Marshawn Wolley, CDE, CFRE is President and CEO of Black Onyx Management, Inc. an applied research firm and management consultancy specializing in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in society. Trained as a stratification economist, Marshawn is also a certified diversity executive, certified fund raising executive, a certified community development block grant administrator and a Six Sigma Green Belt.
He holds an MBA from the IU Kelley School of Business and an MPA from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He has a Masters degree in Philanthropic Studies from the Lilly School of Philanthropy and an MS in Economics from IUPUI. Before launching Black Onyx Management, Inc., Marshawn worked in government as an appointed official, in the private sector in both fundraising as well as community outreach, MWBE development and compliance as well as a lecturer where he taught courses on public management and managing workforce diversity, community development and criminal justice and diversity issues.
Recognized as a thought leader on public policy and diversity, equity and inclusion, he has written for the Indianapolis Recorder and has a monthly column in the IBJ Forefront. He is also a contributor op-ed writer for the IndyStar. He is a proud Dad of Alexander Wolley. Marshawn launched Black Onyx Management, Inc as a public benefit corporation with the purpose of empowering Black and marginalized communities. He believes, “if you want something you have never seen before you must do things you have never done before.”