Cynthia Marshall

Cynthia Marshall, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer-Human Resources, develops and directs HR programs for AT&T’s 240K employees. Her organization implements and administers HR practices to support AT&T’s business strategy and diversity programs. This includes defining and implementing workforce strategies talent management, employee engagement, employee relations, compensation design and implementation, etc.

Previously, Cynthia served as President, AT&T North Carolina, where she was directly responsible for the company’s regulatory, legislative and community affairs activities in the state. In this role she proudly served as the first African American chair of the North Carolina State Chamber of Commerce.
She has over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, joining Pacific Bell in July 1981. Since then she has held a variety of management positions in operations, human resources, network engineering and planning, and regulatory/external affairs. She was named to her current position in December 2012.

Cynthia is a passionate advocate for education as the key to unlocking future economic and personal opportunities for all students. As President, AT&T North Carolina, she served as a co-chair of the General Assembly’s Committee on Dropout Prevention and was named a “Friend of Education” by the State Board of Education in recognition of her untiring efforts on behalf of North Carolina’s students and schools. She is also a passionate an active board member of CASA, advocating for the well-being of children in need.

Cynthia has received many honors, including the Award of Excellence from the Thurgood Marshall Fund, the Woman of Substance Award from Bennett College, the Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Award from the United Negro College Fund for her contributions to North Carolina and to the business community. Cynt received the North Carolina Exceptional Leader Award from North Carolina Magazine, was named a Woman Extraordinaire by Business Leader magazine, and highlighted as a recipient for the Charlotte Catalyst award for her leadership and breaking boundaries in diversity. In 2013, Cynthia received the prestigious Leadership North Carolina’s Governors award, an award honoring one citizen of the state who made significant contributions over a lifetime. Cynthia was named 2014 HR Executive of the Year by the Best in Biz Awards, an independent, international business awards program. In 2015, Cynt was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise.

She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned degrees in Business Administration and Human Resources Management. Additionally, Cynthia has been awarded by Livingstone College and Bennett College as an honorary Doctorate recipient.

The fourth of six children, Cynthia grew up in Richmond, California, and resides in Dallas. Cynthia is married to Kenneth Marshall. They have three children. A self-professed sports nut and soccer mom, her favorite movie is Brian’s Song. Cynthia is a colon cancer survivor whose passion for her work is superseded only by her devotion to creating permanence and stability for children.