Ahead of a pivotal election year, TIME and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation hosted a dinner and panel discussion on Martha’s Vineyard titled “Expanding Equity: The Power of Purposeful Leadership.”
Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs engaged in a conversation with three prominent business leaders, all women of color, about their commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces and driving positive change. The event, held at a private residence, also featured a captivating performance by Deon Jones.
Chef JJ Johnson, founder of the fast-casual chain Field Trip and the culinary mastermind behind the dinner menu, began the evening by reminiscing about the importance of meaningful conversations at his grandmother’s table. He highlighted the unique power of shared meals to foster equity, emphasizing that food is a universal need. “Let us consider the potential of food to bring people together,” he said to an audience of about 50. “We can cultivate a future where everyone has a place at the table.”
The panelists quickly delved into their personal experiences. La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the presenting sponsor of TIME’s event, shared her story as one of 10 children, the daughter of an auto industry worker who migrated from Clarksdale, Miss., to Detroit, Mich., as part of the Great Migration. Marissa Solis, senior vice president of global brand and consumer marketing at the National Football League (NFL), spoke of her own immigrant experience, having grown up in southern Texas after immigrating from Mexico City. This background made border policy issues deeply personal for her. And Arian Simone, CEO & co-founder of the Fearless Fund, a venture capital firm dedicated to empowering women of color, drew inspiration from her grandmother, a domestic worker who, after inquiring about investments from her client’s financial advisor, ended up acquiring three homes and a substantial stocks and bonds portfolio.
Jacobs asked Solis how the NFL measures its impact on society. Solis discussed the league’s efforts to facilitate voter registration among fans and encourage them to vote on Election Day. She also elaborated on the NFL’s evolving diversity, highlighting that the league is now majority diverse, with 51% of the company comprised of women and people of color. Furthermore, there are currently nine head coaches, eight general managers, and seven club presidents of color. Solis discussed the NFL’s initiatives designed to connect employees, particularly women and people of color, with influential figures within the league, leading to a “transformative” change within the organization.
Tabron added that people of color constitute over half of the workforce at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable children to achieve success. People of color represent 60% of the foundation’s board, and leaders of color comprise 60% of its portfolio. Since the pandemic and the racial justice protests following the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a police officer, the foundation has made a significant effort to recruit, retain, and promote people of color—and to assist other companies in undertaking similar initiatives. “We are currently working with nearly 200 companies and over 800 executives who have come together to declare, ‘this work begins at home. How do we create inclusive environments within our own organizations?’” Tabron stated.
, the nation’s first venture-capital (VC) firm established by women of color, has garnered national attention recently. In June, a Florida appeals court ruled that one of Fearless Fund’s grant programs for Black women violated the Civil Rights Act. The case was brought by Edward Blum, a conservative activist who was behind the cases that led to the Supreme Court ruling that any college admissions policies considering race as a factor were unconstitutional. When Jacobs asked for her perspective on the organization’s current situation amidst these legal challenges, Simone emphasized that Blum’s goal was to shut down the entire fund, which he ultimately failed to do. In fact, the challenge has only empowered her to ensure that more such funds can exist legally. There needs to be more “fearless funds,” she asserted.
When Jacobs opened the floor for questions from the audience, Alicia Williams, head of diversity, equity & inclusion at Saks, posed a question to the panelists about their strategies for maintaining motivation when DEI work becomes particularly challenging. Solis cited her 19-year-old daughter as her guiding inspiration: “I want this world to be a better place for her, and that’s what motivates me every day.”
The TIME Impact Dinner, Expanding Equity: The Power of Purposeful Leadership was presented by The W.K. Kellogg Foundation.