Virgis Colbert’s career began at Chrysler Corporation, where he became the first Black supervisor at the Toledo Machining Plant in the late 1960s. He later joined Miller Brewing Company, where he held various roles, eventually becoming the Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations. Throughout his time at Miller, Colbert was often the first Black person in leadership positions.
Colbert’s first board position came through a relationship with the CEO of Owens-Illinois, who was impressed by Colbert’s performance and interactions during technical meetings. He went on to serve on the boards of several companies, including Delphi, Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and Sara Lee. Colbert emphasized the importance of strong job performance, treating people with respect, and involvement in nonprofit and civic organizations for those aspiring to join corporate boards.In the boardroom, Colbert stressed the significance of being prepared, asking thoughtful questions, and speaking up to be heard. He advocated for greater diversity on boards, as it brings different perspectives and reflects the diverse customer base of most companies.
Colbert expressed concern about recent Supreme Court rulings and the potential setbacks for diversity and inclusion efforts, emphasizing the need for vigilance and mobilization. To increase racial diversity on boards, Colbert suggested that current board members should focus on succession planning and consider diverse candidates in the pipeline. He also highlighted the importance of exposing junior executives and nonprofit leaders to the experiences of those who have served on boards. Colbert’s parting advice for aspiring board candidates centered on building relationships, excelling in their current roles, and working hard to achieve results that cannot be denied when opportunities for promotions and board positions arise.
