49 | Advancing the Careers of Diverse Leaders | Management Leadership for Tomorrow

Today's episode features a dialogue with Kendra Crook, Sr. MBA Prep Coach at Management for Leadership for Tomorrow or (MLT). MLT is a non-profit organization specifically focused on changing the face of leadership in the private and social sectors, by driving break through results for individuals and institutions. The Rising Leaders that MLT seeks to target and then develop, are high achieving Black, LatinX, and Native American's, and this is accomplished through a portfolio of programs ranging from new to Career Prep, early career MBA Prep, to the more senior Career Advancement Programming.90% of MLT's undergraduates receive an offer for a high trajectory job, and 90% of MLT's MBA prep students get into a top 10 business school. Currently, there are over 1500 MLTers in high impact roles in the tech industry, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Microsoft. To name a few, corporate partners of MLT include: Bain & Company, Nike, Amazon, Andreessen Horowitz, Capital One, Google, and the NFL.Kendra's work, focused on the MBA Prep work of the organization, and through her 13 year tenure at MLT, has impacted over 600 fellows of the program.Key Takeaways06:40 Who Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) is09:20 What Kendra does specifically and how she feels about the impact she’s making13:54 What the problem they’re targeting is17:00 How Kendra has seen fellows change and the evolution she has seen24:01 The transition Kendra sees fellows go through31:22 Focus points organizations need to work on39:55 What confidence looks like and why it’s damaging to the process47:56 How employers can bring on more diverse talent56:19 How Kendra can scale what MLT is doing59:46 Advice Kendra wants to give01:01:55 What Kendra will focus on if she has 7 days and unlimited resourcesNotable Quotes11:52 “It’s incredibly rewarding work and when I think of 600 fellows, it sounds like a lot but I carry their stories with me all the time.”15:07 “The number one problem is making people understand the power of the degree, what it can do for you, your family, your community, and making sure that nothing gets in your way to that.”15:31 “What our premise is is that that degree springboards you so much further along your career. There’s a recognition there. There’s a training there that makes you an agent of power. And that’s what we want more of. We want that multiplier effect.”19:24 “I can’t wait for MLTers to run the world. It’s gonna be a much better place.”Thank you for listening!Join the **New Monthly Newsletter** - Data Binge REFRESH: https://www.derekwesleyrussell.com/newsletterFull Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AYmxeupsd9MHow to Contact Kendra:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendracrook/Management Leadership for Tomorrow: https://mlt.org/ResourcesManagement Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) - https://mlt.org/https://youtu.be/AYmxeupsd9MProfilesJohn Rice - CEO and Founder of MLT - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrice4/BookWomenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success by Claire Shipman - https://www.amazon.com/Womenomics-Write-Your-Rules-Success/dp/0061697184--------------------------------Interested in starting your own podcast? Some candid advice here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-start-podcast-3-step-gono-go-beginners-guide-derek-russellLearn more about the Data Binge Podcast at www.thedatabinge.comConnect with Derek:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekwesleyrussell/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN1c5mzapLZ55ciPgngqRMg/featuredInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drussnetwork/Twitter: https://twitter.com/drussnetworkMedium: https://medium.com/@derekwesleyrussellEmail: [email protected]