Senior Client Advisor, Morgan Stanley
Carla Harris: Biography at a Glance
- Carla Harris has over 30 years of experience in senior leadership roles at Morgan Stanley, most recently serving as Vice Chairman and Senior Client Advisor, where she drove revenue growth and client connectivity across the firm.
- As the founder and creator of the award-winning Multicultural Innovation Lab and the podcast Access and Opportunity, Carla demonstrates her commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion, and innovation in corporate environments.
- Appointed by President Barack Obama as Chair of the National Women’s Business Council, she has a proven track record of influencing national business policies and supporting women in leadership.
- Carla Harris has been named to multiple prestigious lists, including Fortune’s "50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America" and U.S. Banker’s "Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance."
- With leadership roles on numerous influential boards, including Walmart, Cummins, and MetLife, and past Chair of the Morgan Stanley Foundation, Carla is deeply committed to social impact and leadership excellence.
- As an internationally renowned speaker and author of Strategize to Win, Expect to Win, and Lead to Win, Carla is an authority on leadership strategies, recognized as one of the top 50 speakers globally by Real Leaders Magazine.
Videos
Biography
Carla Harris is a Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. She was most recently a Vice Chairman responsible for increasing client connectivity and penetration to enhance revenue generation across the firm. She was the founder and creator of the award-winning, Multicultural Innovation Lab at Morgan Stanley, and the award-winning podcast, Access and Opportunity. She formerly headed the Emerging Manager Platform, the equity capital markets effort for the consumer and retail industries, and was responsible for Equity Private Placements. In her 30+ year career, Ms. Harris has had extensive industry experiences in the technology, media, retail, telecommunications, transportation, industrial, and healthcare sectors. In August 2013, Carla Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council.
For more than a decade, Ms. Harris was a senior member of the equity syndicate desk and executed such transactions as initial public offerings for UPS, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Ariba, Redback, the General Motors sub-IPO of Delphi Automotive, and the $3.2 Billion common stock transaction for Immunex Corporation, one of the largest biotechnology common stock transactions in U.S. history. Ms. Harris was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America”, Fortune’s Most Influential List, U. S. Bankers Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance (2009, 2010, 2011), Black Enterprise’s Top 75 Most Powerful Women in Business (2017), and “Top 75 African Americans on Wall Street”, and to Essence Magazine’s list of “The 50 Women Who are Shaping the World”, Ebony’s list of the Power 100 and “15 Corporate Women at the Top” and was named “Woman of the Year 2004” by the Harvard Black Men’s Forum and in 2011 by the Yale Black Men’s Forum.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Carla received an MBA, Second Year Honors from Harvard Business School, and an AB in economics from Harvard University, Magna Cum Laude. Carla has also received Honorary Doctorates of Laws, Humanities, and Business from Marymount Manhattan College, Bloomfield College, Converse College, Jacksonville University, Simmons College, the College of New Rochelle, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Babson College and Fisk University, Wake Forest University, and Felician University respectively. Carla Harris is actively involved in her community and heartily believes that “we are blessed so that we can be a blessing to someone else.”
She is the past Chair of the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and of The Executive Leadership Council, and sits on the boards of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), The Sesame Workshop, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, and is an active member of the St. Charles Gospelites of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. She was a member of the board of overseers of Harvard University and is a member of the board of directors of the Walmart Corporation, Cummins Corporation, and MetLife. Ms. Harris was co-chair of the National Social Action Commission of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She has been named to the New Jersey Hall of Fame (2015) and has received the Bert King Award from the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association, the 2005 Women’s Professional Achievement Award from Harvard University, the Pierre Toussaint Medallion from the Office of Black Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York, the Women of Power Award given by the National Urban League, the Women of Influence Award from The Links, Incorporated and many other awards. In her other life, Carla is a singer who has sold out concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theatre and released 4 Gospel CDs: “O This is Christmas” (2021) “Unceasing Praise” (2011), “Joy Is Waiting”(2005), and her first CD entitled, “Carla’s First Christmas”(2000), was a bestseller on Amazon.com in New York and was featured on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather in his “American Dream” segment. She is also an internationally renowned public speaker. She was named one of the top 50 speakers in the world by Real Leaders Magazine (2023) and one of the Top 40 female Speakers (2020). She is the author of the books, Strategize to Win, Expect to Win, and Lead To Win.
Topics
Carla's Pearls: Tools for Maximizing Your Success
Carla Harris speaks about the proven strategies that have helped her succeed and thrive on Wall Street. This presentation shines the light on her self-described "Pearls" of wisdom. She helps audiences maximize success from where they currently find themselves, as well as increasing the odds of reaching the position they aspire to. Discussion points include the importance—and the power—of perceptions in the workplace, key relationships needed to ensure your success, and the role authenticity plays in being a powerful leader.
Leadership: Currency, Change, and Creating a Powerful Presence
Carla Harris is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, that’s true. But she is also a gospel recording artist, and author of two books: Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies to Surviving in the Workplace and Strategize to Win: The New Way to Start Out, Step Up, or Start Over in Your Career.
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FAQs
How do I book Carla Harris for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Carla Harris to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Carla Harris's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Carla Harris’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Carla Harris in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Carla Harris's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Carla Harris's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Carla Harris, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Carla Harris's speaking fee?
Carla Harris's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Carla Harris's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Carla Harris's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Carla Harris as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Carla Harris as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Carla Harris's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Carla Harris's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Carla Harris for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Carla Harris speaking engagements.
Official contact for Carla Harris bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/carla-harris
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Carla Harris.
Is Carla Harris available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Carla Harris speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Carla Harris's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Carla Harris's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Carla Harris's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Carla Harris for?
Book Carla Harris for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Carla Harris customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Carla Harris engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Carla Harris can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Carla Harris booking information and availability
Check Carla Harris's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Carla Harris for your preferred event date.
Book Carla Harris keynote speaker through CAA
Book Carla Harris through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Carla Harris, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Carla Harris's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Carla Harris for your next event.
Will Carla Harris speak at private events?
Yes, Carla Harris speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Carla Harris's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Carla Harris?
CAA Speakers responds to Carla Harris booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Carla Harris?
Book Carla Harris 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Carla Harris pricing information?
Get Carla Harris pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.