Ben Wilson describes his career journey beginning as a litigator at the law firm King & Spalding during Jimmy Carter’s 1976 Presidential Campaign, surrounded by Carter Administration insiders. He later joined the Department of Justice to gain trial experience through “deep water” litigation challenges. Wilson subsequently worked at the law firm Chapman Duffin, whose founding partner Paul Oscar Chapman had been Secretary of the Interior under FDR and escorted Marian Anderson during her famous Lincoln Memorial concert. Wilson later co-founded the firm Beveridge & Diamond, becoming its first African American Managing Partner and Chair.
He views his corporate board service, beginning at Northwestern Mutual, as immensely impactful – likening it to a judge’s decisions affecting generations. At Northwestern Mutual, Wilson strongly pushed to make diversity in recruitment and advancement a priority. As a result, Northwestern Mutual increased minority representation from 5% to 30% across the company and board over 10 years.
Wilson believes board diversity strengthens governance by focusing attention on issues impacting communities of color and incorporating broader worldviews. He emphasizes that excellent candidates of color should be advanced.
