For Immediate Release:
August 18, 2020
Contact: Jerry Thomas at
Jerry@jerrythomaspr.com, or
(312) 414-4016
Diversity MBA Media Recognizes the Top 100 Rising Stars Under 50 in Corporate America: Offering A Glimpse of the Pipeline for C-Suite Executives in Future
CHICAGO – For the past two months, corporate America has been in the spotlight again regarding its diversity and inclusion track record. Despite decades of efforts to increase the number of Black CEOs and C-suite executives, today there are only four Black CEOs heading Fortune 500 companies, and this number is down from six in the past decade. In 2018, Black professionals represented less 3.3% of all executive or senior leadership roles.
Forced to respond to the social unrest that has rock the nation since late May, where protesters have called for an end to racism and other inequities, especially when it comes to hiring, advancement and pay, some American companies have pledged to address diversity and inclusion and correct pay disparities. So, what does progress and the future look like for corporate America? DiversityMBA, a national leadership organization integrating diversity and inclusion with talent management, is offering some clues.
On September 17th and 18th, the organization is hosting its 14th Annual National Business Leaders Virtual Conference & Awards Gala, entitled “Leading in a Changing World”. On the Friday, September 18th, beginning at 6:15 p.m., the organization will recognize the top 100 under 50 Executive and Emerging leaders in corporate America and organizations. These companies nominated their “high potential” employees, senior managers, directors, et.al.
When Pam McElvane, who has been a leader in the diversity and inclusion space for nearly three decades, launched the conference and awards presentation in 2006, her vision was to recognize the “unsung heroes” in Corporate America, the “high potential” employees behind the scene who quietly gets the job done internally and externally in the communities served by the corporations. But companies wanted more exposure for their executives. In this new normal, also driven by the global coronavirus pandemic, that is now changing.
“This year, the companies are leveling the playing field, and they are nominating more rising stars,” said McElvane, CEO of P & L Holding Co., which includes Diversity MBA. “Organizations are adopting this practice as a pipeline to recognize their high potential people externally. “
There is a benefit, McElvane said, for both the employee and the company who participates in the annual recognition event. “At least 60 percent of those who receive our recognition have been promoted within their organizations, “said McElvane, who tracks the progress of the award recipients.
As for the companies that have positioned their executive and emerging leaders, they also benefit for recognizing their diverse talent. “It is truly a strategy,” McElvane said. “Some companies use this as a leadership development platform. Of course, there is a risk that other corporations will desire to tap into this recognized talent. These high potential employees are loyal and value the recognition opportunity they receive at DiversityMBA. The companies leverage this one-time experience to show value and increase retention.” However, DiversityMBA strives to build a community and pipeline of leaders.
The Top 100 under 50 emerging and executive leaders are selected from a broad spectrum of companies with both a domestic and global reach. Diversity MBA selects 100 from a pool of several hundred nominees. The award is uniquely special because candidates must have an advanced degree or certification, and the honoree can only receive the recognition once and must be age 50 or younger.
###
For additional information about the awards presentation, conference and DiversityMBA, visit the website: www.diversitymbamagazine.com. To arrange an interview with Pamela McElvane, contact Jerry Thomas at Jerry@jerrythomaspr.com, or (312) 414-4016. See below the full list of Executive and Emerging Leaders in alpha order:
