Open Roles
EN
- English
- DEUTSCH
- SPANISH
- FRENCH
Charla Griffy-Brown is an accomplished leader in the arenas of digital innovation, analytics, and technology development. She is currently the Director General, Dean, and Professor of Global Digital Transformation at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University (ASU), a position through which she continues to lead transformational change. We sat down with Charla to discuss her career, the progress she has seen on equality so far, and what she hopes to see in the future.
Charla opened up about her formative years and the seminal role her family played in shaping her outlook on the importance of shared humanity. After graduating from Harvard, she embarked on a Fulbright Fellowship in Japan and moved to Australia to complete her doctoral degree. “The Australian perspective of equity and access to education which they see is very much a human right. It’s not just a civil right.” Having later worked in India, China, and Indonesia, “I gained a lot of perspective on how women were disadvantaged in different cultural contexts as leaders.”
Now at Thunderbird, Charla is proud to be part of a team creating opportunity for others. “We’re always asking the question ‘who’s missing at our table’ because we understand that the leadership of the future has to constantly be considering different optics if we are going to advance in ways that will benefit all of our communities and ultimately create sustainable shared prosperity.”
Discussing the meaningful progress she has seen, visibility and mentorship were key themes. Charla is proud of ASU having embedded this into their leadership structure. “One of the most significant and inspiring leaders is our Provost here at Arizona State University, Nancy Gonzalez.”
“I’m so excited to see more women entrepreneurs and female-led startups, and I think many countries and organisations are really recognising the power of investing in women’s businesses, and helping to get them access to capital and global markets and ultimately how this leads us to more thriving communities.” Charla also noted how remote work had become an equaliser for women’s work, as had the digital space, allowing for more flexibility and access to leadership but also to fight changes in policy and drive inclusive innovation. “There is a big generational and cultural shift – there is a societal recognition of the value of inclusive leadership.”
Though there is plenty to be proud of, Charla noted there are still some barriers. “Breaking the glass, or in some cases the concrete ceiling, is in progress. But we are still underrepresented, particularly in executive roles in STEM and finance. There are systemic biases and I think they persist in hiring, promotions, and decision making structures. There’s still a lot of work to be done in access to capital and financial inclusion. Women led businesses still receive a disproportionately smaller share of venture capital funding and financial systems.”
…Charla was particularly excited to share some of the existing resources at Thunderbird. “The biggest piece of advice would be to access resources that are available to help you.” Specifically, the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative, which supports women entrepreneurs globally. “We’re seeing significant change in communities because of the ability to access and be empowered through knowledge. Our goal is to provide the highest quality education and make that accessible to everyone.”
“We need to lean into the progress that has been made already. The fact that we have women in the boardroom is going to change the dynamics of how those decisions are made and open up greater opportunities. I think we need to vote, exercise whatever tangible empowerment we have, and we need to continue to have these types of conversations where we elevate and make visible not only what is happening, but why it’s important and how it’s important to our communities, to our families, to the future, that we want to create together. That’s what we need to keep in front of us.”
“We are at a pivotal moment where global digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and policy innovation are creating new avenues for women’s leadership. But real progress demands intentional efforts in mentorship, investment, and systems change. The work is far from over, but the momentum is undeniable. Let’s double down on impact—supporting women not just in leadership, but in shaping the future of business, governance, and global problem-solving.”
Thank you to Charla for sharing her time and insights with us. We are excited to continue to watch her journey at Thunderbird.
Interview with Isabela Betoret Garcia, Senior Research Associate (UKAME) & Sarah Snelling, Project Manager (UKAME)
Erik is Managing Partner for Perrett Laver’s work in the US and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
His experience in senior level executive search includes Board, Chief Executive and other senior leadership appointments our Social Impact & Environment, Higher Education, and Research, Technology & Innovation sectors.
Erik holds BA in History from Menlo College in California, where he was class Valedictorian and an MSt in History from the University of Oxford. Before joining the firm, he held the position of Business Development Manager for the geopolitical consulting firm Oxford Analytica.
