Teresa Hillary Clarke, Harvard Board of Overseers
"Harvard’s mission is captured in a single word on its shield: veritas — truth. If elected to the Board of Overseers, my priorities would reflect that principle: academic excellence grounded in open inquiry and long-term institutional resilience. I would also work to position Harvard to lead confidently in a global, AI-shaped future. Effective stewardship requires preparation, seriousness, and continuity. Harvard’s scale and complexity demand Overseers who engage deeply — reading carefully, listening closely, and weighing decisions with a sustained commitment to academic quality and institutional integrity." - Teresa Clarke
Ms. Clarke was the first African-American woman named managing director in the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs. As a current board member of two Fortune 500 companies, former board chair of a listed Australian fintech company, and board chair of two international social enterprises and a national arts organization, Ms. Clarke brings deep global leadership experience to her board service. Over the last few years, Ms. Clarke has also emerged as a subject matter expert on governing AI.
She currently serves on the board of American Tower (NYSE:AMT) the global leader in wireless communications infrastructure operating in over 20 countries, where she sits on the nominations and governance committee, and Gallagher (NYSE:AJG), the third largest worldwide insurance brokerage and risk management firm active in 56 countries, where she serves on the audit committee and on the risk committee. Previously she served as board chair of Change Financial, a fintech company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Ms. Clarke serves on the advisory board of the Digital, Data, Design Institute at Harvard Business School – a scaled research model involving over 50 faculty at the intersection of AI & business.
For over 16 years, she has served as Chair and Executive Editor of Africa.com LLC, a holding company with digital media assets showcasing Africa-related business and arts & culture content, including the Africa.com Business Publishers Network which reaches nearly 20 million visitors per month.
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, Episcopal Chaplaincy at Harvard
- Harvard Business School Alumni Board
- Advisory Board - Harvard Business School Digital, Data and Design Institute
- Board of Directors of Harvard Club of New York City
- Harvard Black Alumni Society Award of Appreciation
- Planning Committee, Harvard Business School Global Alumni Conference - Cape Town
- Speaker at various alumni conferences at Harvard Law School, Harvard Business School, Harvard College, Harvard Kennedy School
- First black lecturer at Wits Business School, South Africa; taught corporate finance and finance for non-financial managers
Ms Clarke was one of 15 private sector leaders appointed by the White House to the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa. She is Chair of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Chair of the Friends of the Legal Resources Centre of South Africa, and Chair of the Student Sponsorship Programme of South Africa. She is a member of the Africa Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch, and is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
She earned an A.B. in economics, cum laude, from Harvard College, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
“I believe leadership is not about visibility. It is about stewardship, listening carefully, and leaving institutions stronger than you found them.” - Teresa Clarke
“Education remains one of the most powerful forces for opportunity, equality and civic renewal.” – Teresa Clarke