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After years of studying and reporting on the systemic adversities faced by marginalized founders, I made the decision in 2022 to transition from full-time journalism to working directly with early-stage startup founders. Since joining the HBCU Founders Initiative (HBCUFI)—a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students and alumni to launch and scale tech startups—I’ve contributed to doubling the organization’s programmatic impact.

 

This effort has allowed us to reach founders across campuses nationwide, driving tangible change in the startup ecosystem. To date, HBCUFI program alumni have collectively raised over $2 million in funding for their ventures.

Startups/VC

Professional Impact to Date

Focus Areas

Curriculum Development & Program Execution

  • Orchestrates and executes hybrid HBCU-wide, eight-week Fall and Spring pre-accelerator programs, mentoring cohorts of 100+ startup founders.

  • Spearheads curriculum development and recruits culturally relevant guest speakers to enrich the program.

  • Cultivates relationships and manages communications with 15+ HBCU campus administrators.

  • Establishes data systems to analyze and enhance support for HBCUFI's startup founder community of 1,400+ founders.

Media, Marketing & Public Relations

  • Develops and delivers personalized branding and media relations training sessions, enabling cohort members to secure press opportunities.

  • Authors external-facing editorial content and led Public Relations strategies, securing coverage in TechCrunch, AfroTech, Essence GU, and Black Enterprise.

  • Leads and executes social media strategies, driving significant growth in engagement and followers.

Fundraising & Resource Allocation

  • Co-manages the allocation of micro-grants to support founders' startups.

  • Collaborates with corporate partners to facilitate strategic planning, foster relationship-building initiatives, and ensure alignment on program goals.

Skills & Expertise

Interpersonal & Leadership Skills​

  • Problem-Solving

  • Community Building

  • Collaboration and Teamwork

  • Relationship Management

  • Adaptability and Flexibility

  • Emotional Intelligence

  • Leadership and Mentorship

  • Time Management

  • Critical Thinking

Media, Marketing, & Public Relations

  • News & Feature Writing

  • Interviewing & Source Development

  • On-Air/Live Interview Hosting

  • Public Relations

  • Social Media Marketing

  • SEO Optimization

  • Newsletter Creation and Distribution

  • Digital Marketing

  • Event Hosting, Creation, and Promotion

Software & Platforms

  • Canva

  • Google Suite

  • Wix

  • Squarespace

  • Hubspot CRM

  • Spark AR

Education

Clark Atlanta University | Bachelor of Arts 

Mass Media Arts, with a concentation in Journalism

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