I spent the weekend reading, then re-reading, Fast Company magazine’s annual ranking of 100 Most Creative People in Business. In times like these where there’s so much economic uncertainty, it can be easy (and probably wise) to do what feels safe. It was nice to be reminded that ultimately, it’s the innovators who will bring us joy, opportunity, social justice, health and yes, wealth.
Even though these list tend to be somewhat biased (what rankings aren’t?), I still enjoy seeing who and what’s next. I was also very pleased to see some incredible black women in the mix including:
#34: Kimberly Davis, President, JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Kimberly Davis oversees the global philanthropic efforts at JPMorgan Chase. Last year, she helped her organization harness the power of grassroots activism through social media. She led the Chase Community Giving, a competition that gave away $5 million to charities through Facebook. About half a million charities applied and over 2 million people used Facebook to vote for the 100 $25,000 finalists and $1 million winner. Davis has worked in finance for almost three decades and is committed to helping women of color grow as leaders. She is an alumna and trustee of Spelman College where she served as a founding co-director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement. At the Center, she implemented a national conference focused on leadership development of women of color.
Photo: fastcompany.com
#50: Natalia Allen, Founder, Design Futurist
Photo: Nataliaallen.com
#59: Majora Carter, Founder, Sustainable South Bronx and Majora Carter group
Photo:fastcompany.com
Majora Carter has been a major voice and figure in urban renewal over the last decade.A South Bronx native, she founded the nonprofit Sustainable South Bronx (SSB) to take on government plans to bring more waste treatment facilities to her neighborhood. Instead, she spearheaded an effort that led to the South Bronx Greenway, an 11 mile bike and pedestrian path. In 2005, she was awarded the prestigious MacArther Foundation genius grant. Now, with the Majora Carter Group, a for profit organization, she is helping distressed communities throughout the US, including Detroit and New Orleans, to create “green collar” jobs that clean up environments and save blighted neighborhoods.
These women are in their 20s, 40s, and 50s, and are all fantastic examples of black women who rock in many different ways. So be inspired and go make yours happen!
