In the competitive realm of corporate America, Porter Braswell aims to shatter the glass ceiling for professionals of color with his latest venture, 2045. From the bustling 2045 Studio in New York’s Flatiron district, Braswell, a seasoned entrepreneur and Yale graduate, is spearheading a members-only network designed to empower leaders of color. With an impressive track record, including the co-founding of Jopwell, a platform connecting companies with diverse talent, Braswell is no stranger to the challenges and opportunities of fostering diversity in the workplace.

2045, named to reflect the year in which the U.S. Census predicts the country will become "minority white", aims to help companies retain and promote their most influential professionals of color. The initiative has already attracted heavyweight corporate partners such as Ford, McCann, Edelman, Ogilvy, and Pfizer, attesting to Braswell’s vision and the growing urgency for change in corporate America. By providing access to career coaches, thought leaders, and powerful networks, 2045 is set to champion a new era of diversity and inclusion in the C-suite.

Porter Braswell’s 2045: Paving the Way for Diversity in C-suites

Porter Braswell, a 35-year-old Black serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Jopwell, a hiring platform that connects companies with diverse candidates, is embarking on a new venture. His newest platform, 2045, is a members-only network for accomplished leaders of color, endorsed by their employers.

Breaking Barriers and Building Inclusion

2045 aims to assist companies in retaining and promoting their most influential professionals of color. With the American workforce being diverse, the C-suites in corporate America are disproportionately White and male. Braswell intends to disrupt this trend, encouraging organizations to team up with 2045 to provide their minority employees with exclusive access to a network of career coaches, thought leaders, and influential networks.

Already, 2045 has secured notable corporate partners, including Ford, McCann, Edelman, Ogilvy, and Pfizer. The company’s specific vision to support professionals of color sets it apart from other leadership communities.

The Power of Storytelling and Personal Narrative

Braswell, a gifted storyteller, uses his personal narrative as a Black man in America to drive his mission. He believes his experiences navigating through worlds marked by stark race and class divisions equip him to create products and businesses that unite communities.

The name 2045 represents an impending demographic shift in America, where the country will be "minority White," according to the U.S. Census. Braswell urges companies to invest in their employees of color now to understand changing consumer demands and habits.

Corporate America and the Quest for Diversity

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 led to corporate America pledging $50 billion to combat systemic racial inequality. Although only a fraction of this pledge has been deployed to DEI initiatives, the global market for DEI is expected to reach $15.4 billion by 2026, nearly double what it was in 2020, according to Global Industry Analysts.

Braswell believes the tragic event has led to companies improving their diversity efforts. Executives are now expected to be knowledgeable about what it means to live in America as a person of color, show empathy towards it, and call out injustices when noticed.

Pivoting to the Next Phase

After Jopwell was acquired by True, a global executive search firm, in April, Braswell departed to focus on 2045. Recognizing that Jopwell was only the first phase of his lifelong journey to support underrepresented communities, he sees 2045 as the natural next chapter.

With the launch of 2045, Braswell demonstrates a newfound confidence and leadership style, leading with empathy and openness about his weaknesses. His vision for a more inclusive and diverse corporate America is being embraced by many, including Vanessa LeCorps, a veteran diversity officer excited to join 2045 to help accelerate coaching sponsorship and thought leadership in the community.

Takeaways

Porter Braswell’s 2045 is an ambitious and promising venture aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in corporate America’s C-suites. Supported by major corporate partners, the platform has the potential to create meaningful change in the professional landscape for leaders of color. Braswell’s personal narrative and commitment to diversity further strengthen the mission of 2045, making it an initiative to watch in the coming years.