FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS: Keynote Luncheon with John Legend
 By Sonya StinsonAt Friday’s Keynote Luncheon, featured speaker John Legend – multiple Grammy-winning recording artist and international philanthropist – told the audience he felt a bit intimidated but not entirely out of place standing before a group of accomplished business professionals. "I’m in the business of making people feel something," Legend said of his entertainment career. Actually, Legend’s career history reveals an even more direct relationship. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he is a former consultant for the business career development organization Management Leadership for Tomorrow. Today he owns his own management company and is the founder of a non-profit organization helping youths prepare for college. Legend, who began his musical career as a studio session player and vocalist, said collaboration has always been a major part of his professional successes. "That spirit of collaboration with good people has carried me throughout your career," he said. "On the flip side, you can really hold yourself back by not surrounding yourself with the right team." A strong education advocate, Legend lamented the nation’s persistent educational inequality. "In order to grow the talent pipeline, we must fix our schools and ensure that every child has access to a quality education, regardless of where they come from," Legend said.  Co-sponsored by Dell and NBMBAA, the luncheon also was the venue to observe the 20th anniversary of the association’s Leaders of Tomorrow Program and announce the the 11 undergraduate and graduate NBMBAA Scholars. It was also where the winners of the NBMBAA Case Competition® were announced. Chrysler was the sponsor of the graduate student Case Competition, which this year awarded the largest total cash amount since it began. The winning team, from Florida A&M University, took home $25,000 to help the students with their educational costs. This is the third time in four years that Florida A&M has won the competition. The second place team, from Penn State University, took home $15,000 and the third place team, from the University of Georgia, took home $10,000. |
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