Ethel Walker School
The Ethel Walker School is thrilled to announce that Bozoma Saint John, one of the most dynamic and influential figures in the world of business and entertainment, will give the Commencement address at its 112th Commencement on June 2, 2024.
Ms. Saint John is a renowned marketing executive, entrepreneur, and author of the memoir The Urgent Life, celebrated with a Harvard Business School case study titled “Leading with Authenticity and Urgency.” She is a dynamic and influential business leader who has consistently broken barriers and shattered glass ceilings, including roles as the Global CMO of Netflix, CMO of Endeavor, CBO of Uber, Head of Marketing of Apple Music & iTunes, and Head of Music and Entertainment Marketing at PepsiCo. Recognized for her fearless leadership and commitment to inclusivity, she has been honored with induction into the Marketing Hall of Fame (2022), induction into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement (2014), and induction into Billboard’s Women in Music Hall of Fame (2018). Ms. Saint John has also been listed in many prestigious rankings including being crowned The World’s Most Influential CMO by Forbes.
Beyond her corporate success, Ms. Saint John is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion, using her platform to inspire change and empower underrepresented groups. Born in Ghana and raised in the U.S., her journey exemplifies perseverance and ambition. She has extended her impact globally, serving as an Ambassador for the African Diaspora and Special Envoy to the President of Ghana. Ms. Saint John is also a Philanthropic Ambassador to Pencils of Promise in Ghana and serves on the boards of Vital Voices, Soho House, and the CFDA. Ms. Saint John’s leadership extends to academia, where she sits on the Board of Trustees at her alma mater Wesleyan University.
Head of School Dr. Meera Viswanathan comments: “Bozoma Saint John’s bold pronouncement that ‘risk is the essence of any reward — to try the thing that no one else is willing to try’ mirrors the spirit of The Ethel Walker School where our students take risks to do things to which few other peers aspire, from digital literacy in their freshman years, becoming real world investors in their sophomore years, IRS-certified tax preparers in their junior years, and more. Ms. Saint John embodies our school values of respect, love of learning, confidence, courage, conviction, and integrity along with her own intrinsic grace, global awareness, and generosity of heart.”
