One of the great honors of my life was getting to know Ron Brown before his sudden and untimely death some 21 years ago. Brown was the first African American appointed to the White House cabinet post of Secretary of Commerce, and he was the first African American to serve as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He was a giant among public servants—globally prominent, keenly intelligent, and teeming with savvy.
Because I knew Ron and witnessed his greatness first hand, it is especially rewarding for me to be a part of the tremendous partnership that Weber Shandwick has forged with the Ron Brown Scholar Program. Young African American high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding promise are selected each year from around the country to become a part of this special program, which focuses on encouraging leadership and civic engagement, while promoting academic excellence. Over the past 20 years, some $16 million in scholarship funds have been awarded to nearly 400 gifted future leaders and thinkers. Each year, more than 5,000 applicants compete for about 20 of these prestigious scholarships, undergoing a rigorous screening of their academic records, their leadership experience, writing skills, commitment to service and financial need. But for those who are selected, the Ron Brown program provides far more than money. It makes these young scholars a part of an organization that is full of mentors, and it gives them lifelong support within a network of leaders in America.
This year, as we have done since 2011, Weber Shandwick is a sponsor of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. What’s more, we participate in the organization’s annual Leaders’ Summit, which brings corporate partners together with scholars for a day of networking and professional development. In addition to the scholarship recipients themselves, the Leaders’ Summit includes what is known as the Ron Brown Leaders Network, made up of “Captains,” an invitation-only group of students who receive personal and professional development services alongside the scholars.
The Ron Brown Scholars, as well as those in the Leaders Network, are all exceptional. In 2016, a total of 800 of them were attending college. The average high school GPA for the group was a 4.30. The average comprehensive SAT score was 1360, and the average comprehensive ACT score was 31. As for the schools that they attend, 67 were at Harvard University, 63 were at Stanford University, 51 were at Yale University, 46 were at Duke University, 40 were at Princeton University…Well, you get the picture.
And as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, I get the privilege of getting to know many of these future leaders. Meanwhile, Weber Shandwick’s head of Diversity and Inclusion, Judith Harrison, is on the organization’s advisory board.
As Judith says, “Collaborating with an organization as passionate and driven about diversity and quality as we are helps us seek out a workforce as diverse as the clients we serve, the places in which we work and the audiences we reach, and enhances our ability to deliver the innovative ideas our clients expect.”
Indeed, Weber Shandwick’s involvement in the program is rewarding in so many ways. I am especially proud that some of these extraordinarily talented scholars join our firm after graduation.
Khadijah Davis, a 2015 Georgetown University graduate and a Ron Brown “Captain” who started out as a Weber Shandwick intern, works as an account executive in our healthcare practice in New York. Ron Brown scholar Lora Strum last year joined our Washington office as an assistant digital associate after graduating from Temple University. And another Ron Brown scholar, Ade Sawyer, graduated from Duke University in 2011 and joined us in Washington, where he is currently a group manager in our public affairs practice. “I’ve seen firsthand the commitment that Weber Shandwick has made to the program,” Ade says. “The company has become an integral part of the Ron Brown Scholar family, as Jack, Judith and countless others have committed their time and energy to ensuring that scholars succeed.” Ade remains very involved with the Ron Brown program, and he currently serves as the co-president of its alumni association.
This spring, we will gather with Ron Brown scholars, alumni and leaders from around the country to celebrate the program’s 20th anniversary and to mark its 8th Annual American Journey Awards, a special evening that honors American leaders who have developed opportunities for others to succeed. Past honorees have included the former U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, businessman and basketball legend, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and the chairman and chief executive officer of American Express Co., Kenneth I. Chenault. This year’s honoree is Robert F. Smith, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners, which manages equity capital commitments of over $14 billion, and oversees a portfolio of over 30 software companies that employ about 30,000 people worldwide.
It will all take place on March 24 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. For more information on the dinner, or on the scholar program, please visit www.ronbrown.org. Ronald Harmon Brown, a man of great energy and enthusiasm, circled the globe, advocating for American business and spreading good will. He was traveling on such a trade mission in 1996 when his plane crashed in Croatia. But thanks to the Ron Brown Scholar Program, one great American’s enthusiasm and leadership continues to flourish in the lives of many of the brightest young minds our country produces.
Jack Leslie is Chairman of Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading global communications and engagement firms. A strategic communications executive, political consultant and international development activist, Jack brings a long track record of helping clients integrate global political, economic, cultural and communication trends to create innovative, forward-looking strategy and plans. Some of the companies he has counseled include American Airlines, Bank of America, GE, HP, Johnson & Johnson, MasterCard, Merck & Co, Microsoft, Nestle, Novartis, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Siemens, Unilever and YUM!
