8 Black Business Operators You Should Know

Although not typically the founder of a business, a business operator is an individual or entity responsible for managing and running an organization. They oversee daily operations, make strategic decisions, and drive growth and profitability. Business operators may be CEOs, presidents, general managers, or even franchisees.

Over the years, some Black operators have quietly driven innovation, optimized resources, and scaled businesses. Although most of these executives helm legacy companies, they’ve been fostering a culture of continuous improvement and making data-driven decisions.

This article spotlights 8 Black operators who are driving strategy at some of the largest U.S. companies.

David Rawlinson II, Qurate Retail

David Rawlinson II assumed the role of President and CEO of Qurate Retail, Inc. on October 1, 2021. The American media conglomerate Qurate Retail Group is the parent company of QVC, HSN, Zulily, Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, and Grandin Road.

Qurate Retail is a global leader in video commerce, among the top e-commerce retailers in North America (according to Digital Commerce 360), and a leader in mobile commerce and social commerce. In 2020, Qurate Retail grossed $14.2 billion in revenue, served more than 22 million customers across seven countries, and had 26,400 team members worldwide. The company reaches approximately 218 million homes worldwide via 14 television networks and millions more via multiple streaming services, social pages, mobile apps, websites, print catalogs, and in-store destinations. 

David joined Qurate Retail from NielsenIQ, where he served as CEO and led the company through a transition to new ownership. Before that, he was President of Grainger Global Online, leading the fastest-growing, stand-alone division of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW). 

Previously, David held executive roles with ITT Exelis, formerly ITT Corp. He also served as a White House Fellow and held various appointed positions under President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. David has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and a graduate of The Citadel.

Marvin Ellison, Lowe

Marvin Ellison is the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Lowe’s Companies Inc., headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. The home improvement company has over 2,200 stores and approximately 300,000 associates in the United States and Canada.

Ellison is the first African American to be President and CEO of two Fortune 500 corporations. He has over 35 years of retail leadership and operational experience within Fortune 500 companies. Before joining Lowe’s, Ellison served as chairman and CEO of J.C. Penney Co., where he delivered positive sales growth, reduced debt, and generated positive adjusted earnings per share. 

He has a strong background in the home improvement industry, with 12 years of experience in senior-level operations positions at Home Depot Inc. Notably, he served as executive vice president of U.S. stores from 2008 to 2014, dramatically improving customer service and efficiency across the organization as he oversaw U.S. sales, operations, installation services, tool rental, and pro strategic initiatives. 

Ellison earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from The University of Memphis, where he currently serves on the board of trustees. He also got an MBA from Emory University and serves on the board of directors for FedEx Corporation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

Related Post: 10 Black Influential CMOs in Corporate America You Should Know

Craig Arnold, Eaton

Craig Arnold assumed the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eaton, a global intelligent power management company, on June 1, 2016. He was previously a member of the company’s board of directors and was appointed Eaton’s President and Chief Operating Officer on September 1, 2015.

Arnold was Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the company’s Industrial Sector from February 2009 to August 2015. He joined Eaton in 2000 as the Fluid Power Group’s Senior Vice President and Group Executive.

He worked at General Electric Company as Corporate Vice President and President of GE Lighting Services Ltd. since 1999. He led the company’s lighting business there in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Arnold started his career with General Electric in 1983 and later served as corporate vice president and president of GE Plastics, Greater China, and then of GE Appliances, Asia, from 1997 to 1999.

Arnold holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino, and a master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University.

Chris Womack

Chris Womack is the President and CEO of Southern Company, one of America’s leading energy providers, serving 9 million customers nationwide. Before his current role, he served as Chairman, President, and CEO of Georgia Power since 2021, leading Southern Company’s largest subsidiary. 

He previously served as Chairman, President, and CEO of Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary of Southern Company. Before leading Georgia Power, he was Executive Vice President and President of external affairs for Southern Company.

Womack also served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief People Officer at Southern Company and Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Services at Alabama Power.

He previously worked at Capitol Hill for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC. There, he served as a legislative aide for former Congressman Leon E. Panetta and as staff director for the Subcommittee on Personnel and Police for the Committee on House Administration. 

Womack holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a Master’s degree from The American University and completed the Stanford Executive Program in 2001. 

Damola Adamolekun, Red Lobster

Damola Adamolekun is the newly appointed CEO of Red Lobster. He was formerly the CEO of P.F. Chang’s, where he led the company in strategic initiatives and ensured the continued growth and success of one of the largest upscale-dining Asian restaurant brands worldwide.

The private equity and restaurant executive is an Operating Partner at Garnett Station Partners. Previously, Mr. Adamolekun worked in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs and as a Private Equity Associate at TPG Capital. He serves on the Boards of Directors for P.F. Chang’s, NuLeaf and Inday and previously International Tower Hill Mines (NYSE: THM).  

In 2021, Adamolekun was recognized with three GLOBEE Leadership Gold awards for CEO of the Year: Food and Beverage, CEO of the Year: Hospitality, Travel, Recreation, Leisure, and Top CEO of the Year: The Rising Star, as well as a GLOBEE Leadership Silver award for CEO Achievers: Transformational Leader of the Year, while in 2022 he was named in Nation’s Restaurant News’ Power List among the most innovative and inspiring leaders in the restaurant industry.

Adamolekun received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Brown University, where he was a member of the Ivy League champion Brown Football team and served as President of the Brown Investment Group, and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, where he served as Portfolio Manager for the HBS Investment Club.  

Related Post: 10 Black Women in Venture Capital Making an Impact

Ibukun Olubiyi, Chich-fil-A Canada

Ibukun Olubiyi is the owner-operator behind Chick-fil-A’s first franchise in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. Chick-fil-A, the third-largest fast-food restaurant in the U.S., began expanding to Canada in 2019. Nigerian-born Olubiyi has lived in London, Dublin, and finally, Canada, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in sociology at McMaster University. 

During her final year in 2012, she first encountered a Chick-fil-A restaurant. She traveled with about 50 students to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for displaced residents still suffering from Hurricane Katrina.

“During our 27-hour drive, we stopped to eat at Chick-fil-A,” Olubiyi explained. “To be honest, what stood out to me more than the food was the impeccable customer service, especially the Team Members who were extremely courteous as they took my order.” So when she heard that Chick-fil-A was expanding across Canada, Olubiyi sensed her opportunity to create a true legacy in her local community.

Mellody Hobson, Ariel Investments

Mellody Hobson is the President of Ariel Investments LLC—a Chicago-based mutual fund company and investment management firm. She manages the firm’s business operations, development, and strategic initiatives. Furthermore, Hobson serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Ariel Investment Trust.

As a financial expert, Hobson is passionate about sharing financial literacy and investor education in the media. This is why she’s a regular contributor for CBS News, provides weekly money tips on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and authors a column for Black Enterprise Magazine.

Hobson also channels her expertise into boardrooms. She is Vice Chair of the board of Starbucks Corporation and Director of The Estée Lauder Companies and J.P. Morgan Chase. She was the former Chair of the board of DreamWorks Animation. In 2017, Hobson was appointed the first African American woman to become Chair of the Economic Club of Chicago in its 90-year history.

Time Magazine named Hobson one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2015. The Chicago native has been awarded honorary degrees from Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, and St. Mary’s College. Hobson obtained her AB from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy.

Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo

Tekedra N. Mawakana is the co-CEO of Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company. She is responsible for the overall company strategy and ensures the commercialization and widespread adoption of Waymo’s transformational technology, the Waymo Driver.

She has over two decades of experience advising consumer technology companies on advancing their business interests worldwide. She started her career working with regulated technology and telecom industries and leading global technology transactions.

Mawakana was previously the COO of Waymo. Before working at Waymo, she led global teams across five continents. She was eBay’s vice president of government relations and Yahoo’s vice president and deputy general counsel for Global Public Policy. She started her career at the D.C.-based law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

Tekedra also serves on the Board of Directors for Intuit and on the Advisory Council for Boom Technology. She is a social impact-focused investor and an Advisor and LP with the Operator Collective. Several publications and organizations have recognized her influence and leadership in the mobility and technology sectors.

Savoy magazine named her one of corporate America’s most influential Black leaders in 2020 and 2019. In 2020, Automotive News recognized her as among the 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry, and Vulog named her one of the “Top 20 in 2020 Influential Women in Mobility.” She was recently featured on the TIME100 AI list as one of the influencers driving AI globally.

Main Image: David Rawlinson II
Image Source: Qurate Retail