Dr. Ron Pegram has over 20 years experience in executive leadership. He is currently the Vice President and General Manager of the Heavy Duty division of the Federal Signal Corporation. In addition to his masters in accounting, Dr. Pegram recently earned his doctoral degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in May 2020. He is an expert in the fields of accounting, negotiation, business administration, and entrepreneurship.
How can we solve the racial wealth gap?
You have to think in terms of generational wealth and investments in property. One option might be pooling resources as a (black) community in order to make larger purchases, such as franchises. This problem will take generations to solve, so you also have to consider what investments you can pass on to your children. Businesses and the government also need to invest back into underserved communities.
Having worked in an executive role in corporate America, what are the most essential strategies as a minority in order to break into the C-suite?
The answer to that question lies in the type of company you choose to work for. You should never work for a company that’s insecure and they must be willing to invest in you. The company needs to be responsive to different types of thought and have mentors that support you.
How do you identify and form relationships with mentors?
Once you get to a company, it’s important to work hard to develop personal relationships. In order to develop relationships with people higher than you, you must be diligent, persistent, and patient. When people see that you have a goal, they will want to know how they can be helpful. In finding mentors, especially if they’re in executive roles and have less time, you need to know why you want their time specifically. How could they help you achieve your goal? Why them?
Awesome work! This is super useful advice for finding mentors. Networking!