Morgan Stanley Managing Director Carla A. Harris ’84 shared five “pearls” of wisdom for post-Harvard success during the Black Men’s Forum (BMF) 10th annual Celebration of Black Women on Saturday night.

Harris won the 2004 Woman of the Year award at the event, which pays homage to the important contributions of black women to Harvard and society.

She told the audience, which included seven black female seniors who were honored with Senior Leadership Awards, that success depended not on “how much money you have” or “what you know,” but instead, “who you know.”

“The real power will be in your rolodex when you are out of Harvard,” she said.

Harris graduated magna cum laude in economics from Harvard in 1984 and was recently named to Fortune magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America.” She has also recorded a bestselling CD on Amazon.com titled “Carla’s First Christmas.”

“You have to learn to listen to the beat of your own drum,” Harris said as part of the first of “Carla’s Pearls.”

“You have to know why you are doing what you are doing at all times,” she said.

Harris recounted how she had to overcome a great deal of adversity in succeeding in a predominantly white male profession.

“You can call Carla Harris a lot of things but ‘ain’t tough’ ain’t one of them. As a black woman on Wall Street, you can’t afford to have people think you aren’t tough,” Harris said.

Brandon M. Terry ’05, president of BMF, said he could not think of a better person to receive the award.

“I thought she was amazing. She is really somebody that you just have to respect and admire,” Terry said. “She is such a complete person, and just a pleasure to be around.”

Terry and other BMF officers said they were equally impressed with the seven seniors who were honored at the celebration.

“It is always hard for us because there are so many exceptional black women at Harvard,” said Jason W. Young ’04, vice president of BMF. “Each of them is exceptional in her own right and it was an honor to be on the committee that selected them.”

The seven seniors were Alliah D. Agostini, Amanda S. Alexander, Natalya S. Davis, Ayirini M.U. Fonseca-Sabune, Alisha C. Johnson, Anne M. Morris and Michelle D. Wilson.

Harris said the true honor for her was receiving the award alongside the seven seniors.