Ulysses Smith
Ulysses J. Smith (he/him) is an accomplished ESG and DEI executive, having served in industries including accelerated computing + AI, financial technology, higher education, and consulting. He has a distinct interest in building organization-wide strategic global impact functions, creating inclusive environments, and driving social impact through product.
Much of his work has been centered around participatory governance structures and creating access to institutions and decision-making processes for under-served and underrepresented groups. In his corporate leadership roles, notably as the inaugural Head of Global Impact, Equity & Belonging at Blend (NYSE: BLND), he builds comprehensive DEI and ESG functions and enables colleagues to integrate equity and belonging into their everyday practices.
He drives leaders to make critical connections between equitable practices and core business outcomes. Ulysses is a graduate of Cornell University, earning concurrent degrees in Urban and Regional Studies and Government, with minors in Law & Society and Education.
He currently lives bi-coastally, splitting his time between San Francisco, CA and Jacksonville, FL with his lively dalmatian, Pongo.