WHY GIVE TO CUP?
Please join me on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, when the CUP community will come together for #GivingTuesday, a global movement that celebrates and encourages philanthropic giving.
We support CUP because it seeks to inspire, elevate and empower the next generation of diverse business and civic leaders and women. CUP advances the careers of diverse professionals and women by identifying and cultivating leaders across various sectors - including finance, law, media & entertainment, technology and sports - and connecting them to a broad network to amplify their impact.
Together, we hope to raise $20,000 to support the following offerings:
CUP Fellows Program:
2023 marked the 16th year of our landmark NY Fellows Program and the 6th year of our LA Fellows Program, developing over 499 successful, diverse mid-career professionals in over 10 industries. This highly-selective program provides critical skills and professional development training to propel the Fellows into leadership and c-level positions. The Fellows Program has also prepared talented leaders to choose careers in civic engagement and to win political seats in public office. These programs were sustained in part to last year’s successful #GivingTuesday campaign.
CUP Catalysts Program - Change Agents of 2023:
In 2023, CUP has celebrated our CUP Catalysts, senior diverse professionals who have achieved extraordinary professional success while making significant and impactful contributions to our community through volunteerism, philanthropy, board service and mentorship. In partnership with our corporate sponsors, CUP recognizes these change-makers throughout the year during our CUP Power Forums, covering the fields of Finance, Law, Media & Entertainment, Technology and Sports.
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CUP’s 16th Anniversary Leadership Gala:
On Thursday, June 1st, CUP held our 16th Annual Leadership Gala – “Advancing the Equity Imperative” at the Mandarin Oriental NYC. The Gala celebrated the advancements of diverse professionals, showcasing CUP’s impact and honored extraordinary diverse leaders who embody CUP’s mission and vision. The Gala featured three honorees: Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Chief People Officer at VICE Media Group recipient of the Change Agent Award; Michelle Miller, Co-Host of “CBS Saturday Morning,” recipient of the Courageous Leadership Award; and Racquel Oden, Managing Director of JPMorgan Chase & Co. recipient of the Breakthrough Leadership Award. Thank you to all of our Corporate Partners for making our 16th Annual Leadership Gala – “Advancing the Equity Imperative” a quintessential success!
Visionary Partners: Bank of America, Match Group, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Catalyst Sponsors Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, NFL, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and Ally Sponsors: Akin Gump, Ares Management, BakerHostetler, BET/ Paramount, Bryant Rabbino LLP, Citi, Clifford Chance, Comcast NBC Universal, GCM Grosvenor, Kirkland & Ellis, Meta, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Simpson Thacher, Spectrum, S&P Global, UBS, UTA, and White & Case. Other sponsors included CAPCO, Equitable, Nomura, PNC Bank, and Tradeweb.
Highlights Reel – CUP's 16th Annual Leadership Gala “Advancing The Equity Imperative.”:
CUP Summits:
CUP Summits convene senior level diverse executives and inspirational thought leaders to discuss key transformational trends, provoke action, support business generation and enhance connectivity. CUP delivers these high-level programs featuring insights from c-suite executives from our Corporate Partners across various sectors.
From August 18 through the 20th, CUP held our 2nd Annual Martha’s Vineyard Summit, “Entrepreneurs in Action – Igniting Impact” & “Entrepreneurial Moments: From Brand to Empire.” This Summit was held again in historic and charming Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. This celebration brought together CUP Founders, Catalysts, Fellows, Board Members, Corporate Partners and special guests for a rich cultural experience of thought leadership, networking, and community building. The Summit also included Power Player Panel discussions with senior diverse cross-industry leaders on insights ranging from investing and, wealth generation, to entrepreneurship and civic engagement. CUP Fellowship was bolstered with community networking at an exclusive beachfront estate and at lawn games at the Island Inn.
CUP deeply thanks all of your Corporate Partners for making this summit a success!
Visionary Partners Goldman Sachs, IMB Partners, Morgan Stanley, Catalyst Partner Wells Fargo, Ally Partners Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, D.E. Shaw, Paramount/ BET, Supporters Mirror Digital, Fidelity, Uncle Nearest, Maison Marcel, and Sideline Brand.
Photo Recap – 2nd Annual MV Summit ‘23
Highlights Reel – 2nd Annual MV Summit ‘23
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On Monday, May 1st, CUP held our 5th Annual Pipeline to Power Summit “Future Forward: Building Today for a Better Tomorrow” - Hosted by Champion Partner Citi. The 2023 CUP Pipeline to Power Summit: Future Forward: Building Today for a Better Tomorrow is an immersive, half-day experience that brings together diverse mid-career professionals and inspiring senior thought leaders. This year, Pipeline to Power aims to equip diverse professionals with the mindset and tools needed to adapt to and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Through a series of future-focused conversations hosted by a wide range of thought leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators, attendees will gain access to premier professional development content, education and cross-industry networking. P2P was a tremendous success, bringing together 400+ cross-industry diverse professionals for an inspiring and interactive program.
CUP deeply thanks all of your Corporate Partners for making this Power Forum a success!
Champion Partner, Citi, Visionary Partner, NFL, Catalyst Partner, Match Group, Ally Partners, Morgan Stanley; Bank of America, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
Photo Recap – 5th Annual Pipeline to Power Summit “Future Forward: Building Today for a Better Tomorrow” - Hosted by Champion Partner Citi
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CUP Power Forums:
CUP Power Forums convene senior level diverse executives and inspirational thought leaders to discuss key transformational trends, provoke action, support business generation and enhance connectivity. CUP delivers these high-level programs featuring insights from c-suite executives from our Corporate Partners across various sectors.
On Wednesday, May 3rd, CUP LA held the Alternative Investments Program, “The Path to Inclusive Capitalism,” Hosted by Visionary Partners Ares Management and Morgan Stanley and Ally Partner GCM Grosvenor. CUP LA partnered with alternative asset managers to increase the knowledge of career growth in this space and to highlight pathways to diverse investment opportunities. Our program featured thought leadership from Indhira Arrington, Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Ares Management and Portfolio Manager Michael A. Persaud, Global Sports and Entertainment Associate Director at Morgan Stanley. Troy Duffie, Associate Director, at The Milken Institute, also spoke about their ground-breaking thought leadership research.
The Alternative Investments Program featured senior diverse leaders who addressed economic parity and access to capital as the underpinnings of systemic economic barriers. Featured leaders also engaged in a discussion of how public/private partnerships can support minority-owned businesses and help close the wealth gap.
Thank you to Ares Management, Morgan Stanley, and GCM Grosvenor for your steadfast support of the second year of this offering!
Photo Recap – Alternative Investments Program - "The Path to Inclusive Capitalism"
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On Thursday, July 27th CUP held our 4th Annual Tech Power Forum & Tech Catalyst Recognition Ceremony – Hosted by Champion Partner Bloomberg. This Power Forum discussed “The New Era of AI and the Future of Transformative Technology.” Featured thought leadership speakers included Mark D. Levine, Manhattan Borough President, Crystal Hunt, DEI Client Partner in Engineering, Victoria Montgomery Brown, Founder of Covell.ai, Michael W. Ellison, CEO & Co-Founder of CodePath.org, Pratik Karia, Head of Engineering, Buyside Trading Program, and Nabiha Syed, CEO at The Markup.
These leaders shared their wisdom about the opportunities and threats of AI across business sectors and how to prepare for the implications of the exponential growth of this technology. We also announced and recognized CUP’s 2023 Tech Catalysts Cohort!
CUP deeply thanks all of your corporate partners for making this power forum a success!
Champion Partner, Bloomberg; Visionary Partners, Wells Fargo; Ally Partners, Cerberus, Morgan Stanley, S&P Global, Sidley, and Tradeweb.
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On Tuesday, November 14th, CUP held our 14th Annual Lawyers Power Forum & Law Catalyst Recognition Ceremony - Hosted by Champion Partner Loeb & Loeb, featuring thought leadership on the topic, “The Polarization of Justice: Reversals & Reckonings of the American Dream.” It featured a panel discussion moderated by Kenny Terrero, Partner, Sidley Austin, with Jennifer Davda, Chief Diversity Officer at Loeb & Loeb, Michael Delikat, Partner at Employment Law Practice Group, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Jennifer Paradise, Partner, General Counsel, White & Case.
The panel addressed the “elimination of bias” through a discussion of the New York State Bar Association Task Force Report on Advancing Diversity. It taught the audience about the current landscape of SCOTUS decisions and their implications of infringement on diversity initiatives in higher education, legal and financial industries.
CUP also bestowed two legal awards entitled, “The CUP David W. Brown Legal Trailblazer of the Year Award.” The recipients were Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney, Office of New York District Attorney, introduced by George Fatheree III, (CUP Law Catalyst 2019, 2022 CUP David W. Brown Legal Trailblazer, Founder & CEO of ORO Impact); and New York State Attorney General, Letitia “Tish” James, who accepted via video. Harry Valetk, Partner, Privacy, Security, & Data Innovations, Loeb & Loeb, gave the Welcome Remarks and Melissa Fenton, Executive Director, CUP, gave the Opening Remarks. CUP’s 2023 Law Catalyst Presenter Christopher Aguwa, Chief Commercial Officer, Lane Health, bestowed awards to eight Law Catalysts. Closing Remarks were given by Ronelle C. Porter, Assistant Deputy Chair, Capital Markets and Corporate, Loeb & Loeb.
CUP deeply thanks all your Corporate Partners for supporting this Power Forum!
Champion Partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP; Catalyst Partner, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP; Ally Partners, Morgan Stanley, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, S&P Global; and Supporter Partner Bryant Rabbino LLP.
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CUP 2023 Fellows Program Convening:
On Saturday, October 14th, CUP held our Annual Fellows Program Convening both virtually and in-person. This convening featured a half-day program of leadership development for NY and LA Fellows that was hosted by HELEN MILLS Event Space and Theater and Miltan Management Corporation.
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CUP Connections Series (Part I & II):
CUP continued with our stellar CUP Connections Series presenting thought leadership webinars and interviews featuring individuals who shared strategies, concepts and tools to educate our CUP Community on a variety of topics which included:
CUP Connections: Bank of America Part I: “Harnessing Resilience to Build in a New Market.”
Moderated by: Lynn Fairbanks, Senior Vice President, Global Women’s Talent Strategy, Bank of America; Hosted by Melissa Fenton, Executive Director, CUP.
Speakers included Jen Auerbach, Managing Director, Head of Strategic Growth, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Patrina Dixon, Founder and CEO – It$ My Money®, Owner of P. Dixon Consulting, Certified SBE/ MBE/ WBE, Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell, Ileana Musa, Managing Director, Head of International Banking and Lending, Morgan Stanley, Ayanna Stephens, SVP, Human Resources Executive, Bank of America, Cicely Washington, VP, Sr. Diversity B/AA Strategy Manager, Bank of America, Bank of America Talent Representative.
Video Recap - CUP Connections - Bank of America Part I: Harnessing Resilience to Build in a New Market:
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CUP Connections: Bank of America Part II: “Women in Financial Leadership Yielding New Strategies & Safeguarding Self-Care”
Speakers included Jen Auerbach, Managing Director, Head of Strategic Growth, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Patrina Dixon, Founder and CEO – It$ My Money®, Owner of P. Dixon Consulting, Certified SBE/ MBE/ WBE, Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell, Ileana Musa, Managing Director, Head of International Banking and Lending, Morgan Stanley, Ayanna Stephens, SVP, Human Resources Executive, Bank of America, Cicely Washington, VP, Sr. Diversity B/AA Strategy Manager, Bank of America, Bank of America Talent Representative.
Moderated by: Lynn Fairbanks, Senior Vice President, Global Women’s Talent Strategy, Bank of America; Hosted by Melissa Fenton, Executive Director, CUP.
Video Recap - CUP Connections: Bank of America Part II: Women in Financial Leadership Yielding New Strategies & Safeguarding Self-Care:
CUP deeply appreciates our Corporate Partner Bank of America for sponsoring this Two-Part Series!
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CUP Connections: Building Generational Wealth Virtual Webinar, sponsored by Morgan Stanley.
On Tuesday, May 9th, CUP held our CUP Connections virtual event, “Building Generational Wealth Virtual Webinar, sponsored by Morgan Stanley.”
Speakers included Michael A. Persaud, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley, CUP Board Chair, Steven Douek, Managing Director, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley, Aaron Harding, Managing Director, Chief Revenue Officer for Morgan Stanley at Work, Christyl Lucille Murray, Executive Director, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Morgan Stanley, Kara Underwood, Managing Director, Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Talent, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.
Constant Contact Recap Link:
Moderated by: Krystal Barker Buissereth, Managing Director, Head of Financial Wellness, Morgan Stanley.
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CUP Conversations Series:
CUP continued with our stellar CUP Conversations Speaker Series presenting thought leadership webinars and interviews featuring individuals who shared strategies, concepts and tools to educate our CUP Community on a variety of topics including:
CUP Black History Month Art Event - Celebrating Black Artists - Part II
On Monday, February 13th, honored Black History Month, CUP held our part II in-person exclusive art event in NYC celebrating the work of Black artists. Featured speakers included Pamela Joyner, Businesswoman and Art Collector, Reggie Van Lee, Partner and Chief Transformation Officer, The Carlyle Group, Traci Wilkes Smith, Senior Vice President & Talent Agent at CSE, and Deborah Mirabal, Chief Operating Officer of Global Research & Investment Strategy at The Carlyle Group. Catering Experience by Miss Mamie’s Spoonbread Too and Spirits Sponsor Maison Marcel. This exclusive art event was hosted by Pamela Joyner and Reggie Van Lee.
Photo Recap – CUP Black History Month Art Event – “Celebrating Black Artists” - Part II:
“A CUP Conversation with Michelle Miller - Moderated by Cathleen Trigg-Jones – Belonging: A Daughter’s Search for Identity Through Loss and Love.”
On Thursday, April 6th, celebrating Women’s History Month, CUP held a conversation with Michelle Miller, Co-Host of “CBS Saturday Morning” who was interviewed by Cathleen Trigg-Jones, Founder of iWomanTV, Emmy Award Winning Journalist, and Talk Show Host, Producer and Actress. This CUP Conversation discussed Michelle Miller’s new book, the New York Times Best-Seller, Belonging: A Daughter’s Search for Identity Through Loss and Love. This event was hosted by Compass Real Estate NY and iWoman TV.
Photo Recap - A CUP Conversation with Michelle Miller - Moderated by Cathleen Trigg-Jones – Belonging: A Daughter’s Search for Identity Through Loss and Love.”
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CUP Conversations: The Empowerment & Visibility Factor for LGBTQIA+ Creatives, presented as a Virtual Webinar.
On Tuesday, June 27th, CUP celebrated PRIDE Month with “The Empowerment & Visibility Factor for LGBTQIA+ Creatives,” our PRIDE-focused CUP Conversation with Nathan H. Williams, President & CEO, iN-Hale Entertainment, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Best-Selling/Award-Winning Author and Entertainment Attorney.
Nathan shared his personal journey through the lens of his illustrious creative avenues of film and book projects. Nathan unique perspectives were discussed, interconnecting his story to the larger theme of how to be seen and heard as diverse, strong, and talented LGBTQIA+ professionals in the entertainment and publication spaces.
Moderated by: Alexis Jose Rios, Director of Marketing and Engagement, CUP.
Video Recap – CUP Conversations: The Empowerment & Visibility Factor for LGBTQIA+ Creatives:
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CUP needs YOU! Now, more than ever, we must draw inspiration from others and work toward a more just and equitable society.
Please join me in supporting CUP by making a gift on #GivingTuesday. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Every dollar raised will go toward CUP’s mission to inspire, elevate, and empower the next generation of diverse business and civic leaders and women. No amount is too small, and each dollar is a sound investment in a more diverse and inclusive future.
Thank you in advance for your support!
P.S. Please spread the word about your support for CUP via social media! Post photos demonstrating why you love CUP on Twitter (@CUPUSA07), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cupusa07/), Instagram (@cup.usa) and LinkedIn (CouncilofUrbanProfessionals) with the hashtags #IGiveCUP, #GivingTuesday & #HackingDiversity.
