From the Friday Keynote Luncheon: Awards, Recognition and Insights
The National Black MBA Association® honored outstanding members, partners and students at the Friday Keynote Luncheon. A list of Association scholarship winners scrolled on the screen as D. Steve Boland, managing director and home loan origination executive of Bank of America took the stage to kick off the luncheon. Boland quickly returned to the stage to accept the Silver Torch Award from NBMBAA President and CEO Jesse Tyson. The award is presented each year to a corporation that has demonstrated its commitment to the goals and programs of the Association. Tyson pointed out that Bank of America has served as a conference sponsor for more than 20 years. The H. Naylor Fitzhugh Award, which recognizes selfless and invaluable support to education and the community, was presented by Tyson to Jonathan Mariner, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Major League Baseball. Audrey Dillard Hines presented the Chairwoman’s Circle of Excellence, which included the Leaders of Tomorrow® (LOT) students and chapter presidents. After announcing the St. Louis chapter as winner of the LOT National Business Case Competition, held in June, new members of LOT were inducted and presented their blue blazers. The final LOT order of business was a $2,687 check presented by Sarah Gethers, the new LOT president and CEO, to a representative of the American Cancer Society to advance cancer research. BANK OF AMERICA CEO OFFERS LEADERSHIP, CHANGE AND INNOVATION INSIGHTS  "Ideas are easy; it is the implementation that is hard." Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, joined keynote luncheon moderator Geri Thomas, senior vice president and chief diversity officer and Georgia state president of Bank of America, to discuss the financial institution’s approach to challenges faced in today’s political, economic and social environment.After the financial crisis and resulting recession, consumers were suspicious of all corporations, not just financial companies, points out Moynihan. The impersonal, sometimes paternalistic, approach taken by big companies at the time no longer resonates with consumers, he says. "Customers want to interact eye to eye, have companies listen to their needs, and be offered products or services that fit their lives." For that reason, Bank of America simplified products for consumers, reduced fees and offered convenient services that fit what consumers said they wanted, says Moynihan. The company also serves the communities in which they do business through charitable gifts and support, with gifts reflecting the needs of the individual community. "We have to respect our communities’ needs, whether they be art, education or youth services." Throughout the financial company’s change, Moynihan points out that a critical question that is always asked is, "Can the last person do it?" He explains that an idea may be great, but if the frontline person, such as the teller, can’t translate the strategy into action, the idea won’t be successful. "Successful leaders and businesses are able to translate an idea from conception and creation of strategy to execution." NBMBAA CASE COMPETITION® WINNERS ANNOUNCED The winners of the NBMBAA Case Competition®, sponsored by Chrysler, were also announced.  First Place Georgia State University  Second Place University of St. Thomas  Third Place Emory University |
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