John Rogers Jr. first joined corporate boards about 30 years ago, following the example of his mother, who served on high-profile boards. As the founder of the first African American-owned mutual fund company, he brought valuable investing and public company skills that made him an attractive board candidate. His early board seats came through personal connections and referrals.
Rogers believes it’s important not to be too selective on that first board in order to gain experience. He joined boards where the issues and products were interesting to him and where he felt he could make an impact, especially on matters of diversity, inclusion, and governance. Rogers has focused on building relationships with the board chair and CEO by making himself available to help meet company needs. He acknowledges the importance of identifying allies on the board to accomplish goals but notes he could have done more in that area over the years.
On managing imposter syndrome, Rogers says sticking to your expertise helps ensure your voice is valued. He’s optimistic about continued growth in black board representation at large companies but says more push is needed at smaller firms and in private equity. Rogers stresses transparency over quotas to drive change, along with pressure from political and civil rights leaders. He believes an increased focus on developing black businesses and wealth is key to lasting progress in board diversity.
