About this item
"In this memoir and guidebook, Gadsden-Williams interweaves the story of her life as a black female executive with research statistics and savvy career tips for minority women also seeking to occupy the 'C-Suite'...Always candid about the realities of corporate life, the author offers sound advice for minority women seeking advancement, recognition, and meaningful lives. Illuminating and useful."--Kirkus Reviews"Michelle Gadsden-Williams has accomplished something rare for a black woman in America: maintained a successful corporate career at the highest level. Climb is the story of her journey to the top, and her generous effort to send the elevator back down for the rest of us."--Tiffany Dufu, author of Drop the Ball"Gadsden-Williams has written a brilliant book that reveals how companies can leverage diversity as a competitive advantage in today's marketplace.
About the Author
As Managing Director of North America Inclusion & Diversity at Accenture, Michelle Gadsden-Williams is responsible for further strengthening and accelerating the company's efforts to foster an inclusive culture. Michelle has more than 25 years of experience as an advocate for equality within corporate America and a thought leader around diversity and inclusion. Michelle is a seasoned diversity practitioner with experience working in the consumer goods and pharmaceutical industries before transitioning to financial services in 2011.Michelle has acquired a multitude of community service awards and accolades for her work as a diversity practitioner. Most recently, she was recognized by the Reverend Al Sharpton as a 2016 honoree at the National Action Network "Woman of Power" Luncheon, an honoree at the Black Institute Awards Gala in NYC and a 2015 Ebony Magazine Power 100 honoree. Throughout her career, Michelle has been profiled in Black Enterprise Magazine, DiversityInc, Diversity Executive, Ebony, Essence, Fortune, History Makers, Heart & Soul, Jet, New Vision, Science Magazine, Sister to Sister, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Target Market News and was recognized as one of 40 Outstanding Executives Under 40 in America in 2006 by the Network Journal. Her other notable tributes include: being named the 2010 recipient of the Maya Way Award for Diversity Leadership by the incomparable Dr. Maya Angelou, receiving the 2008 Harvard Black Men's Forum Businesswoman of the Year Award, accepting the Rainbow Push Coalition's Bridge Builder Award by the honorable Reverend Jesse L. Jackson and also being recognized with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from Kean University for her outstanding personal and professional accomplishments in the field of diversity and inclusion. In 2013 Michelle was appointed as a member of the Global Advisory Council on Gender Parity for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.Michelle earned a B.S. in Marketing, a B.A. in Communications from Kean College of New Jersey and an M.S. in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and the Executive Leadership Council. Michelle serves on several boards including the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the SLE Lupus Foundation and a member of the Women's Leadership Board of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Michelle and her husband David Jamal Williams, live in New York City.
