HEADQUARTERS: San Francisco, California
WEBSITE: www.schwab.com; www.aboutschwab.com
BUSINESS: Financial services
EMPLOYEES: 13,000
TITLE: Vice President, Platform and Product Management
EDUCATION: Some college
WHAT I’M READING: Shackleton’s Way, by Stephanie Capparell and Margot Morrell
INTERESTS: Photography, reading, and family
How has the civil rights movement affected you personally?
Understanding your past helps you prepare for your future. My mother was raised in the south and the elder generations of my family have always shared their stories. My great aunt, Nora McKeown-Ezell, was a very important representative for the African American quilting tradition. She was commissioned by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to produce a tribute to the civil right workers of Alabama. Having access to my family history through five generations has been not only enlightening but also key to having a better understanding of me.
How do you give back to the African American community?
I am a firm believer in the impact of formal and informal mentorship; I make myself available and volunteer through several organizations including Girls Inc. and Juma Ventures. I am also a big advocate of financial literacy and volunteer through Schwab with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, teaching teens basic money management skills. Schwab’s Employee Volunteer Program provides Schwab professionals with an opportunity to volunteer at Clubs and share their financial expertise with Club members and their families.
