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Kirk Franklin

20-time Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, producer, and music icon
Kirk Franklin is a 20-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, songwriter, producer, and music icon. For over three decades, he has been a transformative force in contemporary Gospel music, blending Gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop into a sound that resonates across generations. Widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative figures in modern music, Franklin continues to expand the reach of Gospel while redefining its place in mainstream culture.

In October 2023, Franklin released his critically acclaimed album Father’s Day (Fo Yo Soul/RCA), featuring the #1 hit single “All Things,” which earned him his 20th GRAMMY Award at the 2024 ceremony for Best Gospel Performance/Song. In 2025, he followed up with the powerful new single “Do It Again,” which reached #1 on the Gospel charts and further affirmed his ability to deliver both timely and timeless messages through music.

Franklin recently received the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2025 BET Awards, recognizing his decades-long influence across music, culture, and entertainment. He also debuted the original series Den of Kings, a bold and compelling platform that explores faith, leadership, and personal growth. The series quickly gained traction, surpassing 1 million views in less than a week and marking a significant moment in faith-based storytelling.

Beyond the studio and stage, Franklin headlined The Reunion Tour 2.0, bringing together Gospel greats including Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, The Clark Sisters, Marvin Sapp, and Kierra Sheard-Kelly. His ability to bridge generations and genres is reflected in collaborations with artists such as Mariah Carey, Justin Timberlake, Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, and Demi Lovato, extending the message of Gospel music to audiences around the world.

Franklin remains committed to developing the next generation of talent and uplifting communities. Through initiatives like Camp Lotus, he mentors aspiring artists and creatives, while also supporting organizations such as Compassion International and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His SiriusXM channel, Kirk Franklin’s Praise, and his work as an executive producer across television and film, including Kingdom Business on BET and Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas on Lifetime, highlight his continued impact across multiple platforms.

Kirk Franklin continues to stand as a trailblazer whose influence reaches far beyond music. Whether performing, creating, or mentoring, he inspires millions with a message grounded in faith, love, and resilience.

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Carla Harris

Senior Client Advisor,
Morgan Stanley
Carla Harris is Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley having finished a 30+ year career as a Vice Chairman and Managing Director. Throughout her career she managed and executed billions of dollars of equity and equity related transactions, including the IPOs of UPS, Martha Stewart Omnimedia and the Immunex Corporation. She was also Chair of the Morgan Stanley Foundation from 2005 to 2014 and sits on the boards of several community organizations. In August 2013, Carla was appointed by President Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council. She is a gospel recording artist, with 4 commercially released CDs under her belt, 6 sold out concerts at Carnegie Hall, 2 at the Apollo Theatre and a popular public speaker who gives impactful career guidance to corporate audiences based on her books, Expect to Win (2009), Strategize to Win (2014), and Lead to Win (2022).

She sits on the boards of the Walmart Corporation, Cummins Corporation and MetLife. Carla joined Morgan Stanley in 1987 after completing an AB in economics, magna cum laude, from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, with honors.

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Shellye Archambeau

Fortune 500 Board Member, Former CEO and Author
Shellye Archambeau: Fortune 500 board member, Former CEO of MetricStream, Advisor and Author Shellye Archambeau is an experienced CEO and Board Director with a track record of accomplishments building brands, high performance teams, and organizations. Ms. Archambeau currently serves on the boards of Verizon, Roper Technologies, Okta and Lineage. She is also a CEO mentor with the EXCO Group and serves on the board of two national nonprofits, Catalyst and Braven. Ms. Archambeau has over 30 years of experience in technology.

She is the former CEO of MetricStream, a Silicon Valley-based, governance, risk, and compliance software company. During her tenure MetricStream grew from a fledgling startup into a global market leader. She is the author of Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers and Create Success on Your Own Terms. A book that will inspire you and provide the tools to enable you to fight the battles, make the tradeoffs and create the life you want. She is also a Forbes contributor and the protagonist of the Harvard Business School Case Study: Becoming a CEO.

She is also the founder of Ignite Ambition, a community focused on the professional development of people in the early to mid-stage of their career. The mission is to provide professionals with the knowledge, inspiration, perspective, and tools that they need to overcome their challenges, achieve their aspirations, and excel in their professional careers.

Ms. Archambeau enjoys the performing arts, traveling, cooking and writing a blog that provides career advice, insights and other musings (https://shellye.com). @shelarchambeau

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Rosalind “Roz” Brewer

Interim President
Spelman College
Rosalind "Roz" Brewer stands as one of the most influential leaders in global business today, recognized for her visionary leadership, strategic expertise, and steadfast commitment to advancing equity. Over a groundbreaking career, Brewer has driven innovation across major industries, serving as President and CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, COO of Starbucks, and President and CEO of Sam’s Club. Brewer’s impact extends beyond the corporate sphere through her service on the boards of United Airlines, the KIPP Foundation, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. A proud Spelman alumna and chemistry graduate, she also holds a rare ownership stake in the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

Mrs. Brewer now returns to her roots as Interim President of Spelman College, where she champions educational excellence and prepares future leaders for an evolving world.

Brewer’s life’s work embodies a powerful legacy of leadership, empowerment, and transformative change.

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Jotaka Eaddy

Founder and CEO,
Full Circle Strategies
Described by Forbes as the “Olivia Pope of Silicon Valley,” Jotaka is the founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies, where she’s led transformative campaigns for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network, Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women Initiative, and The Color Purple film launch. She’s also the visionary behind #WinWithBlackWomen, the powerhouse network that has influenced major national moments—from Kamala Harris’ presidential run to the confirmation of the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. This is just the beginning—more major announcements are coming soon.

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Bennie Wiley

Director on the Boards of the BNY Mellon Mutual Funds and CBIZ
Benaree Pratt Wiley (Bennie) is a long-time Corporate Director and Trustee. Bennie spent the majority of her career as a serial entrepreneur and management consultant. She is most well-known for building a sustainable and influential social enterprise when she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Partnership, Inc., an organization that strengthens Greater Boston’s capacity to attract, retain, and develop talented professionals of color.

Bennie currently serves as a Director on the boards of the BNY Mellon Mutual Funds and CBIZ (NYSE: CBZ). She has served as Chair of PepsiCo’s African American Advisory Board and previously served on the boards of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and First Albany (NASDAQ: FACT). Throughout her career, she has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit and civic organizations, including the Black Economic Alliance, The Boston Foundation, the Board of Trustees of Boston College, Vice President of the Harvard Business School Alumni Board, and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of her alma mater, Howard University.

She is a frequent speaker on leadership, diversity, and professional development, and has received numerous awards and honors, including five honorary doctorates from institutions such as Howard University and Boston College. Among her many recognitions are her induction into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians; the Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; and the Myra Kraft Leadership Award from the National Association of Corporate Directors. Bennie has also been featured on the cover of Boston magazine as one of the city’s most powerful women and was the subject of a Harvard Business School case, “Bennie Wiley and The Partnership”.

As one of the first female and Black graduates of Harvard Business School, Bennie—along with her husband, Flash—has been a driving force in expanding access and advancing economic opportunities for the African American community. Her children continue that legacy: her son, Pratt, a corporate attorney and former National Director of Voter Expansion under President Obama, now serves as President and CEO of The Partnership; her daughter, B.J., a venture-backed entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of SoHookd, an enterprise wellness platform enhancing employee engagement and well-being. Bennie and B.J. were the first African American mother–daughter graduates of Harvard Business School, exemplifying a family tradition of leadership, innovation, and social impact.