Cynthia "Cynt" Marshall is a visionary leader in culture transformation and the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks (Mavs), where she has pioneered a journey to set the NBA standard for inclusion and diversity. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in transparency, trust, and a deep commitment to human-centric values. Her career is a testament to the power of putting people first, a principle she leveraged to achieve world-class results in both technology and professional sports.
Marshall’s transformative work began during her long and distinguished career at AT&T, where she rose to Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer. Under her leadership, AT&T crafted a world-class Diversity and Inclusion culture, consistently earning a top 3 spot on Diversity Inc’s Top 50 list and a place on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list in 2017. Prior to the Mavs, she founded Marshalling Resources, a consulting firm specializing in leadership, D&I, and culture transformation for major clients like The Dow Chemical Company.
In 2018, she brought her expertise to the Mavs, instilling her values-based leadership style and immediately embarking on a cultural overhaul within her first 100 days. A graduate of UC-Berkeley with degrees in Business Administration and Human Resources Management, her visionary leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including Adweek’s 30 Most Powerful Women in Sports and the Black Enterprise Women of Power Legacy Award.
As a speaker, Marshall delivers a message of hope and practical guidance for navigating professional and personal adversity. She shares her strategy for values-based leadership and the fundamental difference between diversity and inclusion. Her presentations, often delivered with vibrant attitude, encourage audiences to believe they are "You've Been Chosen" to thrive through the unexpected, using her journey through cancer and corporate challenges to inspire a belief in one’s unique potential for success.
