Description:

Kellogg Social Impact Adjunct Professor William W. Towns, PhD and private equity asset manager Alfred D. Sharp will address minorities’ lack of access to key avenues of economic development, business growth, and wealth creation. Our speakers will discuss how the lack of access to capital, corporate boards, and the C-suite impact our minority, and subsequently, all communities.

Alfred D. Sharp is a Managing Director at Muller & Monroe, “M2”, a private equity firm that invests in emerging and niche managers on behalf of institutional investors. Before joining M², Mr. Sharp worked with start-up companies and turnaround situations, created entrepreneurial ventures, and served as a VP at Prudential Capital Group. He executed over 40 deals totaling approximately $2B. 

He earned a BA in Accounting from Morehouse College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Sharp is a frequent lecturer and has taught Entrepreneurial Finance at the Kellogg School of Management.

William W. Towns, Adjunct Professor  in Social Impact, is an activist and practitioner dedicated to helping solve civic and urban issues at the structural level. He was founding Executive Director of Benefit Chicago, one of the first impact investment collaborations in the country brought together The Chicago Community Trust, The MacArthur Foundation and Calvert Impact Capital to mobilize $100 million in impact investments targeting social enterprise in Chicago region.

His prior experience includes University of Chicago where he focused on building community and civic partnerships to improve the quality of life on Chicago’s South Side in areas of education, housing, public safety, business diversity, job creation and community engagement planning for university development projects. Also, Dr. Towns was part of the community campaign that secured the siting of the Obama Presidential Center.

He received his BA from Loyola University Chicago, an MBA from Notre Dame, and his Ph.D. from Benedictine University. 

Registration required. https://forms.gle/KdHYpxn2RVQAAUko8

Participants will receive the Zoom link a day prior to the event.