What does it take to journey from childhood singing stages in Dallas and finding sanctuary in a Black church choir to co-founding a groundbreaking board readiness program that has placed over 300 diverse leaders into corporate boardrooms?

In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, host Shannon Nash sits down with longtime friend, higher education executive, and board diversity champion Dennis Lanham, Executive Director of Executive and Professional Education at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Dennis shares the candid, multi-layered story of growing up in Pleasant Grove, Dallas, finding solace from household trauma through church music, becoming the line-named "Scholar" chapter president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at the University of North Texas, and eventually leading global member services at the fraternity's Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Dennis details his deliberate pivot into university-based executive education, from rebuilding operations at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to arriving in Silicon Valley at Santa Clara University. There, he fully embraced living authentically, tapped into corporate governance, and co-founded the Women’s Corporate Board Readiness program and the acclaimed Black Corporate Board Readiness Program (BCBR) alongside Dr. Thane Kreiner and veteran board leaders. Dennis also outlines his latest chapter in Atlanta, detailing how Terry College is tackling the executive retirement cliff with practice-forward AI leadership laboratories and launching its inaugural Corporate Directors Forum.

Dennis Lanham is Executive Director of Executive and Professional Education at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. With more than 20 years of experience, he builds leadership programs and corporate partnerships that help leaders grow and organizations perform more effectively. Dennis is also an experienced faculty member and a national leader in university-based executive education. He currently serves on the board of directors of UNICON, the Global Consortium of University Based Executive Education. He co-founded the Black Corporate Board Readiness and Women’s Corporate Board Readiness programs, whose alumni have filled more than 300 corporate board seats. Across his career, Dennis has focused on developing leaders for greater responsibility and helping organizations build the talent, capabilities, and leadership pipelines needed for long-term success.

Key Takeaways:

• Creative arts and early performance experience can build foundational confidence, cross-cultural fluency, and social adaptability across diverse environments.
• Chosen community and faith networks often provide essential stability, shelter, and encouragement during seasons of domestic instability and personal trial.
• Purpose-driven involvement in historical organizations can redefine notions of brotherhood, social justice, and organizational stewardship.
• Stepping out on faith and relocating to unfamiliar geographic regions accelerates leadership agility and breaks through comfort zones.
• Leadership requires consistent practice, embracing inevitable mistakes, and staying prepared long before formal opportunities emerge.
• Authentic inclusion in executive governance demands deliberate community infrastructure that connects qualified, board-ready talent directly with sitting corporate directors.
• Navigating executive workforce transitions and AI adoption requires structured leadership pathways tailored directly to the distinct operating competencies required at each management level.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast!

CONNECT WITH DENNIS LANHAM:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennislanham/

University Program: Executive & Professional Education at Terry College of Business

Corporate Governance: Learn more about the upcoming inaugural Corporate Directors Forum (March 18–19) and custom workforce programs at the University of Georgia.

Playlist

CONNECT WITH SHANNON:

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn Shannon | LinkedIn NBJV

Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)