HBCU Excellence: From the Bronx to a Dealmaker

Attending a Historically Black College (HBCU) was crucial to my development as a person and as a professional. At Howard University I was immersed in an academically competitive environment.  The school gave me the (i) technical business acumen and (ii) cultivated a results oriented mindset that celebrates problem solving through diversity of thought.  Howard was also a good transition for someone born in England and having gone to school in the Bronx, NY.  I was immersed in the diverse culture of the African Diaspora during that four year period. 

Howard University’s history is storied. Founded in the liberating aftermath of the Civil War, its alumni, too numerous to mention, are noted for their impact. Among them are Vice President-Elect and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris; Author and Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Actor Chadwick Boseman. 

The most successful companies in the world recruit from Howard for a simple reason: because they find great talent there. Howard University equips students with the requisite skills that demonstrate their acumen amongst their peers in competitive environments such as science, engineering, arts, business etc. 

Like Ms. Morrison, after receiving my undergraduate degree at Howard, I attended Cornell University for graduate school, where I pursued my MBA. It was another academically rich experience. But some of my classmates doubted me, assuming that I hadn’t earned my place. I like to think I put those doubts to rest after securing a coveted position at a top investment bank.  

I am also a proud Robert Toigo Fellow and have gotten my company and clients to be active participants in the organization's mission of increasing access to diverse professionals in the corporate sector.   

Today, I pay it forward by actively participating in Howard’s extensive network and I’m proud to have helped more than 20 people attend Howard.  Will your daughter or son be next? I’m happy to discuss the possibility.

#HBCU #howarduniversity #diversityequityinclusion #executiveleadership