Black Legacy Month (BLM) is a time in which the entire Dartmouth community comes together to celebrate and recognize the triumphs, struggles, and excellence of Blackness at Dartmouth.
Throughout the month of February, the Tuck and Dartmouth communities offer a number of events and programs to celebrate BLM. The purpose is to recognize the Black experience, explore topical issues in the Black community while giving context to a vision of what the Black future could be, and engage the Dartmouth community in an appreciation for all that Black people have contributed to the campus and the world at large.
Describe an ah-ha moment for you—a defining moment that changed the course of your life, career, or altered your way of thinking.
During my Tuck application process, I realized through self-reflection that many of my early obstacles were great experiences in the long run because they positively shaped my morals and work ethic.
Who do you most admire and look up to? Who inspires you and why?
My mother sacrificed much in her life so that I and my siblings could have access to quality education. The responsibility that she showed has inspired me to be a more effective leader by understanding the importance of others’ needs.
What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean for you today, and in your words, why is it so critical?
I view diversity like a party where everyone is invited, and equity/inclusion is an even better party because everyone not only gets invited but gets to choose the music. This is so critical because society should strive for all individuals to feel accepted and have influence.
Seare Kidane T’23 was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia to Eritrean refugees who taught him at an early age the importance of intellectual curiosity and resiliency to overcome his humble upbringing. Growing up, he honed these skills to excel in soccer and particularly academics, which led him to Georgia State University where he received a BBA in business economics. He pursued a career in banking after graduation because he knew he would be challenged to grow professionally and personally. In his nine years in banking, Seare was responsible for leading credit approval decisions for international companies and voluntary efforts addressing DEI. He hopes to leverage Tuck for a career in venture capital investing in the future. In his free time, he enjoys reading, community service, and watching sports.
What keeps you busy? How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Tuck keeps me pretty busy, but I am an avid skier and try to hit the slopes as often as I can. I also work with a startup called Rebundle that makes hair extensions from sustainable materials rather than plastics. When I am not doing any of those things, I am likely working on a new page in my coloring book to relax and decompress.
Who do you most admire and look up to? Who inspires you and why?
From a career perspective, I most look up to Stacy Brown-Philpot and Edith Cooper. Stacy is the former CEO of TaskRabbit and has a strong presence in the broader tech space. She now serves on several boards from Nordstrom to StockX. To me, Stacy represents what is possible and attainable for me as I think about my own career goals.
Edith Cooper was a managing director at Goldman Sachs and was the first senior Black female leader I had the chance to interact with in my career. I deeply respect her career journey especially her navigation of Wall Street in the 80s. She also now serves on numerous boards and is well-respected in multiple business circles. Both of these women are simply goals!
What have you recently, read, watched, or listened to that you enjoyed and would highly recommend to others?
I love Spotify. I have been jamming to “FUN!” by Vince Staples, “Messing with Fire” by Motel 7, “Invincible” by Pop Smoke, “Oxytocin” by Billie Eilish, and “In a Spiral” by Phantogram. I have pretty eclectic taste. I also enjoy listening to a good true crime story with Morbid, the latest in pop culture with The Read, and catching up on the news with The Daily.
Many Voices, One Tuck celebrates the stories of our vibrant and diverse community. What’s your story? Email DEI at Tuck if you’d like to contribute to the MVOT project.
Note: MVOT is open to members of the Tuck community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, TEE and Tuck Bridge participants, and MHCDS graduates.
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