The PennZone

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 7, 2023 ~ The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) are proud to announce the inaugural graduating cohort of the National Executive Leadership Academy. This year marks a significant milestone with the expansion of the program to a national level, positively impacting professionals, organizations, and corporations throughout the country.

The National Executive Leadership Academy is a competitive program administered in partnership with CMU's Tepper School of Business to prepare Black leaders from across the country for national and global executive advancement. The program is delivered in a hybrid format including three months of online instruction, plus two, in-person one-week sessions at CMU in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Throughout TALI's national program, participants benefitted from academic instruction specifically geared to the unique challenges Black professionals face where various topics such as "Resilience for Executives of Color," "Asset Framing," and "Global Strategy and Management" were covered. Additionally, participants benefitted from executive coaching, peer networking, and mentor identification support.

The graduates of the 2023 National Executive Leadership Academy Cohort include Darren Pagan, Derek Williams, Adaora Emembolu, Stephan Coleman, Jean Denis, Alina Butler, Douglas Blanchard, Michael Keeler, Oluwatosin (Tosin) Otulana, Juliet Igboanusi, Zac Koné, Raquel Ettrick Thompson, Melonie Jackson, Darrell Farewell and Chymeka Olfonse *NOT PICTURED: Faith Cooper.

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Evan Frazier President and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute said "Congratulations to all the graduates of the National Executive Leadership Academy! This has been a phenomenal year and the cohort was exceptionally talented and engaged throughout the program. This is just the beginning of great things that we anticipate happening through TALI as we begin to expand our impact nationally."

Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou Dean Richard P Simmons Professor of Finance at Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business expressed her thoughts about the graduating cohort: "We are so pleased with our continued partnership with TALI during its national expansion. We are equally excited about the impact this inaugural national cohort will make within their organizations and communities contributing shared expertise and experience."

The graduation ceremony will take place on December 8th 2023 at Carnegie Mellon University with Kevin Walker President & CEO Duquesne Light Holdings & TALI Board Member delivering keynote address while members from TALI & CMU families celebrate this milestone alongside cohort.

The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) & Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have come together to create an opportunity for Black leaders from across America to develop their skills & knowledge through their National Executive Leadership Academy Program which has now expanded nationally after being established in 2019. The 16 graduates have completed three months online instruction plus two one week sessions at CMU in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania where they have been taught topics such as "Resilience for Executives of Color" "Asset Framing" & "Global Strategy & Management" as well as benefitting from executive coaching peer networking & mentor identification support.

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Evan Frazier President & CEO The Advanced Leadership Institute said "This is just beginning great things that we anticipate happening through TALI as we begin to expand our impact nationally" while Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou Dean Richard P Simmons Professor Of Finance Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School Of Business expressed her thoughts about graduating cohort saying "We are so pleased with our continued partnership with TALI during its national expansion We are equally excited about impact this inaugural national cohort will make within their organizations & communities contributing shared expertise & experience."

The graduation ceremony will take place on December 8th 2023 at Carnegie Mellon University where Kevin Walker President & CEO Duquesne Light Holdings & TALI Board Member will deliver keynote address while members from TALI & CMU families celebrate this milestone alongside 16 graduates Douglas Blanchard Alina Butler Stephan Coleman Faith Cooper Jean Denis Adaora Emembolu Darrell Farewell Juliet Igboanusi Melonie Jackson Michael Keeler Zak Koné Chymeka Olfonse Oluwatosin (Tosin) Otulana Darren Pagan Raquel Ettrick Thompson Derek Williams

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