The Advanced Leadership Institute and Carnegie Mellon University Celebrate the Graduates of the 2025 Executive Leadership Academy

PITTSBURGH, June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 27^th, The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) and Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business (CMU) will proudly celebrate the seventh graduating cohort of the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA). ELA, a six-month program designed to address the challenges Black leaders and their allies face, provides senior-level managers and executives with a world-class executive education that focuses on academic instruction, executive coaching, mentorship, and peer networking. The 21 impressive leaders who participated in the program received advanced tools, perspectives, and skills to help them deliver value and positively impact their organizations and communities.

"Congratulations to this year's Executive Leadership Academy graduates! The 21 talented cohort members not only represent the wealth of impressive executives we have in our region, but the growth of the distinguished TALI Alumni Network, which now consists of over 300 high-performing leaders. We look forward to watching these men and women flourish both personally and professionally." — Evan Frazier, President and CEO, The Advanced Leadership Institute.

"We are proud to continue partnering with TALI to deliver innovative course content and insights that help leaders thrive. The individuals who participated in the 2025 Executive Leadership Academy Cohort have gained the tools and perspectives they need to succeed in all their professional endeavors and contribute to the community at the highest levels." — Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, dean and Richard P. Simmons Professor of Finance, Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business.

Various members of the TALI and CMU families will join the graduates at the ceremony at Carnegie Mellon University. TALI Alumna Dina Clark, EdD, Senior Vice President, Inclusion & Engagement, Skanska USA Building, Inc. will deliver the keynote address.

Congratulations to the 2025 Executive Leadership Academy Graduates:

Mike Belgrove, Chief Human Resources Officer, Life'sWork of Western PA
Kwame Burroughs, Senior Director, Medicare Business and Development Group, UPMC Health Plan
Kiel Chapman, Production Manager, PPG
Lauren DeDomenic, Deputy Chief of Staff, Policy and Partnerships, Office of Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato
Sherlyn Harrison, Chief Program Officer, Pittsburgh Scholar House
Kashif Henderson, Executive Director, Neighborhood Learning Alliance
Tinisha Hunt, Chief Executive Officer, Macedonia FACE
Ja-Neen Jones, Chief Executive Officer, TRAC Services for Families
Denise McGill-Delaney, Chief Operating Officer, Gwen's Girls
Tere McKinney-Bundy, Associate General Counsel, Labor and Employment, Form Energy
Jacques Moye, Attorney at Law , Clark Hill
TaJane Nolen, Director, Product Management, American Eagle Outfitters
Sierra Parm, Operations Director, A. Philip Randolph Institute
Kendra Ross, Head of Social Impact, Duolingo
Gizelle Sherwood, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Laboratories, Teaching Professor in Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
Jada Shirriel, Chief Executive Officer, Healthy Start, Inc.
Juel Smith, Associate Dean of Science and Executive Director of Homewood-Brushton Center, CCAC
Sylvia Smith, Director, Contract Management & Operations, Highmark
Tony Thompson, Counsel, Dollar Bank, FSB
Yalanda Wells, Commercial Banker, Bank of America
Latasha Wilson-Batch, Executive Director, Best of the Batch Foundation

In 2026, The Executive Leadership Academy will be combined with the National Executive Leadership Academy (NELA). NELA is now open for new applications for the 2026 cohort. Senior-level managers and executives who are located regionally and nationally and have at least 10 years of professional work experience in the corporate, nonprofit, government, or entrepreneurial sectors with business functions in any US market are encouraged to apply before October 15^th. The program, which leverages course content delivered by CMU, educates, develops, connects, and positions professionals for executive advancement. TALI equips high-performing leaders with the strategies, insights, and networks needed to thrive. Our programs are open to people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. For more information on how to apply, visit: https://taliinstitute.org/leadership-programs-2/executive-leadership-academy-national/.

About The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)
The mission of The Advanced Leadership Institute is to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities by cultivating leadership through world-class executive education programs tailored to support, develop, and retain Black leaders and their allies. While TALI's programs specialize in content relevant to developing Black leaders, race is not a criterion for program participation and the programs, though competitive, are open to all qualified applicants. Course content for TALI programs is delivered through an academic partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, while programming is made possible by the support of major corporations and foundations in the Pittsburgh region, including Lead Founding Underwriters: BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Richard King Mellon Foundation; Founding Underwriter: Highmark Foundation; Excellence Partners: Eden Hall Foundation and Henry L. Hillman Foundation; Lead Contributor: The Heinz Endowments; Presenting Sponsors: Giant Eagle, Highmark Health, PNC, and UPMC; Gold Sponsors: American Eagle Outfitters, Bank of America, Buchanan, CNX, Covestro, Dollar Bank, Duolingo, Duquesne Light Company, FedEx Corporation, Koppers, PPG, and Wabtec; and Silver Sponsors and Bronze Sponsors, which can be found on TALI's website.

For information about The Advanced Leadership Institute, visit www.taliinstitute.org.

SOURCE The Advanced Leadership Institute, Inc.