June 15-17, 2022
Join more than 2,500 tech founders, investors, professionals, and enthusiasts virtually and IRL for our 6th Annual Roadmap to Billions!
Pitch Competition Applications are Open!
Register now to enter for a chance win $25K
About Roadmap to Billions
Roadmap to Billions returns IRL to Brooklyn, NY June 15th – 17th.
Kickoff your Juneteenth Weekend with Black Women Talk Tech and 2,000 founders at the Brooklyn Navy Yard! Join us for the only annual tech conference created exclusively by Black women founders for Black female founders and their supporters.
A conference built from the perspective of women, the goal is to showcase the brilliance of Black women in tech, create a stage for our experiences, foster deep connections, and create real funding opportunities. We believe in learning from those who are paving the way. Through their successes, (and failures), gain insight and valuable lessons to inspire and guide you on your path to success.
Join investors, tech evangelists, and founders who are just starting out and those who have been in the game for years at the largest gathering of black women tech founders in the world.
Host Hotel – Sheraton Brooklyn New York
With 50,000 square feet of space, you already know we’re pulling out all the stops for you at Roadmap to Billions. You’ll be blown away by picturesque views overlooking Downtown Brooklyn and have your edges snatched by the content we’re bringing you live and direct this year. Come ready with lots of paper, a backup pen to your backup and make sure your devices are charged. We’re making sure the information you leave with will have you ready-to-launch.
Your ticket gives you access to
It’s our 6th year and we’ve
pulled out all the stops.
Roadmap to Billions 2022 is designed for you, by women like you. Full of exciting, engaging, and enlightening experiences, you’ll leave the conference feeling powerful, motivated and ready to take the next steps on your journey.
4 KEYNOTE SESSIONS
EXPERT SPEAKERS
25K CASH PRIZES
LIVE CROWD
FUNDING
Agenda
Day 1
DAY 1
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
2023-10-05 AllEarly Registration
N/A5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
2023-10-05 AllHost, BWTT and Sponsor Welcome
Esosa I. Johnson, Amber Shand6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
2023-10-05 AllRelationship Science: Fireside chat with Paul Brunson
A good relationship is one where both partners feel loved, supported, and valued based on trust and mutual respect. It's the cornerstone of happiness and living a full life. Let's explore how to identify the right life partner to maximize your wealth, success, and happiness.
Paul C. Brunson, Esosa I. Johnson7:30 pm - 8:00 pm
2023-10-05 AllHost and BWTT Closing Address
Amber Shand, Esosa I. Johnson, Regina Gwynn8:00 pm - 8:30 pm
2023-10-05 AllWelcome Reception: Networking at Black Eats London
Join your fellow Roadmap to Billions attendees at the Black Girl Magic Night Market at Black Eats London this evening. We can't wait to see you as we prepare to kickoff content for our first-ever Roadmap to Billions London at UK Black Business Show!
N/ADay 2
DAY 1
9:00 am - 9:45 am
2023-10-06 AllRegistration & Check In
N/A9:45 am - 10:00 am
2023-10-06 AllBWTT Welcome and Host Introduction
Esosa I. Johnson, Regina Gwynn, Esther Alade10:00 am - 10:30 am
2023-10-06 AllJourney to a Billion
Oliver Kent-Braham, Regina Gwynn
10:30 am - 11:10 am
2023-10-06 AllLife's a Pitch: Nail Your Story with Every Audience
Business storytelling is sharing relatable stories instead of facts and figures with your audience. Your prospects, investor, and customers are tired of being sold to. These people are looking for a real connection with brands like yours.
Rashada Harry11:10 am - 11:20 am
2023-10-06 AllBreak
N/A11:20 am - 12:00 pm
2023-10-06 AllWorkshop: AI in Business & Entrepreneurship
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes the business landscape, the entrepreneurial sector isn't left out. This talk uncovers the transformative power of AI in business productivity, and shares how to leverage tech to work smarter, not harder.
Amber Aziza12:00 pm - 12:40 pm
2023-10-06 AllWorkshop: Finding a Technical Co-Founder
Choosing a partner is one of the essential decisions you will make as a founder. Most venture capitalists will only consider investing in a startup if one of its founding partners are technical. This skill is critical to a startups' early success. Hear how two successful entrepreneurs learned this lesson and recruited their technical co-founders.
Charlene Hunter, Gabrielle Patrick12:40 pm - 1:25 pm
2023-10-06 AllSponsored Lunch and Award Presentations
TBA1:30 pm - 2:05 pm
2023-10-06 AllSponsor Moment with Accenture
Hear from Accenture about their new program for London-based founders and entrepreneurs and how it will help diverse founders grow and scale their business.
Dujon Smith2:05 pm - 2:30 pm
2023-10-06 AllAMA w/BWTT: Ask Me Anything with Black Women Talk Tech
This is your chance to hear from two serial entrepreneurs, investors, and mompreneurs what it's like to build and scale a tech-focused business. Come ready with your questions on what it takes to scale a startup, position yourself in the market, build a team, prepare for investment, and strategies for alternative funding.
Regina Gwynn, Esosa I. Johnson2:30 pm - 3:10 pm
2023-10-06 AllFrom 0 to Your First £1M
Going from 0 to your first £1 million is an incredible achievement in business. Don't let social media tell you any different. Your first £1 million will be the hardest and will require you to build new approaches, new tools, and new ways of thinking to get your venture from the ground up. In this session, we'll explore the strategies, insights, and actionable steps an early-stage venture can take to scale a new business. Whether you're a budding start-up founder or you're in the early stages of growth, we'll navigate the path to a million-pound venture together.
Izzy Obeng3:10 pm - 3:15 pm
2023-10-06 AllBreak
N/A3:15 pm - 3:55 pm
2023-10-06 AllWorkshop: How to Fundraise From U.S and UK Investors
We know the importance of raising money to build and scale the business, but how do we know when we're ready? This expert panel of investors will share key factors you should consider before kicking off your seed round.
Chenelle Ansah, Candice Matthews Brackeen3:55 pm - 4:05 pm
2023-10-06 AllBreak
N/A4:05 pm - 4:35 pm
2023-10-06 AllPitch Competition
Four founders showcase their businesses pitch-style. Watch the real-time implementation of 'Life's a Pitch - Nailing Your Story with Every Audience.'
Esosa I. Johnson4:35 pm - 4:55 pm
2023-10-06 AllJudge Deliberation
TBA4:55 pm - 5:05 pm
2023-10-06 AllPitch Prize Presentation
TBA5:05 pm - 5:15 pm
2023-10-06 AllClosing Address
Esosa I. Johnson, Regina Gwynn5:15 pm - 7:45 pm
2023-10-06 AllPost-Event Networking
After the conference, come network and mingle with your fellow RTB attendees.
Esosa I. Johnson
Ticket TYpes
Founders/Aspiring Founders
Join us IRL!
- Opening Night Pajama Jammy Jam
- Empower yourself with 2 Full Days of live workshops and panels
- Network in-person with over 1,000 speakers, founders, investors
- Demo new and upcoming tech solutions from our sponsors
- Sign up for Investor Office Hours
- Connect face-to-face with like-minded founders
- Does Not Include: Annual Digital Membership that features Conference Replays & Bonus Streaming Content
Join us Online
- Participate in 2 Full Days of workshops, panels, and keynotes
- Network virtually with over 1,000 speakers, founders, investors
- Sign up for Investor Office Hours
- Missing the in-person experience? Membership is included!
Aspiring Founders
- Want to know what it takes to build the next billion-dollar business? Are you ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship and need guidance on what to expect? Grab this ticket if you're in position to transition from a Side-Hustle samurai to a Full-time Founder + CEO.
Upgrade to VIP for Membership Access + a Swag Bag
- Includes Access to:
- All Perks in General Admission Ticket
- Annual Digital Membership that features Conference Replays & Bonus Streaming Content
- Investor Reception
- VIP Gift
- VIP Lounge On-Site
Investors/Aspiring Investors
Join us IRL!
- Empower yourself with 2 Full Days of live workshops and panels
- Network in-person with over 1,000 speakers, founders, investors
- Get matched with Investor-Ready Founders
- Live access to Investor-only sessions
- Demo new and upcoming tech solutions from our sponsors
- Does Not Include:
- Annual Digital Membership that features Conference Replays & Bonus Streaming Content
Join us Online
- Participate in 2 Full Days of workshops, panels, and keynotes
- Network virtually with over 1,000 speakers, founders, investors
- Livestream access to Investor-only sessions
- Missing the in-person experience? Membership is included!
Aspiring Investors
- Want to know what it takes to spot the next billion-dollar business? Looking to invest in early-stage founders but not sure where to start? Need help developing your investor thesis? If you're ready to get in the game and want to learn how to determine a company's investor-readiness, this ticket is for you!
Upgrade to VIP for Membership Access + a Swag Bag
- Includes Access to:
- All Perks in General Admission Ticket
- Annual Digital Membership that features Conference Replays & Bonus Streaming Content
- VIP Gift
- Investor Reception
- VIP Lounge On-Site
PROFESSIONALS
Join us IRL!
- Day 1 [Virtual Only]] - Interact in our Roadmap to Billions Virtual experience
- Day 2 [IRL/Virtual] - In-person Access to Keynote, panel, and workshop sessions
- Learn about the latest tech solutions to take your tech career to the next level
- Hear from leading tech companies looking to hire diverse talent
- Get access to our Professional Membership Community
- Connect one-on-one in our Virtual Marketplace
Tech Enthusiasts
- There’s something to being in the room. Meet high-level tech founders, investors, sponsors, and professionals. Meet your next co-founder or CTO, find your next software platform, and learn about the latest trending tech topics.
Allies
- Black women can move mountains, but the momentum is greater with the support of our allies. We welcome the presence and partnership our Tech allies to join us at Roadmap to Billions as the journey to a billion-dollar venture is not one-dimensional.
Students
- Mark Zuckerberg got his start largely by accident while he was still in college. Student founders and entrepreneurs, we're looking at you! It's time to put your business classes to good use and learn what it takes to successfully launch and grow your tech startup. Attend online or in-person, but act fast - in-person Student tickets are limited!
- Must register with an .edu email address and show proof of current status.
Meet Our 2022 Speakers
Shellye Archambeau
Former CEO, Board Director, Author
Alex Hill
Home Cook & Recipe Developer
DJ Olivia Dope
Khadijah Adams
Founder of Khadijah Adams, LLC dba Girl Get That Money
Jon Fortt
Tech Check Anchor, CNBC
Jazmyn W
Comedian & Content Creator
Danielle Young
Journalist, Producer, Content Queen
Terrance Gaines
Tech Consultant
Kandi Burruss
Founder, Entrepreneur
With nearly three decades of experience under her belt, Kandi Burruss has remained one of music’s most steadfast and prolific songwriters. The Atlanta native has added a number of hats throughout her career, including businesswoman, entrepreneur, actress, TV personality and proud mother of four.
Burruss entered the music industry at age 14 when she co-founded the all-female R&B group Xscape. They’ve released three Platinum-selling albums (1993’s Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha, 1995’s Off the Hook, 1998’s Traces of My Lipstick) and have sold over 7 million albums worldwide, while simultaneously putting Atlanta’s musical creativity and talent on the map. After achieving success with Xscape, the group members decided to take a hiatus to pursue various ventures. From there, Burruss solidified her legendary status in music as a songwriter, solo singer (she’s released her debut Hey Kandi… in 2000 and followed up with Kandi Koated in 2010), and producer.
Her credits include Destiny’s Child’s GRAMMY-nominated “Bills, Bills, Bills,” Pink’s “There You Go,” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”, Ariana Grande’s “Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored”, *NSYNC (“It Makes Me Ill), and TLC’s GRAMMY-winning “No Scrubs”. In 2000, she became the first woman to be honored with ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Award for Songwriter of the Year.
But Burruss had her eyes set on expanding her empire beyond an unpredictable music industry. “We started our career when I was 16 when we signed our deal with So So Def. My mom put this in my head: ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!’” Burruss recalls. “So I used to read all these books about finances. The main thing they always say is you need to have multiple sources of income in order to become and stay a millionaire.”
Since 2009 she’s starred in 12 seasons of Bravo’s pop culture juggernaut The Real Housewives of Atlanta, where she used the reality TV franchise to not only transform into a household name but to showcase her musical accolades as well as a platform to launch her ever-growing businesses.
“It’s more personal. Fans feel more connected. They’ve been able to see inside my life for the last ten years. Now, though, I do think that people learned to respect me for what I’ve done as a songwriter,” Burruss previously said of joining the series as an artist. “They’ve witnessed what I have written and produced for some of the other people on the show. From there, they figured out what else I have done, be it Xscape or TLC or other artists I’ve worked with.”
Burruss has since launched two restaurants with husband Todd Tucker (Old Lady Gang and Blaze Steak & Seafood Restaurant), made her Broadway debut in the long-running, Tony Award-winning revival of Chicago in 2018, landed a recurring role on Showtime’s acclaimed drama series The Chi in 2020 and scored her first feature film role in Lifetime’s Envy: A Seven Deadly Sins Story that is based on Bishop TD Jakes’ “Seven Deadly Sins” series of books.
As she continues to blossom as a businesswoman, Burruss’ love for music is never too far behind. In 2020, she won the third season of the Fox competition series The Masked Singer. And in 2021, Xscape participated in the Verzuz series alongside fellow popular ‘90s girl group SWV.
Ariel Investments
Managing Partner & Founder, Precursor Venture
Peggy Alford
EVP Global Sales, PayPal
As Executive Vice President, Global Sales, Peggy Alford leads all of PayPal’s Commercial, Customer Success and Go-to-Market teams worldwide. In this role, Peggy brings extensive experience leading high performing teams across product development, finance and growth strategy.
Peggy has thrived throughout her career by building and leading experienced and diverse teams. She fosters a culture of collaboration that allows teams to develop scalable and effective solutions.
Peggy has held numerous senior leadership roles at PayPal, including Senior Vice President, Core Markets; Senior Vice President of People Operations; Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific Region and Global Cross Border Trade; and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Americas Region. In March 2019, Peggy returned to PayPal after two years as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Operations at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization.
Prior to joining PayPal in 2011, Peggy worked at Rent.com, a national internet real estate listing service and former subsidiary of eBay Inc., where she served in positions of increasing responsibility, including President, General Manager and Chief Financial Officer.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) and Macerich (NYSE:MAC).
Driven by her passion to help others succeed, Peggy serves as an advocate for children, women, and minorities. Peggy was an honoree at the 2018 Culture Shifting Awards which recognizes leaders and pioneers of diversity.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Dayton and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Timnit Gebru
Computer Scientist
Timnit Gebru is founder of the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research (DAIR) Institute. Prior to that she was a co-lead of the Ethical AI research team at Google Brain, from which she was fired for raising issues of workplace discrimination. She received her PhD from the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and did a postdcast Microsoft Research, New York City in the FATE (Fairness Accountability Transparency and Ethics in AI) group, where she studied algorithmic bias and the ethical implications underlying projects aiming to gain insights from data. Timnit also co-founded Black in AI, a nonprofit that works to increase the presence, inclusion, visibility and health of Black people in the field of AI.
Coming soon …
Ayo Suber
UI Engineer and Design Technologist, Square
Ayo Suber is a UI Engineer and Design Technologist at Square, working with the Developers and APIs team.
Her passion for all things tech stems from her experience creating digital presences for small businesses, working at various tech companies, and creating art that integrates technology.
All of these things require different types of tech stacks, which is the basis for Tech Stack 101. Ayo enjoys making complex concepts as accessible as possible, and being a resource to increase our representation in tech. She is an avid traveler, writer, and arts advocate.
Shila Burney
Founder & Managing Partner, Zane Venture Fund
Shila Nieves Burney has spent a 20+ year professional career working closely with leading organizations and exceptional talents to create solutions that address disparities through investment in human capital. Her super-power is connecting!
After spending a year sourcing investors for a startup that culminated in a $5M term sheet, mentoring and advising founders of color, Shila was able to see first hand challenges diverse entrepreneurs face getting access to capital and the resources they needed to grow and scale their companies.
She founded ZANE Venture Fund, a seed fund that would invest in underrepresented founders with the goal of closing the funding gap and generating high returns for investors, thereby closing the gap to generational wealth, and Zane Access which provides early-stage companies led by diverse teams access to cross-functional experts, resources, best practices and customized content critical to accelerating growth.
Nichole Jordan
SVP Global Partner Success, Via Transportation
Nichole Jordan is the Senior Vice President, Global Partner Success at Via Transportation, Inc. Formerly, she was the Chief Operating Officer at Remix Software, which was acquired by Via in March 2021.
She currently manages executive account relationships and ensures customer satisfaction and retention for over 400 cities across five continents.
A dedicated customer advocate for over 15 years, Nichole previously led Customer Success for Fond, C3.ai and Contact Center Operations for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). At PG&E she amassed over ten years of experience in customer care, human resources and information technology. Nichole is an active volunteer and leader for several non-profit entities. She currently serves as the International Technology Chairman for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®.
Nichole is a former president of the Twenty Pearls Foundation in Oakland. In her final year as president, the organization awarded over $25,000 in scholarships and grants to deserving students and organizations. She was initiated into the San Francisco chapter of the Links, Incorporated in 2016and served as President of the board of directors for the African American Art and Culture Complex in San Francisco from 2011-2016.
Nichole has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from U.C. Davis and an M.B.A. from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She was the first African-American female to matriculate in the Wharton West Executive MBA program. Her proudest accomplishments include receiving PG&E’s 2008 President’s Diversity Champion Award and launching the MBA Fellowship program at PG&E–which provides full tuition sponsorship for high potential employees.
In her free time, she actively volunteers with her sorority and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, wine tasting and reading. Nichole is also passionate about mentoring women of color and has served as an executive mentor for Sequoia Capital’s Ascent Mentoring program, designed to support emerging women leaders in tech.
Henry Bolden
Inclusive Recruiting Lead, Spotify
Leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.”
As the global leader of inclusive recruiting and development at Spotify, Henry leverages his passion for people to develop strategies that educate, empower and ensure inclusion.
Prior to joining Spotify, Henry worked across talent acquisition and diversity, inclusion and belonging teams, industry sectors, and geographies to create spaces that invite, reward, and celebrate individual differences
Jon Fortt
Tech Check Anchor, CNBC
Jon Fortt is co-anchor of CNBC’s bi-coastal tech-focused program “TechCheck”. Previously, he co-anchored CNBC’s “Squawk Alley” and prior served as an on-air editor based at CNBC’s global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Fortt joined CNBC as technology correspondent in July 2010, working from CNBC’s Silicon Valley bureau where he covered the companies, start-ups and trends that are driving innovation in the industry
Danielle Young
Journalist, Producer, Content Queen
Danielle Young is the content queen. You may know her from her candid and viral red carpet clips, her powerful sit-down interviews, from her way-too-funny and honest pop culture commentary, from her matter-of-fact opinion video series on The Grio, “Opinionated,” from her hilarious and Webby-honored “Judge of Characters” series videos from The Root, her often viral interview series, “Real Quick,” or what Forbes calls a viral hit show, “The Danielle Young Show.”
Before betting on herself and stepping out on her own, Danielle was a video producer, editor writer and host for ESSENCE, where her video series, “The OverExplainer” and “The OverExplainer Reacts” consistently over-performed. She broke down topics that matter to Black people (and everyone) and offered hilarious hot takes on the internet’s wildest moments, respectively.
Tanya Van Court
Founder & CEO, Goalsetter
Tanya Van Court is the Founder and CEO of Goalsetter. Goalsetter is a family saving, financial literacy and smart spending app that makes it easy for the whole family to go cashless and learn how to be money-smart. Goalsetter is Nickelodeon meets Fintech–it combines the best of Fintech companies like Acorns and CashApp with financial education and gaming that appeals to the whole family. As such, Goalsetter is the first money app for the whole family, giving kids-from cradle to graduation-healthy financial habits that will last a lifetime
Frank Valdivieso
President & CEO, Gryphon Consulting
Frank Valdivieso is the President & CEO of Gryphon Consulting. Gryphon Consulting is an Information Technology Services company specializing in helping small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofits deploy and leverage technology in their organizations.
Mr. Valdivieso is a Co-founder of the Black Channel Partner Alliance, an Advisory Board Member for Women In Cloud, and a member of Voices For Innovation.
Dr. Nashlie Sephus
Tech Evangelist, Amazon AI
Dr. Nashlie Sephus is the Tech Evangelist for Amazon AI focusing on fairness and identifying biases at AWS AI. She formerly led the Amazon Visual Search team as an Applied Scientist in Atlanta, which launched visual search for replacement parts on the Amazon Shopping app in June 2018. This technology was a result of former startup Partpic (Atlanta) being acquired by Amazon, for which she was the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Prior to working at Partpic, she received her Ph.D. from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2014 and worked for a year with Exponent technical consulting firm in New York City. Her core research areas were digital signal processing, machine learning, and computer engineering. She received her B.S. in Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University (2007).
Dr. Sephus is a native of Jackson, Mississippi and a 2003 graduate of Murrah High School/Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex (APAC). She’s had several internships and research experiences worldwide with companies such as IBM, Delphi, University of California at Berkeley, GE Research Center, GE Energy, Miller Transporters, and Kwangwoon University in Seoul, South Korea. Recently, Dr. Sephus became founder and CEO of The Bean Path, a non-profit organization based in Jackson, MS, to sow technical expertise and bridge the tech gap in communities by hosting free tech office hours in local libraries, conducting youth coding workshops and giving away grants. She is also developing 12 acres of land in the downtown area deemed the Jackson Tech District for strengthening a community amongst the next generation of technologists.
Dr. Sephus has been featured in AJC, CBS kids’ show Mission Unstoppable, Black Enterprise, Ebony, Amazon Science, AWS re:Invent, Afrotech, Your First Million podcast, along with several others. She also serves on several startup and academic advisory boards along with mentoring others and investing in Atlanta-based startups. During her leisure time, she enjoys playing tennis, playing the piano, listening to music, bargain hunting, biking, and working on do-it-yourself (DIY) projects at home.
Alice Vilma
Managing Director in the Multicultural Client Strategy Group, Morgan Stanley
Alice Vilma is a Managing Director in the Multicultural Client Strategy Group at Morgan Stanley in New York City, where she strengthens Morgan Stanley’s connection to the multicultural business community through development and execution of commercial opportunities with corporate, government, institutional and individual clients. She is also Co-head of the Morgan Stanley Multicultural Innovation Lab, an accelerator that invests in and supports tech and tech-enabled startups with a multicultural or woman founder.
Ms. Vilma has been with Morgan Stanley for nearly 15 years and has had different roles within the Firm, including Equity Capital Markets and Securitization. She has over 20 years of investment banking, capital markets, structured finance and investing experience, executing over $25Bn of securitization, structured finance and equity transactions. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Miami and received her MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Anthony Egbuniwe
Director of Global Partnerships – Public Sector & Education, Microsoft
Anthony Egbuniwe is a Director at Microsoft leading the global public sector ISV partnership business. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Management from Georgia Institute of Technology, Anthony started his career with Microsoft where he put down roots and established himself as a data science expert. He then returned to academia at Southern Methodist University where he’s currently earning his Masters of Science in Data Science.
In his current role as Director of Global Partnership, Anthony uses his mastery of the data science industry to support both government and enterprise corporations in building technical vision, solution development, and data-driven and revenue-generating strategy. His focus is on laying down the groundwork for the data-driven technology industry by providing businesses and individuals a clearer understanding of how and why data drives better business strategy.
Anthony is at the forefront of global business strategy, at a time when data is being used by global government agencies to allow for better decisions for citizens. His vast knowledge of business strategy, strong command of the digital marketplace, and boundless passion for data is what he brings to elevate Microsoft’s global partnerships on a daily.
Marcus Glover
Co-founder and Managing Director, Lockstep Ventures
Marcus Glover is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Lockstep Ventures, a venture capital firm that seeks to address issues that perpetuate racial inequality in the U.S.
Marcus has a mission to reimagine equity for Black America and is dedicated to investing and advising Black and women-led companies that are often overlooked, underfunded and underserved. As a leader of Lockstep Ventures, he has turned his passion into meaningful change while also inspiring and empowering a systematic shift in tandem with delivering investor returns.
In addition to his work with Lockstep Ventures, Marcus serves on the National Board of Directors of Defy Ventures, which advocates for criminal justice reform and lowering recidivism by building on incarcerated men and women’s natural talents through entrepreneurship business ownership. Marcus also serves on the Time 100 Advisory Board.
Nakaiya Turk
Corporate Marketer & Youtuber
Nakaiya Turk is a corporate marketer & Youtuber with roots in Knoxville, Tennessee. After graduating from Spelman in 2012 with a Mathematics degree, she began her professional career at Hewlett Packard Enterprise gaining expertise in data analytics and customer experience. In 2018, she enrolled at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School as a member of the MBA Class of 2020 receiving a full-tuition scholarship through the Consortium. Today, Nakaiya is a Marketing Manager at media powerhouse, Comcast, where she works on the strategy team helping to reach today’s cable and internet consumer.
As a passion project, she is also the host of Kandid Kaiya, a YouTube talk show that highlights millennial black women on their different pathways to success; nearly all of her videos feature Spelman graduates and other HBCU graduates. As a career activist, Nakaiya hopes to empower young black women to go after their dreams while providing them with the tips and skills necessary to WIN! Thus, not only is she a young woman trailblazing through corporate America, she is also a blossoming talk show host.
She is a member of National Black MBA-Atlanta, she serves as the Young Alumnae Chair for the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College Atlanta Chapter, and she volunteers at Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta where she helps to further instill confidence and courage into young girls who are already “strong, smart, and bold!”
LaToya Moore
North America Partnership Lead, Facebook
LaToya started her tech journey by way of Amazon where she worked for the Amazon Fashion org and was a key stakeholder in the launch of the exclusive, invite-only Amazon Luxury Experience. From Amazon she made her way over to FB where she is currently focused on the growth and scale of SMB’s through leading North American partnerships for eCommerce.
While “being black in FAANG” is a competency that LaToya is well versed in, her true passion and purpose is helping women of color elevate their lives and career by empowering them to leverage their super powers to maximize their growth and earning potential. Through her work with Her Tech Unicorn (a career mentorship club for WOC) LaToya uses the insights and learnings that she’s gained from her experiences in FAANG to educate her community on tips, tricks, and practical steps they can take to increase their chances of breaking into tech and securing a high paying job that they love.
Sequoia Ramsey
President & CEO, Realistic Computing Inc.
Coming Soon…
Shante Frazier
WellCapped
Shante has spent most of her career as a data analyst and holds her MBA from NYU Stern and BA in Economics from Spelman College. Prior to WellCapped, she worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers as a consumer markets consultant and has worked with companies such as Amazon, Wayfair, and Progressive Insurance.
Susan Akkad
Senior Vice President, Local and Cultural Innovation, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
Susan Akkad is the Senior Vice President, Local and Cultural Innovation for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. In her position she collaborates with the ELC’s 25+ brands and across geographies to develop and expand product and commercial innovation relevancy with global skins and cultures color, and Ageless consumers.
Susan began her career in cosmetics at Estée Lauder International in the Public Relations department in 1986. She left the company to work with her husband in his start-up design firm in the fashion industry based in New York and Paris. After spending almost 10 years in fashion, she returned to cosmetics as a Marketing Director at Lancôme. She rejoined The Estée Lauder Companies in 1999 on the Clinique brand. She was Clinique’s Vice President of Global Treatment Marketing, a position she held for six years. Following Clinique, she became Vice President of Global Marketing at Origins. Prior to her current role, Susan was Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Artist Relations at MAC, overseeing communications strategy for MAC Cosmetics and the MAC AIDS Fund.
Susan is a frequent speaker on the subject of Cultural Marketing, Relevancy and Innovation at industry events as well as at universities and business schools including Harvard University, MIT Sloan School of Management, Columbia Business School, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. Susan was a keynote speaker at the Conde Nast International Luxury Conference in 2019.Susan has been profiled in Vogue, Essence,Moreand Jones. She was the 2012 recipient of the Business Achievement Award from the Black Retail Action Group (BRAG)and named one of Black Enterprise Magazine’s Top Women Executives in Advertising & Marketing in 2013 and 2016. In 2015, Susan was recognized by WWD Beauty Inc as one of the 50 Most Influential in the Multicultural Beauty Market. In 2010 and 2017, she was named one of Ebony’s “Power 100”.
Susan is a native Virginian and grew up near Charlottesville. She holds her undergraduate degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. She is on the Board of Governors of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW)and on the Board of Trustees of the East Hampton Library. She lives in East Hampton with her husband and Italian Greyhound.
Oksana Malysheva
Investor, Entrepreneur and Business Executive
Oksana Malysheva is an investor, entrepreneur and business executive based in Austin, TX.
She champions the development of innovative, sustainable, world-changing companies. Committed to igniting and fueling social innovation solutions, Dr. Malysheva’s mission is creating positive social change through education, technology and innovation.
Dr. Malysheva previously held top strategic roles at McKinsey and Motorola. Trained as a PhD physicist, Dr. Malysheva brings scientific inquisitiveness, lateral thinking and mastery of insight through data to all of her business endeavors.
Twitter: @Oksana_ATX
Jumoke K. Dada
Technologist and Social Entrepreneur
Jumoke K. Dada is best described as a visionary and techie whose sweet spot lies at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, goodwill, and girl power.
As an experienced technologist and the principal of Signature RED, she provides technology consulting services to companies and creates tools for women with careers in technology. The Tech Women Network, an online platform for women with technical skills, and the annual HUE Tech Summit for women of color technologists are two of her creations. Presently, she serves as the project manager for the Making Space initiative and CyberBase to ensure that women and minorities are represented in the field of cybersecurity.
As an international speaker, Dada is passionate about empowering women and girls. Her mantra “No More Hidden Figures,” emphasizes her commitment to uplift, spotlight, and inspire those who work behind-the-scenes in STEM fields. She is a contributing writer for ForbesWomen where she covers diversity in tech. Additionally, her forthcoming podcast, Tech is Illmatic, will include music-infused stories about breaking into tech from other industries.
Over the years, she has been recognized in the media for her innovative ideas, leadership skills, and community involvement. Dada holds a B.S. in Computer & Information Sciences, along with real estate and scrum master certifications. She is set to pursue her M.S. in Cybersecurity part-time at Georgia Tech in Fall ‘21.
To learn more about her work, visit her portfolio site dadaverse.org or follow her on Twitter @jumokedada.
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