Brandi Russell, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Director of Talent Management Selected for 2022 Momentum Upward Program

Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Director of Talent Management, Brandi Russell, has been selected to participate in the 2022 Momentum Upward Early Career Program. Momentum is a Birmingham-based non-profit organization that exists to advance equity for women in leadership through intensive training, mentorship, conferences and programming. The organization was founded in 2001 and now has over 500 alumnae who have gone on to excel in their respective fields, paving the way for greater opportunities for female leadership. 

Upward Early Career Program serves the next generation of talented women through leveraging the expertise and alumnae network of Momentum. The program will run from February to October, and will include interactive sessions facilitated by training professionals and Momentum alumnae, followed by small group meetings among co-mentoring groups and networking opportunities. Topics explored in the program include emotional intelligence, career ownership, leadership fundamentals and more.

In her role at Balch, Brandi works alongside firm leadership and its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council to lead the firm’s diversity strategy, addressing opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusion at every level. In addition, she has expanded recruitment and retention initiatives with a focus on next generation talent. Brandi also directs the implementation of the firm’s professional development program to ensure attorneys have the resources needed to achieve their career goals and deliver great value to clients.

Prior to her current role, Brandi earned her J.D. from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama. Additionally, Brandi is a 2013 graduate of Balch’s Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp for Success, an annual pipeline program for minority and underrepresented law students across the Southeast designed to introduce students to the rigors of law, learn the skills they need to be successful in law school and gain a deeper understanding of the legal profession and future career opportunities.  

Balch partners Leslie Allen, Debra Taylor Lewis, Mary Samuels and Martha Thompson are graduates of the Momentum Leadership Program.