Wharton Coalition for Equity and Opportunity

The mission of Wharton CEO, through the lenses of race, gender, religion, and socioeconomics, is to equip current and future leaders with the critical skills needed to design equitable organizations, create positive outcomes in the business sector, and grow wealth creation opportunities.

We partner with for-profit and nonprofit entities to address inequity through applicable research, in fields like healthcare, finance, and technology to expand access to economic opportunities for all.

Health Equity

Advance Access to Health Care and Improve Health Outcomes

The death rate for Black patients hospitalized with COVID-19 would have been 10% lower if they received care at the same hospitals as white patients.

Financial Literacy & Access

Empower Communities Through Financial Education

Entrepreneurship results in higher wages and less recidivism among formerly incarcerated individuals.

Digital Divide

Bridge Gaps in Tech Access and Representation in AI

About four-in-ten adults with lower incomes do not have home broadband services or access to a computer.

CEO News

Wharton CEO and Shawn Carter Foundation Launch ‘Champions for Financial Legacy’ Program for HBCUs

“One way to strengthen the resiliency of middle-class households is to increase their ability to generate wealth.”

– Keith Weigelt, Marks-Darivoff Family Professor Emeritus of Management and Founder of Bridges to Wealth

We’re excited to announce the launch of Champions for Financial Legacy (CFFL) — a financial education initiative developed in partnership with the Shawn Carter Foundation, Bridges to Wealth, and Toyota Motor North America. CFFL is designed to close the wealth gap by equipping students with critical financial knowledge and skills for economic success and social mobility. The program, modeled after the Wharton School’s Prof. Keith Weigelt’s curriculum, launches in Spring 2025 at Lincoln University, Norfolk State University, and Virginia State University.

Text on a light background reads "Building better financial futures, from campus to community." A red box suggests visiting championsforfinanciallegacy.org. The image includes a logo for Champions for Financial Legacy, supported by the Shawn Carter Foundation.

Limited Podcast Series: Opportunity Matters

“If health equity means ensuring that everyone has a chance to be as healthy as possible, it starts with realizing that not everyone has the same opportunities to achieve the same level of health.”

– Guy David, Alan B. Miller Professor, Professor of Health Care Management

In partnership with SiriusXM, we launched “Opportunity Matters,” a 4-episode limited podcast series. Kenneth Shropshire, former Wharton CEO Faculty Director was joined by Wharton faculty and industry experts across healthcare, sports, finance, and entertainment. Together, they explore issues of diversity, opportunity, and inclusion and offer listeners insights and actionable steps to create more equity within these spaces and drive change in society.

Headshot of a smiling individual in a suit with text promoting a series titled "Opportunity Matters" by Prof. Kenneth Shropshire, focusing on topics like healthcare equity and diversity in entertainment.

Beyond the Game: Insights on Race and Sports with ESPN’s Bill Rhoden

“If you don’t watch the game film, you’re doomed to repeat the same stuff.” – Bill Rhoden

In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Africana Studies and the Wharton Sports Analytics Business Initiative (WSABI), the 2024 Race and Sports event was held in Huntsman Hall to welcome legendary sports journalist William C. “Bill” Rhoden. The conversation touched on a number of topics, including the NFL’s anti-racism campaign, media bias toward white players such as Caitlin Clark, and why some famous Black athletes stay out of the political fray. Read the highlights here.

Watch the full conversation

Closing the Health and Wealth Gap: Wharton CEO Seeks Solutions

“I’m encouraged by the meaningful conversation and by our shared commitment to improving the lives of so many people who aren’t getting what they need to thrive.”

– Fareeda Griffith, Managing Director of Wharton CEO

The “Healthcare and Financial Wellness for All” Roundtable, hosted in partnership with the TIAA Institute, the thought leadership and research arm of TIAA, brought together experts from healthcare, academia, and nonprofits. Held in the sunny boardroom of Huntsman Hall on campus, the event facilitated discussions on strategies to close the health equity and wealth gaps.

Healthcare and Financial Wellness for All Roundtable

A group of people posing together indoors, standing next to a sign that reads "Wharton University of Pennsylvania Coalition for Equity and Opportunity."