Insights from Gather Against the Gap

Read the key takeaways from a conference co-hosted by Kellogg and Northwestern Mutual, exploring the pressing issue of the $10 trillion racial wealth gap affecting Black Americans.
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Kellogg
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Kellogg alumna Ginny Clarke ’84 MBA, Dean Francesca Cornelli and Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske ’83 MBA on stage during a fireside chat at the Gather Against the Gap event.
Alumna Ginny Clarke ’84 MBA, Dean Francesca Cornelli and Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske ’83 MBA participated in a fireside chat at the event.

At Gather Against the Gap, a day of programming co-hosted this past October by the Kellogg School of Management and Northwestern Mutual, academic and business leaders came together to discuss strategies for reducing the racial wealth gap while driving business growth.  

At a staggering $10 trillion, the racial wealth gap for Black Americans has a direct impact on social and economic growth in the United States. The median wealth for Black households is about $20,000, compared to about $180,000 for white households—a disparity that carries major consequences for individuals, families, communities and the nation.  

Kellogg Dean Francesca Cornelli and Northwestern Mutual chairman, president and CEO John Schlifske ’83 MBA hosted the live, interactive conference, which drew more than 220 leaders from 120 organizations. The event took place at Northwestern Mutual’s corporate headquarters in Milwaukee and was conceptualized in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG). 

Download the full report below for key takeaways from the conference, including insights on how business leaders can:  

  • Advance business diversity by leveraging corporate procurement spend to help grow businesses that invest, employ and operate in diverse communities.   
  • Channel capital to grow employment and business through institutional investment that generates both financial returns and social impact.  
  • Scale businesses in diverse communities through innovative models, strategies and network support from private equity partners. 
Download the report (PDF)