Summit Speakers

Featured Summit Speakers

Black In Tech: Thursday, April 28th 9 - 5

Day 1 of the summit will be focused on building a thriving and connected Black tech and life sciences ecosystem across the region.

TeLisa Daughtry

Founder and CTO, FlyTechnista

Segun Idowu

Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, City of Boston

Greg Shell

Managing Director, Double Impact, Bain Capital

Pariss Athena

Founder & CEO, Black Tech Pipeline

Damon Cox

Head of Next Practice and Inclusive Growth, MassChallenge

Vanessa Kuhlor

Vice President, New & Strategic Channels Silicon Valley Bank

Darryl Auguste

EVP, Global Analytics & Board Member, Ever Quote

Pamela Rosario

Founder & CEO, Rocena

Trevor Rozier-Byrd

Founder & CEO, Stackwell Capital, Inc.

Malia Lazu

Founder & CEO, The Lazu Group

Helen Adeosun

Founder & CEO, CareAcademy

Rahkeem Morris

Co-founder & CEO, HourWork

Nicole Obi

President & CEO, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA)

Eric Seburyamo

Chief Diversity Officer, Veeva Systems

Germaine Palmer

Manager of Life Sciences Apprenticeship Program, MassBioEd Foundation

Thursday Speakers [Hexagons] - Omari Jahi Aarons

Omari Aarons

Managing Partner, Aarons Group

Nigel Jacob

Senior Fellow, The Burnes Center for Global Impact @ Northeastern University

Betty Francisco

CEO, Boston Impact Initiative

Justin Mott

Founder & Managing Director, Indput Consulting

Tasha Kitty

President & CEO,
Smart Startup HR

Thursday Speakers [Hexagons] - Tarikh Campbell

Tarikh Cambpell

Senior Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager, Microsoft

Ed Gaskin

Executive Director, Author, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets

Julianne Zimmerman

Managing Director,
Reinventure Capital

KeyAnna Schmiedl

Global Head, Culture & Inclusion,
Wayfair

Kenn Turner

President & CEO,
Mass Life Sciences Center

Brandon Tory

Founder, FORMLESS

Delsa Guerrero-Castillo

Associate, Startup Banking, Silicon Valley Bank

Dr. Alicia Whittington

Assistant Director of Engagement and Health Equity Research, Harvard University

Brandale Randolph

Founder & CEO, The 1854 Cycling Company

Dana Rebeiro

Vineyard Wind, Massachusetts Liaison

Jody Rose

President & Co-Founder, Hack.Diversity

Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller

Chief Diversity Officer & CSR Leader, PTC

Kevin McCaskill

Senior Administrator at Office of Secondary Schools, Boston Public Schools

Nyambura Barrow

Health Economics Outcomes Research Consultant, Avalere Health

Stephanie Lajoie-Lubin

Head of DEI & Belonging,
Drizly

Trinidad Grange-Kyner

Vice President of Technology Delivery, Point32Health

Winston Henderson

Vice President, General Counsel, Surface Logix, Inc.

Kenn Turner

President & CEO,
Mass Life Sciences Center

David Dwumah

Founder & CEO, OurBanc Corporation

Kerry Bowie

President & Executive Director, Browning the Green Space

Erica Jackson

Associate General Counsel, Ginkgo Bioworks

Ashley Armand

People Operations Manager, Dagger

Sheena Collier

Sheena Collier is a super-connector, convener, and planner with over 15 years of experience in community organizing, partnership building, strategic event planning, and program development. As Founder and CEO of The Collier Connection (TCC), she designs innovative diversity, equity, & inclusion initiatives and events to help companies engage employees, customers, & suppliers of color.

In 2020, Sheena founded Boston While Black (BWB), the first membership network for Boston-based Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and students who are seeking connection and community. Through programs, events, and a digital community, BWB connects Black people who are active in their local neighborhoods, working at the most innovative companies, building the businesses of the future, attending the area’s universities, and shaping the culture of the region. Boston While Black is creating a city where Black people want to live and work because they have the spaces, tools, and relationships to find their tribe, grow their network, navigate the city, and have fun.

Sherrell Dorsey

Sherrell Dorsey is the founder and CEO of The Plug—a digital news and insights platform covering the Black innovation economy. Her work has been featured in VICE, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, The Information, and more. Sherrell has been a contributing writer for notable publications like Columbia Journalism Review, Fast Company, Black Enterprise, and others. In 2018, she was named an inspiring woman in tech by CNet, and most creative people in business by AdWeek in 2021.

Prior to launching The Plug, Dorsey served as a marketing manager for companies like Uber and Google Fiber. She holds a Master's degree in data journalism from Columbia University.

She is the author of Upper Hand: The Future of Work for the Rest of Us published by Wiley.

Featured Summit Speakers

Navigate The City: Friday, April 29th 9 - 5

Day 2 of the summit will focus on best practices for navigating the civic, political, professional, entrepreneurial, cultural, and social landscapes of Greater Boston as a Black person.

Chrystal Kornegay

Executive Director, MassHousing

Karilyn Crockett

Professor of Urban History, Public Policy & Planning, MIT

Arielle Gray

Journalist, Artist & Arts Engagement Producer, WBUR, Print Ain't Dead

Danielle Johnson

Founder & CEO, Spark FM Online

Bernadine Desanges

Founder & CEO, Know Your Truths. Speak Your Truths.™

Brandon Tilghman

Academic Appointments Manager, Harvard University

Curtis Santos

CEO & Co-Founder, Boston Lesbigay Urban Foundation Inc

Quincey Roberts

LGBTQ+ Liaison/Education and Outreach Manager, City of Boston

Collin Knight

Founder & CEO, Live Like A Local Tours Boston

Charmain Jackman

Licensed Psychologist; Founder + CEO, InnoPsych, Inc.

Kristen L. Pope

Chief Executive Officer, Pope Productions, Inc.

Denisha McDonald

President, Our Village Initiative and Build Black Wealth

Brianna Millor

Chief of Community Engagement Cabinet, City of Boston

Ellana Stinson

President, New England Medical Association

Nieisha Deed

Founder, PureSpark

Kai Grant

Principal, Black Market Development

James Hills

Creator and Host, #javawithJimmy

Ruthzee Louijeune

City Councilor At-Large, City of Boston

Hakim Harris

Scrum Master A-CSM, A-CSPO, John Hancock

Tania Fernandes Anderson

Boston City Councilor, District 7, Boston City Council

Friday Speakers [Hexagons] Carrington Moore

Carrington More

Executive Director, Common Cathedral

Nia Grace

Owner & General Manager, Bar and Kitchen Hospitality, Inc.

Daunasia Yancey

Executive Director, Pay A Black Woman / The Rest Rail

Farrah Belizaire

Founder, LiteWork Events

Catherine Morris

Founder & Executive Director, BAMS Fest

Karland Barrett

Founder & CEO, 3R Massage

Liz Miranda

State Representative, 5th Suffolk District, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Kurt Mclaughlin

Co-Founder & CEO, KP Media

Chynah Tyler

State Representative, 7th Suffolk District, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Jeraul Mackey

Founder, Jeraul Mackey Training and Development

Friday Speakers [Hexagons] LaTrelle Pinkey-Chase

LaTrelle Pinkney-Chase, M.Ed.

Cooperative Education Coordinator, Boston Public Schools

Jock Payten

Founder, Nubian Square Investment Advisors

Sabrina Correia

Vice President and Community Manager, Chase Bank

Bridgett J. Lawson, MSL

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Procurement & Outreach Coordinator, In Order Business Development Solutions

Cindy Diggs

Community and Cultural Engagement Manager, Massachusetts General Hospital

Devin Morris

Co-Founder & Executive Director, The Teachers' Lounge

James Mackey

Founder, I Am A Revolutionary

Jenee Osterheldt

Cultural Writer, Boston Globe

Jenny Geffrard

Business Instructor & Advisor, Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative

Julia Mejia

City Councilor, At-Large, City of Boston

Lori Witherspoon

Senior Manager, Category Management, WayBlack (Wayfair)

Tameca Fowling

Environmental Health & Safety Administrator, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Brian Worrell

City Councilor, At-Large, City of Boston

Kendra Lara

City Councilor, At-Large, City of Boston

Black In Tech Sessions

From Coding To Code Switching: Being Black In Tech

Equity At All Costs: The Social Impact of FinTech

Made In Boston: Sparking Innovation with Black Tech Founders

Green is The New Black: Earth-Friendly Employment + Entrepreneurship

The Road Less Traveled: Alternative Pathways to A Career in Tech

Gov'ts Role: Politics & Policies to Attract Top Talent

Demystifying Fundraising for Founders: How To Build Inclusive Cultures

Diversity in Emerging Tech: Are there Black People in the Metaverse?

For Us By Us: Increasing Boston's Black Tech Founders

Made in Boston: Sparking Innovation with Black Tech Founders

Going Beyond the Statements - How to Build Inclusive Cultures

Navigate The City Sessions

A Changing City: Boston’s Elected Leaders' Role in Amplifying Black Culture

Homebound: Journey To Homeownership for Black Bostonians

My Second Home: Growing New Roots For Black Boston Transplants

At The Intersection of Black + Queer In Boston

Black in the Past, Black in the Future: Boston's Neighborhoods

Wealth-Building Stategies for Black Families

Black Health and Wellness: Glowing + Growing

HubLife: Exploring Boston, NE, and Beyond

The Diaspora At Work: ERGs + Professional Groups

Pay Attention and Pay It Forward: Getting Involved In Your Neighborhood and City

Boo'd Up in Boston

Do It For The Culture: Elevating Boston's Black Social Spaces