Michigan State University Broad College of Business alumna Dalana Brand (B.A. Finance ’95, MBA Finance and Human Resources ’01) is one of 27 business school graduates honored by AACSB International — the world’s largest business education alliance — in its 2022 Class of Influential Leaders.
Dalana Brand (B.A. Finance ’95, MBA Finance and Human Resources ’01), chief people and diversity officer at Twitter
The annual initiative recognizes notable alumni from AACSB-accredited business schools whose inspiring work serves as a model for the next generation of business leaders, and this year’s class features champions of diversity and inclusion.
Brand is currently chief people and diversity officer at Twitter, where she is leading a bold vision to truly transform the workforce by 2025.
She is a seasoned human capital executive with significant global leadership experience in multiple industries and a strong reputation for organizational transformation. She has also received widespread recognition for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion work.
At Twitter, Brand has doubled down on DEI programs to accelerate progress with the campaign #UntilWeAllBelong. She is steadfast in her efforts toward achieving this vision for a global workforce that will comprise at least 50% women, and in the United States, at least 25% of Tweeps — Twitter employees — will be from underrepresented communities.
She has applied her business education to think strategically about how DEI could most positively impact the people and the business at Twitter. She has successfully worked with the company’s leadership and its external board to make diversification progress one out of five criteria used to determine executive bonuses. She has regular “health checkups” with top staff to monitor progress, and these outcomes are shared internally and externally to ensure transparency and accountability.
“Dalana’s achievements show us there are many ways to elevate the voices and perspectives of all. She inspires us to listen, learn and act with authenticity and courage,” Caryn Beck-Dudley, AACSB president and CEO, said. “It is a privilege to amplify her efforts and the entire 2022 Class of Influential Leaders.”
Now in its seventh year, AACSB’s Influential Leaders spotlight program recognizes more than 250 business school graduates who have created lasting impact in business and society. All honorees have earned an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degree from one of the more than 900 AACSB-accredited business schools worldwide.
The 2022 honorees include advocates across businesses, nonprofits, academia and governments who are educating and empowering others to create welcoming, inclusive spaces for all. Together, they represent one facet of business education’s efforts to elevate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the workforce and society — a key feature of AACSB’s 2020 business accreditation standards and the focus of a recently released positioning paper. The paper illustrates AACSB’s commitment to equitable access to high-quality business education globally and calls on the business education community to embed the tenets of DEIB into its strategies and cultures.
The unique stories of each honoree, and how they are creating meaningful, lasting impact in the world, are available at aacsb.edu/influential-leaders.
