Sharon Bowen is the type of influential person who doesn’t flaunt her power. From her style of dress to her manner of speaking, the New York Stock Exchange Board Chairperson commands a room without trying too hard. She’s also the type to open doors for those who aren’t always given the keys. It’s a special kind of power, Bowen possesses. Her upbringing in Virginia likely has something to do with how she operates today. At AfroTech 2024, Bowen shared her segregated elementary school laid an important foundation by instilling confidence within her.

“I stand where I am today because of that background,” Bowen said during her panel, The Blueprint: Leading Change and Building a Transformative Career.

Bowen is deeply familiar with the importance of diversity and the consequences that can result when it’s lacking. As the first woman and person of color to serve as the NYSE Chair, she has broken impressive barriers within her career. Bowen believes that while the future of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) may change in some ways, it is not going anywhere.

While some may question the future of DEI following the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down affirmative action, Bowen made it clear she doesn’t think it’s possible to walk back the progress that has been made by companies prioritizing diversity.

“We’re not going to put that genie back in the  bottle,” Bowen said.

She explained to the AfroTech audience that one of her first initiatives as Chair of the NYSE was the creation of a board advisory council which included 20 CEOs committed to DEI.

“We’re not going to put that genie back in the bottle,” Bowen said.

She explained to the AfroTech audience one of the NYSE’s offerings: NYSE Board Services, which has a council comprised of listed company CEOs who nominate diverse, board-ready candidates to a network to assist other NYSE-listed companies looking to diversify their boards.

“This was 2018, we went from 45 people in our first candidate pool to over 900 today,” Bowen said. “That’s an example of how you solve for something when you see a gap.”

Bowen believes filling that gap is good for business. DEI, she explains, is about understanding the market.

“I’m an investor. I’m a shareholder. When I look at you as a company, if your leadership isn’t diverse, I personally take that as a risk factor,” Bowen said. “If you’re that unaware of what it takes to succeed, that’s a company I wouldn’t want to invest in.”