On May 17, the Stanford Graduate School of Business hosted its annual Black Leaders Conference (BLC), bringing together students, alumni, professionals and innovators from around the world. Organized by the GSB Black Business Student Association, the event celebrated Black excellence in leadership across industries and generations. This year’s theme, Define the Next Wave, focused on creating new visions for the future: bridging generational and geographic divides to shape the evolving landscape of leadership.
“We spent a lot of time thinking about how to build connections between generations, industries, and regions,” said co-chair Quinn Lewis, an MBA2 student at Stanford GSB. “We wanted to think about how people could come together and create new visions for the future.”
Panels throughout the day addressed topics like artificial intelligence, venture capital, personal branding, and career reinvention. The conference also featured speakers with global perspectives, including professionals who have recently transitioned to the U.S. from Africa.
Organizers said they wanted to leave attendees with a sense of purpose and momentum, especially as many prepare to graduate.
“There’s a lot of negative energy out there,” said co-chair and fellow MBA2 Gloria Odoemelam. “We wanted people to leave feeling energized, even if they don’t know their exact next step. With the right values, motivation, and community, they can navigate whatever’s next.”
