24 Rising Black Professionals Step Forward: TALI Celebrates Graduates of Its New “Emerging Leaders Program”

TALI’s 2022 ELP Graduates: Front row: Tashawna Rodgers, Amber Makokele, Natalee Smith, Nefertiti Wade, Hattie McCarter, Lynette Mahan; Second row: Allison Russell, Glenn Grayson, Owen Gombami, Nisha Blackwell, Deo Alexander, Kristian McCloud-Semaia, Ja’Lisa Brown, Ange Loiseau, Judah Constant; Last row: Jerrelle Boston, Calvin Edwards, Adam Wade, Patriece Thompson, Jimyse Brown, Natalie
TALI’s 2022 ELP Graduates: Front row: Tashawna Rodgers, Amber Makokele, Natalee Smith, Nefertiti Wade, Hattie McCarter, Lynette Mahan; Second row: Allison Russell, Glenn Grayson, Owen Gombami, Nisha Blackwell, Deo Alexander, Kristian McCloud-Semaia, Ja’Lisa Brown, Ange Loiseau, Judah Constant; Last row: Jerrelle Boston, Calvin Edwards, Adam Wade, Patriece Thompson, Jimyse Brown, Natalie

24 Rising Black Professionals Step Forward: TALI Celebrates
Graduates of Its New “Emerging Leaders Program”

PITTSBURGH PRNewswire -- On Friday, April 1, at the Carnegie Museum of Art, The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) was pleased to present the first graduating class of it newest leadership development program – the Emerging Leaders Program. The Emerging Leaders Program provides critical support for high-potential Black leaders of tomorrow and is designed to help prepare them for advancement. Twenty-Four ELP graduates commemorated a transformative step in their professional journey by completing the program. Celebrating alongside the graduates were Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Keynote Speaker Marsha Jones (TALI Board Chair and Executive Vice President/
Diversity and Inclusion Executive of PNC). In addition, leadership from TALI and Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business spoke along with cohort members who provided introductions and
reflections.

“The 2022 Emerging Leaders Program graduates represent TALI’s commitment to support and cultivate the next generation of Black leaders,” states Evan Frazier (President & CEO, The Advanced Leadership Institute). “Over the last seven months of training, our
cohort members have been exposed to diverse topics and alumni mentors that will help them climb the organizational ladder and impact the community in powerful ways. Congratulations to each rising leader
who committed to this journey!”

TALI’s Emerging Leaders Program is operated in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). In addition, Duquesne University, Robert Morris University, and The University of Pittsburgh collaborated with TALI and CMU by providing faculty for the program.

“Participating in this inaugural Emerging Leaders Program graduation was quite a memorable experience,” said Keynote Speaker Marsha Jones (Executive Vice President/Diversity & Inclusion Executive for PNC Financial Services Group). “I’m very impressed with the level of talent, engagement and enthusiasm that this cohort brings. They are set to make a significant impact on this region.”

“Congratulations to The Advanced Leadership Institute and
all the graduates of the Emerging Leaders Program. This program
is exactly what is needed to grow diversity in the City of Pittsburgh
and the Greater Pittsburgh Region.” – Mayor Ed Gainey, City of
Pittsburgh

The newly established Emerging Leaders Program complements
TALI’s flagship program, known as the Executive Leadership
Academy (which is now in its fourth year of success). The Emerging Leaders Program is focused on individual contributors and early managers while the Executive Leadership Academy focuses on executives and mid-level managers. Together, both programs
help to educate, develop, connect, and position Black leaders
for professional advancement. Post-graduation, graduates of TALI’s
Emerging Leaders Program will have ongoing access to alumni
support and executive development programming.

The first class of Emerging Leader graduates includes:
Deo Alexander, Supervisor Distribution Engineering, Duquesne
Light Company
Nisha Blackwell, Founder, Knotzland
Jerrelle Boston, Senior Business Analytics Consultant, PNC
Ja’Lisa Brown, Benefits and HRIS Manager, Housing Authority
of the City of Pittsburgh
Jimyse Brown, Founder & Educator, Hidden Gyms/Cross Culture
Sports & St. Edmund’s Academy
Judah Constant, Senior Claim Manager, UPMC
Calvin Edwards, Senior Financial Analyst IT & Retail Innovation,
Giant Eagle
Marrissa Gillcrease, Marketing Operations Specialist, Giant Eagle
Owen Gombami, IT Audit Manager, FHLBank Pittsburgh
Glenn Grayson, Senior Program Manager for Real Estate Development,
Neighborhood Allies
Ange Loiseau, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Covestro
Lynette Mahan, Settlements Manager, Vice President, BNY
Mellon
Amber Makokele, Manager of Growth, Highmark Wholecare
Hattie McCarter, Equity Management Coordinator, Department
of General Services: Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small
Business Opportunity
Kristian McCloud-Semaia, Senior HR Business Partner, PNC
Philip Montgomery, Customer Success Manager, HM Health
Solutions
Paris Norman, Global Process Owner, Covestro
Tashawna Rodgers, Assistant Manager, Field Marketing, Giant
Eagle
Allison Russell, Senior Program Manager, Value Realization,
Enterprise Effectiveness, Highmark Health
Natalee Smith, Technical Product Manager, Coatings &
Adhesives, Covestro
Patriece Thompson, Director of Investor Relations,
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Natalie Thurman, Manager, Human Research Protections
Office (HRPO), Allegheny Health Network
Adam Wade, Community Resource Officer, Carnegie
Mellon University Police Department
Nefertiti Wade, Health Equity Program Officer; Public
Health Technician, Deloitte Services LP; PA Air National
Guard

The mission of The Advanced Leadership Institute is to cultivate Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities. Its primary focus is to educate, develop, connect, and position Black leaders for executive advancement. TALI has a portfolio
of leadership programs, which include the Executive Leadership Academy (a program for Black leaders with at least 10 years of work experience in corporate, nonprofit, government or entrepreneurial sectors); an Emerging Leaders Program (addressing the needs of Black leaders with a minimum of 3-5 years of professional work experience); and ongoing programming and support for TALI alumni.

The Advanced Leadership Institute is supported by major corporations and foundations in the Pittsburgh region, including Founding Underwriters: BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Highmark Foundation, and Richard King Mellon Foundation; Excellence Partners: Henry L. Hillman Foundation and Highmark; Lead Contributors: BNY Mellon, Eden Hall Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments. Presenting Sponsors: Giant Eagle, Highmark Health, PNC, and UPMC. Gold Sponsors: Bank of America, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Covestro, Duquesne Light Company, FHL Bank Pittsburgh, Gateway Health, Koppers, and Sheetz; Silver Sponsor: Wabtec; and Bronze Sponsors: CS McKee, Dollar Bank, Eat’n Park, EY, and Northwestern Mutual.

For information about how you can be involved, visit www.
taliinstitute.org.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

A.L. Smith - Harold Washington Legacy Committee