1992 Binghamton grad is driven by the mission at National Geographic

If you set foot into the Washington, D.C., office of Darien Wright ’92, you know he’s a National Geographic executive.

There’s a bright blue and green map of the Earth and the iconic yellow, rectangular logo prominently displayed on a wooden-paneled wall behind the desk. And tucked among neat stacks of documents, you’ll notice a pile of books — including a copy of A Man of the World, the story of Gilbert Grosvenor, who helmed National Geographic for six decades.

After becoming the National Geographic Society’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer in late March 2024, Wright had little doubt that a pivotal role with this renowned global brand — dedicated to using the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to protect the world — would prove the opportunity of a lifetime.

“It’s amazing because now it becomes real,” Wright says. “It’s not just some abstract idea of ‘I’m trying to save the Amazon,’ but rather it’s about supporting our Explorers and figuring out not only how to educate people about the important work they’re doing, but to show their positive impact on the world.”

Beyond leading the Society’s financial and operational functions, Wright oversees its leaders, who are responsible for advancing the organization’s mission through its endowment and investment portfolio, technology solutions and Base Camp experiences. He’s also the key liaison to financial leadership at The Walt Disney Company as part of their joint venture, which includes National Geographic Magazine.

Much of the Society’s daily work centers on supporting the global work of its Explorer teams through grants and other investments to help them continue their efforts in the field. Throughout its 136-year history, the Society has provided more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, and each year it has engaged with some 3 million students through educational offerings and other unique experiences.

At events like the annual National Geographic Explorers Festival, where more than 170 Explorers from nearly 50 nations — including Australia, Canada, Peru and Kenya — descend on Washington, D.C., the staff gets to hear more about and recognize the work firsthand.

Wright wants the Society’s momentum to continue. But he’s also focusing on how to grow its existing brand in the years to come. Among upcoming projects is a transformation of its headquarters into a destination, with an expanded museum and other experiences.

“Our CEO has spearheaded a strategic plan which outlines key priorities to guide our work,” Wright says. “We’re going to be expanding, and at the same time, we know we will need to identify additional revenue streams and keep in mind what our business model should look like, say, five years from now.”

‘A great training ground’

Wright grew up in the Bronx and graduated from high school in White Plains, N.Y. When he left home and arrived on the Binghamton campus in the fall of 1988 as an accounting major, he quickly learned his college experience could be as enriching as he wanted it to be. He was largely motivated by his father, a Vietnam War veteran who earned his undergraduate degree via night classes.

“My dad set this example of going to school and learning the fundamentals of business because once you have that, you could pick almost whatever industry you want to get into,” Wright says. “Binghamton was a great training ground for me in terms of technical accounting skills, and it is great to see the University and faculty receive their recent accolades.”

Thanks to the INROADS organization, Wright spent four summers interning with the predecessor firm to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), where he learned how to navigate corporate America and translate the lessons gained in SOM’s classrooms into the caliber of work necessary to succeed at one of the Big Four accounting firms.

As chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., during his senior year, Wright learned one of his most pivotal lessons: how to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of the organization, not the individual.

“The roles of accounting and finance have evolved so much over the last few decades that you can no longer just be that person with a calculator or running numbers on a spreadsheet,” Wright says. “Now, you have to engage in business strategy and drive operational decisions that are going to have a long-term impact on the organization.”

Driven by the mission

Throughout his 25-plus-year career, Wright has added strategic planning to his toolkit. After completing his MBA at the Wharton School, he found roles at Brookfield, Accenture, Sprint Nextel Corporation and, for nearly 12 years, Marriott International.

There, he held various leadership positions across financial planning and analysis, corporate finance and development asset management. But this wasn’t just a headquarters-only job. Wright traveled to Australia, South America and even Egypt for Marriott projects. Visiting the hotel properties in those countries gave him unique insights into all the various jobs needed to make a hotel operate efficiently.

“You spend time with the associates running the front desk, the restaurant, or housekeeping, and as you do that globally, you grow a strong appreciation for the unique aspects of different cultures and the importance of teams,” he says.

Having empathy and the ability to talk with people from all types of backgrounds — skills he gained from his mom — has served him well in life and his positions.

Wright’s work with Marriott International set the stage for what he’d bring to the National Geographic Society. Over the past decade, he served on three nonprofit boards, including the mental health organization NAMI. In January 2024, his experience caught the attention of a recruiting firm.

“I’ve learned just how powerful it can be to get involved in mission-driven work,” Wright says. “So when someone presents you with the opportunity to join an organization like National Geographic that works with international Explorers protecting the world — that certainly gets your attention. I couldn’t pass it up.”