Alecia DeCoudreaux began her career as a lawyer with Pillsbury Madison & Sutro and then worked at Eli Lilly and Company for 30 years, serving in various roles including government and community relations. Her volunteer work in the Indianapolis community led to invitations to serve on corporate boards, starting with Bank One Indiana and Indianapolis Life Insurance Company. She later joined the board of CVS Health.
As a lawyer, she was accustomed to listening and focused on understanding board culture and determining when to speak up. She gained respect not through being seen as a peer CEO but by demonstrating she could make valuable contributions, especially around governance.
Diverse boards have better discussions and make higher quality decisions drawing on varied experiences. As the only person of color on boards, she faced the same issues as elsewhere. Progress after George Floyd is slowing; lasting change requires developing the pipeline through corporations. This involves mentoring and advocating for Black employees. Current Black directors should introduce aspiring directors to their networks.
She believes change through mandates will be increasingly difficult, but pressure from shareholders and employees can drive change. Accountability is needed on corporate diversity pledges. Finally, she emphasized the need for Black employees to proactively seek board service and for CEOs to keep pushing change through ongoing peer conversations.
