As Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer at the National Basketball Association, Lesley Slaton Brown is responsible for advancing diverse representation and driving business impact and risk mitigation with DEI at the forefront. Lesley works across the league office and team diversity, equity and inclusion leaders to enhance DEI processes and ensure equitable opportunities across the NBA ecosystem including team ownership, coaches, officials, employees, partners, vendors and B2B suppliers.
Prior to joining the NBA in February 2023, Lesley served as Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at HP, Inc. for eight years. At HP, she developed the company’s 10-year DEI and Racial Equality and Social Justice strategy, yielding the internal movement and advancement of more than 78 percent of underrepresented employees. In addition, she served as an advisor to senior leaders on DEI implementation into business strategy. She led inclusive and equitable talent acquisition programs and partnerships and developed industry-leading practices to drive accountability with key partners and suppliers for greater DEI impact.
Previously, Brown co-founded Curated Pathways to Innovation (CPI), a personalized learning platform focused on increasing the number of women and people of color in STEM education and careers. She spent 28 years with Hewlett-Packard Company, where she rose to Director, Global Diversity and Executive on Loan, and Current Product Marketing Manager following roles within multicultural and global philanthropy, leading key efforts in Senegal, West Africa.
Brown has been named one of the Most Powerful Women in Corporate Diversity by Black Enterprise, a Top Influential Woman in Corporate America by Forbes Magazine, and DEI Trailblazer by Business Insider. Most recently, she was named Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year by Girls in Tech.
Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Boise State University, where she played basketball. She also completed the inaugural Black Leaders Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is currently a member of the University of California Merced Board of Trustees, Co-Chair of the Nominations Committee, and Curated Pathways to Innovation’s (CPI) Board of Directors. Brown is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
07/2024
Prior to joining the NBA in February 2023, Lesley served as Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at HP, Inc. for eight years. At HP, she developed the company’s 10-year DEI and Racial Equality and Social Justice strategy, yielding the internal movement and advancement of more than 78 percent of underrepresented employees. In addition, she served as an advisor to senior leaders on DEI implementation into business strategy. She led inclusive and equitable talent acquisition programs and partnerships and developed industry-leading practices to drive accountability with key partners and suppliers for greater DEI impact.
Previously, Brown co-founded Curated Pathways to Innovation (CPI), a personalized learning platform focused on increasing the number of women and people of color in STEM education and careers. She spent 28 years with Hewlett-Packard Company, where she rose to Director, Global Diversity and Executive on Loan, and Current Product Marketing Manager following roles within multicultural and global philanthropy, leading key efforts in Senegal, West Africa.
Brown has been named one of the Most Powerful Women in Corporate Diversity by Black Enterprise, a Top Influential Woman in Corporate America by Forbes Magazine, and DEI Trailblazer by Business Insider. Most recently, she was named Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year by Girls in Tech.
Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Boise State University, where she played basketball. She also completed the inaugural Black Leaders Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is currently a member of the University of California Merced Board of Trustees, Co-Chair of the Nominations Committee, and Curated Pathways to Innovation’s (CPI) Board of Directors. Brown is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
07/2024