The Double Glass Ceiling: Black Women in Leadership

Throughout history, Black women were at the forefront of making history – from Shirley Chisholm being the first Black women to run for President, Dorothy Height’s fight for gender equity, to Charlotte Ray being the first African American female lawyer in the United States and Madame C.J. Walker, who around 1904, was the first woman to earn a fortune of more than $1M.  No matter what, Black women have continued to excel, even when others counted them out. 

This panel discussion will be a candid conversation with Black women leaders.  We will discuss their path to their current roles, the good and bad along the way, and provide any nuggets of wisdom they’ve learned along the way.  Please join us for this engaging conversation.  

Speakers

Chief of Staff at JP Morgan Chase & Co. Foundation

Janel Merritt is an award-winning seasoned executive leader with over 20 years of technology experience, management, and revenue generation. She has a proven track record of success in creating and accelerating business results. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer and the strategic planning advisor to the CEO of Digidoc d.b.a. Public Sector Solutions Group (PS2G). PS2G is a world-class technical consulting firm that solves the government's problems through software implementations, professional services, and staffing.

Janel has led the company to expand its services portfolio footprint that now spans across the United States, spearheading PS2G projects that support a portfolio of clients including Oracle, FileNet, Microsoft, OnBase, Alfresco, and SalesForce, and others. She holds the responsibility of managing the company’s most recent acquisition- Courtyard Marriott.

She created the Energy and Utilities (E&U) Practice over a decade ago, and in 2020, she increased the E&U revenue by over 300% by project focus on real-time data analytics, portfolio management, data conversion and migration, and digital solutions.

A 2019 recipient of the Leadership Award from Women in Technology (WIT). Janel has led the company to several prestigious Mayoral, State and Business Awards. She is a strong advocate for diversity, equality, and inclusion in the technology industry. Having a passion for mentorship, she enjoys guest lecturing for her Alma Mater, Howard University’s School of Business. She also shares the company's philanthropic and investment vision and has created mentorship programs for girls and local schools to provide STEM support. Janel also holds a board seat with Women Energy Network (WEN) and Step Afrika.

She has been a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church for over two decades serving in the music ministry. Janel is currently responsible for 15 aggregations as the Director of Music and Fine Arts.

Janel graduated with a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Howard University and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A mom of two, she currently lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband Lindsey and their dog, Bison.

Lucinda Babers was appointed as the Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure (DMOI) on March 5, 2019. She previously served as the Director of the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). As the DMV Director, Lucinda led the agency in significant and innovative changes, including the closure and opening of three service centers, elimination of passenger vehicle safety inspections, creation of a more secure credential (along with central issuance), and implementation of REAL ID and Limited Purpose Credentials. Under her direction, DC DMV added numerous online services—and received several International Customer Service and Communication Awards from the American Association of Motor Vehicles Administrators (AAMVA), as well as several regional AAMVA awards.

Prior to being confirmed as DMV Director, Lucinda served as the Deputy Director for DC DMV from 2003 until 2006. As Deputy, she was responsible for the review and revision of customer service processes that led to the DC Federation of Citizens Association unanimously recognizing DC DMV for the Greatest Improvement in Public Service for 2006.

Before coming to DC DMV, Lucinda served in several senior management positions at Amtrak. She was the project manager for the company’s service guarantee initiative. And, Lucinda is no stranger to DC Government; she previously worked on management reform projects for the city manager during the Control Board era and served as an internal consultant and project manager for the city administrator and corrections.

Lucinda started her career as an officer in the military. She holds a Master of Science in Business from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She currently resides in Ward 6.

Dr. Carolyn B. Rudd is founder, president, and CEO of CRP, Incorporated (CRP), a Washington, DC-based, multi-faceted professional services and management consulting firm established in 1988. A leader in the District of Columbia business sector, CRP was recognized by the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce as its “2017 Small Business of the Year” for its leadership in federal contracting in the District. In 2018, CRP was named one of the top 100 minority businesses in the DC metropolitan area. A native of suburban Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Rudd received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Virginia State University. Immediately upon obtaining her master’s degree, she matriculated at the College of William and Mary, where she earned a doctorate degree in higher education and a minor in business before the age of 30. Dr. Rudd is believed to be the youngest African American to receive a doctorate from William and Mary. Prior to starting CRP, Dr. Rudd served in various capacities at Virginia State, Bowie State, and Howard universities. Dr. Rudd has demonstrated an unswerving commitment to providing employment opportunities for graduates of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC): a significant number of CRP’s full-time staff attended the institution. She has led CRP’s efforts as a charitable partner in the DC community by making philanthropic contributions to an array of local nonprofit organizations. Dr. Rudd has served as chair of the DC Commission for Women (appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser) and currently serves on the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees (nominated by Mayor Bowser and confirmed by the DC City Council). She has also served on the boards of Family Matters of Greater Washington, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and Leadership Greater Washington. She is chair of the DC Chamber’s Board of Directors. Dr. Rudd is a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and has served as national president of two social organizations: THE MOLES and National Epicureans, Inc. She is married and lives in Upper Northwest DC.

Kim R. Ford serves as President and CEO of Martha’s Table. Ford previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. Ford provided leadership, direction, and management on over $2 billion dollars in career and technical education, adult education, correctional and re-entry education and community college initiatives, which collectively serve over 25 million students annually.

Previously, Ford served as the Dean of Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning at the University of the District of Columbia Community College (UDC-CC). She promoted an environment of student success focused on building community, instituting feedback loops and helping students transition into higher levels of education and careers.

Prior to joining UDC-CC, Ford served in the Obama Administration’s Recovery Implementation Office, which was responsible for implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. She directed working relationships between the Office of the Vice President and eight federal agencies on over $350 billion dollars of Recovery Act programs.

Ford holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.