Sukanya Ferguson, Change Agent
Growing up in Brooklyn with the unwavering support of an attentive mother, PowHERful scholar Suki Ferguson excelled in school. “Through my mom,” she says, “I learned the value of perseverance and resourcefulness. I felt empowered to aim high and navigate spaces where resources were abundant, though not always accessible to everyone.” Suki was selected for a highly competitive public high school, an academic environment that sensitized her further to the disparity of opportunities available to different groups. She saw clear evidence that “marginalized communities often have to work twice as hard just to gain entry into these spaces.” A member of the very small Black student body in her high school, Suki recounts, “I quickly recognized how important it was to advocate for greater inclusion and representation.”
As a leader in the high school’s Black Student League and then as an ambassador for the Manhattan DEI initiative, Suki worked closely with administrators to help ensure that Black students had a seat at the table. “We were able to shine a brighter light on the unique challenges our community faces,” she says, “and open up more channels for meaningful dialogue and change.”
Active in dance and performance, Suki saw firsthand how representation matters. “Minority students very often encounter barriers when trying to engage in school activities, so my mere presence as a Black girl at the forefront of student productions challenged assumptions. Just having someone visible in leadership roles can have a profound impact — others are encouraged to participate, knowing their identities are being reflected and valued.” Being fully engaged as a leader in high school, she explains, “further instilled in me the drive to be a force for change and to advocate for those who are too often overlooked.”
Now a sophomore at Cornell University’s Industrial and Labor Relations School, Suki feels her course of study is perfectly suited to her goals. “I was looking for a program that could both nurture my leadership skills and my passion for humanities while also introducing me to career paths I hadn’t previously considered. I wanted a curriculum that reflected my multifaceted interests, especially in law and social issues, that also provided the option to explore new possibilities. The ILR School at Cornell has an interdisciplinary approach that combines history, law, sociology, psychology, leadership, and economics. All of these areas deeply resonate with me, particularly because they are rooted in the study of people and relationships — whether through labor dynamics, conflict resolution, or legal frameworks.”
This past summer, in association with the Natalie Rozenblat Stifel Scholarship (awarded by banking firm Stifel in partnership with the PowHERful Foundation), Suki interned on Stifel’s Early Careers Team. Her key responsibility was to conduct cross-research on competitors to improve the company’s early career talent acquisition strategies. “My main focus was exploring how diversity, equity, and inclusion could be further integrated into the recruitment process. A highlight for me was researching and recommending initiatives to enhance diversity pipelines. I looked into various strategies that Stifel could adopt to attract and retain qualified candidates from marginalized backgrounds. It was particularly rewarding to work on a project that not only aligned with Stifel’s goals but reflected my own passion for DEI in the workplace.”
While Suki hasn’t yet mapped out a precise plan for her career, she knows she’s drawn to people-centered work. “My long-term goal is to become a lawyer who advocates for marginalized communities, focusing on systemic inequalities. Ultimately,” she explains, “I want to be part of initiatives that bridge the gap between law and equitable access to opportunities.”
Suki has some thoughts for girls now applying to college. “The recent Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action and race-conscious college admissions is a significant setback, particularly for minority students of color who are now left more vulnerable to the barriers that affirmative action worked to dismantle over decades. At the same time,” she stresses, “those from minority backgrounds must not lose hope. Yes, the removal of affirmative action presents new challenges, but many institutions remain committed to diversity in their student bodies.” She goes on, “It’s crucial to stay resilient, to pursue your goals despite these setbacks. Know that the next generation of leaders will still be cultivated, so don’t be deterred by the hurdles. Stay inspired, keep pushing forward, you’ll meet and join with other young women with similar aspirations — and this is how we’ll make important changes that benefit all of us.”