Inclusive Capital Summit

upcoming

Michael Phillips, a visionary social entrepreneur, is wholeheartedly dedicated to creating sustainable change. As the Chief Operating Officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises he is at the helm of innovative initiatives that span Content Creation, Cultural Change, Community Development, and Capital Investments. Michael has been a relentless advocate for economic and educational impact initiatives throughout his career. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for 50CAN, a nonprofit organization that tirelessly advocates for improvements in education policy across the United States. As an author and inspirational keynote speaker, Michael’s powerful message of collateral hope is at the heart of his work. He believes that empowering individuals and communities with the tools they need to succeed makes it possible to create a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond individual lives. This message resonates deeply with audiences worldwide, inspiring them to embrace hope, resilience, and collective purpose. Michael’s impactful presence extends to some of the nation's premier business, economic, and cultural media spaces, a testament to his significant influence and unwavering commitment to championing the cause of minority businesses. His appearances include NPR, TEDx Speaker, Forbes Blk, The Daily Flash, Black Enterprise, KUT’s In Black America, NBC Dallas Affiliate, and Good Morning America. A proud Baltimore native, Michael currently resides in Dallas, TX.

Jasmin Brand is an award-winning marketer and serial entrepreneur who’s built a solid reputation as an out-of-the-box strategist, respected change agent and specialist in ecosystem development, community engagement and strategic innovation. She is the founder and CEO of Her Texas, an organization dedicated to empowering business women in Texas through an innovative, statewide engagement model and community-led investment platform. Her Texas is on a mission to champion more collaboration at the statewide level and drive more capital and opportunities into the hands of woman-owned businesses through investment, direct spending and corporate and city support. In 2023, Her Texas invested close to $70,000 in woman-owned businesses and Texas cities and is on track to double that in 2024. Jasmin recently served as the inaugural Director of Innovation for the Frisco Economic Development Corporation where she was responsible for the creation of a tech-focused business recruitment and expansion strategy for one of the fastest growing cities in America - Frisco, Texas. An alumna of Leadership Dallas, Jasmin currently serves as an Executive Board Member for her alma mater, Southern Methodist University. She is a previous recipient of the Minority Business Leader of the Year Award presented by the Dallas Business Journal and was the first ever recipient of the Young Professional Leadership ATHENA Award presented by the Dallas Regional Chamber and KPMG. She is a graduate of Babson College’s Black Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership (BWEL) program, a competitive accelerator that provides Black women entrepreneurs the opportunity to engage with an inspiring community and a rigorous, experiential process that catalyzes innovative thinking and enables them to successfully scale and transform businesses.

Erika Hersh has over a decade of SBA lending experience. She currently works as VP Business Development Officer for LiftFund, a Community Development Financial Institution. Erika has a passion for small businesses. Her goals include educating business owners about the loan process and developing partnerships across the DFW footprint. Her accolades include Top 400 Most Influential Fort Worth Inc magazine for multiple years. She was awarded Power of Heels Woman of the Year and the Mary Slaney Spirit award from the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce where she currently serves on the Board. Erika also serves as an officer in the Cowtown Leads Exchange. She is originally from Durant, Oklahoma where she attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Erika is a proud veteran wife and mother to 2 adult children. She volunteers as a Biblical Counselor in her free time and enjoys running and camping.

After high school, Jeremy enlisted in the US Navy, achieving the rank of Petty Officer Second Class after serving 4 years on an aircraft carrier stationed out of Seattle. While serving, Jeremy did two tours to the Persian Gulf. Subsequent to the Navy, Jeremy joined Panera Bread’s accounting department as they started scaling across America. During this time, he went full-time night school, earning two degrees in Finance and Accounting with honors. Upon graduation, he started with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in their St. Louis office. PwC took Jeremy and the family from Birmingham AL working on a two-year project restating HealthSouth’s financials after a $3 Billion dollar fraud, to 5 years living and working in London where we he was rating the number 1 manager in the London top tier office, to eventually Southern California leading business development for medical device and pharmaceutical practice. After a brief stint at Activision Blizzard as head of SEC reporting, Jeremy took the leap into consumer startup, joining The Drybar as Controller and Head of Finance when the business was only a few million in revenue and just a couple of locations. In less than 2 years, the company built 30 locations and launch/scaled their product business to $15M+ with core distribution being Sephora. In 2014, Jeremy partnered with his wife and Co-Founder Katy Triefenbach to launch Stage 1 Financial. Stage 1 Financial would eventually become one of the fastest growing professional services firms in the country, and a leader in outsourced finance, accounting and transactional services for consumer products brands, with the focus on beauty, personal care and food & beverage. After multiple acquisitions, growing the team to 100 employees and servicing over 700 clients, Stage 1 was sold in 2023 to private equity for $20M as part of a large accounting and advisory rollout. Jeremy also co-founded Stage 1 Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund focused on consumer products, with a heavy focus on beauty and personal care. Investments include SAIE Beauty, Ellis Brooklyn, Crown Affair, Freck Beauty, Scotch Porter, Herbivore Botanicals, Hatch Collective, GOAT Fuel, Lemon Perfect, Bond Pet Food, and Spudsy. As part of the fund, Jeremy has held board roles in Herbivore Botanicals, Ellis Brooklyn and GOAT Fuel. Most recently, DFN Ventures is the investment platform for Jeremy and Katy to invest and advise business services and brands in the beauty and personal care industry. We recently invested into Crème Collective, a high performance sales and marketing firm supporting the beauty industry.

Dr. Mariela Salas is the Executive Director of SomosVC, where, together with the strong support of her Board of Directors, she has unabashedly focused on growing and supporting Latino/a investors in the venture capital ecosystem. With nearly 20 years of experience in the entrepreneurship, finance, infrastructure, and technology sectors, she has held executive leadership positions in various corporations and nonprofits, including JP Morgan, Verizon, and Ascendus (fka ACCION USA). Mariela has extensive experience in strategic management consulting in emerging and frontier markets spanning from West Africa to Central and South America. In addition to her role at SomosVC, Mariela recently completed her Doctorate at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School. Her research leverages contemporary theories, advanced analytical methods, and her executive experience to develop evidence-based insights to improve and shape the business world. Her research sits at the intersection of Latino/a identity, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Career Management, and Venture Capital. Mariela holds a Master of Science degree in Policy Analysis and Management from The New School University in New York City, and she earned her Bachelor of Science from Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas. She is an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., where she most recently served as the Southwestern Region’s International Expansion Chair.

Henry Noël Jr. is the Investment Director for the Boston Impact Initiative Fund and is focused on the intersection of impact investing, economic justice, and building resilient inner-city communities. Prior to BII, Henry Co-Founded Haiti Venture Impact Partners, an Impact Investment Management Firm that worked to discover, support, empower, and invest inHaitian Companies. Henry describes himself as A Passionate Championof rigorous investment analysis coupled with purposeful attention to measurable, social and environmental impact. He has over 20 years of experience evaluating investment opportunities, structuring securities, raising capital, and financing business growth. His background has included work with domestic and international companies in both traditional and alternative investment classes through varying market conditions. Henry is an alum of the Impact Investing Program at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, holds an MBA from the Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University and a BA in Business Administration from Atlantic Union College.

Amanda Arizola serves as the North Texas Program Officer for Asset Funders Network (AFN). Amanda is a dedicated community advocate, nonprofit executive professional and leader with over 20 years of dedicated work in economic security, healthcare, and literacy. In her role, Amanda leads the North Texas regional chapter. Amanda also serves as the co-founder and chief analyst for CoACT North Texas, a nonprofit, which focuses on human-centered design to promote innovation within nonprofit organizations and business entities. Previously, she served as the Vice President of Finance and Operations for Philanthropy Southwest where she supported operations through the beginning of the pandemic. She was also the Assistant Director for the Dallas Community Tax Centers (DCTC), a program of Foundation Communities, where she managed ten VITA tax centers and oversaw the completion of 79,000+ tax forms aiding in the return of more than $124 million dollars to Dallas residents. Amanda also held the position of State Program Director for the Affordable Care Act implementation through the CHIMES (Consumer Health Insurance Marketplace and Enrollment Services) Consortium at United Way of Tarrant County. Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree in Government and Mexican American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a double Master in Business Administration and Master in Health Systems Management from Texas Woman’s University.She is a six generation Texan, and was appointed as the first Latina to serve on the Tarrant County Hospital District Board of Managers (JPS Health Network) by Commissioner Devan Allen. Amanda also serves as the chair of the Community Advisory Board for KERA/KXT, Dallas Leadership Council with ReflectUS, a national collaborative organization of the leading women’s civic engagement training programs and is Dallas Advisory Board member for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. She resides in Arlington, Texas.

Parrish is currently CEO of Parrish Restaurants, Ltd, which owns and operates 25 restaurants in Dallas and surrounding areas. The Dallas Business Journal has ranked his company the #1 Black Owned Business in North Texas for the past 5 years, based on number of employees and sales. In 2017, Parrish received the Dallas Business Journal's Lifetime Achievement Award. Parrish Restaurants, Ltd consistently makes the Black Enterprise BE 100 as one of the Top 100 Black Owned Businesses in the United States.

Roland's $2M Leadership Gift supported the renovation of the former Management School Library at Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. It was opened and renamed the Roland G. Parrish Library of Management and Economics in 2012. It's the first facility at Purdue to be named after an African American.

Also, his gift of philanthropy led to the building of the Rev. John and Marie Parrish Medical Clinic in Fort Portal, Uganda. The clinic, which opened in May of 2016, serves 6,000 orphans per year and is named in memory of his parents.

Parrish serves on the Board of Trustees of Fisk University, in Nashville, Tennessee, where the Parrish Career and Development Center opened this year.

Also, he currently serves on the Methodist Hospital Foundation, MLB Texas Rangers Foundation, and Oncor Foundation.

Parrish is the 2nd largest investor for the restructuring of the Re-Imaging Red Bird Project, which will bring a Marriot Hotel and hundreds of jobs to the Red Bird Community. Also, it includes 250,000 sq ft of medical/clinical services to the Dallas Southern sector (Parkland Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center). It was the Dallas Business Journal's, 2020 Best Real Estate Deal of the Year.

Roland received his BSIM and MBA from Purdue's Krannert School of Business. As a scholar and athlete, he consistently made the Dean's List, was a 2-time MVP of the Purdue track team and selected by his teammates to be Captain his senior year.

He and wife, Jewel, have two adult children. Son, Ro (UNT-BA 02') and Daughter, Jade (Purdue-BA 12' and SMU-MBA 22').

Mehrsa Baradaran is a professor of law at UCI Law. Previously, she was the Robert Cotten Alston Chair in Corporate Law and Associate Dean for strategic initiatives with a focus on diversity and inclusion efforts and national and international faculty scholarship recognition at the University of Georgia School of Law. Baradaran writes about banking law, financial inclusion, inequality, and the racial wealth gap. Her scholarship includes the books How the Other Half Banks and The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap, both published by the Harvard University Press. The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap was awarded the Best Book of the Year by the Urban Affairs Association, the PROSE Award Honorable Mention in the Business, Finance & Management category. Baradaran was also selected as a finalist at the 2018 Georgia Author of the Year Awards for the book in the category of history/biography. Baradaran has also published articles including "Jim Crow Credit" in the Irvine Law Review, "Regulation by Hypothetical" in the Vanderbilt Law Review, "It's Time for Postal Banking" in the Harvard Law Review Forum, "Banking and the Social Contract" in the Notre Dame Law Review, "How the Poor Got Cut Out of Banking" in the Emory Law Journal, "Reconsidering the Separation of Banking and Commerce" in the George Washington Law Review and "The ILC and the Reconstruction of U.S. Banking" in the SMU Law Review. Of note, her article "The New Deal with Black America" was selected for presentation at the 2017 Stanford/Harvard/Yale Junior Faculty Forum. Baradaran and her books have received significant national and international media coverage and have been featured in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Slate, American Banker, the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times; on National Public Radio’s “Marketplace,” C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” and Public Broadcasting Service’s “NewsHour;” and as part of TEDxUGA. She has advised U.S. Senators and Congressmen on policy, testified before the U.S. Congress, and spoken at national and international forums like the U.S. Treasury and the World Bank. She earned her bachelor's degree cum laude from Brigham Young University and her law degree cum laude from NYU, where she served as a member of the New York University Law Review.

Benjamin J. Vann is the Founder and CEO of Impact Ventures, a 501c3 startup accelerator and integrated capital fund with a mission to empower talented, yet under-resourced women and entrepreneurs of color to build generational wealth through inclusive entrepreneurship and integrated capital. Since 2017,  Impact Ventures has impacted nearly 3500 people through community networking events, hackathons, workshops, and summits. Since 2020, IV’s flagship accelerator program has trained 226 founders and 235 companies to collectively raise $22M, create 375 jobs, engage over 260 mentors, and offer over 5300 hours of training and mentorship. Recently, Impact Ventures launched the Inclusive Capital Fund, Texas’s first integrated capital fund investing for economic justice. The fund provides flexible small business loans and patient equity investments for Eomen, Black, and Latino lead enterprises across the state of Texas.

Tiffani Martin is a Social Tech Entrepreneur, AI Strategist, Author, and Accessibility Specialist with extensive experience in transforming business strategies across various industries, including nonprofit, entertainment, retail, education, publishing, and technology. With over 15 years of expertise in omni-channel strategy, Martin has a proven track record of driving innovation, unlocking actionable insights, and enhancing operational efficiency through automation. A passionate advocate for equity and accessibility, Martin's journey is marked by her relentless efforts in STEM education and workforce advocacy. Her accolades include being named to the Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, receiving the 2022 Executive Board Member of the Year award from the North Texas Disability Chamber, and serving as a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association. She has been honored with two proclamations from the city of DeSoto, Texas, for her contributions under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and National Employee Disability Awareness Month. As a certified product owner and scrum master with training from the Blind Institute of Technology in web accessibility, Martin excels in leveraging artificial intelligence and agile methodologies to turn ideas into tangible results. Her expertise in developing compelling user experiences, navigating ambiguity, and creating unique solutions for enhanced performance highlights her ability to build cross-disciplinary partnerships and manage high-impact projects. Martin is the founder of Jancynco and VisioTech, where she has pioneered digital strategies and tech solutions aimed at bridging accessibility gaps in product development. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Entrepreneurship from the University of North Texas and is pursuing an MBA with a concentration in cyber security at Baylor University. Despite losing her vision at 28 due to diabetic retinopathy, her resolve has only strengthened, driving her to leverage her intersectionality in STEM equity advocacy As a published author of works such as "Branding the Heart" and "Be Prolific," Martin uses national speaking engagements to inspire others to embrace and transcend their differences. Residing in Dallas, Texas, with her wonderful husband, her life narrative is a testament to resilience, unyielding advocacy, and the transformative power of technology in fostering inclusivity and positive change.

Catherine Petrusz joined NCRC in 2021 and works with NCRC members and banks on community reinvestment campaigns. Before joining NCRC, Catherine was a senior member of the legal team and head of compliance for Self-Help, a national community development financial institution. Catherine is excited to combine her legal and banking background with data analysis to help ensure that the Community Reinvestment Act achieves its original intent. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the UCLA School of Law Program in Public Interest Law and Policy. 

Ashli Sims is a storyteller who breaks down barriers and opens doors so Black entrepreneurs can build wealth for themselves, their families, and future generations. She has twenty years of experience, working as a news reporter, an advocate for vulnerable children, a fundraiser and a nonprofit leader. She’s a graduate of Northwestern University and has a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Oklahoma Center of Nonprofits. Ashli has raised more than $15 Million for four different organizations. She joined the Build in Tulsa team in April of 2021, charged with helping raise money for the effort, before she was promoted to lead the initiative in February of 2022. Since Build in Tulsa launched operations two and a half years ago, the network has grown to include 391 entrepreneurs, facilitating more than 5000 hours of training and coaching. Ashli is an Aspen Institute 2023 Health Communities Fellow and serves on the board of 36 Degrees North in Tulsa and a community pantry and soup kitchen, Iron Gate. She’s been featured in Forbes, Essence, and Fortune. As Managing Director of Build in Tulsa, Ashli is helping reclaim the narrative: Black Wall Street is not a history lesson, but a blueprint. She believes the next Black-led billion dollar company will be based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Emmanuel is a partner at 1863 Ventures and manages the team’s marketing & design operations. Prior to 1863, Emmanuel built and sold several products, later acquired by large enterprise firms such as Northrup Grumman, Lockheed Martin & Capital One. He takes the lessons learned running his startups to advise fortune 500 companies, like Google, on how they can build inclusive ecosystems and better direct resources for New Majority founders. He serves as a mentor for the Univ of Maryland accelerator Startup Shell & The World Bank where he supports founders (both foreign & domestic) on developing effective processes & systems across design, product and marketing.

Dr. Malcolm Muhammad is a prominent thought leader in entrepreneurship and innovation, dedicated to advancing business readiness and fostering economic growth through data-driven strategies. With a Doctor of Philosophy in Entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville, Dr. Muhammad currently serves as the Vice President of Data and Impact at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), where he leads the development of the proprietary Readiness Scores. This innovative framework assesses and enhances the growth potential of businesses, focusing particularly on empowering Black entrepreneurs. Dr. Muhammad's expertise extends to his role as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute of Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business. Here, he integrates cutting-edge academic research with practical application, preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs to thrive in diverse markets. Throughout his career, Dr. Muhammad has been instrumental in designing impactful entrepreneurship and workforce development programs for universities, nonprofits, and government agencies. His work emphasizes the use of comprehensive data analytics to design and implement programs that effectively address the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs. His contributions to academic research include publications on internal corporate ventures and entrepreneurial ecosystems, further showcasing his commitment to leveraging knowledge for practical impact. A frequent speaker and panelist, Dr. Muhammad is known for his engaging discussions on topics ranging from business growth strategies to the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. His insights are sought after at major conferences and seminars, where he advocates for strategic, evidence-based approaches to nurturing business ecosystems. Dr. Muhammad's leadership at RICE and beyond reflects his deep commitment to community transformation through entrepreneurship, making him a key figure in driving sustainable economic development and innovation.

Tunji Fadiora is a results-oriented startup ecosystem architect and advisor with a keen focus on fostering entrepreneurship, cultivating strategic partnerships, and nurturing diverse talent. Over the past decade, he has championed the advancement of underserved entrepreneurs and startups while significantly contributing to the development of robust startup ecosystems across the nation. Tunji excels at creating and executing initiatives that nurture talent and empower diverse founders. He has a proven talent for building pipelines of entrepreneurs, connecting them with resources, mentorship, and growth opportunities. Recognized by industry leaders for his commitment to fostering inclusive and dynamic ecosystems, Tunji is dedicated to driving positive change and innovation in the startup community.

Ashley DeWalt is an emerging fund manager, advisor, and mentor for venture-backed startups. He is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of The Collectiv, a community-powered VC fund investing in startups, franchises, and leagues at the intersection of sports, media, tech, and entertainment. In addition, Ashley is the Managing Director of DivInc, a non-profit that supports underrepresented entrepreneurs and leads their sportstech accelerator. Previously, he led the global brand strategy and marketing for the Houston Outlaws, a professional esports franchise that was a founding member of the Overwatch League. With 20 years of experience as a management consultant in the sports & entertainment industry, he has worked with iconic sports talent, brands, and properties. ESPN, Sports Business Journal, Front Office Sports, among others, have recognized his work in the industry.

Michael V. Ledo is the CEO and Founder of RISE Advisors, headquartered in Frisco, TX. He is originally from Indiana, was a two-time All-American collegiate athlete, and has started three startup organizations in the sports and entertainment industry. Ledo received close mentorship from his uncle, Eugene E. Parker, a prestigious Sports Agent who represented seven NFL Hall of Fame players, including Deion Sanders, Derrick Brooks and Larry Fitzgerald. Michael's purpose is to fabricate entrepreneurs and leaders; he enables athletes to become entrepreneurs and accede their full potential by providing coaching, education, and insight through RISE's business model centered on Financial Governance, Enterprise Operations, and Growth Strategy. Moreover, Ledo aspires to elevate the culture through education, access, and excellence. He achieves this by forming a community of athletes who share similar values and are committed to growth and learning. Michael V. Ledo manages $100+ million of assets under advisement (AUA) for 12 collegiate and professional athletes. Notably, some of his clients include Jessie Bates III, Matt Judon and Jaylon Smith, whose combined net worth amounts to $40+ million. Ledo has also assisted these athletes in investing in various deals and startup organizations such as Oura Ring, Cart.com, Turo, COhatch, EOS Worldwide, and SpaceX. Additionally, he has helped establish organizations like The Minority Entrepreneurship (MEI) & MEI Capital, CEV Collection, JB3 Single Mom's Fund, and Lounge 9. Ledo strives to be the best leader and mentor for his team and clients, working towards elevating the culture in sports and entertainment. He finds inspiration in a quote by Professor Howard Stevenson, the godfather of entrepreneurship studies at HBS, who said, "Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity beyond resources controlled. 'Pursuit' implies a singular, relentless focus. Entrepreneurs often perceive a short window of opportunity."

Greer Christian positions and advises Fortune 100 companies and C-Suite executives as leaders in the financial and CPG sectors. During her 30 years career, she has successfully managed multi-million dollar businesses overseeing operations, social impact, DEI, marketing, sponsorships and communications for industry leaders such as Walmart, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Forgo and Charles Schwab.

Greer has a deep passion for entrepreneurship and sports. She realized her vision and co-founded PureNRG Cycle a start-up franchise boutique fitness studio that offers indoor cycling classes and strength training. She also finds joy in sharing her sports and business acumen with the next generation of leaders as a professor at Southern Methodist University’s Sports Management program.

Greer received her MBA in Marketing Management and Sports & Entertainment Management from the University of Dallas and earned her Bachelors in Accounting from Grambling State University.

Very active in the community, Greer serves as Vice Chair for Housing Channel, Vice President/Treasurer for Black Sports Professionals North Texas, Chair of City Dallas TIF District and past Board Chair for Impact Ventures, to name a few. She is a member of the Links Incorporated where she serves to impact communities in STEM and health. 

Greer loves making time to spend with family and friends, plus listening to her favorite podcasts like The Pivot, How I Built This with Guy Raz and Sistas Who Kill.

Greer is from Louisiana and resides in Texas.

upcoming

Mehrsa Baradaran is a professor of law at UCI Law. Previously, she was the Robert Cotten Alston Chair in Corporate Law and Associate Dean for strategic initiatives with a focus on diversity and inclusion efforts and national and international faculty scholarship recognition at the University of Georgia School of Law. Baradaran writes about banking law, financial inclusion, inequality, and the racial wealth gap. Her scholarship includes the books How the Other Half Banks and The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap, both published by the Harvard University Press. The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap was awarded the Best Book of the Year by the Urban Affairs Association, the PROSE Award Honorable Mention in the Business, Finance & Management category. Baradaran was also selected as a finalist at the 2018 Georgia Author of the Year Awards for the book in the category of history/biography. Baradaran has also published articles including "Jim Crow Credit" in the Irvine Law Review, "Regulation by Hypothetical" in the Vanderbilt Law Review, "It's Time for Postal Banking" in the Harvard Law Review Forum, "Banking and the Social Contract" in the Notre Dame Law Review, "How the Poor Got Cut Out of Banking" in the Emory Law Journal, "Reconsidering the Separation of Banking and Commerce" in the George Washington Law Review and "The ILC and the Reconstruction of U.S. Banking" in the SMU Law Review. Of note, her article "The New Deal with Black America" was selected for presentation at the 2017 Stanford/Harvard/Yale Junior Faculty Forum. Baradaran and her books have received significant national and international media coverage and have been featured in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Slate, American Banker, the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times; on National Public Radio’s “Marketplace,” C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” and Public Broadcasting Service’s “NewsHour;” and as part of TEDxUGA. She has advised U.S. Senators and Congressmen on policy, testified before the U.S. Congress, and spoken at national and international forums like the U.S. Treasury and the World Bank. She earned her bachelor's degree cum laude from Brigham Young University and her law degree cum laude from NYU, where she served as a member of the New York University Law Review.

Benjamin J. Vann is the Founder and CEO of Impact Ventures, a 501c3 startup accelerator and integrated capital fund with a mission to empower talented, yet under-resourced women and entrepreneurs of color to build generational wealth through inclusive entrepreneurship and integrated capital. Since 2017,  Impact Ventures has impacted nearly 3500 people through community networking events, hackathons, workshops, and summits. Since 2020, IV’s flagship accelerator program has trained 226 founders and 235 companies to collectively raise $22M, create 375 jobs, engage over 260 mentors, and offer over 5300 hours of training and mentorship. Recently, Impact Ventures launched the Inclusive Capital Fund, Texas’s first integrated capital fund investing for economic justice. The fund provides flexible small business loans and patient equity investments for Eomen, Black, and Latino lead enterprises across the state of Texas.

Benjamin J. Vann is the Founder and CEO of Impact Ventures, a 501c3 startup accelerator and integrated capital fund with a mission to empower talented, yet under-resourced women and entrepreneurs of color to build generational wealth through inclusive entrepreneurship and integrated capital. Since 2017,  Impact Ventures has impacted nearly 3500 people through community networking events, hackathons, workshops, and summits. Since 2020, IV’s flagship accelerator program has trained 226 founders and 235 companies to collectively raise $22M, create 375 jobs, engage over 260 mentors, and offer over 5300 hours of training and mentorship. Recently, Impact Ventures launched the Inclusive Capital Fund, Texas’s first integrated capital fund investing for economic justice. The fund provides flexible small business loans and patient equity investments for Eomen, Black, and Latino lead enterprises across the state of Texas.