Cordell Carter, Esq.

Cordell Carter, Esq. is a dynamic leader, speaker, and advisor who is highly sought after in 20 countries and 50 states for his relentless pursuit of a world where everyone belongs and has opportunities to thrive. As executive director of the Aspen Institute Socrates Program (2017-2024) and founding director of the Project on Belonging, he curates transformative leadership seminars, influencing over 1,500 leaders annually. Cordell’s passion for creating inclusive spaces led him to found the Festival of the Diaspora (Colombia) and the Expectant Advisory, which guides organizations on thoughtful implementation of inclusion and belonging strategies. His career includes leadership roles at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, IBM, and Seattle Public Schools. He has received numerous accolades, including the Eisenhower Fellowship (China), an appointment to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, and designation as a 2023 Minority Executive Making Moves and 2016 Champion of Change for Computer Science Education. Cordell is currently working on a documentary - "The Road Trip to Belonging" - and book - "Becoming an Inclusive Republic." He also serves as a Board Director for Concordia, Orbit Capital, Oasis Fresh Markets, Redemption Holdings and the International Advisory Committee of Danubius University (Romania) and limited partner with the Fvlcrum Fund and Mendoza Ventures. He holds degrees from Notre Dame, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Washington.