Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, says each Black American has a role in the success of other Black people around the world. To Smith, a 2025 BLACK ENTERPRISE XCEL Award Honoree, who paid off school loans for the entire Morehouse graduating class of 2019, there is no greater role than giving Black children a solid foundation to build economic wealth and prosperity.
In his acceptance speech, Smith told the attendees at the 2025 XCEL Summit for Men that a major part of the foundation involves trusting one another. Without that trust, the Black community will not survive; but with it, the Black community will thrive. And while there will always be challenges, Smith knows from experience that anyone with grit, determination, and a desire to work together can overcome them.
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