Cole: What would you say is the primary motivating factor behind your leadership?
Cole: Who are your role models, and what life- changing lessons did you pick up from them? Ross: My role models are my family - a powerful lineage of trailblazers who didn’t just witness history but actively shaped it. My great-grandfather, George Morrison Sr., broke racial barriers in the music industry as the first Black man signed to Columbia Records. His performances for the Queen of England and his role in managing Hattie McDaniel’s career weren’t just professional achievements - they were revolutionary acts that challenged the status quo. As the father of jazz in Denver, he showed that artistic excellence could be a powerful tool for social change, always keeping his vision of justice, equity, and a better future for his descendants at the forefront.
Ross: My leadership is fueled by an unwavering commitment to reshape America’s economic landscape into one of true inclusivity and equitable opportunity. I recognize that our current systems have historically and systematically excluded women, particularly women of color and Black communities, from full economic participation – creating barriers that continue to grow more challenging with time. This reality isn’t just a social justice issue; it’s an economic imperative that demands immediate and sustained action.
Photo: McBoat Photography
22 The Acumen
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