Conceptualized in 1970 and incorporated in 1972, the National Black MBA Association Inc. “has provided a platform for black professionals to not only launch their careers, but also reach their full potential ”(William W. Wells, Jr., NBMBAA Board chair, 2007). Since its formation, “the NBMBAA has been at the helm of black economic empowerment,” says Antoinette M. Malveaux, former president and CEO of NBMBAA, “and we’re not going to let up. We are compelled to challenge, strive, educate and energize our community and members via a host of educational and entrepreneur programs, scholarships, mentoring opportunities and employment networks.”

When the first conference was held in 1970, 100 Black MBA students and alumni representing 29 different MBA programs and 54 corporate and academic partners (graduate school faculty, business school deans, and corporate executives) met to address the challenge of accommodating a newly emerging group in the business management fraternity: Black MBA’s. The budget for this two-day conference was $13,326, of which Black alumni paid $777 and a grant from the Metropolitan Applied Research Center (MARC) provided the balance. At the 29th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, the Association had grown to 7,200 members. Furthermore, there were now 40 chapters and 450 corporate and business partners. From the modest beginnings of 1970,  the Association reported at its 30th anniversary celebration in October, 2000 that “more than 80% of our members enjoy household incomes well over $75,000, representing substantial purchasing power and influence within the community”(From Whence We Came, 2000)

Clearly, the commitment of the 100 Black MBA students and alumni in 1970 to accept the challenge of their day and be positive change agents for black economic empowerment has borne fruit. From that beginning, the NBMBAA has facilitated access to corporate careers and entrepreneurial opportunities for thousands of deserving students for over three decades. But today is a new day, requiring fresh innovation and initiative to continue the proud legacy of a proud people.
 To secure the financial leverage needed to move the Association forward and increase the worldwide pool of African-American management talent in educational programs, NBMBAA launched the National Black MBA Foundation in October, 2005 to be a philanthropic arm of the Association. As the Black MBA Foundation approaches its third anniversary, it is important that we remember from whence we came. It is important also that we embrace the challenge of “Investing in the Excellence of Our Youth” and join with Bill Qualls, Barbara Bostick and the other positive change agents who, one day, will be able to justifiably claim a portion of that legacy that will be the National Black MBA Association of tomorrow.