Lanaya Irvin

Lanaya Irvin is a global business executive and CEO of Coqual (formerly Center for Talent Innovation), an 18-year-old think tank that conducts research on workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion and advises the world’s largest corporations. Irvin spent more than a decade at BofA Securities where she led strategic initiatives in global equities, managed global client relationships, and led multinational teams.  

A longtime diversity and inclusion leader, Irvin is a member of Morgan Stanley’s Institute for Inclusion Advisory Board. Since 2013, she has co-chaired the Human Rights Campaign’s Business Advisory Council. She also sits on the board of directors for Outright Action International, an LGBTQ advocacy organization with permanent presence at the UN. Irvin was a founding executive member of OPEN Finance, a consortium of LGBTQ leaders advancing inclusion across Wall Street. In 2015, she mobilized more than 30 financial services firms to sign onto a US Supreme Court amicus brief in support of federal marriage equality. She was recently named one of Crain’s New York Business’ 2022 Notable Black Leaders and Executives. In 2021, Irvin was named to the Yahoo Finance top 100 OUTstanding LGBT+ Executives list.

Lanaya is a sought-after speaker for wide-ranging audiences on authenticity, race, gender, LGBTQ inclusion, and inclusive leadership in the workplace. Her thought leadership has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, The New York Times, the Financial Times, Newsweek, Business Insider, Forbes, Marketplace, Bloomberg Businessweek and CNBC. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California and holds an MBA from the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business.