MBK | MSK 2023
Fellowship Summit

Black Excellence: An Affirming Action
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The 2023 Event is Over Plan on Joining us in 2024!
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The 2023 Event is Over Plan on Joining us in 2024!

WHEN

Friday – Sunday

June 2 – 4, 2023

WHERE

PWC, 300 Madison Avenue, NY, NY (In-Person)

Summit 2023

Black Excellence: An Affirming Action.

The Theme of the 2023 Fellowship Summit was
“Black Excellence: An Affirming Action” and included panels that addressed topics such as relationship building, fellowship, wellness, Biglaw partnership, General Counsel insights, and more.

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The My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) | My Sister’s Keeper (MSK) 2023 Fellowship Summit.

The Fellowship Summit provided opportunities for frank and open dialogue about our shared experiences as male and female attorneys of color, facilitated the development of new relationships built on existing connections, and provided attendees with strategies for professional and personal growth.

TOPICS IN THE 2023 EVENT

Black Excellence: An Affirming Action

01.

Professional Freedom

Secure and maintain control over your career.

02.

Mental Freedom

Make choices for yourself without being inhibited by detrimental thoughts and emotions.

03.

Financial Freedom

Accumulate sufficient financial resources to afford the kind of life you want for yourself and your family.

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The 2023 Fellowship Summit provided a meaningful and interactive experience through engagement opportunities offered to registrants.

Thank you word cloud notes on corkboard

Ask and Offer - AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND!

We encouraged registrants to sign up for the “Ask and Offer.” The purpose of the Ask and Offer is to gain an understanding of how we can help one another by having the courage to ask for assistance and being generous enough to offer assistance.

LinkedIn Review

Complimentary resume reviews were offered through collaboration with Inclusive Legal Search, LLC, Crossdale Search and COGO Partners.

 
limited availability
Senior committee manager reading a resume during a job interview
business-team-meeting-c

Partner 1-on-1

Partner-ready and soon-to-be partner-ready attendees (“Partner Nexters”) were given the opportunity to have mentoring sessions with an experienced partner to review the Partner Nexters’ business plan.

 
limited availability

General Counsel 1-on-1

GC-ready and soon-to-be GC-ready attendees (“GC Nexters”) were given the opportunity to have mentoring sessions with experienced general counsels.

limited availability
GC-1-on-1

Our 2023 Planning Committee

Our Planning Committee worked with the Board of Directors and Executive Committee
to deliver the maximum fellowship experience for the 6/2-6/4 Fellowship Summit

Kimberly Allman

Kimberly Allman

Consultant,
The Allman Group LLC

Keilon Forest

Keilon Forest

Program Director,
ACC Foundation
Association of Corporate Counsel

Essence Liburd

Essence Liburd

Associate Compliance Counsel,
DailyPay

Shauki Smith

Shauki Smith

Principal Attorney,
The Key Practice, LLC

Yeve Chitiga

Yeve Sibanda

Director, Assistant General Counsel,
Brex

Morenike Williams headshot

Morenike Williams

CEO,
Revision Coaching

Jeremy Garcia

Jeremy Garcia

Recent Penn State Dickinson Law Graduate, Admin to the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and Volunteer with the Dominican Bar Association, HNBA, ABA, MBK/MSK, and Latino Judges Association

Thank You to Our 2023 Sponsors

RAINMAKER SPONSORS

RISING STAR SPONSOR

As one of the leading law firms serving the financial services industry, Schulte Roth & Zabel advises clients from strategically located offices in New York, London and Washington, DC. We are dedicated to fostering inclusion in all areas of the firm’s operations and work to provide legal services that meet the unique needs of our diverse communities.

RECRUIT SPONSORS

ALLY SPONSORS

2023 Event Agenda

Friday, June 2nd, 2023

9:00am

Reception Hall Opens – Breakfast

10am- 10:15am

Welcome and Opening Remarks/Highlight Reel

Welcome MBK | MSK Family!

Speakers:

Nate Saint Victor
Nate Saint Victor
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Engine No. 1

nicole-arrindell
Nicole L. Arrindell
Chief of Staff to Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary and Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Equitable

10:15am-11:15am

Excellence in Management: Law Firm Managing Partner Roundtable

Building our own ladder: How we reclaimed the partnership journey and made it our own.

Candid discussion with a group of law firm leaders to unpack how they mapped out their career trajectory, outlined their strategies for ascension, and strategically leveraged their relationships to create a internal support network that empowered them each individually and collectively.
Speakers:

Moderator
Jeanine Conley Daves
Office Managing Shareholder, Littler Mendelson

Brian Idehen
Moderator
Brian Idehen
Senior Associate, BurgherGray LLP

Yomi Dabiri Gabriel
Yomi Dabiri
Managing Partner, Polsinelli

Mark Hatcher
Mark Hatcher
Managing Partner, BakerHostetler

Karen Jordan
Karen Jordan
Office Managing Partner, St. Louis, Dentons

11:15am-11:45am

Fellowship Break 1

11:45am-12:50pm

Excellence in the C-Suite: General Counsel Roundtable

Lessons from the Mountaintop: A roundtable discussion with GCs on the approaches that got them there, the tools that keep them there, and the skills you need to forge a similar path.

This panel is an opportunity for the audience to hear directly from trailblazing GCs firsthand. The goal is for GCs to share a realistic glimpse for listeners into what it really takes to ascend to the top of the ladder, and equally as important, what’s required to stay there.
 

Key takeaways for the audience would be:

  • What should they start doing now to position themselves for future GC opportunities
  • When is the “right” time to make the leap, discussing the downsides of being at the top (limited lateral/transition opportunities, potential to get fired/periods of unemployment, navigating the board, etc.)
  • Substantive skills one should have in their arsenal (board governance, compliance, sec filings, etc.)
  • Other valuable insights or areas of consideration that the panelists would like to share.
Speakers:

Princess Fuller
Moderator
Princess Fuller
Associate, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

Ernest Tuckett
Moderator
Ernest Tuckett
Vice President, Associate General Counsel, VERISIGN

kathlyn beckles
Kathy Card Beckles
EVP, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Verisk | Board Member Nasdaq Exchange

Deidre Stanley
Deirdre Stanley
Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Estee Lauder

Franco Spraggin
Franco Spraggins
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, EVERSANA

Brandon Nelson
Brandon Nelson
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, JetBlue

Erica Green
Erica Green
Principal, Chief Compliance Officer, Vanguard

12:50pm-2:00pm

Fireside Chat/Keynote

Damien’s authentic story of strife and success and best practices learned along the way
Speakers:

Conway Ekpo
Moderator
Conway Ekpo
Director & Associate General Counsel, Brex

Damien Atkins
Damien Atkins
General Counsel, Aura

2:05pm-2:20pm

Fellowship Real Talk 1

Advancement Initiative.

Speakers:

Natalya Johnson
Natalya Johnson
Senior Counsel, Johnson & Johnson | President, Garden State Bar Association

Njeri Chasseau
Njeri Chasseau
Senior Counsel at Showtime Networks Inc.

Amanda Benjamin Smith
Amanda Benjamin Smith
Senior Investments Counsel, Genworth

Anna Maria Tejada
Anna Maria Tejada
Partner, Saul Ewing

2:20pm-2:35pm

History of MBK/MSK

Speakers:

Darryl Gibbs
Darryl Gibbs
Chief Diversity Officer, Equitable

2:35pm-3:00pm

Fellowship Break 2

Speakers:

Melissa Fenton
Melissa Fenton
Executive Director, CUP USA

3:00pm-3:30pm

Plenary Session

Excellence in Life: Managing Chaos

Making Time vs Finding Time: Practical strategies for effectively navigating life’s competing demands while prioritizing self-care.
 
The truth is that lack of time often isn’t the issue; ineffective prioritization, delegation, and time allocation are the real culprits.
 
In this conversation, panelists will discuss the consequences of failing to manage chaos in personal and professional life and will share practical strategies and systems that can be used to balance competing priorities, improve mental and physical health, build and nurture relationships, increase productivity, and prioritize driving outcomes instead of mere outputs.

Speakers:

Paul Colinet
Moderator
Paul Colinet
Senior Legal Counsel, Legal & Business Advisory, Xero, Inc.

Morenike Williams
CEO, Revision Coaching

Kim Chainey
Kim Chainey
EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Corp. Secretary at Aptar

3:30pm-4:30pm

Plenary Session

Excellence in Life: Career Trailblazer

Jerika Richardson and Alvin Bragg engage in a Fireside Chat on Alvin’s historic career trajectory that led him to become the first black Manhattan District Attorney and how he has managed the power and turbulence that is required in the role.

 

Speakers:

Moderated by
Jerika Richardson
Senior Vice President, Equitable Justice & Strategic Initiatives – National Urban League

Alvin Bragg
Alvin Bragg
Manhattan DA

5:00pm

Fellowship Reception

The Knickerbocker Hotel St. Cloud Rooftop Bar

Saturday, June 3rd, 2023

9:00am

Registration Hall Opens–Breakfast

10:00am-10:15am

Remarks

Summit Day 1 Recap

10:20am-11:20am

Concurrent Plenary Sessions 5A and 5B

MSK Session – Excellence in Health & Wellness

Moving yourself from the backburner: The importance of prioritizing your holistic well-being and the importance of life planning.
 
Self-focused is not selfish. Taking care of yourself is the best way to ensure that you are able to serve the people around you at the highest levels without leaving yourself depleted in the process.
 
Hear panelists discuss best practices for holistically caring for yourself from the inside out so that you are able to show up fully not only for your work or loved ones, but most importantly for yourself. Learn about the importance of life planning and understanding health benefits in terms of how it pertains to your overall health and your future.
Speakers:

Yeve Chitiga
Moderator
Yeve Chitiga
Director, Assistant General Counsel, Brex

Moderator
Nicole L. Arrindell
Chief of Staff to Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary and Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Equitable

Esther Boykin
Esther Boykin
MFT, Group Therapy Associates

India Sneed
India Sneed
Associate, Greenberg Traurig

Michaune Tillman
Michaune Tillman
General Counsel, Steel Processing, Worthington Industries

MBK Session – Excellence in Health & Wellness

Moving yourself from the backburner: The importance of prioritizing your holistic well-being and the importance of life planning.
 
Self-focused is not selfish. Taking care of yourself is the best way to ensure that you are able to serve the people around you at the highest levels without leaving yourself depleted in the process.
 
Hear panelists discuss best practices for holistically caring for yourself from the inside out so that you are able to show up fully not only for your work or loved ones, but most importantly for yourself.
Speakers:

Jacques Sexton
Moderator
Jacques Sexton
Associate General Counsel, Privacy, DailyPay

Fritz Galette
Dr. Fritz Galette
Fritz Galette Psychologist PC

Dino Bovell
Dino Bovell
Director, Business Affairs, TV & Streaming at NBCUniversal

Duane Hughes
Chair, Americas Advisory Council, UBS Americas

Emerson Moore
Emerson Moore
Independent Board Director, Boxed

11:20am-11:50am

Fellowship Break

11:50am-12:05pm

Fellowship Real Talk

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Speakers:

Duvol Thompson
Duvol M. Thompson
Partner, Holland & Knight

Kamal Nesfield
Kamal S. Nesfield
Partner, Milbank

12:05pm-12:35pm

Keynote

Excellence in Fortitude: Breaking Down Barriers

Turning the wall into a door: Overcoming the barriers that impact the career trajectories of people of color.
 
The reality is that there are still barriers, both internal and external, that impede the meaningful progression and ascension of people of color in every avenue of the legal profession. In this session we want to have a transparent conversation about what some of those barriers are and provide real examples of how the speakers have navigated them both successfully and unsuccessfully.
 
A Fireside Chat during which Jim shares his story and insights.
Speakers:

Mikeisha Anderson Jones
Moderator
Mikeisha Anderson Jones
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Milbank LLP

James T. Breedlove
Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary at Praxair

12:35pm-1:05pm

Keynote

Excellence in Legacy: Building Pipelines

A Fireside Chat where James tells his story and shares insight, including how to navigate challenges that seek to mute and frustrate innovation and how to strategically and effectively build a pipeline for diverse talent.
Speakers:

Moderator
Michael Henry
Chief Compliance Officer, Wafra

James ONeal
James O’Neal
Chair, Founder, Legal Outreach

1:05pm-2:20pm

Lunch and Progress Roundtable

Black Excellence IS an Affirming Action. Life Post Supreme Court

This year, the United States Supreme Court will decide cases that demand an end to affirmative action as we know it. The revolt against affirmative action isn’t new. Leading experts on civil rights and constitutional law will dissect how an end to affirmative action in higher education and ultimately other spaces will impact the future and what folks can do to move ahead to protect and prevent destruction of opportunity.
Speakers:

Essence Liburd
Moderator
Essence Liburd
Associate Compliance Counsel,
DailyPay

Damon Hewitt
Damon Hewitt
President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

2:20pm-2:30pm

Fellowship Break 4

2:30pm-3:15pm

Plenary Session

Excellence in Transition: Switching Lanes – Making Powerful Pivots and Strategic Career Upgrades

In this conversation, panelists who have held roles in various sectors will share their stories and advice on how to make professional moves that truly leverage your talent, expertise, and skills.
 
Speakers:

Paul Colinet
Moderator
Paul Colinet
Senior Legal Counsel, Legal & Business Advisory, Xero, Inc.

Moderator
Morenike Williams
CEO, Revision Coaching

Pia Flanagan
Pia Flanagan
Head of Mass Markets, Mass Mutual

Sozi Pedro Tulante
Sozi Tulante
General Counsel, Form Energy

Andrez Carberry
Andrez Carberry
Head of Global Human Resource, Deere

3:15pm-3:30pm

Fellowship Break

3:30pm-3:45pm

Fellowship Real Talk

3:45pm-4:30pm

Plenary Session

Excellence in Wealth – CREAM: Securing YOUR Bag

No coin left behind: Strategies to ensure you are claiming your max comp.
 
Everywhere we turn nowadays we are told to “secure the bag”, but the key piece of advice missing from that rallying cry is to make sure the bag you’re securing isn’t light.
 
For too long compensation has been a taboo topic, particularly in communities of color, and the lack of transparent conversations keeps us unaware about how much we should really be demanding, in terms of base, equity, and non-traditional perks (such as nanny expenses, concierge service access post-separation, etc.).
 
In addition to conducting a demo compensation conversation, our panelists are going to break down the dos and don’ts of salary negotiations, competitive salary levels, how people should weigh equity offers, and what are some of the other benefits people can request as part of their overall package.
Speakers:

roy locke
Moderator
Roy Locke
Senior Vice President,
Marsh USA LLC

kimberly allman
Moderator
Kimberly Allman
Consultant, The Allman Group LLC

Jeanine Conley Daves
Office Managing Shareholder, Littler Mendelson

Tobias Spruill
Tobias Spruill
Senior Managing Counsel – Head of North American Employment Law & Employee Benefits

Stacey M. Gray
Stacey Gray
Stacey Gray PC

Andrew Titus
Andrew Titus
Founder/Principal COGO Partners, LLC

4:30pm-4:45pm

Closing Remarks–Announce 2024 Summit Dates/Location

4:45pm-5:00pm

Group Photo

5:00pm

Networking Dine-Arounds (dutch treat)

Sunday, June 4th, 2023

TBD

Black Excellence: Movement with a Purpose- Run/Walk on the Hudson River

10:30am-11:00am

Coffee/Fellowship Check-in

Speakers:

Sanetta Ponton
Sanetta Ponton
Pastor of Justice, Advocacy and Compassion,  Metro Community Church
Executive Director, Metro Community Center

11:00am -12:00pm

Plenary Session

Excellence in Wealth: Independence through Wealth Creation

Leaving a Legacy: The importance of leveraging diversified investment strategies as part of your generational wealth planning The audience will hear about the various faculty, including Trevor Rozier-Bryd’s creation of Stackwell Capital, a digital platform specifically focused on closing the racial wealth gap by demystifying investing, Chaz Gates’ development of a shark tank winning wine business, Jeffrey Kennerly’s advice as a Financial Advisor; and Michelle Ifill’s bed and breakfast venture in retirement. The goal is to have a real conversation about the racial wealth gap, what it is realistically going to take to close it, and ways of strategically leveraging various financial instruments to start that process.
 
Speakers:

Nneka Ukpai
Moderator
Nneka Ukpai
Head of Financial Innovations, Better

Squire Servance
Moderator
Squire Servance
Managing Partner, Syridex Bio

Trevor Rozier-Byrd
Trevor Rozier-Byrd
Founder, Stackwell

Chaz Gates
Chaz Gates
CO-Owner and COO at Wondry Wine

Jeffery Kennerly
Jeffrey Kennerly
Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley

Michelle Ifill
Michelle Ifill
Retired General Counsel; Founder, CEO, Villa La Maison Michelle

12:15pm-2:30pm

Networking Brunch w/Guest Speaker

Excellence All Around: TBD Brunch

MPK

MBK | MSK is our community and My People’s Keeper (MPK) is the non-profit entity that provides structure and leadership for all of our initiatives.