Depelsha Thomas McGruder

American businessperson and broadcast journalist

Howard University (BA)
Harvard Business School (MBA)

OccupationChief operating officerEmployerFord FoundationKnown forFounder of Moms of Black Boys (MOBB) United

Depelsha Thomas McGruder is the vice president, chief operating officer, and treasurer of the Ford Foundation. She is also the founder of Moms of Black Boys (MOBB) United, a non-profit organization advocating for Black boys and young men as well as increased accountability for law enforcement.^[1]

Early life and education

McGruder was born in Atlanta, Georgia.^[2] She earned her BA in broadcast journalism from Howard University in 1994^[3] followed by her MBA from Harvard Business School in 1998.^[4]

Career

McGruder worked at MTV as a senior director for business development. In 2006, she was promoted to senior vice president of business operations and strategy for MTV, where she was responsible for strategy, growth planning, and operational improvements.^[5] She also worked as an executive for Black Entertainment Television.^[6] McGruder attributes her career success to a specific strategy of "climbing the ranks by working in a range of corporate functions", keeping focus on whether each assignment helps her on achieving specific career goals.^[4]

In 2016, after the police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, McGruder started the Facebook group "Moms of Black Boys United" (MOBB).^[7] Within a month, the group had grown to over 117,000 members.^[8] McGruder ascribes the growth of MOBB to the "urgent need for discussion around the topic of police brutality and the fact that many mothers share the same fears, concerns, frustrations, anger and anxiety surrounding the issue."^[2] Based on its success, MOBB evolved into two non-profit organizations: Moms of Black Boys United, a 501(c)(3) focused on raising support and changing perceptions, and MOBB United for Social Change, a 501(c)(4) that seeks to influence policy "around how Black men and young men are treated and perceived by law enforcement and society at the local, state, and federal levels".^[7]

In 2018, McGruder became chief operating officer of New York Public Radio. In 2020, McGruder joined the Ford Foundation as its chief operating officer and treasurer, overseeing finance and global operations for the $13 billion foundation.^[9]

Awards and honors

In 2011, McGruder received The Network Journal's 40-Under-Forty Achievement Award^[10]
In 2020, McGruder was named one of the 25 Influential Black Women in Business by The Network Journal^[11]
In 2021, McGruder was listed as one of the BBC 100 Women of the Year^[6]
In 2023, McGruder was the recipient of Harvard Business School's Alumni Achievement Award, an honor given to alumni who exemplify the mission and values of the Harvard Business School^[7]

References

^ "Depelsha McGruder". Forbes. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^ ^a ^b Kenney, Tanasia (21 August 2016). "'Our Sons Will Not be Hashtags:' Concerned Mother Launches Nationwide Support Group for Women Raising Black Boys". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
^ Thomas, Alonda (21 April 2021). "Howard University Announces $200,000 Service and Justice Scholarship Fund Endowed in Memory of Alumnus David Neal McGruder, Esq". Howard University. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
^ ^a ^b Stewart, Bonita; Adams, Jacqueline (2020). A Blessing: Women of Color Teaming Up to Lead, Empower and Thrive. Wordeee. ISBN 9781946274465. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
^ "McGruder Upped To Senior VP At MTV". Billboard. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^ ^a ^b "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". BBC. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Yang, Greg (30 April 2023). "Harvard Announces 2023 Alumni Achievement Award Recipients". Poets and Quants. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^ Chadha, Janaki (29 July 2016). "Buoyed by Hope". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^ "Ford Foundation Appoints Depelsha McGruder as Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer". PhilanthropyNewYork.org. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^ "Depelsha McGruder Named Chief Operating Officer at NY Public Radio". The Network Journal. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
^ "A Conversation with Depelsha McGruder, MBA'98 and Carol Sutton Lewis, P'23". Harvard Business School Club of Chicago. Retrieved 23 December 2023.