Speaker Biographies

Sheena Wright

President and Chief Executive Officer, Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC)

In July, 2002 the ADC Board of Directors appointed Sheena Wright, a native New Yorker and long-time Harlem resident, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC). 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 currently a member of the New York State Bar and serves on Mayor Bloomberg’s Neighborhood Investment Advisory Panel and on the Board of Directors of Citizens Union Foundation.
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.

Ms. Wright is married to Gregg Walker, a Vice President of Goldman Sachs, and board member of several Harlem-based organizations. She has been blessed with two sons, ages 12 and 6.