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Building equity
When BB&T recruited Thomas Ransom, a Black economics student at Hampden-Sydney College, to join its management development program in the late 1990s, he quickly had to pick up the world of banking and its culture. The Urbanna native says he’d never met a banker before starting at BB&T and certainly didn’t know what moves to […]
CATHY T. WILLIAMS
In her two decades at the U.S. subsidiary of British heating and cooling supply distributor Ferguson plc, Williams has made the economic inclusion of women and minorities her mission. “I’m most proud of knowing I had a hand in their success,” she says of those that she has brought into the Ferguson fold of about […]
After the crisis
During summer 2020, racial inequities took center stage in the United States as protesters took to the streets after the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, by a Minneapolis police officer was captured on video and widely disseminated via social media and news outlets. Corporate America also responded, primarily through public statements vowing […]
Pharrell brings Mighty Dream to Norfolk
In November, Grammy-winning music superstar Pharrell Williams hosted the three-day Mighty Dream forum in Norfolk and broke some news about his Something in the Water music festival and the status of his team’s proposal to redevelop Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall site. Mighty Dream, a sequel to his 2021 Elephant in the Room business conference at […]
Innovation was at center of Mighty Dream Day 3
On the third and final day of Pharrell Williams‘ Mighty Dream Forum in Norfolk, the theme was innovation. The first day‘s focus was diversity and equity, while Wednesday was largely dedicated to inspiring entrepreneurs to find and create opportunities. Panelists throughout the day Thursday encouraged attendees to innovate, seek out resources and do their homework […]
Mighty Dream Day 2: Finding and seizing opportunities
The second day of Pharrell Williams‘ Mighty Dream Forum in Norfolk included poetry, news about Williams’ Something in the Water music festival and advice for entrepreneurs. Just as Mighty Dream’s first day was focused around a central theme of diversity and equity, the second day was largely dedicated to inspiring entrepreneurs to find and create […]
Mighty Dream Day 1 focuses on diversity, equity
Grammy winning music superstar Pharrell Williams put on his business hat Tuesday in Norfolk, welcoming attendees to his Mighty Dream forum, which he likened to an event like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, “but for marginalized communities.” The three-day forum kicked off with spoken-word poetry and a mighty boom of drums and crash […]
Pharrell’s Mighty Dream forum coming to Norfolk Nov. 1-3
Executives from Google, H&M, Universal Music Group, Yelp and McDonald’s will join Grammy winner Pharrell Williams Nov. 1-3 in Norfolk for his Mighty Dream forum, a sequel to last fall’s Elephant in the Room event. Along with panel discussions and networking events focused on making work and business opportunities more equitable and supporting and growing […]
Greater Washington Partnership unveils 10-year inclusivity plan
The Greater Washington Partnership released its “Regional Blueprint for Inclusive Growth” Monday, a 10-year plan to increase equity and create a more inclusive economy in the capital region, spanning Baltimore to Richmond. The plan was launched at an event hosted by Sheila Johnson, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts and an owner of three pro […]
JMU hires first DEI VP
James Madison University has named Malika Carter its inaugural vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, the university announced Monday. Carter will start Aug. 25. “This appointment is a great honor,” Carter said in a statement. “JMU is well positioned to become, in the field of inclusion, a lead institution that […]
VCU Massey Center names internship for attorney
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center has established an internship named for Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP Partner Rudene Mercer Haynes, the law firm announced last week. “I am humbled by this honor and pledge to continue my support of the live-saving and life-changing work performed by the brilliant clinicians and researchers at VCU Massey Cancer […]
Northrop Grumman taps chief diversity officer
Falls Church-based Fortune 500 defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. has promoted Kenny Robinson to vice president and chief diversity officer, effective May 31. Robinson will be responsible for advancing Northrop Grumman’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy and programs, the company’s corporate citizenship, DEI and ethics programs, as well as serve as president of the Northr[...]
