Howard University Alum Benaree Pratt Wiley Brings Five Decades of Boardroom Leadership to 2026 Women of Power Summit

Benaree "Bennie" Pratt Wiley, a veteran corporate director and Howard University alumna, will headline the 20th anniversary of the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit in 2026, bringing more than five decades of business leadership expertise to the landmark gathering.

Wiley's career exemplifies the transformative impact HBCU graduates continue to make in corporate America's highest echelons. Currently serving as director on the boards of BNY Mellon Mutual Funds and CBIZ, she has built a reputation as a trusted voice in boardrooms where governance, risk, and long-term value creation matter most.

Expanding Opportunity for Professionals of Color

Wiley is best known for her 15-year tenure as president and CEO of The Partnership, Inc., where she helped strengthen Greater Boston's pipeline for professionals of color.

In 2023, she was appointed by the Biden-Harris administration to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans, further extending her influence on policies affecting the Black community nationwide.

Distinguished Board Leadership

Wiley's corporate governance experience spans major institutions across multiple sectors:

• Chair of PepsiCo's African American Advisory Board
• Former board member of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and First Albany
• Civic leadership with Dress for Success Boston, Spaulding Hospital, and the Black Economic Alliance
• Former vice chair of the Howard University Board of Trustees

In 2022, the National Association of Corporate Directors New England named Wiley its Nonprofit Director of the Year.

Wiley's sister, Sharon Pratt Kelly, served as mayor of Washington, D.C. from 1991-1995.

A Legacy of Achievement and Recognition

Wiley's honors include four honorary doctorates, induction into the Academy of Distinguished Bostonians, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Myra Kraft Leadership Award from the National Association of Corporate Directors, and Harvard Business School's Distinguished Alumni Award from the African American Student Union.

She has been featured on the cover of Boston magazine as one of the city's most powerful women, profiled in a Harvard Business School case study, and, alongside her husband, honored with a playground dedication at the Crispus Attucks Children's Center for two decades of service.

Multigenerational Impact

Wiley's legacy continues through her family's work expanding economic opportunity in the Black community. Her son, Pratt, a corporate attorney and former National Director of Voter Expansion under President Obama, now serves as president and CEO of The Partnership. Her daughter, B.J., is a venture-backed entrepreneur and founder and CEO of SoHookd, an enterprise wellness platform.

Together, Bennie and B.J. made history as the first African American mother-daughter graduates of Harvard Business School, reflecting a multigenerational commitment to leadership, innovation, and impact.

As Wiley takes the Women of Power stage, her five-decade career underscores the summit's mission to bridge inspiration with access and show attendees what leadership looks like at the highest levels of corporate America—a journey that began at Howard University.

Originally reported by Black Enterprise.