Young Women Gain Global Business
Leadership Experience
Visit South Africaas Ann Fudge Scholars

Westina Matthews Shatteen, Ph.D.—Ann Fudge Scholars
with South Africa flag and Chaperones

(AANEWSWIRE)WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 30, 2009 – Five female collegiate scholars selected to join members of The Executive Leadership Council® in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet with global business leaders in South Africa have returnedhome awestruck and exhilarated.  The scholars were recipients of the 2008-09 Ann Fudge Scholarships, named in honor of the first woman chair of the Council and former chairman and CEO of Young & Rubicam Brands.  

Fudge, who currently serves on boards of foundations and companies such as General Electric and Novartis, complimented the women. “I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of these young women.  Their experiences in South Africawill enable them to truly be Citizens of the World, capable of understanding different cultures and working in our global business environment.”

Prior to their departure, The Coca-Cola Company hosted a dinner for the students in Atlanta. The eight-day visit in conjunction with LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) featured stops in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and tours of the Apartheid Museum and Robbins Island.  The scholars were chaperoned by Council members including Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President – Global Inclusion Strategy & Executive Vice President - Public Affairs & Chief of Staff, MTV Networks; Dr. Jane E. Smith, Executive Director of the Spelman College Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement and Joy Booker, President of NextGen Network, the pipeline organization of The Executive Leadership Council. 

"Traveling to South Africawas a necessity in order for me to grow and learn, and we gained so much from this experience,” remarked Rachel Niani Cheeseborough, aSpelmanCollegerising senior. “I will always be grateful for having the opportunity to share this experience with phenomenal people.”

"A global experience has never been more compelling in shaping a young person’s career,” said Westina Matthews Shatteen, Ph.D., Managing Director, Community Business Development with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, and architect of the Ann Fudge Scholars program and coordinator of the South African tour. “That is why we, at The Executive Leadership Council, believed it was crucial for our Ann Fudge scholars to receive not only scholarship support but also the unparalleled experience of traveling to another country, chaperoned by ELC women and hosted by ELC member companies.”

"The South Africatrip taught me the significance of cross-cultural communication,” said Denyqua Rodriguez, a rising senior at BennettCollegefor Women.  “I now have a greater awareness and appreciation for diversity and inclusion.” Another BennettCollegerising senior, Khadijah Dargan, added,“I truly appreciate this eye opening trip that has caused me to move rapidly toward truly understanding globalization.  I feel as if I have been given the world, and it is all due to the empowered women of The Executive Leadership Council.”

The scholars visited senior executives from GE, Johnson & Johnson, and other global companies in the region to gain first-hand insight into global business and professional and personal leadership development.  Venus Taylor, a 2nd year MBA student at The University of Chicago said, “As world markets become increasingly integrated, it is important for us to become members of the global community if we want to make any impact.  The exposure granted by this trip to South Africahas opened doors to what I can apply to my MBA studies as well as to my career.”

Chaperone Marva Smalls of MTV Networks observed, “The trip to South Africawas a great complement to the academic studies and internships of the Anne Fudge Scholars.  Not only did it add to their personal and professional development, but they were able to witness first-hand the innovative work of global companies in connecting their businesses back to the community and their employees to each other.  On a professional level, I gained great insight into the various models used to build a diverse and inclusive workforce which can also be championed within MTV Networks.”

The scholarships awarded each of the women $5,000 and were presented at The Executive Leadership Council's 2008 Black Women’s Leadership Summit in New York Citylast summer. All funds for the scholarships and travel expenses for the scholars were raised by hundreds of ELC members through support of past annual women’s summits. The students also were recognized at The Council's 2008 Annual Recognition Awards black tie gala in New Yorklast October, which was attended by more than 2,000 leaders in business, higher education, and public policy. 

“This global excursion has exceeded all of my expectations,” said Spelman College Rising Senior Michelle Maltbia, expressing her appreciation. “With each new experience I found an opportunity for my own personal growth – and for that I am eternally grateful.”

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About The Executive Leadership Council

The Executive Leadership Council is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(6) corporation founded in 1986, providing African-American executives of major U.S. companies with a professional network and forum to offer perspective and direction on national and international business and public policy issues. Our programs develop future business leaders, filling the pipeline from the classroom to the boardroom. It is the preeminent organization that recognizes the strengths, success, contributions, and impact of African-American corporate business leaders. Council members – more than 500 executives, one-third of them women – represent more than 380 Fortune 500 corporations.  For more information about The Executive Leadership Council, please visit www.elcinfo.com.