When TIME Magazine released its list for 2020’s 100 “Most Influential People,” student-run media organization, The Cornell Sun, was swift to recognize that it contained three Cornell University alumni: a scientist, an entrepreneur and a politician. The three “Cornellians” were Anthony Fauci, Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan and Robert F. Smith,

The single act of adding U.S. Senator Kamala Harris to the Democratic ticket in 2020 was a watershed moment for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Harris graduated from HBCU Howard University in 1986, and went on to earn her law degree at the University of California, Hastings College of

Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners,  joined New York Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin, former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns and activist and rapper Michael “Killer Mike” Render for a conversation on race during this year’s annual DealBook Summit. Smith talked about the need for more diversity

Sixty years ago, Black certified public accountants (CPAs) made up less than 0.15% of the industry’s workforce. Decades later, African Americans make up only 3% of accountants and less than 1% of all CPAs in the United States. Recent population estimates put the total percentage of African Americans in the

Nasdaq is taking up the challenge to diversify its corporate boards by mandate. This dynamic shift may seem to follow trends of social justice, but is in fact due to economic projections. Studies show that companies with diverse board members, such as women, outperform their less diverse competitors by as

Robert F. Smith has now had the honor of receiving a second award in memory of Robert F. Kennedy’s legacy.  In 2013, Smith became Chairman of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights after winning the human rights advocacy group’s Ripple of Hope Award in 2010. The organization chose Smith as Chairman,