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Duwain Pinder

Serves colleges and universities on strategy and performance improvements and supports organizations across sectors on racial equity and inclusive workforce development

Duwain helps higher education institutions respond to a rapidly evolving landscape through bold, inclusive workforce development strategies and significant performance transformations. His expertise includes higher education strategy, racial equity, and the future of work.

In addition to his client work, Duwain is a cofounder and leader of the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, our global economic think tank focused on racial equity and inclusive growth

Examples of Duwain’s recent client work include the following:

  • supporting a network of universities on COVID-19 response and operational capacity building
  • facilitating multiple coalitions of private, public, and social sector leaders to improve talent pathways and expand equity in their regions
  • developing a private university strategy and robust portfolio of initiatives focused on distinction in access and racial equity, while expanding impact in the local community
  • working with the administration and faculty of a private university to pursue a financial and operational transformation while defining a longer-term vision for differentiation
  • implementing a transformation of administrative operations, including HR, procurement, and research administration at a large public university

Prior to joining McKinsey, Duwain worked for Teach For America as the director of growth, development, and partnerships, where he helped launch Teach For America’s presence in Ohio. He has authored research on the racial wealth gap, the impact of COVID-19 on Black lives, livelihoods, and undergraduate students, the effects of automation on the Black workforce, and university operations.

Published work

700 years to equality. Blacks lag 100s of years behind white when it comes to prosperity,” The Colombus Dispatch, June 2024

Mapping the road to prosperity and parity for Black and Latino residents across America,” McKinsey & Company, March 2024

The state of Black residents: The relevance of place to racial equity and outcomes, McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, February 2024

How business can help Columbus narrow its housing gaps —and be a role model for other U.S. cities,” Colombus Business First, August 2023

Advancing racial equity in US pre-K–12 education,” McKinsey & Company, July 2023

Sustainable, inclusive housing growth: A case study on Columbus, Ohio,” McKinsey & Company, July 2023

Corporate commitments to racial justice: An update,” McKinsey & Company, February 2023

Racial and ethnic equity in US higher education,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

How HBCUs can accelerate Black economic mobility,” McKinsey & Company, July 2021

COVID-19 crisis pushes US students into an uncertain job market,” McKinsey & Company, July 2021

The future of work in Black America,” McKinsey & Company, October 2019

Building operational excellence in higher education,” McKinsey & Company, October 2019

The economic impact of closing the racial wealth gap,” McKinsey & Company, August 2019

Automation and the future of the African American workforce,” McKinsey & Company, November 2018

Closing the job mobility gap between Black and White Americans,” Harvard Business Review, July 2021

Past experience

Teach For America
Director, growth, development, and partnerships

Education

Harvard Business School
MBA, management

Harvard Kennedy School
MPP, business and government policy

Case Western Reserve University
BS, finance