From Football Fields to Ethics and Diversity Champion - Alfonzo Alexander

Meet Alfonzo Alexander . Alfonzo Alexander serves as chief ethics and diversity officer of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and president of NASBA Center for the Public Trust (CPT). As chief ethics and diversity officer, Alexander oversees strategic diversity initiatives and ethics compliance for the organization. He also represents NASBA in diversity and ethics related activities throughout the accounting profession, while facilitating a number of special projects.

Alexander became president of the CPT in January 2012. In his role as CPT President, Alexander oversees this ethics and leadership organization’s day-to-day operations and a growing number of CPT programs. Under his leadership, the CPT has cultivated new partnerships and built programs on over 100 college and university campuses across the United States, established Ethical Leadership Certification and Training Programs, and grown its Being a Difference Award Program extensively. Alexander joined NASBA in 2006 as a staff director and vice president of the CPT. It was during this time, he developed the strategic plan for the CPT.

Alfonzo will be speaking at GlobalMindED's 10th Anniversary Conference, along with other outstanding leaders and role models in the community we serve!

What is your personal/professional story?

I am a product of a single, teenage mother who is a phenomenal woman. Through her efforts, and the help of many others along the way, I have been fortunate and blessed to achieve some level of success in my life. Today, I am often described as a dynamic, strategic leader in corporate, entrepreneurial and nonprofit sectors. However, in addition to my career and life’s work, I take very seriously the responsibility of giving back and helping others identify and create success for themselves.?

As you will learn from this interview, I am currently the president of the NASBA Center for the Public Trust, while also serving as the chief ethics and diversity officer for NASBA. In these roles, I am afforded the opportunity to lead in two areas of passion for me: Ethical Leadership and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I am also an entrepreneur. I have a consultancy, as well as ownership interest and investments in a few other companies.

Since starting my corporate career in the late 1980s, I have grown to learn that my success as a leader is determined by the success of the people I lead. Therefore, in all my endeavors, I focus on developing the strategy and the people I work with to help them build the enterprises or organizations that they lead. Many people have played a role in helping me excel in what I do and in helping me achieve. Because I understand the importance and value of giving back from my own experiences, I am committed to helping create the leaders of our future in my local community and across the globe

What key moments in your life led you to where you are today??

I have many significant moments or turning points in my life. But I will just focus on three briefly. The first was in middle school where a football coach of mine, William Vaughn, showed a great amount of confidence in me. He encouraged me because he saw great academic and athletic ability in me. He also challenged me to constantly improve and to be the best in all that I attempt to do. Subsequently, he invested considerable time, effort and concern into my development as a person and athlete. He has been a significant person in my life.?

Secondly, I was involved in an organization during high school and college that exposed me to corporate America and helped me understand professionalism, business savvy, interpersonal skills and other attributes that have helped me to grow in my career. I am a tremendous believer in internships, through this organization, I was able to receive internship opportunities and training that gave me a competitive advantage.

Thirdly, a speech I heard when I was a junior in college really transformed my thinking and life. The speaker, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, talked about economics in various communities and the importance of entrepreneurship. For the first time, I truly decided to get serious, and I understood the importance of pursuing success while helping others do the same. After processing the words of that wonderful speech, I was convinced that my assignment was to build a successful career and to help others coming behind me meet or exceed my accomplishments. I am very confident that God put those instances, organizations and individuals in my life at the appropriate times to help guide and direct me.

Where does your passion to serve come from??

My passion to serve comes from my desire to see others succeed. I firmly believe my role in the life of anyone I encounter is to say or do something that helps make them better than they were before our interaction. I even hope to inspire individuals who will see, hear or read this interview. I developed that passion many years ago when I discovered my purpose in life was to help others identify and create success for themselves, as I stated earlier. Hearing someone I have helped tell me they have achieved success is worth more than a million dollars to me.?

How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals??

GlobalMindED can help me as I try to help the accounting profession increase the number of individuals becoming certified public accountants, particularly increasing the diversity within the accounting profession. The role of the CPA is to protect the public. Part of that protection means that there must be enough qualified CPAs in the marketplace to serve clients and protect the public. I would even say it is imperative that we not only have more qualified, but also more diverse CPAs throughout the world. As GlobalMindED continues its focus on creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline, I would love to see us work together to influence academic institutions and faculty across the globe to help them understand and see how more qualified CPAs can help build stronger economies and better protect the public throughout the world.?