UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business will welcome banking legend Hugh McColl Jr., retired chairman and CEO of Bank of America, on Thursday, Feb.17, for the Spring 2022 C-Suite Speaker Series.
The event, which will be held via Zoom Webinar, is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the college.
Here are five reasons you should see it for yourself.
1. Financial Titan
McColl has been active in banking since 1960. Few bankers had more influence over banking in the 20th century as McColl. During his tenure as chairman and CEO, McColl grew the institution more than fifty-fold to become an industry leader in retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking.
2. Entrepreneurial Spirit
McColl, who was known as a hard competitor and for his entrepreneurial spirit as a banker, began a new life after retirement as an entrepreneur. He has founded several companies, including: McColl Partners, a middle-market investment bank; McColl Brothers Lockwood, a business advisory firm; McColl Garella, an investment banking company focused on serving firms owned by women; and MME, a New York-based gallery and art dealer.
3. Addressing Charlotte’s Wealth Gap
In recent years, McColl has used his voice to highlight the economic gap affecting the Black community in Charlotte. Over the last five years, McColl has invested his money and time in education, affordable housing and employment through an executive leadership council. In 2021, he co-founded Bright Hope Capital LLC, which aims to support and strengthen Black-owned businesses in the Charlotte region. Malcomb Coley, a member of Belk College’s Board of Advisors, is also a co-founder of Bright Hope Capital.
4. Charlotte Visionary
A native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, McColl has been described as the man who built Charlotte. He first arrived in Charlotte in 1959 and has continued working to make an impact here ever since. McColl had a hand in many defining moments in Charlotte’s history, including the arrival of NFL’s Carolina Panthers in 1993 and the selection of Charlotte as the headquarters for Bank of America in 1998.
5. Opportunity to Learn
McColl will participate in a fireside chat with Dean Jennifer Troyer, which is an opportunity to hear advice and industry insight directly from McColl.