Desiree Rogers: Executive Chic

Desiree Rogers is one of those women that you look at and think “I want to be her!” She’s the CEO of Johnson Publications, the company that owns Ebony and Jet Magazines and Fashion Fair Cosmetics, and she most notably served as Social Secretary for the Obama Administration. (who knew such a job even existed?!) She has a Master’s degree from Harvard, yet she is still fly beyond belief and the life of the party. She’s achieved that mix of brainiac and sophisticated cool that so many of us strive for. Vogue Magazine even used Rogers as an example that “executive and chic can co-exist.” I’ll admit that I didn’t know much about Ms. Rogers before I began researching for this article, but I can now say that she is someone that us Brownstone girls can look up to!

Desiree Rogers was born and raised in New Orleans Louisiana, the daughter of a city council man father and a mother who ran day centers. Her house was always full of people from blue collar workers to local business leaders, and one can only speculate that her evolved social skills are a result of t his childhood. Ms. Rogers received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wellesley College in 1981 and went on to receive her MBA from Harvard Business School in 1985.

Rogers is no stranger to powerful positions, she’s served as the Illinois State Lottery Director, President of People’s Energy Corp, and President of Social Networking for All State Insurance, but she is most known for her role as the Social Secretary of the White House under the Obama Administration. Desiree has been friends with the Obamas for over two decades, introduced by Desiree’s ex husband and Michelle Obama’s brother (the two played basketball together at Princeton). Ms. Rogers and the Obamas ran in the same social circle of successful upper middle class Black families in Chicago, and Rogers reportedly used her connects to pool together $200,000 for Obama’s Presidential campaign!

The Obama Administration has brought about a new era of politics for the obvious reason that Barack Obama is the first African American President, but also because there is a new perceived accessibility to the White House that didn’t exist before. This change can partially be credited to Desiree Rogers as she worked tirelessly to make the White House “the people’s house.” Ms. Roger’s main goal was to create a White House that reflected who the Obama’s truly are. She did this by planning events such as inviting a group of culinary students to the White House kitchen to review menus with Mrs. Obama, organizing the planting of the White House Vegetable Garden with local elementary school students, and dying the White House fountain green for St. Patrick’s Day.

Like most prominent women, Desiree Rogers did face some controversy. Rogers has a keen eye for fashion and a closet worthy of coveting, but some people thought that her clothes were inappropriate for someone in her position, especially during a recession. When she sat next to Anna Wintour, Editor of Vogue, at a New York Fashion Week show, critics claimed that this choice was too showy and flamboyant for a White House figure. However, none of this criticism compared to what Rogers was faced with in November of 2009 when two socialites from Virginia allegedly crashed a White House State Dinner. The actual details of the event are unclear as the couple, Michaele and Tareq Salahi, claim that they were invited to the dinner and did nothing wrong (despite not having a physical invitation in their possession). Still, a lot of negative press was directed toward Ms. Rogers because as Social Secretary it was her role to maintain the guest list. A few months after this incident Ms. Rogers resigned from her position as Social Secretary.

Desiree Rogers is now the CEO of Johnson Publications, the world’s largest African American owned and operated publishing company. The firm is owned by Linda Johnson Rice who happens to be a good friend of Ms. Rogers. In her new position, Rogers’ goal is to reinvent Ebony and Jet Magazines and Fashion Fair Cosmetics into brands that are prominent and profitable. These brands have had a significant impact on the Black Community over the years and some might venture to say that her role as CEO may have an even greater impact on the Black Community than her position as Social Secretary.

What stands out most to me about Desiree Rogers is not that she was criticized for being too flashy or that she resigned from her White House position after a year, but that she stayed true to herself despite it all. She didn’t let criticism change how she dressed or how she carried herself, and she didn’t tolerate people who blamed the White House crasher scandal on her negligence. The Wall Street Journal quoted Desiree as saying “ All these rules we’ve put in place for ourselves . . . . ‘Ladies, smash them. Be who you want to be.’” And that’s my hope for you Brownstone girls, that just like Ms. Rogers, you will always have the courage to be exactly who you want to be.

--Karissa Allen
Brownstone Team