President Jimmy opened the zoom meeting by introducing “two remarkable friends,” Bill Center and Todd Summerfelt, who led us in “You Got a Friend in Me.” Trish Bostrom inspired us with her thoughts that were based on today’s program of opening doors for African Americans in the corporate world.
Jane Pryor introduced us to our new member Dr. Catherine Darley who has her own sleep medicine practice, The Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine. She focuses on sleep advocacy and education and is also involved with Groundswell NW and WA Women’s Foundation.
Futurist Richard Yonck started his short program with an overview video on “how we can explore the future.” He said futurists like him don’t predict the future but instead “explore possible futures.” They want to “work toward the preferred future.” Some issues he addressed included:
- The future is so much more than new technologies; what about the people, the planet, us?
- We should learn and get informed about ways to realize the future we prefer; what kind of world do you want to live in?
- The future is too complex to have one assumption, we want to have as many different perspectives as all of us create the future; it should be a group effort.
He concluded by wishing us “the future that you prefer.”
Our main program was introduced by our past president Karl Ege of Perkins Coie. He introduced us to the Black Boardroom Initiative and set the stage for the need for more diversity on corporate boards.
Karl introduced the panel moderator Stewart Landefeld who is also with Perkins Coie. Stuart gave us some background and introduced his fellow panelists: Pat Ogawa/Deloitte, Trey Chenier/Perkins Coie, and Michael Parham/Real Networks.
Stewart explained that the goal of The Black Boardroom Initiative is to increase the number of Black representatives on corporate boards in our state and is based on a similar program, OnBoarding Women.
Some of the highlights from the panelists included:
- The program consists of seven sessions.
- There are three main groups: cohort, mentors, and core founders/advisors.
- They needed broad support from the corporate community and have recruited several key corporate sponsors in addition to Perkins Coie and Deloitte.
- There is no talent pipeline shortage in the Pacific NW.
- Other cities are looking to implement this program to take it nationwide.
- The goal is 1:8 by 2028.
Stewart also encouraged us to nominate people for the program, both for participant nominees and for mentors. President Jimmy thanked Karl for bringing us this important conversation.
David Woodward then introduced Rachele Bouchand, a financial planner and past president of Bellevue Rotary regarding her candidacy for District Governor. We then held a vote to support her nomination. President Jimmy thanked Rachele for her desire to serve and that “we wish you the best with your nomination.” He closed the meeting with a reflection on Colin Powell’s life who passed away this week.
