Ursula Burns and Karen S. Carter Honored at BECA Manifest Awards
Under the palm trees of Bal Harbour, Florida, the BECA alliance marked its fifth anniversary this week by elevating the figures who have redefined the C-suite. The 2026 Manifest Awards spotlighted a historic gathering of executive leadership, honoring those who have systematically dismantled barriers for the next generation of marketing professionals.
The evening at The St. Regis served as a platform for recognizing profound industry shifts, headlined by Ursula Burns, the former Xerox CEO and current chair of the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees, who received the Icon Award. The ceremony also highlighted the rapid ascent of Karen S. Carter, who became the first Black woman to lead Dow this past July. Carter accepted the Trailblazer Award from her predecessor, Jim Fitterling, in a moment that underscored the evolving landscape of corporate governance.
Beyond individual accolades, the event celebrated institutional impact. Procter & Gamble was presented with the Corporate Champion Award for its sustained investment in leadership development, while Black Enterprise received the inaugural Beacon of Light Award, honoring over five decades of influence in the Black business community. For BECA founder Jerri DeVard, the gala was less about the prestige of the honorees and more about the continuity of mentorship. This focus culminated in the graduation of 17 participants from the BECA Playbook Class of 2026, a program co-led by Deloitte to prepare the next cohort of executive talent.
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