Black History Month

Celebrate the legacy, courage and vision of Black leaders during February and all year long with these inspiring Black History Month speakers.

Host one of these renowned thought leaders, Civil Rights activists, influencers and C-Suite changemakers to amplify Black voices that empower organizations to engage in meaningful conversations and create a more inclusive and understanding community.

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum

<p>A leading voice on race and racism, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum shares unique insights and strategies for productive conversations that lead to effective social change. </p><p>Good leaders know that you can’t solve a problem without talking about the tough topic of race. Yet many feel unprepared to exercise the leadership needed to address racial issues and take the necessary steps to create truly inclusive communities on their campuses, in their corporations, or in their communities. </p><p>Dr.

Arndrea Waters King

<p>As a passionate leader in the global fight against inequity, injustice, hate crimes, and all forms of pain Arndrea Waters King has worked tirelessly on behalf of those who have been marginalized by helping them find — and collectively use — their voices for change.</p><p>Early in her career, Arndrea had the unique opportunity to be mentored by Dr. C.T. Vivian, a lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Stephen A. Smith

<p>An icon of the sports industry, Stephen A. Smith shares powerful and humorous lessons on overcoming adversity, building and leading strong teams, and ethics on the field and off.</p><p>Known and respected for his candid commentary, thought-provoking analysis, and memorable catchphrases, Stephen A. Smith is an authority in sports journalism.

Melissa M. Proctor

<p>From “ball girl to CMO,” Melissa Proctor shares stories from her trailblazing career journey, providing powerful strategies to help audiences navigate high-stakes decisions and achieve success. </p><p>Though Melissa Proctor never played basketball herself, it was her passion—in fact, her childhood dream was to be the first female coach in the NBA.

Princess Sarah Culberson

<p>After discovering she was related to African royalty, Princess Sarah’s story has captured the attention of audiences around the world—a powerful message of diversity, inclusion and the transformative power of living a fearless life.</p><p>Raised in West Virginia by her adoptive white parents, Sarah Culberson had little knowledge of her ancestry. She grew up in a loving family, but she had questions about her identity and biracial heritage that led her to hire a private investigator in 2004.

Rosemary Saal

<p>Rosemary Saal helped make history as a member of the Full Circle Everest Expedition, the first all-Black team to climb Mount Everest. </p><p>One of three women on the Full Circle Everest Expedition team, Saal understands the value of diversity for leaders and teams, and the importance of focus in high-stakes environments.

Sherrilyn Ifill

<p>Sherrilyn Ifill is a civil rights lawyer and scholar. From 2013-2022, she served as the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the nation’s premier civil rights law organization fighting for racial justice and equality. She recently served as a Ford Foundation Fellow and as the Klinsky Visiting Professor for Leadership & Progress at Howard Law School.

Daryl Davis

<p>Daryl Davis is committed to helping people ignite positive change—using conversation to build bridges.</p><p>His jaw-dropping experiences speak for themselves. For nearly 40 years, he’s engaged leaders of the KKK and White supremacist groups face to face to find the answer to a question: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” </p><p>That question stemmed from his first encounter with racism at age ten when he was pelted with rocks, bottles, and soda cans by a handful of White spectators while marching in a parade.

Lee Jourdan

<p>Chevron’s former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO) shares his expertise on the causes that limit diversity in organizations today. And he reveals concrete solutions that move business forward and recognize workplace diversity and inclusion for what it truly is: Competitive Advantage</p><p>After 15 years in high-level business development roles at Chevron and decades of experience in the energy industry, Lee Jourdan was tapped to develop a more diverse, equitable and inclusive culture at Chevron.