A’Lelia is a famed American journalist, news producer, and author. Growing up, Mae was surrounded by great women who were deep into entrepreneurship. The celebrity was born on June 7, 1952, and was named after her great-grandmother, A’Lelia Walker.
A’Lelia made further headlines after writing a biography about her great-great-grandmother, Madam C.J Walker.
Early Life and Family
A’Lelia is among the few individuals who have interacted with prominent entrepreneurs and grown among them. Her family was made up of civic business executives. Her mother was a famed entrepreneur, Madam C. J Walker, and the vice president of the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company.
Besides her success as an entrepreneur, she was an active member of local and state politics, which enabled her to serve on the Washington Township School Board.
While A’Lelia’s mother was making huge milestones as an entrepreneur, her father was also the president of Summit Laboratories, a hair care manufacturing company, after briefly working in the Walker company.
Mae’s father was also an active member of various boards, including the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the founding president of the Center for Leadership Development, which was focused on enriching Indianapolis’s youth.
A’Lelia Bundles was educated in one of the best schools meant for the elite. She graduated from North Central High School in 1970, making it in the top five percent of her class. Like her parents, A’Lelia was an active student who participated in various activities.
She was the co-editor of Northern Lights, a co-chair and founder of the human relations council, and vice president of the student council. While at the school, she coordinated efforts that saw the fight of racial issues in a student population where blacks constituted less than ten percent.
After high school, A’Lelia attended Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges and received a joint diploma. She later attended Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1976 and received her master’s degree.
A’Lelia’s Career
A’Lelia is a talented lady who has won numerous awards for her motivation in various adventures. She has worked as a news producer for top companies, earning her multiple awards. One of her most notable roles was with ABC News, where she was a producer and executive.
Still, while working for the same company, she served as the chair of a diversity council, which advised the ABC News president, David Westin. Also, she held a notable role as a producer with NBC News.
Besides production, A’Lelia has made a name for herself as a respected author. The 2001 autobiography about her great-great-grandmother was named a Notable book in the same year by the New York Times. Also, she received an award for the book, further cementing her title as a respected author.
Bundles has written a few other books, some of which Netflix has adapted, especially the young adult book about Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur.
Bundles’ great-great grandmother remains the founder of the Walker Company, which has partnered with Walmart and Sundial Brands. Bundles has continued with the family legacy, and she continues to serve in numerous charity organizations.
