ANN FUDGE FORMER CHAIR & CEO, YOUNG & RUBICAM BRANDS Fudge has always broken new ground. In 1994, she became president of the Maxwell
BARBARA “B” SMITH FOUNDER, B.SMITH ENTERPRISES Smith began her career as a fashion model for Ebony Fashion Fair and then signed with the
HARRIET MICHEL FORMER CEO, NATIONAL MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT , COUNCIL The first African American woman to head a major foundation, Michel’s
OPRAH WINFREY CHAIR & CEO, HARPO INC. CHAIR & CEO, OWN NETWORK Winfrey has applied an uncanny entrepreneurial drive, impeccable timing,
BETHANN HARDISON CEO, BETHANN MANAGEMENT CO. INC. She broke barriers as one of the first African American models for major brands like Calvin
SUZANNE DE PASSE CO-CHAIR DE PASSE, JONES ENTERTAINMENT FORMER PRESIDENT, MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS An entertainment industry dynamo for close to 50
SUSAN TAYLOR FOUNDER & CEO NATIONAL CARES MENTORING MOVEMENT FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS As the editor-in-chief of
JULIA TAYLOR FORMER CEO, MECHANICS & FARMERS BANK Following in the footsteps of her father, John Wheeler, and grandfather Stanford L. Warren,
FAYE WATTLETON FORMER PRESIDENT, PLANNED PARENTHOOD One of the nation’s leading advocates for reproductive rights, Wattleton was the first
CAROLINE JONES CO-FOUNDER, MINGO-JONES ADVERTISING Jones broke racial and gender barriers to become one of the most prominent black women in