
Name: Tanqueray Edwards
Leadership Charlotte (LC) Class: 37 (The Best Class Ever)
Title/Company: Business Transformation Leader – Duke Energy
Hometown: Charleston, SC
Education: Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineer from South Carolina State University; Master’s in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University
Current personal or leadership goals: My personal goal is to continue community building efforts around inequalities and curate spaces for social equity and healing.
If you could describe your Leadership Charlotte experience in three words or phrases what would they be?
Life changing experience
What advice that you would you give to current Leadership Charlotte participants?
Let go of all your pre-conceived notions about the Leadership Charlotte Program, and what you might have heard from past participants – make it your very own experience. Be present, and open to share your thoughts and ideas with others, share experiences and take full advantage of every opportunity you have to learn and engage with many people you would not have been exposed to otherwise.
What program day stands out in your memory and why?
UMEUS Day – During the privilege walk, I valued the opportunity to demonstrate how others are disadvantaged simply because of the color of their skin, neighborhood they might have grown up in or some other socio-economic factor. The experience is as close to a lived experience as possible, that should broaden a participant’s global intellect.
Favorite nonprofit or community organization in Charlotte and why:
My favorite non-profit or community organizations are Crisis Assistance Ministry for its drive to eliminate poverty and expand what access looks like to all, and Playing for Others for its unique approach to providing access to the arts meshed with mentoring youth in our community and lastly but not least Leadership Charlotte for creating space to demonstrate Leadership and community. These organizations embody a number of characteristics that I deem as valuable – trustworthy, accessible, community advocates and are coincidentally led by strong women in our community.