Sheena Wright

Company: Abyssinian Development Corporation

Position: President and CEO

Industry: Charitable Organization

Country: United States

In July, 2002, Sheena Wright was named the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC). A native New Yorker and long-time Harlem resident, Ms. Wright previously served as Chief Operating Officer of ADC.

As CEO of ADC, Ms. Wright leads one of the most successful community and economic development entities in the nation. Prior to joining ADC, Ms. Wright served as the General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Business Development for Crave Technologies, a minority-owned software company based in New York City and Baltimore, Maryland. From 1999 to 2000, she was a Senior Associate at the law firm of Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt, Maynard and Kristol, specializing in structuring private equity funds and private equity investments. From 1994 to 1999, Ms. Wright was an Associate at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz, where she participated in negotiating, structuring and executing complex mergers, acquisitions and securities transactions.

Ms. Wright received a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1994 and was named a Stone Scholar for outstanding academic achievement. She completed her undergraduate work at Columbia College in 1990, distinguishing herself athletically as well as academically, lettering in varsity track & field and cross-country. At Columbia, Ms. Wright was a founding member of the Pan-African House, a Black student cultural institution and residence on the school's campus. After graduating, she worked for The New York Times Washington bureau as an Editorial Assistant.

Ms. Wright is a member of the New York State Bar. She serves on Mayor Bloomberg's Neighborhood Investment Advisory Panel and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Citizens Union Foundation's Board of Directors and the Chair of Sustained Excellence Alliance Corporation (also known as "SEA Corp.").

Ms. Wright was born in the Bronx, New York. Her mother, Debra Fraser-Howze, is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. Ms. Fraser-Howze's pioneering achievements, devotion to her community and legendary advocacy have inspired and guided Ms. Wright throughout her life.