Carlecia Wright

Carlecia Wright is an award-winning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategist with an extraordinary track record in developing strategies that level the playing field and reduces barriers for underrepresented, marginalized and disadvantaged individuals and communities. This includes providing strategic, operational, and organizational consulting that grows capacity for intercultural competence, nurturance of diverse populations, and inclusive opportunities in leadership and economics. Carlecia is often asked to listen and give voice to emergent issues surrounding equity and inclusion in both public and private sector forums across the country.

Currently, Carlecia serves as the Chief Diversity Officer for Lone Star College, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area serving 93,000+ students encompassing seven colleges, eight centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online.  In this role, she serves as key member of the administration providing system wide to support and further develop a diverse institution by supporting facilitating policies, training and implementing programs that foster equity and inclusion for students, faculty and staff.  

Prior to starting with Lone Star College, she was the Vice President of Business Development for BiasSync, a technology company, that created science-based tools to reduce the negative impact of unconscious bias.  While in this role, Carlecia led client engagement and was responsible for generating more than 40% of the company’s revenue start up revenue. 

Previously, Carlecia served as Chief Diversity Officer and Director for the Office of Business Opportunity for the City of Houston. Under Carlecia’s focused and strategic direction, the City of Houston developed a renowned record for economic inclusion awarding over $4 billion dollars to diverse businesses in her tenure, a strategy that has become a model for cities around the country.  Additionally, she hosted the television show, Insights to Opportunity, a program broadcast on HTV that highlights economic and diversity initiatives throughout the region.

With a 20-year track record in public and external affairs roles, Carlecia has illustrated her commitment to diversity and inclusion through various community and economic programs. Carlecia is committed to service to the community in her spare time, she serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Bread of Life where she volunteers and lends her talent. Carlecia has received several awards for her achievements, in 2019 she was named a Women Who Means Business by Houston Business Journal and awarded the Community Advocate of the year by the Houston Black Chamber of Commerce. Additional recognitions include, 2016 Women to Watch in Business by the Houston Chronicle, awarded 40 Under 40 by the Houston Business Journal and she received the prestigious Breakthrough Woman Award from the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber and named one of Houston’s Most Influential Women. 

She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia College of Chicago and a Master’s Degree from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Carlecia is an Executive and Communications Coach with various certifications in coaching, diversity, and leadership development. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is a graduate of the City of New York’s Leadership Institute, the Center for Houston’s Future, Leadership Houston and a Senior Fellow for the American Leadership Forum.