Adrienne Whitaker has over 15 years experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in various leadership roles working in the public, private, and non profit sectors. She currently serves as the DEI Director of a statewide agency and the CEO of AD2 Consulting - Advanced Development Squared.
Adrienne was Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at SunTrust Bank (now Truist), where she was also responsible for diversity initiatives, community outreach, corporate social responsibility, and overall sales results in a territory with over 3500 employees. In this capacity, she was also the region’s chief marketing officer and served as the chief of staff to the regional president/CEO. During her tenure at SunTrust, she spent 8 years as a sales and sales management coach to the executive team. She was a project manager responsible for developing operating models and on the strategies team as a trained change agent helping leaders and the organization navigate through significant corporate change including culture change and on boarding newly acquired financial institutions.
Adrienne has served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement & External Affairs at Virginia State University, a historically black college/university (HBCU) with over 5,000 students and. 850 employees. It is America's first fully state-assisted, four-year institution of higher learning for black students.
She served as the Vice President of Philanthropy & Marketing at Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, an agency that provides transitional living services, specialized education, and therapeutic resources to youth with emotional and behavioral health concerns, as well as housing for LGBTQ young adults who age out of the foster care system.
She was a senior business development executive at SOAR365 where she was responsible for advocating and providing employment for men and women with disabilities by securing contracts with companies, non-profits as well as local, state and federal government agencies including military base contracts to provide employment opportunities.
Adrienne currently serves on the advisory board of C&F Bank, and she was appointed by City Council to the Richmond Minority Business Enterprise & Emerging Small Business Advisory Board. She also serves on the board of the Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) Foundation and on the corporate advisory board. Adrienne serves on the board of directors of Homeward and Virginia Repertory Theater, where she is on the executive committee as the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Officer. She was previously the National Vice President for UFSC and served on the board of directors for Norfolk State University Foundation, Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, Commonwealth Girl Scouts, and Richmond Ballet. She served as the Open Your Heart chairperson of Go Red for Women for the American Heart Association.
Adrienne obtained her bachelor’s of arts degree from William and Mary. She is a graduate of a leadership program at University of Richmond and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leaders at University of Virginia. She obtained her certification in diversity, equity, and inclusion from Cornell University. She also received a leadership certification from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Adrienne has received additional certifications in the following areas:
Adrienne received the Robert J. Samuels award from Urban Financial Services Coalition as the was named national “banker of the year”. She was named a a Top Forty Under 40 by Style Weekly/Inside Business Magazine. Adrienne has been featured in various magazines and periodicals including Black Enterprise, Money Matters, Better Investing, Richmond Magazine, and RVA Mag. She was also interviewed for the book, “MarketWatch: How America Made a Fortune and Lost It’s Shirt”.
Adrienne is a third generation Bahamian-American. Growing up in an Air Force family allowed her to live in several places throughout the United States and be exposed to individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. Adrienne currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with family ties primarily in Miami, Florida; New Brunswick, New Jersey; and the Bahamas. Adrienne is very proud of her large, close-net, diverse, multi-cultural family. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, The Links, Incorporated, SisterFund, and Treble Clef and Book Lovers Club (formed in 1908).
Adrienne was Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at SunTrust Bank (now Truist), where she was also responsible for diversity initiatives, community outreach, corporate social responsibility, and overall sales results in a territory with over 3500 employees. In this capacity, she was also the region’s chief marketing officer and served as the chief of staff to the regional president/CEO. During her tenure at SunTrust, she spent 8 years as a sales and sales management coach to the executive team. She was a project manager responsible for developing operating models and on the strategies team as a trained change agent helping leaders and the organization navigate through significant corporate change including culture change and on boarding newly acquired financial institutions.
Adrienne has served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement & External Affairs at Virginia State University, a historically black college/university (HBCU) with over 5,000 students and. 850 employees. It is America's first fully state-assisted, four-year institution of higher learning for black students.
She served as the Vice President of Philanthropy & Marketing at Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, an agency that provides transitional living services, specialized education, and therapeutic resources to youth with emotional and behavioral health concerns, as well as housing for LGBTQ young adults who age out of the foster care system.
She was a senior business development executive at SOAR365 where she was responsible for advocating and providing employment for men and women with disabilities by securing contracts with companies, non-profits as well as local, state and federal government agencies including military base contracts to provide employment opportunities.
Adrienne currently serves on the advisory board of C&F Bank, and she was appointed by City Council to the Richmond Minority Business Enterprise & Emerging Small Business Advisory Board. She also serves on the board of the Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) Foundation and on the corporate advisory board. Adrienne serves on the board of directors of Homeward and Virginia Repertory Theater, where she is on the executive committee as the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Officer. She was previously the National Vice President for UFSC and served on the board of directors for Norfolk State University Foundation, Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, Commonwealth Girl Scouts, and Richmond Ballet. She served as the Open Your Heart chairperson of Go Red for Women for the American Heart Association.
Adrienne obtained her bachelor’s of arts degree from William and Mary. She is a graduate of a leadership program at University of Richmond and the Sorensen Institute for Political Leaders at University of Virginia. She obtained her certification in diversity, equity, and inclusion from Cornell University. She also received a leadership certification from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Adrienne has received additional certifications in the following areas:
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Purdue University, Cornell University, AHIR, and Catalyst)
- Change Management (Cannon Financial Institute)
- Sales Management (Richardson)
- Sales Coaching (Cohen Brown Group)
- Certified Professional in Financial Services -CPFS (The American College of Financial Services)
- Professional Fundraising (Boston University)
Adrienne received the Robert J. Samuels award from Urban Financial Services Coalition as the was named national “banker of the year”. She was named a a Top Forty Under 40 by Style Weekly/Inside Business Magazine. Adrienne has been featured in various magazines and periodicals including Black Enterprise, Money Matters, Better Investing, Richmond Magazine, and RVA Mag. She was also interviewed for the book, “MarketWatch: How America Made a Fortune and Lost It’s Shirt”.
Adrienne is a third generation Bahamian-American. Growing up in an Air Force family allowed her to live in several places throughout the United States and be exposed to individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. Adrienne currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with family ties primarily in Miami, Florida; New Brunswick, New Jersey; and the Bahamas. Adrienne is very proud of her large, close-net, diverse, multi-cultural family. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, The Links, Incorporated, SisterFund, and Treble Clef and Book Lovers Club (formed in 1908).
