Boardroom Diversity and the Black Corporate Board Readiness Program

This episode features Dennis Lanham—the Sr Assistant Dean of Exec Ed and Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Executive Center at Santa Clara University—and BCBR alumni Zain Oke, Vice President at AAA and board member, and Dianna Jones, Director of Legal Compliance at Uber and board member. We dive into the origins, mission, and focus of the Black Corporate Board Readiness (BCBR) program at Santa Clara University, exploring the progress it has made and the challenges Black board directors face in today's corporate climate. Our discussion covers the evolution of board diversity, including the impact of California's SB-826 and AB-979 legislation. We also navigate the complexities of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) challenges, offering valuable recommendations for executives considering joining corporate boards. If you like this show, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing this podcast on social media. You can also contribute as a Patron on the link patreon.com/BoardroomGovernancePod or you can subscribe to the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at evanepstein.substack.com This podcast is sponsored by the American College of Governance Counsel.