Cynthia Bowman

Cynthia Bowman is the newly appointed Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity at Apple Inc., a role she assumed in May 2024. She succeeds Barbara Whye, making her the fourth executive to hold this position since its inception in 2016. Bowman's appointment comes after a significant 17-year career at Bank of America, where she served as the Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Responsibility Officer, among other roles.1234

Professional Background

• Bank of America: Bowman joined Bank of America in 2007, initially working in leadership development. Over the years, she advanced through various roles, culminating in her position as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer in 2016. In 2023, she added corporate social responsibility to her portfolio before departing to join Apple.236
• Previous Experience: Prior to her tenure at Bank of America, Bowman held positions at Accenture and AT&T, where she gained valuable experience in human resources and project management.6

Education

Cynthia Bowman holds multiple degrees:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Spelman College (1991)
• Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (1993)
• MBA in Organizational Behavior from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management (1998).6

Role at Apple

In her role at Apple, Bowman reports directly to Carol Surface, the Chief People Officer. She is tasked with leading Apple's diversity initiatives, including their $200 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which focuses on education, criminal justice reform, and economic equality. Her leadership aims to enhance Apple's commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace culture.1345

Bowman's appointment is seen as a critical step for Apple as it continues to navigate challenges related to diversity within its workforce. The company has made some progress; for instance, between 2014 and 2022, the percentage of Black employees increased from 7% to 9%, while the number of Asian employees doubled to 30%.124 However, significant work remains to be done in achieving broader diversity goals within the organization.