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Driving Authentic Diversity in the Boardroom

About the class

Research has proven that diversity in corporate governance leads to better business outcomes, yet we still have a long way to go in bringing racial diversity to the boardroom.

Watch this presentation led by Barry Lawson Williams, retired Black Corporate Director and Dennis Lanham of Santa Clara University where they discussed how and why to drive authentic diversity at the very top of corporations.

About the Presenter

Barry Lawson Williams is the retired Managing General Partner of the investment and consulting company that he founded in 1987. Williams Pacific Ventures (WPV). Williams attended Harvard University where he received a B.A. degree in government in 1966 and M.B.A and J.D. degrees in 1971. From 1971 to 1978 he was a management consultant at McKinsey and Company in the United States and several Latin American countries.

From 1979 to 1987 he served finally as managing principal of Bechtel Investments, Inc. He assisted in the acquisition and sellback of Dillon Read & Company and served on its board of directors. Since founding WPV in 1987, Williams has served on 14 public company boards. He was, during late 2000-2001, the interim President and CEO of the American Management Association Inc.

He has also taught an entrepreneurship course at the Haas (U.C. Berkeley) Graduate School of Business for six years; been a senior environmental mediator with JAMS for six years; and an environmental site trustee for two years. Within WPV, he has been the owner operator of five businesses. In civic affairs, Williams has been the past Chairman of California Pacific Hospitals, the African American Experience Fund and Management Leadership for Tomorrow.

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