Venessa Harrison

From 2021-2025, Venessa Harrison served as President of AT&T’s Southeast Coastal Region, responsible for developing the overall strategic direction of AT&T’s public policy, economic development, and community engagement activities across the states of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Harrison worked closely with state and local policymakers and business and community leaders to foster an environment that welcomed investment and innovation, focused on bringing new technologies to drive innovation and create jobs, and provided educational and economic opportunities to improve the quality of life for all. Now retired from the position, Harrison serves as a senior advisor to AT&T.

Harrison began her telecommunications career as a telephone operator. She subsequently pursued a career-development opportunity in the network organization, quickly rising through the ranks of management within AT&T with increasing responsibility in the network, business, regulatory and external affairs departments. Prior to her role as President of AT&T’s Southeast Coastal Region, Harrison served for three years as president of AT&T Georgia and six years as president of AT&T North Carolina.

Harrison is committed to helping make a difference in the community and in the lives of others. She has a passion for driving meaningful impact and social equity and currently currently serves on the executive boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and on the boards of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, the Georgia Historical Society, the Georgia Research Alliance, and Southern Company Gas. Additionally, Harrison has been honored by Georgia Trend as one of the Georgia 500 Most Influential Leaders and one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians, Families First with the 2021 Making a Difference Community Service Award, the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce with the 2021 Moxie Award, the Atlanta Business Chronicle with the 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Civic Award, Women in Technology with the 2020 Woman of the Year in Technology Award, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle with the 2019 Women Who Mean Business Award. She was also recognized by Atlanta Magazine on the 2021, 2020, and 2019 Most Influential Atlantans Lists.

Harrison holds a Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. A North Carolina native, she is a proud wife, mother, and grandmother.