The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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Navajo from Navajo Leads in Banking, Finance and Community: Meet President of Sagebrush Hill Group and Board Member of NCAIED, Derrick Watchman
Derrick Watchman is an experienced executive, with over 35 years of commercial and tribal business experience in gaming and banking. Mr. Watchman holds a MBA from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelors degree from the University of Arizona
What is your personal/professional story?
As I tell people often, I am Navajo from Navajo. That’s right, I was raised in the small town of Navajo, New Mexico on the Navajo Indian Reservation. I have worked both within and outside of my tribe for much of my professional life, and for more than a decade I’ve served on the board of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, including 10 years as the Chairman.
My background is in banking and finance, in particular working with tribes or their tribal economic enterprises. I am the former CEO and CFO for the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, and I’ve also worked for the Dine Power Authority and as the Tax Director for the Navajo. I also held the Tribal Affairs Director post at the U.S. Department of Energy.
In the private sector, I was Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Chase Bank’s Native American Banking Group. I also worked for Wells Fargo Bank managing Native American banking, and with Prudential Capital Corporation as a private placement banker.
Currently, I am the President/Owner of Sagebrush Hill Group LLC (a Navajo Priority #1 company and SBA HUBZone Certified small business) that provides gaming, banking, finance, and economic development services. My life’s work has been helping tribes and tribal entities access the capital to get projects off the ground. Sagebrush allows me to serve both my tribe and other Native entities.
Where do you find community?
Of course, there’s my tribe. I am proud of my roots and the fact that I am still working with the Navajo. I live on the reservation and proud to call it home. I have seen our community come a long way in the nearly four decades I’ve worked in tribal economic development, but I also know there is so much more we can do. That’s what keeps me motivated – unfinished business and a promise of a brighter tomorrow.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
There are many of them, but I distinctly remember my first Reservation Economic Summit. Back then it was a lot smaller – more like a luncheon – and located in Las Angeles. I was in California at the time, and someone encouraged me to go, given my tribal background. It was inspiring and confirmed that there was indeed a place for someone with skills like mine in tribal economic development.
That was in the 1980s, and I’ve been to nearly every RES since then. The National Center is an important part of my personal and professional journey, and I enjoy getting to see the work we’ve put into the organization bear fruit for so many deserving entrepreneurs and businesses.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
A big part of my passion is seeing the power of investment in tribal communities. There are so many great ideas for businesses and economic development ventures that never get realized simply because they don’t have the resources to get their projects off the ground. If I can help even a few of them navigate the complicated world of tribal finance, I know I’ve made a difference.
How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals?
Mentorship was a huge part of my professional journey, and I’ve always made it a priority to mentor younger professionals both within my community and beyond. It’s too often the case that young people simply have no idea about the opportunities that are available to them, and that’s certainly true in Native and other minority communities. Having someone there to tell you “yes, you can do this” or even “here are the jobs you can do with your educational and professional background” is extremely helpful. And often, it can lead to internships and jobs. I appreciate GlobalMindED’s mission and focus on connecting mentees and mentors – it’s something that we prioritize at The National Center as well.
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Derrick at RES (Reservation Economic Summit), US Department of the Interior |
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Derrick testified before the House Natural Resource Committee’s Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs on the Jobs for Tribes Act |
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Highlights from the 2023 GlobalMindED Annual Conference this past June:
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PBS12 Denver filmed and live-streamed the 2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Awards on June 7th as well as our main stage plenaries and presentations on June 8th. You can find them all individually on the GlobalMindED YouTube channel.
2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award Winners' introductions and acceptance remarks:
Miriam Calderon, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE: Inclusive Leader - Early Childhood Education
Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, Inclusive Leader - K-12 Education
Carrie Billy, CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium: Inclusive Leader - Higher Education
Afua Bruce, Founder & Principal, ANB Advisory Group: Inclusive Leader - Government
Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association: Inclusive Leader - Health & Wellness
Hassan Salem, Head of Commercial Banking, US Bank: Inclusive Leader - Banking & Finance
Greg Robinson, James Webb Space Telescope Project Director NASA (ret): Inclusive Leader - Space & Aerospace
Mary Nichols, Professor, UCLA Institute of the Environment, Inclusive Leader - Energy & Sustainability
Michael Campbell, General Manager, Education Division, Intel: Inclusive Leader - Technology
Diego Mariscal, CEO & Chief Disabled Person, 2Gether-International: Inclusive Leader - Entrepreneurship
Mario Carrera, President & CEO, CLLARO: Inclusive Leader - Media & Arts
Nasruddin Rupani, Chairman, Ibn Sina Foundation: Inclusive Leader - Foundations & Funders
Rosanna Durruthy, VP, Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, LinkedIn: Inclusive Leader -Global Impact
Kimberly Bryant, Founder & CEO, Black Innovation Lab; Black Girls Code: Inclusive Leader - Non-Profit
Click below to see Insights from GlobalMindED Leaders:
View the Main-stage Presentations:
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View the Sessions from our United Nations Event: Transforming Financial Boundaries |
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Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley and James Rhee, Founder/Owner, red helicopter
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Michael Maquet-Diafouka, Managing Director, Global Family and Institutional Wealth, UBS, Chris Marsh, Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, UBS,Janet C. Salazar, Chairman & President, Foundation for the Support of the United Nations
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Tyler Naha, Student, Denver East High School, Dr. Mary Papazian, Exec. VP, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Dr. Philomenta Mantella, President, Grand Valley State University, Dr. Yustina Saleh, Managing Director, Innovation Solutions, The Burning Glass Institute, Alfonzo Alexander, Chief Ethics & Diversity Officer, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
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Dr. D'Andre Weaver, Chief Digital Equity Officer, Digital Promise, Michael Woods, President, Woods Capital, the Honorable Dr. Kimberly McClain, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department HUD, Preston James, II, Co-Founder and CEO, Divinc, Gaby Rowe, Founding Principal, Grow Associates
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Dr. Craig Jonas, Founder and CEO, CoPeace, Victoria Vasques, Owner & Chairwoman, Tribal Tech LLC, Sachin Chaudhry, Founder and CEO, TrustCircle and BringChange Foundation, Kyle Hybl, President & CEO, El Pomar Foundation, Beth Cobert, Acting President, Markle Foundation
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Dr. Denise Lujan, Director, Entering Student Experience, University of Texas at El Paso, Javaune Adams-Gaston, President, Norfolk State University, Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, Gina Fratarcangeli, Managing Director, Google, Shital C. Shah, Sr. Advisor, Strategic Partnerships, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Education
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Sam Lalanne, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion |
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Would you like to give to support our student programs? You can scan the QR code below or go to our website to support our year-round programs. GlobalMindED is a 501(c)(3).
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Thank you to all of the Sponsors, Speakers, Students, and Attendees at GlobalMindED 2023
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