Howard Woolley grew up in Queens, New York, and attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science. He studied communications at Syracuse University and later obtained a business degree from Johns Hopkins. His career was primarily in government and regulatory affairs, serving as head of government affairs for Verizon Wireless from its founding in 2000 until his retirement in 2013.
Woolley first considered corporate boards about 3-4 years before retiring from Verizon. He joined the Executive Leadership Council, which was discussing getting more diversity on boards, and he wanted to contribute his experience. His first board was telecom company Somos Inc in 2017. He later joined boards of Allianz Life Insurance and Apple Hospitality REIT, both through personal referrals. Woolley believes he offers regulatory/political expertise and networks that companies find valuable.
Post-George Floyd, the aperture opened for African-American board talent beyond just former CEOs/CFOs. He evaluates boards based on alignment with his values and doesn’t pursue opportunities that don’t fit. Woolley aims to prepare thoroughly for meetings and listen first. He believes that bringing his authentic self and establishing himself as a strong board member builds credibility to later engage on diversity issues.
Mentoring and introducing minority candidates to boards can help promote diversity, but performance is essential – aspiring directors must articulate why they want to serve and what they offer. Overall, he is optimistic about continued increases in Black corporate board representation with intentional efforts like board training programs. Business leaders need to proactively diversify without waiting for pressure.
