Recap of the 47th Annual Alfred L. Edwards Conference: Celebrating the Momentum of Economic Empowerment in the Black Community
This February, the Black Business Student Association at the Ross School of Business hosted the 47th Alfred L. Edwards Conference to celebrate the momentum of Black excellence on campus, in business, and beyond.
As the longest-running conference at Michigan Ross, this year’s ALE Conference featured a diverse group of speakers who touched on topics related to Black business leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the future. Attendees also had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, network with peers and industry experts, many of whom are Michigan Ross alumni, and gain valuable insights to help them succeed in their careers.
Economic empowerment of Black professionals
The theme of this year’s conference was “The Surge Ahead: Accelerating Black Excellence in Business” and discussions revolved around inspiring the next generation of Black business leaders.
The BBSA ALE planning team, Yasmin Abdulhadi, MBA ‘23, Nia McCarthy, MBA ‘23, Kiana Washington, MBA ‘23, and co-presidents, Joi James, MBA ‘23, and Sam Bakare Korodo, MBA ‘23, started planning for ALE a year in advance to ensure this theme flowed throughout all of their events.
We were really focused on the economic empowerment of Black professionals and the Black community. Our team wanted to talk about capital and how we continue to push our economic position forward. We wanted to make sure that this is not just a moment, but that there's momentum behind it.
Bakare Korodo and his team worked to exemplify this momentum by focusing on economic prosperity throughout conference events.
They were excited to bring back traditions from past conferences such as MTalks, an alumni panel, and a gala celebration. They also brought in new voices of panelists and alumni who have made an impact across industries.
The conference welcomed keynote speakers Jacky Wright, chief technology & platform officer (CTPO) at McKinsey & Co., and Devin Johnson, president and COO of The SpringHill Co., and esteemed speakers and panelists from companies such as Morgan Stanley, McDonald's, and The Vistria Group.
Bakare Korodo was most proud of the panel he moderated with the Friday keynote speaker, Jacky Wright, and shared that attendees came up to him throughout the weekend to say they really enjoyed hearing from her.
I think individuals in the crowd could see themselves in Jacky, and that's what we wanted to do. Our goal was for individuals to leave the conference feeling inspired to move forward, and Jacky was uplifting and empowering to our attendees not only in how she was able to answer the questions but also by providing a space where individuals can relate to her.
Maximizing differences to make an impact
A common message emphasized by various speakers during the conference was that Black professionals should prioritize being excellent at their chosen field because maximizing what makes you different is a superpower.
The ALE conference co-chairs said they hoped attendees left the conference feeling empowered about the role that they're going to play in the next phase of economic advancement for the Black community. “I want folks to have left the conference feeling inspired and optimistic about their next phase of life and to know that the sky is the actual limit,” Bakare Korodo said.
Uplifting the Black community at Michigan Ross
BBSA has received tremendous support from the Michigan Ross administration, including Sharon F. Matusik, Edward J. Frey Dean at Michigan Ross, who gave the opening remarks for the conference on Friday.
Bakare Korodo stressed the significance of having the entire community see Black executives in roles like CEO, CFO, EVP, etc., where they have historically been underrepresented. “I think Ross has done a great job of providing a space for our black community to feel supported, to feel that their voices are being heard,” he said.
Support has come from beyond campus as well. Two years ago, the ALE Conference added a new recognition called the BBSA Fellowship to honor Black excellence at Ross and award a second-year Full-Time MBA student and BBSA member who has impacted the Black community. Through the BBSA Solidarity Campaign, people are encouraged to donate to reach their fundraising goal of $100,000.
The award was presented during the Saturday night gala to Keisha Murray, MBA ‘23. Murray was selected for her outstanding leadership and impact as a member of BBSA and for her commitment to the success of underrepresented students.
BBSA, the ALE Conference, the BBSA Solidarity Campaign, and support from the community continue to grow each year. "I am very proud of what we achieved with this year's conference," said Bakare Korodo. "But the ultimate goal is to get better every year. There's no limit for us."
SUPPORT THE BBSA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLACK BUSINESS STUDENT ASSOCIATION AT MICHIGAN ROSS
