No More Excuses

I am a white male, and though I was raised largely by Black people (that's an entirely separate future article), I enjoy the social privileges of living in the that skin I do. Most - not all - of the teachers, mentors, advisors, and respected authority figures in my life who have guided me to become the man that I am today have been Black men and women. From grade school, on. That is my truth.

I have spent the last decade of my career in university-based non-degree executive education; building programs on behalf of universities to help businesses better their outcomes and to help professionals advance their careers. To date I have (co)created more than 30 programs in three different US markets.

Tomorrow I will launch another new program. This one is a bit different though. This new program, co-founded by a dear friend and colleague Thane Kreiner, PhD, will directly challenge the excuse that there is a "shortage of Black executive talent" qualified for board service in corporate America. Not only is this sentiment untrue, it is offensive and is evidence of the real issue at hand in diversifying corporate leadership; network. The barrier to authentic diversity in the board room is not at all about limitations on talent. It is a resistance to the unknown by those in power, and a fear of the loss that comes with change. Adding something unfamiliar could interrupt the social dynamic in the fraternal network that sitting board directors enjoy. It's a step outside of the comfort zone. Some might say that fearing the unknown is rational; after all, it's a part of being human. In this case, however, that fear has created a system of racism that locks large portions of American talent out of opportunities, and is keeping extraordinary economic value frozen in dormancy.

Tomorrow morning we will launch the inaugural cohort of the novel Black Corporate Board Readiness program, with 28 incredible Black executives from all over the US. The excuse goes away. This initiative has been a community effort, and is a labor of love for all of those who have locked arms with us to make it a reality.

Not everyone gets to see their lives come full circle in the work that they do, but with this program, I'm blessed to say that I do. We all have the responsibility to use the platforms that we have to create good. This time I get to do my part to give back to the community that has given so much to me.

As I learned from the many mentors and advisors in my life, we are to choose love over fear.

Build the world you want to live in.

#nomoreexcuses