Today marks a significant milestone for East Coast Executives —our 23rd anniversary. When I founded the firm in 2001, the goal was clear: to impact workplace diversity and, ultimately, to influence the pipeline that would allow the number of Black CEOs in the Fortune 500 to grow.
While we’ve made some progress, the numbers are still concerning. As highlighted in a recent Fortune article by Sunny Nagpal, “Black CEO representation on the Fortune 500 stands at just 1.6%—a near-record high, but far from where it should be”.
This data forces me to ask: Have we made a real difference? At East Coast Executives, we’ve partnered with amazing companies and supported thousands of motivated career seekers, but it’s clear that our work is far from done. The recent pushback against DEI initiatives makes the path ahead even more challenging.
Despite these setbacks, I feel immense gratitude for the community that has supported us. Over the past 23 years, we’ve built relationships with professionals and organizations who share our vision for a more equitable workplace. Your support has been the foundation of our efforts, and for that, I thank you.
As we move forward, our commitment remains strong. We’ll definitely celebrate our anniversary but trust that our work for equity continues, and we’re more determined than ever to see it through.
If you’re a corporate leader seeking to expand your talent acquisition pipeline and/or advance equity at your organization —contact East Coast Executives.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Kenneth L. Johnson