Prestigious celebration brought together influential business and marketing leaders in Bal Harbour, Florida, to recognize trailblazing achievements and champion the next generation of leadership

BAL HARBOUR, Fla., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BECA, an alliance of C-suite marketing and marketing-adjacent executives dedicated to sharing knowledge, developing future leaders and creating a more inclusive pipeline of marketing leadership, celebrated its fifth anniversary at the 2026 BECA Manifest Awards & Symposium on October 8 at The St. Regis Bal Harbour in Bal Harbour, Florida.

The 2026 BECA Manifest Awards honored Ursula Burns, Founding Partner of Integrum, Chairwoman of Teneo, Retired Chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation and VEON, Ltd.; Karen S. Carter, CEO of Dow; Procter & Gamble; and Black Enterprise, which received the inaugural Beacon of Light Award.

“As we celebrate five years of BECA, I’m incredibly proud of the community we’ve built and the impact we continue to make together,” said Jerri DeVard, Founder and CEO of BECA. “This year’s honorees represent the very best of leadership, as individuals and organizations that have broken barriers, opened doors and created opportunities for others to succeed. The Manifest Awards are not only about recognizing extraordinary achievements, but also about inspiring and investing in the next generation of leaders. BECA is about sharing what we know, lifting as we climb and paying it forward.”

The evening was co-hosted by Bozoma Saint John, Creator and CEO of Eve by Boz, and Chris Foster, CEO of Omnicom Public Relations Group, both founding members of BECA.

The 2026 Manifest Awards recognized the following honorees:

Icon Award: Ursula Burns
Ursula Burns, the first Black woman to serve as CEO of a Fortune 500 company, was honored with BECA’s Icon Award, recognizing a career defined by extraordinary leadership, innovation, integrity and a transformational commitment to creating opportunities for others.

Burns, who currently serves as Chair of the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees, Founder of Integrum and Chairwoman of Teneo, was presented with the award by Thasunda Duckett, President and CEO of TIAA.

Trailblazer Award: Karen S. Carter
Karen S. Carter, CEO of Dow, received the Trailblazer Award in recognition of her groundbreaking achievements, professional excellence and commitment to inspiring and advancing future leaders. Carter made history on July 1, 2026, when she became the first Black woman to lead Dow. Having joined the company in 1994, she rose through its leadership ranks to become Chief Operating Officer before assuming the CEO role. The award was presented by Jim Fitterling, Executive Chairman of Dow and Carter’s predecessor as CEO.

In a particularly meaningful moment, the evening brought together Burns, Duckett and Carter, three of the six Black women who have ever led Fortune 500 companies, underscoring both the significance of their accomplishments and the importance of expanding pathways to executive leadership.

Corporate Champion Award: Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble (P&G), a longstanding BECA partner and title sponsor of the 2026 Manifest Awards, received the Corporate Champion Award in recognition of its sustained commitment to leadership development, innovation, mentorship and community impact.

Through its partnership and investment in BECA’s mission, P&G has played a meaningful role in supporting the development and advancement of emerging marketing leaders.

Marchoe Northern, President, North America Fabric Care, accepted the award on behalf of P&G. The award was presented by Gale King, retired Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Nationwide.

Inaugural Beacon of Light Award: Black Enterprise
BECA introduced its newest honor, the Beacon of Light Award, recognizing an individual or organization whose vision, leadership and enduring commitment to advancing the Black business community have created a lasting, multigenerational impact.

The inaugural award was presented to Black Enterprise, the influential publication that has informed, inspired and empowered generations of Black entrepreneurs, executives and business leaders since its founding in 1970 by Earl G. Graves Sr.

Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., President and CEO of Black Enterprise, accepted the award on behalf of the organization, continuing the legacy established by his father. The award was presented by Najoh Tita-Reid, Chief Brand and Experience Officer of Mars Petcare.

Investing in the Next Generation of Leaders
Beyond celebrating established industry icons, the 2026 Manifest Awards spotlighted the future of marketing leadership with the graduation of 17 Future Leaders from the BECA Playbook Class of 2026.

The BECA Playbook, the organization’s flagship leadership and development program, is designed to prepare and empower the next generation of marketing executives through learning, mentorship and professional development. The graduation ceremony recognized the achievements of the Class of 2026 and acknowledged Deloitte, which co-leads the program.

As BECA celebrated five years of progress, the graduation served as a powerful reminder of the organization’s commitment not only to celebrating leadership excellence today but also to cultivating the leaders of tomorrow.

The event was made possible through the support of leading corporate partners, including Title Sponsor Procter & Gamble; Symposium Sponsor Accenture; and Platinum Sponsors Adobe, Delta, Verizon and Marriott.

About BECA
Founded in 2021 by Jerri DeVard and 25 distinguished C-suite executives, BECA is a 501c (3) non-profit alliance of marketing and marketing-adjacent leaders committed to sharing knowledge, developing future executives and creating a more inclusive pipeline of marketing leadership. Guided by four core principles – Share, Learn, Elevate and Pay It Forward – BECA brings together accomplished executives dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders and driving meaningful, lasting impact.

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