Sparking a Movement
We stand on the shoulders of Patricia Roberts Harris, the first Black woman to serve on the board of a Fortune 500 company, when she became a director of IBM in 1971. Inspired by her example, the 200 members of Black Women on Boards are deeply committed to lifting others as we climb.
Co-Founder
Merline Saintil
Merline, a software engineer turned Silicon Valley COO and investor who has taken six companies through their IPOs – is an active investor in dozens of companies that are shaping the future of work, fintech, and deep technology.
Her Fortune 100 board service includes TD Synnex, and several high-growth companies including GitLab, Symbotic, and Rocket Lab, where she is the lead independent director. Via self-funding, she started a fund that invests in early-stage companies and is passionate about empowering future generations. After graduating valedictorian, Merline received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Florida A&M University and earned her Masters of Science at Carnegie Mellon University. She is also a fan of the Stanford Women's Soccer team, which includes her daughter, an equally ardent computer science student.
Co-Founder
Robin Washington
Robin is a Fortune 100 board member and operating executive, currently serving on the boards of Alphabet, Honeywell and Salesforce, where she is the lead independent director.
A CFO with significant expertise in Life Sciences and Enterprise Software, Robin is passionate about human capital management and deeply committed to accelerating the next generation of innovative leaders and entrepreneurs. She earned her MBA at Pepperdine.
LinkedIn
WHAT MEMBERS ARE SAYING
"What I'd like prospective Black Women on Boards members to know is that this is one of the most amazing communities of women! Women who will support you, who will lift you up, and who will help you achieve your career and board aspirations!" #sistersforlife
Lakecia Gunter
Former CTO, Global Partner Soutions
Microsoft