The Advanced Leadership Institute brings together African American executives from across Pittsburgh

It is tough to be what you don’t see, so cohort by cohort, The Advanced Leadership Institute is dismantling the idea of Black people being an anomaly in leadership and executive roles.

On Friday, the leadership program welcomed 21 new members in its sixth Executive Leadership Academy Cohort, during their 2024 Executive Leadership Academy Kick-Off Program and Reception held at Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business.

The program was created in 2016 in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University for Black leaders to grow and advance in Pittsburgh. It offers academic instruction, mentorship, community and other resources.

Evan Frazier, president and CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI), calls it a celebration.

“Letting the leaders in the room and across the region know that there is support here in the community, and we are really counting on them to grow and move to do great things in Pittsburgh,” Frazier said.

“I’ve seen shifts in people being more connected within Pittsburgh, a greater sense of belonging,” he said. “And in the past, people felt so isolated.”

In the past, many cohort members weren’t aware of the other Black leaders and executives in the region, according to Frazier.

“It makes such a difference when you know there are other leaders like yourself, diverse leaders, Black leaders that are out there, doing great things,” Frazier said, “and there are also others out there that might have the same struggles.

“The empowerment of being able to know and build relationships and have that level of support is amazing.”

Calvin Stovall, director of executive programs, said, “We want to make sure people are being authentic in who they are and using their strengths.

“There are very talented and gifted African Americans that add value to the organizations and communities they are part of. And we want people to know that.”

The Advanced Leadership Institute now has 196 alumni. With the current group in the Emerging Leaders Academy and the National Leaders Program, there will be more than 250 alumni by the end of the year.

The group is building a network and presence.

Juanita Lomax, is founder and CEO of Hit Like A Girl, which is an organization that focuses on bringing Black women into the sport of golf.

A resident of Penn Hills, she graduated from TALI last April.

Lomax has been in corporate America for 20 years in banking and health care.

“But during my time at TALI, I was exposed to so many people and industries. That helped provide different insights and ways of thinking about things. For some of the problems that I ran into on a daily basis, there was more than one way to look at it.”

It also broadened the connections she has made and offered a space of solace and growth.

“It was an amazing experience,” Lomax said “I always been focused on inequalities for bridging those gaps.”

Friday was the first day of the cohort for Jason Jones, vice president of community development at Dollar Bank.

“One of my visions is to make deep impact in vulnerable populations and communities,” Jones said. But in order to make those decisions, you have to be in the ‘C suite.’”

There are some unwritten rules and office politics that occur at the executive level that Jones is trying to navigate to be able to step into the C suite space.

Danielle Mundekis, director of Inclusion at Eckert Seamans, is a New York native and a new member of the cohort. She’s looking to create a sense of belonging in Pittsburgh.

“I think this moment is really significant and impactful to network with this group,” Mundekis said. “To share this level of ideas and thoughts and collaboration in a space with other leaders in Pittsburgh.

“And other Black leaders,” she added. “I don’t know that I have ever had the opportunity to network with this many peers of similar backgrounds at one time. And that is really special.”