Impact Portfolio: We Are MLT
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Impact Portfolio ❯❯ Cleon Rice

Cleon Rice


ORGANIZATION

Genentech, McMaster-Carr

EDUCATION

Undergraduate: Morehouse College
MBA Program(s): Vanderbilt University - Owen Graduate School of Management

MLT PROGRAMS

MBA PD 2016, MBA Prep 2016

Complete this sentence, "If not for MLT..."
I would not have as robust of a professional network as I do now.

Please describe the impact MLT had immediately upon completing your program.
MLT immediately allowed me to connect with other alumni in the new city in which I moved. Providing a local support group to bounce ideas off of both professionally and personally.

How has MLT changed the financial/economic trajectory for you and your family?
Attaining my MBA changed my financial trajectory; however, landing my post-MBA job with an MLT partner school immensely improved that trajectory.

Has MLT elevated your personal and professional aspirations? If so, please provide an example.
MLT elevated my personal and professional aspirations because it let me know that I belong in any of these professional circles. This occurred even while in business school where I felt it was important to take on a leadership role where I could make a lasting impact. I was able to do this as the Student Government President.

How has MLT's community helped advance your personal and/or professional happiness?
The community has helped advance my happiness, both personally and professionally, because I am constantly reminded that I am not alone.

Speak to a challenge MLT helped you overcome and how did that help your trajectory (i.e. confidence that you belong, growth mindset, vulnerability).
After two weeks at my summer internship, I felt that I was not able to stand out amongst my peers and decided to call my MLT PD coach, Angie Kirk, to discuss a plan of action. Angie assured me that things would work out and worked with me to create a solid plan to thoughtfully engage with senior leadership and others. As a result, I was able to receive one of the few full-time offers out of a very competitive pool of peers.

Have you helped advance vulnerable people on their path to economic mobility? If so, how?
Following business school, I had the experience of working with organizations to implement strategic operating plans. With this experience and my deep passion for improving economic outcomes for vulnerable people in my hometown of Lancaster, VA, I went home for three months to work with a local nonprofit organization seeking to improve the economic and academic outcomes of the community. As a result, I was able to lead a board retreat, and submitted recommendations for a strategic plan to the organization.

Share 2-3 ways you've been able to accelerate your organization's journey toward greater diversity and inclusion.
Vanderbilt MBA: Created and implemented a D&I advisory board comprised of faculty, students, and administrators. Genentech: Served as the Commercial MBA ambassador while recruiting at National Black MBA.

Share your favorite song, movie, or book, and why it appeals to you.
The Spook Who Sat by the Door, by Sam Greenlee. I think in an interesting way it speaks to how you can drive impactful change for the betterment of underrepresented minorities, even when your corporate organization attempts to designate you the safe "token."

What is your superpower?
My superpower is quickly connecting with others to improve my network for the betterment of those around me.

What gives you hope?
It gives me hope to see organizations, like MLT and like-minded organizations, develop underrepresented minorities to ensure that we have a critical mass of future leaders who can create meaningful change in the world.

This content has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Published in 2019

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