Global CEO and Thought Leader to Speak at MBA Commencement
Lanaya Irvin, MBA ’08, who spent more than a decade in banking and markets at Bank of America Merrill, addresses graduates
A Wall Street powerhouse who now leads a global think tank, Lanaya Irvin, MBA ’08, will address graduates at The University of Texas McCombs School of Business MBA Convocation, May 20, 3–5 p.m. at Gregory Gym. The event marks the first in-person convocation since 2019.
“My MBA experience at UT prepared me for my journey from Wall Street to my role at Coqual, and I’m honored to speak at the McCombs School of Business’s 100-year anniversary,” Irvin said.
Irvin spent more than a decade in global banking and markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Today she serves as CEO of Coqual, a global think tank founded in 2004, to conduct in-depth research on issues of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, and LGBTQ identities in the workplace and to offer robust solutions for companies hoping to create a fairer corporate culture.
“I was always encouraged to be an authentic leader at McCombs,” she said. “And I am delighted to speak with this year’s graduating class of future leaders at such a critical time in our history.”
Irvin has advised senior leaders of some of the world’s largest corporations. She has served as co-chair of the Human Rights Campaign’s business advisory council since 2013, and she helped found OPEN Finance, a consortium of LGBTQ leaders advancing inclusion on Wall Street.
“I am thrilled that Lanaya is coming back to inspire our 2022 graduates as they embark on their own leadership journeys in a dynamic, ever-changing world,” said Tina Mabley, assistant dean for McCombs’ full-time MBA program. “Her impressive experience offers unique perspective and valuable insights for our graduates as they go forward to lead with authenticity and courage.”
Irvin was recently head of business development for theSkimm, a news media company targeted to women aged 22–34, with seven million daily subscribers. This year, Crain’s New York Business listed her as a Notable Black Leader.
Her thought leadership has been featured in national media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and The New York Times.
