Executive Leadership Council

The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) is an independent non-profit organization situated in Washington, D.C. The organization is made up of more than 800 current and former Black CEOs, senior executives and board directors at Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies. If was founded in 1986 with 9 senior corporate executives seeking to advance opportunities to black leaders on a global scale.
Membership
Over the past 35 years, the council has expanded its reach with an estimate of 800 members affiliated with and representing different companies. The members include a series of current and former Black CEO’s and senior executives at Fortune 1000 and 500 companies. At the top of the leadership board at ELC are the President/CEO Michael C. Hyter and the Executive Vice President/COO Lori Walker. Other senior executives include Hannibal L. Brumskine II the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Gail Coles Johnson the Vice President and CHRO and Penelope Thornton Talley the Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer.
Eligibility
To be eligible for membership consideration, candidates must qualify as one of the following:
* Senior-level black executive, defined as CEO, C-suite executives and those reporting to C-suite executives (i.e., within two positions of the enterprise-wide CEO) at a Fortune 1000/Global 500 corporation or company with equivalent annual revenues
* Senior-level black executive, as defined above, at a professional services firm equivalent to a Fortune 1000/Global 500 corporation
* Black executive serving on the Board of Directors of a Fortune 1000/Global 500 corporation or equivalent
* Black entrepreneur of a top-tier company with minimum annual revenues of $200 million
Programs
Periodically, programs such as ‘C-suite academy’, ‘mid-level managers symposium (MLMS)’, ‘Leadership Development Week (LDW)’ and ‘Institute Fellows’ among others are organized by the ELC Institute for leadership development & research in partnership with other corporations. Members convene and engage one another with the goal of mentoring and training black leaders. This is because the ELC is committed to developing black executives and aiding them in making an impact in their fields and communities.
The council has also openly advocated for equity and diversity in the corporate workspace. In 2021, the Executive Leadership Council released ‘Beyond Promises to Progress: Black CEOs and C-Suite Officers Speak Out on Diversity’ which is a paper revealing systemic challenges inhibiting racism in corporate America, and pushing CEOs to follow through with their promises to improve racial equity.
The organization's activities also extend to the progress of black students. The ELC Scholarship Program is funded by the support of the ELC’s corporate partners and geared towards supporting the academic achievements of Black graduate and undergraduate students. In 2021, over 117 scholarships were awarded to high-performing college students in light of the program’s mission.
Events
Colin Kapernick accepted The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) Global Game Changer Award at the organization’s Annual Recognition Gala and 35th Anniversary Celebration. In his speech he urged Black corporate America to "be the change needed that will increase racial and economic equity". Amongst others honored were Tyler Perry as well as Achievement Award recipients Rosalind Brewer and Thasunda Brown Duckett.

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