Black History Month officially came to be in 1976 when President Gerald Ford designated the recognition to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” February was chosen because it holds the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and former US President Abraham Lincoln. Each year, Black History Month sheds light on the enduring contributions of African Americans via discussion, film, exhibits, lectures, and so much more. In this spirit, the College of Merchandising, Hospitality & Tourism is holding a Leadership Symposium on February 21st to highlight the stories of three top industry leaders who have made great career strides to share their leadership journeys during Black History Month.
The theme for the upcoming Leadership Symposium is Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Our Collective Work and Responsibility. The goal of which is to intentionally provide experiences which reflect our diverse identities and personal backgrounds, particularly as our college develops leaders in the retail and hospitality industries. Invited to speak are Lisa Mitchell, Director of Growth Initiatives at Sally Beauty, Lauren Phillips, Director of Research at Visit Fort Worth, and Oris Stuart, President and CEO of Inclusive Instinct.
Lisa Mitchell, a beauty and retail industry veteran of 15 years, currently serves as the Director of Growth Initiatives at Sally Beauty Supply Store Operations. She started by opening the second Black-Owned salon in Frisco, TX. She later led a company expansion of haircare services for Black consumers in the Southwest region at Ulta Beauty. She not only became a business leader, she also educated and consulted throughout her career.
Growing up in Leesburg, Georgia, Lauren Phillips dreamed of working in media. But after interning with an image consultant and brand director in Atlanta, she focused on research, and she then worked on qualitative and quantitative research projects with her hometown news station WALB and then on to WTVM in Columbus, GA. She relocated to Dallas and continued her award-winning analytic career with WFAA before joining Visit Fort Worth. She now serves on the Travel and Tourism Research Association Board and is a co-founding member of the DFW Women in Research Events. She also serves as a board member of the National Juneteenth Museum opening in Fort Worth in 2025.
Oris Stuart, President and CEO of Inclusion Instinct, provides inclusion strategy, learning, and development services to boards of directors and senior leadership teams. He previously served as EVP and Chief People and Inclusion Officer for the NBA, where he oversaw diversity and inclusion strategies for the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and the Basketball Africa League, supported the growth and development of the NBA’s global workforce and strengthened the organization’s commitment to attract, retained develop diverse talent. He was the NBA’s first diversity and inclusion officer in 2015.
Three diverse industry leaders are coming to speak of their stories, struggles, and successes in this captivating panel discussion. Students seeking inspiration will discover knowledge of their own potential in the advice and insights these speakers will divulge. All CMHT students are welcome on February 21st at 11am in the Union Jade Ballroom. It will be an event not to be missed.
