2020 GlobalMindED
The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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Carla Harris is not only the first African American Woman to become Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley, she is also the first business success to play Carnegie Hall and have numerous commercial releases. She is also a wife, a mom and an all around joyful human. We met Carla through Shelley Ford of the Morgan Stanley Peilcan Bay Group. And now, she has another accolade to her list of achievements: the 2020 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award in the area of Banking and Finance. I was able to interview her for tonight’s awards last week when she said, “ Lack of diversity is not a supply issue, it is a choice. Leaders can drive that choice, widen those circles and find that talent- it is there.
HBS is a GlobalMindED partner, thanks to the 2019 Student Body President, Triston Francis. While a student at Penn, Carla was Triston’s mentor at his Morgan Stanley internship. From that time forward, they have been friends. Since they are both HBS grads and we are connected by way of each of them, we are reprinting the HBS article about Carla so that you can better learn her path from First Gen to College to first black woman executive in Wall Street, singer at Carnegie Hall and now, GlobalMindED Inclusive Award Winner. Congratulations, Carla!
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On a summer day in 1983, Carla Ann Harris (MBA ’87) stood before an audience of East Germans in a Leipzig church. Well before the Berlin Wall came down, Harris and other members of the Radcliffe Choral Society were on tour in Europe, and the time had come for Harris to sing her solo in the Negro spiritual “Ain’t Got Time to Die.”
“Here we were in a Communist country,” Harris recalls. “I didn’t speak German, and the people I was singing for didn’t speak much English. The song emanated out of slave times, but it was joyful and talked about freedom. The people in the audience were crying, something I will never forget. I remember thinking, ‘This is what people mean when they say the arts transcend everything. The audience may not know my language, but they get it; I’m communicating what the song means through the way that I’m singing it.’”
In an interview at her office in midtown Manhattan, Harris, a managing director at Morgan Stanley and an accomplished gospel singer, recounts this story and others with the kind of informal ease you might expect from a native southerner (she hails from Jacksonville, Florida). Just as apparent, however, is her passion and drive, whether she’s describing a recent IPO, her work with the Food Bank for New York City, or her relationship with God. Whatever the topic, her words come thick and fast, demonstrating the impressive power of breath control in speaking as well as in singing.
“I believe in being comfortable in your own skin,” says Harris. “I don’t feel like I have to turn on the banker and turn off the singer and spiritual person — they coexist.”
Harris describes her family background as solidly middle class. Her mother was an assistant principal at a middle school; her father was a commercial fisherman before retiring to manage his mother’s neighborhood tavern. “My parents were focused on education,” she recalls, “so the Catholic high school I attended, Bishop Kenny, was the aspiration in Jacksonville.” What her parents probably didn’t realize at the time was how high and how far their daughter would set her sights. “When I was accepted at Harvard College, my parents’ immediate reaction was, ‘Great. Now how are we going to pay for this?’” remembers Harris. “I told them, ‘I don’t know, but we’re going to find a way.’” Through financial aid, parental contributions, and student jobs, they did.
Before moving to Cambridge in 1980, Harris says she harbored the usual expectations of Harvard as a preppy, stuffy place, but found she was one of the few wearing Docksiders and green sweaters. The diversity of her classmates also surprised her: “I knew black and white, but I didn’t have an appreciation of all the ethnicities that exist in the world — Italian, Russian, Polish, the differences between various Hispanic cultures. That was fascinating.”
Harris says she came to Harvard with the intention of becoming a lawyer. The summer after her sophomore year, however, the economics major decided to try an internship in investment banking, courtesy of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, a mentoring program for minority students. “I fell in love with Wall Street and the idea of taking on an enormous amount of responsibility at a relatively young age,” she says. “That was the first time I was exposed to the concept of an MBA.”
At Harvard, Harris crossed the river to attend an HBS African-American Alumni Association conference. “I had never seen so many folks of color doing such impressive things,” she says. “That’s when I knew I wanted to go to HBS. It became my goal.”
Harris brought her trademark focus and drive to her coursework at HBS. In retrospect, she says she might have spent more time with her classmates. “I get it now — why the School balances the class diversity. You don’t have to experience something to learn it; you can learn it through your classmates’ experiences. That’s part of the value of HBS. It’s huge.”
At Morgan Stanley, which she joined right out of HBS, Harris leads the equity private placements effort in global capital markets and covers the retail and consumer industry as well. “I work with corporate issuers and financial sponsors to help them think about the right time to take a company public or to raise equity capital, the right valuation for a stock, and which investors to target. I also help the company craft its story for the marketplace,” she says. “In the case of an IPO, managers haven’t necessarily gone out to sell their company and its investment thesis to investors before. We need to help them articulate the answers to the questions, Why buy this stock? Why buy it now?”
In 1999, Harris managed the execution of the IPO for UPS, the largest public offering in U.S. history at the time, with 109.4 million shares raising $5.47 billion. “In addition to the financial analysis there’s a lot of judgment involved in deciding where to price an offering. You may have an oversubscribed deal, but how far should you push it? It’s not a simple supply and demand equation; that may not result in the right price for the aftermarket.”
If intuition and financial fundamentals figure in Harris’s work, so too does a good measure of faith. “It’s not like I wear it on my sleeve, but everybody knows that it’s part of who I am,” she remarks. “Once we were going through a tough deal and I said, ‘OK, it’s lunchtime. I’m going over to St. Patrick’s. I know this deal will get done this afternoon.’ I’m half-joking, but people also know I’m for real.”
At Harvard and HBS, Harris began to explore her faith and relationship with God a bit more. “There wasn’t anything in particular that happened,” she recalls, “but I became aware of a power that I could depend on. And as I learned to be active in my faith, I felt like I gained more and more strength and clarity.”
For Harris, music is another facet of spirituality. Her first experience with singing before an audience was at a fourth-grade talent show. Urged on by classmate Moses Maylor (who kicked the back of her desk for encouragement), Harris sang “Bring the Boys Home,” Freda Payne’s Vietnam-era anthem. “It was 1971, and I was nine years old,” she recalls. “I’ve been singing ever since.”
Today, Harris sings in the choir of St. Charles Borromeo in Harlem; she also has performed in concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. In 2000 she released the CD Carla’s First Christmas, followed by Joy Is Waiting in 2005. Proceeds from both albums benefit Bishop Kenny High School and the St. Charles Borromeo School; to date, her efforts have earned over $200,000.
“Music transcends everything about us that is physical,” says Harris. “So often a song can say something in a way that a conversation can’t. I like being in a position of communicating a message of hope, joy, and the idea that there’s a better day ahead if we can just hang in there. No matter how strong we are, it’s easy to forget the truth of that.”
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GlobalMindED and the SDG Impact Fund are delighted to announce GlobalMindED's Donor Advised Fund. 2020 is the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Women's Declaration and Action Platform. Many from around the world are thinking of 2020 as the gateway to our most vital decade for delivering equity, the Sustainable Development Goals, and a world where all can thrive. Our key time for these outcomes is 2020-2030.
GlobalMindED DAF and the SDG Impact Fund are a powerful combined force for good as the 2019 year comes to a close and we reflect on the gratitude and the commitments we make to the causes we care most about. The DAF offers immense power and flexibility for giving prior to the year's end as you plant seeds of generous intention for 2020 and the decade ahead.
When you contribute to GlobalMindED, you support First Gen students. We have served more than 400 students by connecting them to role models, mentors, internships and jobs. Your generous support will allow us to take our work 10x and reach these talented students at scale who lack the resources and support we provide. Your support also helps teachers who can't afford the conference fees, faculty at colleges which are under resourced and students who persist at those universities despite food insecurity and/or housing insecurity.
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Click to view the most recent webinars: |
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Courageous Conversations Catalyzing Change in Foundations & Funding: Janet Salazar; President, Foundation for the Support of the UN, Dr. Lisa Roy; Director of Program Development, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, University of Nebraska, Toya Wall; Senior Program Officer, Ascendium Education Group, Matt Horton; Director, Milken Institute Center for Regional Economics, and Luis Duarte; Partner, Imaginable Futures
Tech Leaders Driving Inclusive Work During and After COVID What is Needed and How to Measure Impact: Suraya Yahaya, Esq., Founder & CEO, Khazana, Inc, Dr. Jessica Rowland Williams; Director, Every Learner Everywhere, Helen Young Hayes; Founder & CEO, ActivateIT, Karen Worstell; Founder and CEO, WRiskGroup, Terrill Glass; Director of Engineering, Charter Communications, and Sarah Mark; Workforce Development Program Manager for People with Disabilities, Salesforce
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: The Higher Ed Experience for Veterans and Native Americans: Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, and Inclusion, Colorado Community College System, Leanne Wheeler; Principal Wheeler Advisory Group, Dr. Joseph Gladstone; Business Management Professor, University of New Haven, Dr. Aaron Cortes Minor; Director of STEM initiatives Northeastern Illinois University, and Dr. Michael Clement; Department Chair, Accounting University of Texas, Austin
Failure is Not an Option: Inclusive Leaders Tackle STEM Barriers Exacerbated by the 2020 Crises. Toi Massey President and CEO ANM Innovative Solutions, Tim Podkul Director, Principal Research Scientist SRI International, Lt. Col. Paul Deaderick (ret) Senior Project Leader The Aerospace Corporation, Christina Korp CEO & Executive Producer Purpose Entertainment, Dr. Calvin Mackey Founder & CEO STEM NOLA, and Clay Gloster Dean of the Graduate College North Carolina A&T State University
Inclusive Entrepreneurship: Funding First Gen and BIPOC Start Ups Launching with Investor, In-Kind, and Contest Dollars David Lopez; Co-founder/CEO, Internalyze, Juan Zavala; Senior Associate, New Markets Venture Partners, Monica Groves; Manager, XPRIZE, Dr. Murdoc Khaleghi; Medical Director, WellnessFX, and Praful Shah; Advisory Board Chairman, Principium Investments
Catalyzing Change in Health: Equity for Native, Rural, and Veterans During and Beyond COVID-19: Dr. Pierre Theodore; VP Global External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis; President & CEO, Craig Hospital, Jessica Rothenberg-Aalami, PhD; CEO, Founder, CELL-MED, Dr. Sriram Shamasunder; Assoc. Professor, UCSF Medical Center, Dr. Mary Owen (Tlingi); Dir., Center of American Indian & Minority Health, UMN President, Assoc. of American Indian Physicians
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: African American College Presidents Share Realities Part II: Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System moderates. Panelists include Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston President, Norfolk State University, Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite President, Bethune-Cookman University, Dr. Annette Parker President, South Central College, Minnesota State, and Dr. Michael Torrence President, Motlow State College
Courageous Conversations: Catalyzing Change in Health: Dr. Monique Butler; Chief Medical Officer, Swedish Medical Center, Samuel Yamoah, Jr.; Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company, Dr. Georges Benjamin; Executive Director, American Public Health Association, Dr. J. Nadine Gracia; Exec. Vice President & COO, Trust for America’s Health, Dr. Karen McNeil-Miller; CEO, Colorado Health Foundation, Dr. Pierre Theodore; VP Global External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson, and Dr. Elena Rios; President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association.
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Diverse College Presidents Talk About First 6 Weeks of School: Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System moderates. Panelists include Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston President, Norfolk State University, Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite President, Bethune-Cookman University, Dr. Annette Parker President, South Central College, Minnesota State, Dr. Miles Davis President, Linfield University, and Dr. Michael Torrence President, Motlow State College
Hispanic Language Heritage Language Assets for Career Preparedness: Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) and GlobalMindED, moderated by Lorena Orozco McElwain; OELA, Panelists include: Carol Carter; GlobalMindED, Felícita Solá-Carter; Excellence in Government Program, Oscar Fraire; University of Colorado Denver student, Patty Lopez; Intel Corporation, and Adrian Rosado; Cultural Clarity Experience.
Hispanic Language Heritage: Retention of Heritage Culture and Language(s) US Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) and GlobalMindED, and panelists celegrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. Lorena Orozco and Supreet Anand of OELA, Cristina Alfaro; San Diego State University, Luis Benitez; VF Corporation, Clotilde Dedecker; Circle of Women, Joe Garcia; Ohkay OwinghTribe, and Dr.Joel Comez; Center for Applied Logistics
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: A Conversation on Race, Isms, Justice, Moving Forward and the Role White People Need to Play: Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor: Student Affairs, Equity, and Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the conversation with Clifton Taulbert; President and CEO, Freemount Corporation and Roots Java Coffee, Javon Brame; Dean of Students, Arapahoe Community College, Chelsea Williams; Founder & CEO, College Code LLC, and Representative Leslie Herod; Legislator, Colorado General Assembly
Equity in Engineering Programs: Priming the STEM Pipeline During and After COVID-19: Dr. Dora Renaud, Sr. Director of Academic Programs & Professional Development, SHPE: Leading Hispanics in STEM, Melanie Suarez, Student, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Mechanical Engineering, Nicolas Valencia Diaz, Student, Florida International University, Biomedical Engineering, Sophia Plata, PhD Student, University of Southern California, Environmental Engineering
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THE FLYOVER NATION
Energy's Role in a Troubled Heartland
By J.C. Whorton
A unique and timely discussion of the challenging issues facing the country’s troubled Heartland.
Since the beginning of westward expansion into the Heartland’s vast regions, natural resource development has played a historic role in shaping its communities. Today, domestic oil and gas development offers one of the strongest prospects for the Heartland’s present and future prosperity as well as the nation’s re-emergence as a dominant player in the global energy economy.
The U.S. is now the world’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas, two circumstances that are universally disrupting international geopolitical order. The earth has a finite supply of natural resources and a rapidly growing and over consuming population.
As America positions itself for a very uncertain and constantly evolving global marketplace, will the Heartland become America’s “great connector” or “great divide”?
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J.C. Whorton is a senior level energy and financial professional with over forty years of essential experience. Having a ranching and Native American heritage, Mr. Whorton is a strong advocate for rural education and economic development initiatives.
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Links to read about Inclusive Leaders, many of whom are African American and people of color:
Curated sessions from GlobalMindED 2020 YouTube channel:
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From the Center for Positive Organizations:
From the Economist:
From Forbes:
From Harvard Business Review:
From the World Academy of Art & Science and UN; Geneva Global Leadership in the 21st Century econference:
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Listen here for an interview with Pam Newkirk, GlobalMindED speaker and author of Diversity Inc.: The Failed Promise of a Billion- Dollar Business.
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Meet GlobalMindED Founder, Carol Carter as interviewed by Tim Moore on his podcast Success Made to Last: From Success to Significance
Listen to Part 1 of Carol's interview
Listen to Part 2 of Carol's interview
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Recent GlobalMindED Newsletter Profiles:
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Since 2006 when the flagship TGR Learning Lab opened its doors in Anaheim, CA, TGR Foundation has had a lot to celebrate, including its most recent milestone of one million students impacted by TGR EDU: Explore, alone.
Developed in partnership with Discovery Education, TGR EDU: Explore is a free digital resource library that offers interactive web experiences, lesson plans, training videos and tools for educators, students and families to explore new disciplines and gain skills for a modern and expanding workforce.
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As you start the New Year, are you looking for ways to re-engineer your classroom culture? Check out Designing the Future: How Engineering Builds Creative Critical Thinking in the Classroom. The associated website has lots of activities, projects, and resources you can implement immediately. Our fall workshops using the book as a roadmap for change have been highly successful. Start designing the future today - try using the customized Study Guide for a book study in your PLC. Or contact ProjectEngin or Solution Tree to learn how you can bring professional development based on Ann's book to your school, district, or conference.
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