Black History Month: Impressions From Stanford MBA Students

Stanford GSB MBA students who shared their insights and reflections on Black history for a new school feature: top row, left to right: Brent Westbrook (MBA ’22), Oriekose Idah (MBA ’21), Wes Adams (MBA MBA ’21), Meghan Hunter (MBA ’22). Bottom row, left to right: Micah Greenberg (MBA ’21), Izunna Okonkwo (MBA ’22), Melanie Okuneye (MBA ’22), Adiam Tesfalul (MBA ’21). Photos by Allison Felt

Stanford Graduate School of Business hosted a series of virtual events in February to observe Black History Month, including virtual get-togethers, panels, and open-dialogue discussions about Black history. The series of events continues the business school’s celebration of successes in the Black community, but also a recognition that work needs to be done to achieve racial justice in society and racial equity in graduate business education.

Last summer, Stanford GSB took its biggest concrete action to date in addressing racism in academia and business. With the input of faculty, administrators, students, and alumni, the school’s much-ballyhooed second annual DEI report included an Action Plan for Racial Equity that outlined the GSB’s goals to increase the diversity of its community. Among other goals, that includes creating an inclusive classroom and learning experience, cultivating a welcoming campus, empowering under-represented communities, and supporting new research efforts. The school released an update to the plan this month.

Black History Month is a good time to celebrate those goals while acknowledging that they have not yet been achieved, says Wes Adams, Stanford GSB student and Black Business Students’ Association co-president.

“Black History Month is American history, and its lessons remain relevant for all of us who value equity in our society,” Adams tells Poets&Quants.

Adams and other BBSA students are featured in a new showcase at the school website, in which they share their reflections on the meaning of the month and the struggle of Black people in America. It’s the second consecutive year of the project. Among those featured are Adams’ BBSA co-president and GSB classmate, Oriekose Idah, who shares her view that Black History Month is a time to reflect on challenges overcome in the past, facing us in the present, and likely to arise in the future. “It’s a celebration of Black leaders that have come before and laid the groundwork for the access we all have today. It’s an acknowledgement of the pain that continues in the Black community and the inequities that exist in the United States, but also an acknowledgement of how far myself, my friends, and my family have come. It’s an appreciation for everything that’s coming in the future and the work that still needs to be done,” she says.

MEET THE BBSA MEMBERS

Wes Adams. Photo by Allison Felt

Wes Adams, a former finance undergrad at Howard University and associate at Goldman Sachs, was driven to study at Stanford to focus on financial inclusion and economic empowerment for underserved communities. “I became really focused and passionate about serving communities that I didn’t interact with on a day-to-day basis during my role at the firm, and was deeply troubled by many of the inequities that continue to persist within our financial system,” he says. “I witnessed and experienced the freedom that financial access and empowerment can unlock. And I really feel an existential responsibility to work fearlessly in service of those communities that have been underserved by the financial system.

“Throughout my career, I hope I can honor the heroes that made it possible for me to even be here at the GSB by carrying their legacy forward in some way.”

After Idah studied engineering and Chinese at Stanford, she went on to work at YouTube, where she became even more passionate about telling stories, learning about those who were previously silenced or unable to voice their experiences. Returning to Stanford — a school she says “feels like home” — for her MBA, she hopes to continue her career in visual storytelling after graduation and raise marginalized voices.

While both Idah and Adams graduate in 2021, Another BBSA member and GSB MBA student, Melanie Okuneye, is in her first year. She hopes to become the BBSA’s social secretary in year two. A dual citizen of Britain and Nigeria, Okuneye went to boarding school and university in the UK. After studying philosophy, economics, and politics at the University of York, like Adams she spent five years at Goldman Sachs as an associate. One of her goals is to continue to mentor young Black women towards financial literacy and help them navigate a career in finance.

Okuneye says her favorite part of Black History Month is experiencing the diversity within the Black community — not just at Stanford but across the U.S.

“We need to celebrate the descendants of slaves; a lot of Black people in America have had to still see the repercussions of the sad history today,” Okuneye tells P&Q. “Within the Black community, there’s still so much socioeconomic diversity. I’m Nigerian and I’m still learning so much about Black history. This month has been a great learning opportunity that also allows people to put very hard conversations on the table.”

CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION BEYOND BLACK HISTORY MONTH

All the BBSA members stress the importance of continuing the conversation around race beyond Black History Month.

“As you can imagine, this past year has been unprecedented in terms of the combined dynamics of living through and studying in a pandemic, but also trying to lead through a time of racial reckoning. It’s tested us in honoring our primary mandate of building a supportive and engaging community for Black students here at the GSB,” Adams says. “It troubles me that it takes such extreme tragedy and loss of life for injustice and inequity to be recognized. But it’s also been inspiring to see renewed activism within the Black community and an entirely new wave of allyship from the outside at a scale that we haven’t seen before.”

“I think it is imperative for us as future leaders to be able to be open and welcoming to have those difficult conversations, particularly around race, when we will be managing people of color from multiple backgrounds,” Okuneye says. “I think people should definitely feel an imperative to continue having the conversation after this month to give voice to minorities.”

Idah believes that MBA students have immense power in driving change.

“We need to leverage the power of the GSB and the privilege we have as MBA students to impact those around us that don’t have the same level of access,” she says. “It’s easy to get caught up in the GSB and Silicon Valley bubbles. But I think we have a powerful opportunity and responsibility to support the community around us, whether it’s mentoring high school students, hosting professional development workshops. or supporting Black-owned businesses.”

A VISION FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Okuneye offers some big-picture perspective on the road ahead.

“When you look within the Black population of some companies, you’ll find many that are first-, second-, or third-generation immigrants, meaning they came directly from Africa, the Caribbean, or other parts of the world,” she says. “You don’t get enough descendants of slavery represented in those figures. It’s important to be conscious of that during the hiring process, because we’re supposed to be helping to reverse the effects of hundreds of years of slavery.

“I think it’s important to look at the wider effects of why we need more diversity, not just as representation for making better decisions, but also as a way of reversing the years of slavery and the history that America has.”

Adams says Black History Month is a reminder “that we all have a responsibility and a role to play in supporting each other and holding those in power accountable for creating a more equitable society. There’s a lot of work to be done, but we’re thrilled for the next team to take this forward and upward.”

See the next page for more insights on Black history by Stanford GSB students.

edweek.org

ORIEKOSE IDAH

P&Q: Why is Black History Month important to you, and why should it be important to MBA students of all races and backgrounds?

Oriekose Idah. Photo by Allison Felt

Idah: Black history is American history. Black history is inextricably linked with the forming, building, and changing of this country. Black History Month is a bright acknowledgement of that fact. In the U.S., it’s a time for people of all backgrounds to celebrate the life-changing work of Black leaders from the past. For me, I spend Black History Month in perpetual gratefulness for the sacrifices of those who came before me to enable the opportunities I have today. As the saying goes, I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams, and that fuels my responsibility to honor their sacrifices and pay it forward to uplift my community. Black History Month stands as a reminder for us all.

P&Q: What did Stanford GSB plan for Black History Month and what more would you like to see done in future years?

This year, the GSB community came together to celebrate Black History Month in a number of ways. The BBSA held community building events like Spades Night and Soul Food Cooking Night. The BBSA and Allies for Black Lives groups created the Black Experiences panel, where students shared personal stories of being Black at Stanford with classmates. The BBSA continued to push for positive change at the GSB in collaborating with the administration on the Action Plan for Racial Equity. Classmates shared resources on Black history. In future years, I would like to see continued collaboration on Black History Month celebration across the entire university.

P&Q: How can Stanford GSB and other schools appeal to Black MBA candidates more?

For two years, business school becomes your home and your classmates a kind of family. It’s important that Black MBA candidates, and all candidates, can picture the GSB and its surrounding community as a future home where they will feel welcomed, safe, and able to thrive.

MBA programs can increase the number of cases in both the core and elective curriculums that feature protagonists of color. Schools can increase Black and Brown members of staff and tenured faculty. Schools can provide comprehensive training for students, faculty, and staff around diversity, equity and inclusion. And importantly, schools can proudly proclaim their dedication to diversity alongside metrics to hold themselves accountable. All these tangible measures could go a long way in showing Black and Brown students that the GSB could be home.

Melanie Okuneye. Photo by Allison Felt

MELANIE OKUNEYE

P&Q: Why is Black History Month important to you, and why should it be important to MBA students of all races and backgrounds?

Okuneye: Black History Month is important to me for the following key reasons. Firstly, to celebrate the successes of black Americans in history that have allowed more recent Black immigrants to benefit from opportunities for black people, and to celebrate the successes of Black leaders today that have succeeded despite all odds.

Secondly, Black History Month encourages engagement in difficult discussions that highlight the range of issues that affect different groups within the Black community. It also highlights the diversity within this community related to gender, language and culture, socio-economic background, and sexual orientation.

Most importantly, as future leaders, it’s imperative to have reflected on ways in which communities are affected by historic events and therefore have a genuine view on what needs to be done to improve the situation of other races. Too often today’s leaders are uncomfortable discussing issues of race and do not have thought-out ways of making a positive impact on the Black community, especially descendents of slaves. It is important to have people of all races engage and gain perspectives on issues of race and identity to have a broader positive impact on the world around them. This is particularly true for those like myself that identify as Black in the US, but grew up between Nigeria and the UK (which celebrates Black History Month in October in a much different way). I’ve learned a lot about how I can have lasting impact on various Black communities in the US by listening to people share their experiences.

P&Q: What did Stanford GSB plan for Black History Month and what more would you like to see done in future years?

There were two ways in which we celebrated Black History Month at the GSB. The first was by fostering community and the second was by creating platforms in which people could engage in discussion.

The BBSA had a virtual Spades night, some BBSA hikes, and virtual brunches. One of the MBA1’s created a playlist that included early 2000s black artists too. The BBSA hosted panels where members could share their experiences of diversity and inclusion on campus or discuss case studies around Black history. This was incredibly impactful and allowed for members to educate others, share openly and honestly, and highlight the intersectionality within the black GSB community.

In future, I would love to see more engagement from more non-Black students who can truly show themselves as allies, and crossover events with other diversity groups where we can learn about each other’s cultures and history. I would like to see events which encourage self-improvement for members of the BBSA too. So many of the issues affecting the Black community are based in years of history and it is important to be intentional around creating a level playing field for us versus our peers to ensure that we can have the largest impact for our communities and future generations. Self-improvement topics could include financial literacy, personal branding and communication all within the context of Blackness.

P&Q: How can Stanford GSB and other schools appeal to Black MBA candidates more?

There are five ways in which business schools can appeal to black MBA candidates more: Increase admissions outreach to more cities and schools in the southern USA, where there are higher proportions of descendents of slavery, and seek to admit Black international students that are not just directly from Africa; Improve funding for Black students; Share stories of Black alumni that we can connect with and see ourselves as in future (this will improve as schools increase the number of Black students in each class); Increase visibility of a Black community at each business school that comes together and supports each other and Black prospective students to find resources that make them feel at home, such as Black hair stylists, barbers, restaurants or caterers; Have more Black faculty and incorporate diversity in cases, classes, and discussions, especially from an international perspective so that everyone is engaged in the conversation and can apply it to the regions in which they may live and work after school.

WES ADAMS

P&Q: Why is Black History Month important to you, and why should it be important to MBA students of all races and backgrounds?

Wes Adams

Adams: Black History Month is an inspiring reminder and celebration of the powerful legacy that we have a responsibility to carry forward. I feel lucky and privileged to be Black. This month is a chance to embrace our vibrant culture, beauty, and legacy of excellence and resilience in the face of so much adversity. Black History is American history, and its lessons remain relevant for all of us who value equity and prosperity. This past year has been a sobering reminder of how much work is left to be done. It troubles me that it takes extreme tragedy and loss of innocent lives for injustice and inequity to be recognized. However, It’s been inspiring to see both a renewed activism within the Black community and an entirely new wave of allyship from outside never before seen at this scale. This month is a reminder to everyone that we all have a role to play in supporting each other and creating a more equitable society.

Black History Month is also a source of energy and focus for my career. I am a beneficiary of the sacrifices made by courageous Black leaders before me. As a finance professional before the GSB, I witnessed and experienced the freedom that financial access and empowerment can unlock. I feel an existential responsibility to work fearlessly in service of communities that have been underserved by the financial system. Throughout my career, I hope to honor the heroes that made it possible for me to even be at the GSB. I, too, want to be measured by the opportunities I create for others.

P&Q: What did Stanford GSB plan for Black History Month and what more would you like to see done in future years?

The celebration of Black History Month has been a collective GSB community effort and experience. This year, we focused on storytelling. BBSA hosted a Black Experiences panel, during which an amazing group of Black GSBers shared their stories with over 125 of their classmates. I was really inspired by the courage they exhibited. They embodied the diversity of the Black experience as they described their unique upbringings, professional passions, and intersectional identities. BBSA hosted the event in partnership with the Allies for Black Lives group, which our classmates formed in 2020 to empower GSB students and alumni to advocate for racial equity.

We have also doubled down on supporting one another within the BBSA community this month. It has been an incredibly difficult year for all of us, especially within the Black community. Our members really stepped up to plan some fun events throughout the month, including Spades Night, golf clinics, and virtual small group dinners. We are also gearing up for our annual Stanford Black Business Conference on April 14, which will convene and celebrate innovative Black business leaders from across the globe.

In future years, we should engage more with the local community. It is easy to get caught up in the GSB and Silicon Valley bubbles, but we have a powerful opportunity and responsibility to support the community around us—whether it’s mentoring high school students, hosting professional development workshops, or supporting Black-owned small businesses. BBSA is planning a few community service initiatives for the spring quarter that we look forward to. We are in the process of transitioning leadership to a fantastic group of MBA1’s and can’t wait for the Class of 2022 to take Black History Month to the next level.

P&Q: How can Stanford GSB and other schools appeal to Black MBA candidates more?

At the core, I believe that Black MBA candidates want to feel welcomed and supported. They want to be a part of a diverse and inclusive community that embraces their authentic selves. All MBA programs across the country, including the GSB, urgently need to increase representation. This includes students, tenure-track faculty, lecturers, guest speakers, and university staff. I think that I’m in alignment with GSB leadership in stating that the GSB isn’t where it needs to be on that front. However, I’m encouraged by the direction we are headed together.

In light of the tragic murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many others, the BBSA community felt an urgent need to challenge and encourage the GSB to lead in this moment. In June, the BBSA presented a proposal of racial equity initiatives to the Dean and Senior Associate Deans of the GSB, ranging from financial aid reform, to DEI training, to strategies to increase Black representation. Many of the BBSA’s proposals were adopted in the GSB Action Plan for Racial Equity released last summer. I’m proud that the BBSA has built an active partnership with the GSB administration that has enhanced accountability and created a more robust feedback loop between GSB leadership and our community. The GSB recently awarded its first round of fellowships, which aim to address generational wealth gaps that disproportionately impact Black admits, especially those who were first-generation college students.

I believe that the effort here at the GSB and the broader racial equity movement we are experiencing in this country must be about results, not promises. I’m excited to see that the GSB is taking action. However, I believe that continued collaboration between the BBSA and GSB leadership team will be critical to ensuring that Stanford achieves its Action Plan’s objectives to increase racial equity both within and outside the GSB community.

DON’T MISS INSIDE STANFORD’S GROUNDBREAKING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PLAN and AT STANFORD GSB, REFLECTIONS ON BLACK HISTORY

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