer for Parker Revenue Growth Strategies for over 20 years. We have turned around over 30 companies that has resulted in intelligent exits and or acquisitions of add-on companies for accretive growth. ACG: How has DEI impacted your professional life? Have there been any negative effects? William: When I started my career in the retail business, DEI was called affirmative action, which was/is the practice or policy of favoring individuals belonging to groups regarded as disadvantaged or subject to discrimination. In the retail business, performance is the driver of promotions coupled with additional responsibilities. The negativity of affirmative action was that some people thought I was being promoted because of my race instead of my results. Over time, I was regarded as a superior executive who had a knack for fixing broken billion-dollar companies and restoring them to health. That trait overcame the obstacles of being a Black American. ACG: What do you personally do to better understand the perspectives of colleagues from different backgrounds? William: During my professional career, I have traveled to over 30 countries around the world to source manufacturing capabilities in order to produce the best consumer products for American consumption. The culture of Japan is different than China, Scotland is different from England, and Texans are really different from Californians. That extensive travel enabled me to open my eyes and mind towards the acceptance of other’s diverse and different ways of thinking along with cultural differences. . . . . #ParkerRevenueGrowthStrategies #BlackHistoryMonth2024 #InclusionInAction #ACGCleveland #BetterTogether

With #BlackHistoryMonth underway, we’ll be celebrating throughout the month by highlighting our Black colleagues from Insight. Meet Nonso Ogbonna. We asked Nonso about his experience at Insight and to share some words of wisdom: ❓ What do you do at Insight? (Nonso) I lead the Business Solutions Engineering team at Insight Partners, made up of product managers, software and data engineers, and solutions architects. We are responsible for delivering scalable enterprise solutions that empower different business teams at Insight to efficiently run, scale, and innovate their functions. Our solutions span the investment, portfolio management, portfolio value creation, investor relations, and firmwide operations business functions. 🧠 What is one thing you wish you had known when you began your career? (Nonso) When I began my career, I wish I had known the power of storytelling and how to use the art to actively promote my work. Staying heads down and merely focusing on doing a great job isn't sufficient to advance your career, as your work may not always speak for itself. You should continuously sell your ideas, validate them with users and stakeholders, and craft compelling narratives about the value you are creating. However, it's important to strike the right balance while doing this so that it feels authentic and not forced. 🤝 Talk about a significant mentorship moment in your life (Nonso) In my professional life, I've been lucky to have not just mentors, but two notable sponsors who believed in me and helped me succeed at different stages. Very early in my career at Goldman Sachs, I was fortunate to have worked under the leadership of Bob Naccarella. During a period of uncertainty regarding my path forward, he gave me an opportunity to switch to a tech strategy and consulting role in his organization, which paved the way for what would become an accelerated career trajectory. I was also fortunate to have met Lisa Opoku mid-way through my career. She gave me numerous opportunities to learn, to showcase my talent, to create value, and to be recognized within the Engineering organization. I am forever grateful to Bob and Lisa for their guidance, support, and advocacy, and I am committed to paying it forward in any way that I can.

This Black History Month, I’m taking a moment to acknowledge my mentors. You’ve had a lasting impact on me, filling me with optimism for the road ahead. Navigating corporate spaces as a Black woman hasn't been easy, but the support and mentorship I've received from you has been instrumental in my growth, providing a safe space where I’ve felt both seen and empowered. Jeanine Henry - You were one of the first leaders I had the privilege to work with, and your example set the bar high. Your empathetic and intentional leadership style showed me that there are countless approaches to leading effectively. Your impact was felt by our entire team. Courtney Andrews - Working with you taught me the importance of recognizing my strengths and knowing when to push myself beyond my comfort zone. Your encouragement to advocate for myself has helped me through my biggest transition to PMM. Chisom Obi-Okoye - Your confidence and belief in your abilities are truly inspiring. Your commitment to speaking up for what you believe in and natural ability to influence others has taught me how to lead with authenticity. Ayaan Roble - Your excellence in everything you do is amazing, and collaborating with you on inclusive product initiatives was a career highlight. You've shown me that it's not only acceptable but essential to incorporate our personal values into our work. Danielle Webb - Navigating career transitions alongside you has been so special, and your composed attitude when faced with new challenges has taught me a lot about resilience. You show the importance of taking moments to pause and reflect. Angela Smith - My mom and my very first example of what it means to be a working woman ❤️. Watching you run your own business as a kid was awe-inspiring. You’ve taught me the value of strong work-ethic while prioritizing balance with the things that make us fulfilled in life. The passion you put into every single thing you do continues to motivate me. I’m so thankful for the influence of these women! As we celebrate the last couple of weeks of Black History Month, give a shoutout to your mentors and their impact on you! #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackFutures

In Celebration of Black History Month: Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities: A Reflection on Winners and Losers from Althea Gibson 🌟 In the journey of personal and professional growth, our mindset plays a pivotal role. This powerful quote reminds us: "The loser is always a part of the problem; the winner is always a part of the answer. The loser always has an excuse; the winner always has a program. The loser says it may be possible, but it's difficult; the winner says it may be difficult, but it's possible." This mindset not only propels us towards success but is fundamentally linked to how we navigate the realms of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and inclusivity. In EI, being part of the answer means acknowledging our role in both conflicts and resolutions, taking responsibility rather than shifting blame. It's about having a 'program' — strategies and plans for personal development, for managing our emotions effectively, and for fostering positive relationships. In inclusivity, this mindset encourages us to actively contribute to creating environments where diversity is not just accepted but valued and celebrated. It reminds us that while the path to inclusivity may be fraught with challenges, the possibilities and benefits of a truly inclusive culture are immense. Let's embrace this 'winner's mindset' in our daily lives. Whether it's tackling personal challenges, contributing to our workplaces, or making strides towards inclusivity, remember — it's about focusing on solutions, taking proactive steps, and always seeing the potential for positive change. As we continue to navigate our professional journeys, let's ask ourselves: Are we part of the problem or part of the answer? Do we make excuses, or do we have a program? Let's choose to be the change-makers, the problem-solvers, and the inclusive leaders our world needs. #EmotionalIntelligence #Inclusivity #Leadership #Mindset #ProfessionalGrowth #ChangeMakers #BlackHistoryMonth