Denise Young Smith

Denise Young Smith is a former Apple executive who spent two decades in various HR roles including vice president of Worldwide Human Resources and Talent. She was responsible for attracting and retaining top talent, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. As a key member of the leadership team, she helped build Apple's retail organization, which welcomes over a million visitors daily. Her responsibilities extended to HR for Apple’s Worldwide Operations and Corporate Employee Relations teams. Part of her career at the tech giant was dedicated to overseeing a global effort for an inclusive and embracing culture and workforce, serving as Apple's vice president of Inclusion and Diversity. In addition to her contributions at Apple, Young also provided talent, HR, and management consulting expertise to early-stage businesses, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers portfolio companies, prior to her tenure at Apple.

Young's dedication to inclusivity in tech extends beyond her role at Apple. Currently, she is serving as the executive-in-residence at Cornell Tech, working with students to build awareness of inclusive leadership and diverse talent. Her work in this role represents her second stint in such a position at the university. Young is known for her commitment to leading diversity initiatives and making a positive impact on the next generation of business and tech leaders.

Her leadership and influence have been widely recognized. Young has been named a "Most Powerful Woman" by both Ebony Magazine and Black Enterprise. Business Insider listed her as one of the "100 Most Influential in Silicon Valley," and she was featured in Fortune's "Most Powerful Women" issue.

Aside from her career in tech and HR, Young is also an accomplished soprano who has performed in various recital halls, including Carnegie and SFJazz. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s degree in Organizational Management from Grambling State University in Louisiana.