N.C. A&T Alumnus Recognized as One of the “Most Powerful Executives in America” by Black Enterprise

Kirkland L. Hicks ’93 was recently named by Black Enterprise magazine’s list as one of the “Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America.” The list highlights the highest-ranking African-American executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest publicly-traded companies and 100 international companies with a major U.S. presence

Hicks was recognized out of 300 candidates and is currently the executive vice president and general counsel at Lincoln Financial Group, a Fortune 250 financial services company headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

“Being recognized in Black Enterprise is a proud moment for me because I am representing my parents and all of my hard-work,” said Hicks. “It’s really hard to believe the magazine I grew up reading, my name and the career I love is being highlighted.”

In his role at Lincoln Financial Group, he oversees all activities for the legal, compliance, government relations and corporate secretary functions for the company. As a member of the senior management committee, he also provides strategic counsel to the CEO, senior management team and board of directors.

Growing up in Roxboro, North Carolina, Hicks credits his success to his parents who instilled the value of hard work and confidence in his life, and cites his safe, tight-knit community as being a big influence during his adolescent years. Also, while attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, it provided him with the education and world-view he needed as a foundation for his future career.

After college, Hicks worked as a software engineer and then went on to pursue his law degree at Duke University School of Law. In 2000, while he worked as a junior corporate lawyer, he remembers a senior lawyer telling him that one day he had the potential to become a general counsel in a corporation.

“That encouragement from a senior leader was all I needed to help me to believe in the growth of my career, it helped me to map out my goals to get to that senior level role,” said Hicks.

Hicks would go on to serve as an in-house attorney for Towers Watson and after 13 years with the corporation he was promoted to general counsel. In 2015, he left the company he joined Lincoln Financial Group as the executive vice president and general counsel.

“I’ve set high goals for my life, so I believe I am just now getting started in my career, said Hicks. “I challenge myself daily to stay on top of my game while balancing work and making sure the people in my life feel important.”

Hicks currently serves on the Board of Visitors for North Carolina A&T, where his son is a senior, political science student.