February 2024 • Edition 29
In honor of Black History Month,
this edition amplifies diverse voices connected to Wharton.
An MBA student reflects on leadership lessons he learned in New Zealand, an alumni couple connects with a famous relative to transform the beauty and entertainment industries, and the Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Conference celebrates 50 years on campus.
Romel Singleton, WG’24, Shares What it’s Like to be a Venture Fellow
Romel Singleton, WG’24, said being a student at Wharton means “choosing your own adventure.” But in his case, the Wharton Venture Fellow program has chosen some extraordinary ones for him.
Thanks to donors like you, Singleton is learning how to be a dependable leader in unfamiliar territory — including a ship in New Zealand! All the while, he’s serving as the chair of this year’s program, which gives him a say in choosing the next dynamic and deserving group of Venture Fellows.
Read our Q&A with Singleton to find out what being a Venture Fellow means to him.
Hannah and Malick Diop, WG’09, Join Forces with
Issa Rae to Diversify Media and Beauty
Hannah and Malick Diop, WG’09, work in separate industries: media and beauty. But in both of their roles, they aim to foster inclusion, and Malik’s sister, Issa Rae, used her star power to intensify the reach of their message. Issa and Hannah co-founded a haircare brand for textured hair, while Malick took over the financials at Issa’s media company. Read Wharton Magazine’s story to find out more about this family affair and the influence it’s had on beauty and entertainment.
50th Annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Conference Held On Campus
For five decades, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Conference has been a space for Black business leaders to share ideas and opportunities with each other. Hosted by the Wharton African American MBA Association (AAMBAA), it’s the longest running student-led conference.
Supported by donors like you, December 2023’s conference had an impressive lineup of speakers such as former Philadelphia 76ers teammates-turned-business partners, Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner, in addition to TIME’s first Black woman chief marketing officer, Sadé Muhammad, and Dean Erika James.
Read more about the event, as well as the legacy of Whitney M. Young Jr.