BLACK ENTERPRISE AND THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL JOIN FORCES TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF BLACK EXECUTIVE EXCELLENCE
Landmark partnership includes an exclusive commemorative magazine issue, a new 12-episode podcast series, and special coverage of The ELC’s 40th Anniversary Recognition Gala.
BLACK ENTERPRISE, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to Black business, leadership, and economic empowerment, and The Executive Leadership Council (The ELC) have announced a special partnership commemorating The ELC’s 40th anniversary and four decades of advancing Black executive leadership in corporate America.
The collaboration brings together two influential organizations with a shared history of championing Black leadership, expanding economic opportunity, and ensuring that future generations have access to the highest levels of business.
Through a special commemorative issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine, an original podcast series, and coverage of The ELC’s milestone anniversary celebration, the partnership will honor the executives who helped shape corporate America while elevating the conversations and leaders defining its future.
A Special Edition Celebrating 40 Years of Leadership
At the center of the partnership is an exclusive commemorative issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine dedicated to The ELC’s 40-year legacy.
The special issue features a joint letter from Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., President and CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE, and Michael C. Hyter, President and CEO of The Executive Leadership Council, reflecting on four decades of progress and the continued responsibility of leaders to create opportunities for those who follow.
The publication also includes a historical timeline chronicling The ELC’s evolution since its founding in 1986 and a special Power List recognizing some of the most impactful African American executives of the past 40 years.
The commemorative issue will be available exclusively at The ELC’s 40th Anniversary Recognition Gala on October 30, 2026, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
“When Earl G. Graves Sr. founded BLACK ENTERPRISE in 1970, the premise was revolutionary: Black economic power deserved to be documented, measured, and cultivated. Sixteen years later, The ELC’s founders advanced that same proposition from inside the corporation. One of our institutions has chronicled the pipeline. The other has helped build, strengthen, and expand it. We join The ELC in celebrating 40 extraordinary years of courage, conviction, excellence—and progress.”
— Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., President and CEO, BLACK ENTERPRISE
Introducing Advancing Excellence: A New Original Podcast Series
Extending the anniversary celebration beyond the gala, BLACK ENTERPRISE will launch Advancing Excellence: 40 Years of The Executive Leadership Council, a new, custom 12-episode podcast series, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
The series will feature one-on-one conversations with prominent African American executives, exploring the experiences, decisions, and lessons that have shaped their leadership journeys.
Episodes will address critical issues facing today’s business leaders, including nurturing leadership excellence, developing the next generation of executive talent, building inclusive businesses, and opening new channels of opportunity.
The first two featured guests will be Michael C. Hyter, President and CEO of The ELC, and Gale V. King, a distinguished corporate leader, The ELC’s 2026 Alvaro L. Martins Heritage Award honoree, and a 2020 Legacy honoree.
Through candid conversations and firsthand perspectives, Advancing Excellence will examine what it takes to lead at the highest levels while creating meaningful opportunities for those coming behind.
Episodes will stream on BlackEnterprise.com and BLACK ENTERPRISE’s official YouTube and LinkedIn platforms.
“For 40 years, The ELC has brought together people who understood that their success carried a responsibility to those coming behind them. BLACK ENTERPRISE has been telling the stories of Black achievement even longer. This partnership gives us a chance to celebrate how far we’ve come, hear directly from those who helped get us here, and share lessons that can help the next generation go even further. I’m especially pleased that these conversations will reach audiences well beyond our membership. Our story matters, and there’s much more of it to tell.”
— Michael C. Hyter, President and CEO, The Executive Leadership Council
Honoring the Past. Advancing the Future.
Founded in 1986 by 19 pioneering Black corporate executives, The Executive Leadership Council has grown into a network of more than 800 members, including CEOs, board directors, and senior executives at Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies.
For 40 years, The ELC has worked to develop, connect, and champion Black executive talent, helping expand representation and influence within corporate leadership.
BLACK ENTERPRISE, founded by Earl G. Graves Sr. in 1970, has spent more than five decades documenting Black achievement, promoting economic empowerment, and amplifying the stories of leaders transforming business and society.
Together, the organizations have played complementary roles in expanding the visibility, influence, and opportunities available to Black professionals.
As part of the collaboration, BLACK ENTERPRISE will also be on site throughout The ELC Gala Week, highlighting the milestone celebration and the leaders shaping the next chapter of corporate excellence.
The partnership represents more than a celebration of the past. It is a renewed commitment to ensuring that the progress achieved over the last four decades continues for generations to come.
About BLACK ENTERPRISE
BLACK ENTERPRISE is a leading multimedia company dedicated to empowering Black professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders through journalism, digital content, events, and educational programming. Founded in 1970 by Earl G. Graves Sr., BLACK ENTERPRISE has remained a trusted voice in advancing Black economic empowerment, leadership, and wealth creation.
Visit BlackEnterprise.com for more information.
About The Executive Leadership Council
Founded in 1986, The Executive Leadership Council (The ELC) is an organization of Black CEOs, board directors, and senior executives committed to advancing leadership excellence and expanding opportunities for Black talent in business. Through leadership development, networking, and educational initiatives, The ELC works to strengthen the pipeline of future corporate leaders.
Visit ELCinfo.com for more information.
Media Contacts
The Executive Leadership Council
Angelina Gordon
Senior Director of Communications
Agordon@elcinfo.com
202-615-7667