African American Chamber President/CEO Shares Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are a Winning Model for Business, during Berkeley College Larry L. Luing School of Business® Leadership Lecture Series
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
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John E. Harmon, Sr., Founder, President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, shared the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion as a winning model for business success, as the inaugural guest lecturer for the Berkeley College Larry L. Luing School of Business® Leadership Lecture Series. More than 50 students, faculty, staff, aspiring entrepreneurs and members of the business community joined Berkeley College for “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Why They Matter for Businesses Large and Small,” a free webinar on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.
Watch the Webinar: Click here to watch “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Whey They Matter for Businesses Large and Small.”
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are not an emotional engagement. It’s about value,” Harmon said. According to Ernst & Young, companies that have embraced DEI initiatives have better team collaboration, greater retention, greater success in the marketplace and higher revenue growth.
Harmon said about 14 percent of New Jersey’s 9 million residents are Black, but that this is not reflected in policy and opportunity within the state. “That is an opportunity for you to speak to your leadership,” he said. “Don’t just vote at the ballot box – be vocal behind your vote. Be advocates.”
Audience members asked questions about how to hold businesses accountable, and ways to diversify their boards.
“It’s all about data,” Harmon said. “If you’re not meeting the goal, you have to go back and adjust the process. You have to be open, you have to be honest, you have to be transparent. What you measure is what you value, and you have to put in the work.”
Harmon also shared personal stories and encouraged Berkeley College students to speak out and work hard to reach their goals.
“Never be afraid to raise your hand,” Harmon told the students. “At the end of the day, if you’re passionate about what you want to do and who you want to become, ultimately you’ll find a way to get there. ... There are no shortcuts to success.”
“The purpose of the Berkeley College Larry L. Luing School of Business® Leadership Lecture Series is to introduce students to world-class leaders who through their innovation, courage, talents and experiences are impacting the future of business,” said Joseph Scuralli, DPS, Dean, Berkeley College Larry L. Luing School of Business®. “Students – with hard work and tenacity, you will also be business leaders in the years ahead.”
Photo Caption: Joseph Scuralli, DPS, Dean, Berkeley College Larry L. Luing School of Business (right), introduces John E. Harmon, Sr., Founder, President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey during “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Why They Matter for Businesses Large and Small,” a free webinar on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.
About John E. Harmon, Sr.
John E. Harmon, Sr., is recognized nationally as a leading advocate for the African American community, including more than 70,000 Black-owned businesses and 1.1 million African American residents in New Jersey. Harmon’s role is to ensure that policy at the municipal, county and federal levels provide fairness, equity and access to a level playing field in the marketplace.
Harmon serves on several professional and corporate boards. He is Board Member and the Former Chairman of the Board for the National Black Chamber of Commerce, with 150 affiliate chapters. He serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of its Committee of 100; is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Economic Community Advisory Council (ECAC); and is on the Board of Directors of Investors Bank, and Hackensack Meridian Health. Harmon is also a Board Member of Digital Place-based Advertising Association.
Berkeley College celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2021. The theme commemorating this milestone is “Empowering Lives for 90 Years!” Visit the 90th Anniversary webpage for more information.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers continuing education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan, NY, and in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for eight consecutive years. U.S. News & World Report named Berkeley College (NJ) one of the Best Regional Colleges in the North in its 2022 edition of the Best Colleges Survey. In 2021 Berkeley College (NJ) was also recognized for the first time as a Top Performer on Social Mobility among colleges in the region. The website address is http://www.BerkeleyCollege.edu
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower students to achieve lifelong success in dynamic careers.
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