Stacey Mobley spent his entire career at DuPont, starting in the legal department and eventually becoming General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer. He was the first Black employee in the legal department, but worked with leadership to quickly diversify the organization. Mobley served on several corporate boards, including Wilmington Trust Company, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, International Paper Company, and Hewlett Packard. He was attracted to board service as a new experience after his long tenure at DuPont.
As a black board member, Mobley never felt he couldn’t be his authentic self, though he recognized the need to work harder to gain the trust and respect of fellow directors. He built relationships through conversations and by demonstrating good judgment. Mobley advocated for diversity on his boards, working to add more women and minorities, especially when chairing the governance committee. He believes the business case for diversity is strong, as diverse organizations perform better and are more enjoyable to work in.
However, Mobley is troubled by the current backlash against diversity efforts and believes focused action is still needed to increase Black representation on boards. He recommends aspiring directors seek boards in industries that interest them, do thorough due diligence on the company and culture, and leverage contacts to secure a seat. Once on a board, Mobley advises listening, learning, asking questions, and looking for opportunities to meaningfully contribute. Above all, he counsels prospective directors to always be prepared, act appropriately, and demonstrate good judgment, as you never know who is noticing. Mobley believes Black professionals are deserving of a board seat and can succeed by learning what they don’t know.
