In honor of Black History Month, we asked speakers and inclusive GlobalMindED leaders who inspired them the most. We hope you enjoy their perspectives.

Jay Veal, Founder & CEO at It's Not Complicated Tutoring (INC Tutoring)

My favorite African American role model is a tie between Gen. Colin Powell or President Barack Obama. Gen. Powell was a 4 star general in the U.S. Army and the 65th US Secretary of State. He was not only a very wise and honorable man, but he was the first black person to serve in that position. I admire his wisdom and for what he stood for in his life. In addition, he earned his wealth through books, speaking engagements, and appearances which is some of what I would like to do. 

President Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States and the first African American male to do so. I admire his grace and ability to speak and capture an audience with wisdom.
Karen Worstell, MA, MS, CEO at 
W Risk Group LLC

Katherine Johnson, the star of the book and movie, Hidden Figures, is my role morel and bright light  in my passion to bring equity to the field of cyber security. Johnson's courage and brilliance shows all women - and men who work with them - the bold way forward around and through any obstacle as many women in technology can relate. She is my hero.  
Stéphane Lessard, Consul General of Canada in Denver

My selections will skew towards leaders who, at great personal risk, courageously championed civil rights and equal justice for all. 

African leader who inspires me: Bishop Desmond Tutu. This famous theologian spoke fearlessly against apartheid and ethnic violence in South Africa, and played a key role, along with Nelson Mandela and many others, in the dismantling of apartheid. He was honored with many awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. 

African American who inspires me: Naturally I have to say Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his immense contribution to civil rights. Given that I am Canadian I would also offer a famous African Canadian lady, Viola Davis Desmond. In 1946, she refused to sit in the balcony of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, N.S. and sat on the floor reserved exclusively for white people instead. She was arrested and found guilty of not paying the full tax on a floor-seat ticket. She was jailed and fined. She died in 1965 at the age of 50. In 2010, the government of Nova Scotia posthumously pardoned Desmond and apologized to her family. She was recently honored on a Canadian Postal Service stamp (see below).
Tiffany Thompson, CEO at  Digital Scholars Consulting

My African-American role models are black women entrepreneurs and self-starters who believe in community and are strong advocates for breaking the norm. They stand against adversity and fight for inclusivity. Such women include Oprah Winfrey (OWN), Ava Duvernay (Director), Madame C. J. Walker (First woman millionaire entrepreneur), Lisa Price (Carol's Daughter), ShondaRimes (Writer/Producer), Kimberly Bryant (Founder, Black Girls Code), Angela Benton (Creator, Blackweb2.0), Mary McCleod Bethune (Co-Founder, Bethune Cookman University), Shirley Chisolm (First Black Woman Presidential Candidate), Dorothy Height (Activist) and Cathy Hughes (Creator, RadioOne/TVOne) to name a few. Though these women span various eras and industries, they have all broken barriers, fought for equal rights and challenged the status quo in a nation rife with racial bias, disparity, oppression and exclusion. Their accomplishments should be celebrated as they have made a great impact on society today. My African role models are Nelson Mandela, freedom fighter and Queen Nzinga, who was a fierce anti-colonial female leader who fought the Portuguese to stop the slave trade in the 17th century.
Anthony Barela, Principal at Sunset Middle School

In my humble opinion, there are two gentleman who exemplify what it means to be a servant leader. Those two men are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy. Both of these gentleman were civil rights leaders who personified grace under pressure. During the Civil Rights Movement we experienced some serious pain as a nation, however these men never allowed their delivery to impede the message they were spreading. As I stood at the Lincoln memorial at the place where Dr. King gave his "I have a Dream" speech I was overcome with emotion in what a great leader he was. Similarly, when I visited the World War II memorial I though about Mr. Abernathy and how he served his country during the war and far beyond in helping us work to heal our divisiveness as a country.
Karen Hester, JD, LLM in Taxation, CEO at the
Center for Legal Inclusiveness

I'm sure there are famous people who influenced me in some capacity, but honestly, my parents, Arthur C Hester and Mae J Hester, were the most influential people in my life. 

Both of my parents were the first in their family to have graduated from college and they stressed to all four of their kids the importance of education, which likely lead to each of us have advanced degrees. Their successfully adaptation to new places, situations, and even people, with each move (dad was in the Army), allowed me to more easily understand and accept those who are different from me. I think this is likely the foundation of why I'm such a big proponent of diversity and inclusion, and love the work I am currently doing. 

From them, I learned the lessons of perseverance, embracing my fears, and recognizing that there are lessons to be learned from both good and bad. I've also learned that parents don't love one child more than another, but I know I'm their favorite.
Luc Trudel, IT Executive

My favorite African role model was Nelson Mandela as he was a very powerful man in his time on earth. He worked with South African President F.W. de Klerk to end apartheid and won the Nobel Peace prize in 1993. He stood for much within the African community and mankind.
Join us to recognize the most   inclusive leaders   in key industries for their innovations and bold actions to promote access and equity for women, people of color, and underrepresented  populations in their recruiting, development, senior management, on their boards, and in their pipeline strategies from education to employment. 

Nominations   are now open for the 2019 Inclusive Leadership Awards and 
close on   April 1, 2019 .


For our 3rd year, WCET and GlobalMindED are accepting nominations for 2019 Digital Inclusion Award. This award is a unique recognition of an individual, organization or program having shown significant impact on low-income and/or First Generation learner populations with regard to increasing involvement in global digital leadership. 

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Digital Inclusion Award .
June 5-7, 2019
Denver, CO
(fee-waived admission for First Gen students) 

GlobalMindED is delighted that the Harvard First Gen MBA candidates will be providing guidance to our 2019 First Gen Leaders Class on making the most out of the conference, networking at meals and receptions, developing influence and mastering professional skills in sessions occurring March through May. The Student Body President of HBS, Triston Francis, will participate on the Higher ED and share his First Gen success story.  
Harvard Business School has several   programs designed for college students  to explore whether a career in business and/or a Master's in Business Administration might be the right fit for you. 
  • The Summer Venture in Management Program is a free one-week residential education program for rising college seniors designed to increase diversity and opportunity in business education.
  • Peek weekendparticipate in our famous case method classes, live on our campus, meet current students and alumni, and get a peek into what an MBA is all about.
  • Finally, we offer a deferred admission program for college seniors, the 2+2 program.
June 6-7, 2019
Denver, CO
(fee-waived admission for High School students) 
Teen Tech is a STEM-focused event where 100 students ages 16-19 will spend two days with various northern Colorado technology companies including HP Inc., Intel Corporation, lunarG, Inc., Colorado Technology Association, Colorado State University, and Colorado School of Mines. 

The goal of this program is to build a future diverse STEM and innovative workforce, while creating a fun, inspiring, and exciting experience for girls, people of color and underserved population students, as well as to help them discover and pursue their passions in STEM. This event gives students insight on emerging technology fields and connections to role models, mentors, internships, and jobs in the area. 
June 5-7, 2019
Denver, CO
Here are African American leaders you will meet in June 2019:





Partner News
GlobalMindED is proud to partner with  Random Acts of Kindness and 

As we celebrate Black History Month, it is important that the medical drama Grey's Anatomy not only shatters stigma against mental health but also portrays African American characters with a variety of         disabilities.

Representation of characters with disabilities - including mental health - who are successful in their careers, such as prominent doctors, is important. According to GLAAD, the amount of regular primetime broadcast characters counted who have a disability has slightly increased to 2.1 percent, but that number still vastly underrepresents the actualities of Americans with disabilities. Yet even when representation is done well, it often lacks accurate representation of underrepresented racial/ethnic groups.
We Are Creating A Movie & Movement 

We Rise UP brings together some of the most brilliant, accomplished & high-impact leaders of our day. We are redefining a new model of success to uplift & empower people to live radically fulfilled, purpose driven lives. It's       time for us all to Rise UP.


Who Are The Top Companies Creating Positive Change? 

The upcoming edition of Real Leaders magazine features the inaugural 100 Top Impact Companies list - a world-first listing of companies that have built social impact into their core. The magazine is only on newsstands late January, but you can order your print copy now! Click the link below to order for yourself, your staff or your colleagues. 

February 28, 2019 - 4:00 PM ETS

This webinar will feature a panel of first generation college students who are currently attending HBS. Register here


March 12-14, 2019 - Denver, CO

CO Impact Days is 3 day conference where individuals and organizations gain the confidence, tools, and connections they need to align their money with their mission and values. CO Impact Days is where leaders of the Impact Investing movement are born. The event culminates with an in-person Social Venture Marketplace (also open to the public) - essentially a farmers market for investors filled with valuable social ventures (projects, nonprofits, for profits, and funds) that are seeking investments! GlobalMindED Community can get a 30% discount registration with the codeCID19GLOBALLYMINDED at https://www.coimpactdays.org/register/.

March 14, 2019 - Denver, CO

C-Level @ A Mile High is the Colorado Technology Association's largest fundraiser, packed with a C-level celeb auction, prizes and Tech Exchange to help carry out its mission of fueling Colorado's economy through technology. It's the perfect opportunity to build relationships with peers, win business and be introduced to tech companies and influential IT leaders in a setting unlike any other within Colorado.

Join us in Denver for 10 Days as we introduce 10 Wicked Problems in health that adversely impact our cities and lives. Join 10 prospective CEOs, invited to Denver from around the U.S., who will - with your help - tackle the wicked problems in health that may lead to the creation of new ventures. Contact Ben@101010.net
GlobalMindED | 303-327-5688 | contact@globalminded.org | www.globalminded.org
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