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Yolanda Lee Conyers of Austin is vice president of Worldwide Human Resources and chief diversity officer of Lenovo and one of four Distinguished Alumni named by ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University for 2016. She will share “Leadership Lessons from My Father: Culture, Connection and Change” with ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University students, faculty and staff in a free public lecture, Feb. 26, 10:20 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., in the Landes Auditorium of the Galloway Business Building.

“Yolanda Conyers represents excellence in her careers and a genuine love for her alma mater,” said Shannon Copeland, director of alumni affairs. “It is an honor to name her as one of our Distinguished Alumni for 2016.” The award is the highest granted by the university to its graduates. Conyers is a member of the LU Class of 1989.

Lenovo, a Chinese multinational computer technology company with headquarters in Beijing, China and Morrisville, North Carolina, had $46.3 billion in revenue in 2015. It designs, develops, manufactures and sells personal computers, tablet computers, smartphones, workstations, servers, electronic storage devices, IT management software and smart televisions. In 2014, Lenovo was the world's largest personal computer vendor by unit sales. The company has operations in more than 60 nations and sells it products in more than 160 countries.

For three years, Conyers navigated an expatriate role in Beijing, learning Mandarin and studying cultural customs as she transformed Lenovo’s day-to-day human resource operations, installed consistent processes and systems, and continues to create a distinct imprint on the corporate culture reflected in more than 60,000 employees in more than 60 nations.

Originally from Port Arthur and the youngest child of seven, Conyers credits her parents for instilling in her the value of education as the key to eliminating limitations, real or perceived. Evidence of her achievements is her 25-year career in the high-tech industry and her pioneering of The Lenovo Way, which is also the title of her bestselling book. Conyers provides a distinct contribution in blending Eastern and Western business cultures by harnessing the power of differences and diversity. 

Conyers is a proponent and role model for STEM education for girls and women, recognizing that such careers offer higher salaries and advancement. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in computer science from ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University in 1989 and a certificate in advanced human resource management from the University of Michigan. Her M.B.A. in international business was earned from Our Lady of the Lake executive program in 1998. At ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University, Conyers serves on the Computer Science Advisory Council, contributes financially and shares the insight of her impressive career experiences with LU students as a guest lecture.

She and her husband, Chris, have three sons. 

A sought-after speaker and author, Conyers has received numerous honors including “Woman of the Year in Science and Technology,” YWCA, 2003, “Working Mother of the Year, Working Mother magazine, 2009, “100 Diverse Corporate Leaders in STEM,” STEMConnector, 2014 and “Corporate Professional of the Year,” Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce, 2015.

For additional information on the lecture, contact alumni@lamar.edu or call (409) 880-8921.