African American Forum Brings Skills Learned at Booz Allen to Community

Group provides opportunities for professional development as well as personal satisfaction.

On a spring day in Montgomery County, Maryland, 15 business professionals stood in front of a crowd of high school students. They were about to participate in six hours’ worth of group discussions on topics of considerable importance to the professionals of tomorrow: Financing higher education… writing a resume… developing career goals… and one of the most important questions of all: “Why they don’t like me?”

The business professionals were members of Booz Allen Hamilton’s African American Forum (AAF) and—for the third year—they were assisting at the NAACP Montgomery County Youth Summit. The event—one of many community initiatives in which the AAF takes part—struck a chord not only with the students, but with forum members.

“The AAF does wonderful things in giving back to the community, as do most Booz Allen forums,” says associate and AAF member Ralph Coleman. “Many of us in AAF could see our younger selves in these kids. It’s important for us to communicate that we were once in their shoes and whatever obstacles they may encounter, those obstacles can be overcome. Just seeing the ‘light bulbs’ go on in the audience was great.”

Says associate and AAF chair Leigh Blackburn, “AAF events strengthen the knowledge and skill sets that forum members also bring to bear in client interactions and projects. We work one-on-one with minority youth and disadvantaged groups to share our insights and skills and build awareness about roles individuals can play in communities. This year, AAF is focusing on mentoring and professional development.”

But there are many more ways that the AAF benefits Booz Allen and its staff. “Our firm has a pronounced but nuanced culture that emphasizes leadership, relationship management, and collaboration,” says vice president Tony Mitchell. “The AAF provides its members with an effective means to deepen their understanding of Booz Allen’s culture as they develop the leadership and networking skills necessary to build successful careers here.”

Many Ways to Participate

The AAF has a broad roster of objectives, including:

Increasing the representation, development, and advancement of African and African-American staff at Booz Allen
Supporting activities of interest to Africans and African Americans
Providing mentoring and networking opportunities for Booz Allen’s African-American community
Enhancing African and African-American cultural awareness

To further these objectives, recent AAF events included a round-table discussion on Booz Allen’s mentoring process, in which six principles participated: Derrick Burton, Tanya Hilton, Garnett Stowe, Rebecca Patton, Mel Fulton, and Eugene Bounds. Later this year, AAF will sponsor a workshop on dressing for success and social skills in the corporate environment. In addition, AAF sponsors annual events, including a ballet performance and reception with the Dance Institute of Washington.

Dedicated AAF committees address the special interests of its members, including:

Communications
Mentoring and Professional Development
Recruiting
Special Events
New Hire Luncheon
African-American Heritage Month
Treasurer
Web Development
Secretary
Election
Inter-forum Liaison

Blackburn joined the forum after participating in one of AAF’s new hire luncheons. “I was so deeply impressed with the organization, the production of the event, and the opportunity it offered to network with senior leaders and new hires, I knew I wanted to get involved.” Blackburn also served on the Mentoring and Professional Development and African-American Heritage Month committees.

Coleman has been involved sporadically with the AAF since 2003. “It’s a great opportunity to socialize and network,” he says. “I’m amazed at the work in which the firm’s staff is involved, and I enjoy hearing about their work.”

High Expectations for the Future

“At Booz Allen, a significant amount of professional and personal success comes through networks and relationships,” says Blackburn. “Participating in AAF has provided me with an extensive range of opportunities to engage with peers and seniors leaders, and the capacity to build a diverse and broad professional network. I’ve always taken an active role in a variety of forums, and I profit from the wisdom, experience, and advice of mentors and advisors.”

Senior consultant Sybil Buchanan has also used the forum as a way to expand her network at Booz Allen. “Upon joining the firm, I was located at the client site and had very little interaction with peers outside of my immediate team. A friend suggested getting involved with AAF. After I attended my first event, I knew that it was an organization that I wanted to entrench myself,” says Buchanan, who now serves as AAF vice chair.

The forum’s latest challenge is improving upon its record of excellence in programs and activities of past years. They’re also challenged to continually find new ways to better serve membership’s changing needs and interests.

“It’s very easy to get caught up in the rat race called life, and I need these types of events to help ground me, to bring me back to appreciate everything that I’ve been afforded, and to appreciate those that trail-blazed before me to ensure that I had these opportunities,” says Coleman. “That’s why it’s essential to give back to the community, via the AAF.”

“It is efforts like the forum that make Booz Allen such a great place to work,” he adds.

story posted June 30, 2006