Speakers Bios
Taffi Ayodele is a seasoned executive with experience in the financial services, technology, and real estate sectors. She began her career at Blaylock Van, LLC, (BRV), Wall Street’s longest continuously operated African American investment banking and financial services company. She previously served as Director of the Office of Executive Initiatives at the New York State Dormitory Authority (DASNY), New York State’s public finance and construction authority. At DASNY, she developed Authority-wide diversity programs and initiatives to broaden procurement opportunities and increase utilization of women and minority-owned businesses in financial and professional services.
Prior to joining the Comptroller’s office, she served as a Principal with Harpia Asset Management, an MBE certified mission-driven real estate investment and development company based in New York City whose core principles include socially responsible investing and sustainable development. She also co-founded Thando Holdings, a global fashion and technology company with locations in New York City and Lagos, Nigeria focused on creating a global platform for African artists and their fashion products.
Ayodele is a Trustee Emeritus of New York University. She earned a BA in Economics from New York University and an MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
Sabrina Bainbridge serves as the Associate Director of Investments at Spring Point Partners (SPP), an independent investment firm that strategically allocates capital to maximize long-term financial performance. Since joining SPP, Sabrina has played a key role in advancing the firm's investment strategy, focusing on portfolio diversification, capital efficiency, and risk-adjusted returns. Sabrina works closely with fund managers and direct investments, leveraging flexible financial structures to enhance value creation across private markets and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Prior to joining SPP, Sabrina played a key role in shaping Plan International’s investment strategy where she developed innovative financial vehicles to support business growth in emerging markets. She also led a pilot initiative in Nairobi, Kenya, structuring investment opportunities that improved capital access and scalability for enterprises. Her role at Plan International deepened her expertise in structuring innovative financial vehicles and working with emerging market enterprises to improve capital access and scalability.
In addition to her full-time roles, Sabrina acted as an independent consultant, where she provided financial modeling and business strategy support to emerging ventures across multiple global markets for more than four years. She developed pricing models for pre-seed tech startups in South Africa, led operational strategy for a new market entry in Liberia, and supported a circular economy consulting firm in designing a workforce strategy for a multi-billion-dollar institutional client based in the United Kingdom.
Sabrina holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and a BS in Physiology from Oklahoma State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, kayaking, and playing volleyball.
Marla Blow is the Chief Executive Officer of the Skoll Foundation, a global philanthropy dedicated to building a world of peace and prosperity for all. She is responsible for overseeing the Foundation’s work to invest in, connect, and champion social innovators around the globe.
For over two decades, Marla has built a compelling track record of working within philanthropy, business, and government to create enduring systemic change, particularly for marginalized communities. She is committed to activating the Foundation’s entire balance sheet, from its grant-making dollars to its endowment, to advance the Foundation’s mission of building a world of peace and prosperity for all.
Immediately prior to joining the Foundation, she served as Senior Vice President and North America Lead in the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, where she designed and led innovative philanthropic programs focused on financial inclusion, economic development, the future of work, and data for good.
Previously, Marla founded and served as CEO of FS Card Inc., a subprime credit card venture focused on moving small-dollar loan customers into more affordable products that solve the borrowing needs of these otherwise underserved consumers. She sold the company in 2019 in a strategic acquisition.
Earlier in her career, Marla played an integral role in launching and managing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and ultimately served as the Assistant Director for Card and Payment Markets, where she shaped the CFPB’s regulatory priorities in these markets. Additionally, Marla spent seven years in a variety of functions at Capital One in its credit card business. She started her career on Wall Street at Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase.
Marla holds an MBA from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree in international finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jim Casselberry has over 35 years of experience in investing, impact investing, investment management and investment consulting. He additionally has an extensive background in family and entrepreneurial businesses across industries of waste management, food manufacture, and financial services.
Jim is a Co-Founder and the CEO of Known, a coalition of leading financial professionals, seasoned investors and deeply experienced operators committed to a global transition towards sustainability and fair distributions of wealth. Prior to joining Known, Jim served as the Chief Investment Officer at 4S Bay Partners, LLC a single-family office focused on social impact. Jim serves on several boards, including Impact Engine, the Julian Grace Foundation, Arc Chicago, LLC (the appointed board of Benefit Chicago, which is a collaboration between The Chicago Community Trust, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Calvert Foundation), Mosaic Genius, and American Friends of the Hebrew University. Jim is the board chair of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and Trustee for Morehouse College and the National Urban League.
He has held senior roles at NexTier Companies, LLC and Dearborn Park Group, LLC (DPG), firms which offer strategic consulting advice to investment management and financial services firms. Prior to DPG, he was a principal at Ennis Knupp and Associates Inc. (currently known as AonHewitt Investment Consulting, Inc) and served as the primary consultant to some of the nation’s largest public pension funds, foundations and endowments. Jim also served as the leader of Ennis Knupp’s Emerging Manager Advisory Council and was head of the firm’s global equity research group, member of private equity research group, and fixed income advisory council.
Jim received a BS degree in economics from the University of Illinois and an MBA degree from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business.
Ben Daniels is a Founding Partner at IBM Ventures, where he focuses on investments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum computing. He has built a strong track record of backing enterprise technology companies and guiding them through critical stages of growth, from early commercial traction to successful exits. He brings both strategic perspective and executional discipline to founders navigating competitive markets.
He is recognized for bridging global ecosystems, particularly the U.S. and Israeli markets, and for his ability to connect founders with the right partners, customers, and capital to accelerate scale. His investment approach combines analytical rigor with a deep respect for the founder’s journey, emphasizing resilience, and long-term value creation.
Beyond investing, Ben is passionate about performance psychology, leadership, and personal growth. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and is an avid golfer, currently training to take his handicap to scratch.
Soraya Darabi is an entrepreneur, investor, and longtime advocate for human rights. She is a General Partner and founder of TMV, an early-stage venture firm that champions ambitious founders aiming to reshape industries and inspire new ones. With ~$200 million in assets under management, TMV backs startups across the care economy, sustainability, the future of work, and logistics, including Cityblock Health, Kindbody, Ridwell, Smalls, Topline Pro, Clockwise, Forta Health, and Freightify. Before her tenure at TMV, Soraya was an early investor in companies that went on to go public, such as FIGS, Casper, and pre-IPO CloudFlare, as well as startups like Gimlett and Lightwell, which were successfully acquired by Spotify and Twitter. She is also the founder of Transact Global, a large and fast growing group of international venture capital fund managers.
Soraya began her career as the Manager of Digital Partnerships & Social Media at The New York Times, where she positioned the global news leader on then burgeoning social networks such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, partnered with startups large and small, and established award-winning campaigns. She went on to co-found Foodspotting, named by Apple as “App of the Year,” and later acquired by OpenTable, later Priceline. Soraya was a two-season host of “Business Schooled — a “Top 20 Business Podcast” by Synchrony for which she traveled the country interviewing persevering founders who have made it past their startup days.
For her work at The Times and startups, Soraya has been featured on the cover of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business” issue and on the cover of Brandweek’s “Digital Best” issue. Soraya was named an Inc. magazine “30 Under 30” honoree (2012), and was featured in Fortune magazine’s “40 Under 40: Women to Watch” (2015). She is a World Economic Forum “Young Global Leader,” a six-time mentor to TechStars New York, three-times named a “Mentor of the Year.”
Soraya graduated with high honors from Georgetown University and completed the Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century module program at the Harvard Kennedy School. She currently serves on the board of directors for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Resultid AI, Tali AI and lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
Ian Fuller is a co-founder and partner of Westfuller, an investment advisory and wealth management firm that provides advice, strategy, and investment management for values-aligned global institutions and private clients seeking impact. Westfuller is a certified B-Corporation with a commitment to use business as a force for good.
Ian is a specialist in evidence-driven, global investment advisory and planning, strategic Sustainable/Responsible/Impact-focused investment management, and philanthropic giving. He works closely with institutions and people to empower wealth with purpose. Ian is a believer in the promise of resources and financial systems to drive a flourishing democracy and inclusive economy. He co-leads the firm’s commitment to support efforts building: a just and equitable society, public purpose finance for All, community infrastructure and assets, and a sustainable approach to climate. As an activist and finance professional, he is the Board Chair of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, a justice-focused foundation with a nearly $1B endowment committed to shifting power and creating an inclusive economy and representative democracy. He also serves as a board member and Investment Committee Chair of ImpactAssets, a board member and investment committee member of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts, an investment committee member of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and board member of other innovative social justice and impact investing organizations.
He received both a B.S. in Business and Political Economy and an M.S. in Global Finance from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology/New York University; holds a Chartered Financial Consultant designation, and the Series 66 investment advisers’ license (7 and 24 inactive). He is an Aspen Finance Leaders Fellow, member of the Aspen Global Leaders Network, member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) NY Liberty Chapter, and a member of the Black Trustees Alliance for Art Museums. Ian lives on the Lower East Side of New York City with his family where he can often be found dialing in the perfect espresso, reading a good book, or training for the next adventure race.
Jenn Kenning is a trailblazer, collaborator and change-maker who has quickly risen to become one of the most recognized voices in impact investing. In 2014 Jenn co-founded Align, an independent fiduciary and impact specialist that works alongside financial advisors, institutions, foundations and directly with individual clients and family offices, helping integrate impact strategies and investments into the broader wealth management strategy.
A frequent speaker, moderator and guest lecturer, Jenn is committed to building the impact investing ecosystem while leading Align. Jenn was named on the “40 under 40” list by Investment News in 2014, selected for Private Asset Management’s “50 Most Influential Women in Private Wealth” in 2016, and chosen as Investment News Icon and Innovator in 2017.
Jenn began her career in 2002 as a wealth manager at Aspiriant where she served also on the Board of Directors and was a partner of the firm, and left to launch Align.
Stephanie Kim-Poston has led social impact, corporate grantmaking, employee engagement, and strategic partnerships for global companies in tech, aviation, and sports.
She is currently the Principal Social Impact Program Manager at Cadence Design Systems. She started in tech at Salesforce, leading the citizen philanthropy programs team for the Americas managing employee volunteerism, giving and engagement for nearly 30,000 employees. She moved into tech after various roles in the airline industry focused on leading social impact strategy, building partnerships, and new customer acquisition. Prior to that, she managed community relations and partnerships for the Golden State Warriors (go Dubs!). She began her career in the nonprofit sector leading fundraising and development, board management, and strategy and operations.
She has a BA in Psychology and Communications from the University of California, Davis and lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two kids.
Kristi Kuechler is Senior Director of The ImPact, a global membership community of 90+ affluent families from five continents who seek to align their values with their capital. The ImPact, organized as a non-profit, helps member families make more impact investments more effectively.
Prior to joining The ImPact, Kristi has served in leadership positions at educational networks of families with complex wealth – as President of the Institute for Private Investors, (IPI) and as Managing Director of the Private Investor Center at Family Office Exchange (FOX). Kristi has worked with hundreds of families and family offices, creating and overseeing more than 1,000 discrete family education and networking sessions around topics of relevance to multi-generational families.
During her time at IPI, she created and launched Stanford University’s first Private Wealth Management program, teaching multiple classes and running the program for three years.
As an experienced speaker and writer on trends in wealth management, she has been quoted regularly in industry publications, including interviews in the New York Times, Bloomberg and Institutional Investor.
Kristi earned a M.A. from Stanford University (Education and Policy) and a B.A. from the University of California, Davis (International Relations).
Todd Leverette is Co-Founder of Apis & Heritage Capital Partners, an impact-focused private equity firm that looks to address the nation’s racial wealth gap by using the power of employee ownership.
Prior to co-founding Apis & Heritage, Todd was the Program Manager of Legacy Business Initiatives at the Democracy At Work Institute, a national nonprofit that leverages employee ownership models as tools for racial and social equity. Todd is also a former Wall Streeter, start-up co-founder, and independent business consultant who has dedicated his life and career to leveraging the tools and best practices of big business to empower communities of color. He received his JD/MBA from Columbia University and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College.
Christina Lewis is an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and writer who is passionate about empowering people to live their best lives.
She is the Founder of Beatrice Advisors, an independent, woman- and minority-owned multi-family office with a simple mission: to provide high-quality financial services and exceptional value to a new generation of wealthy families and individuals. Headquartered in New York City, Beatrice opened to the public in 2024.
Christina is an Executive Producer of an untitled biopic, based on her father financier Reginald Lewis’ life and posthumously-published memoir “Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?” The project is being developed by Charles King of MACRO. She is also a member of the WIE Suite, a board member of the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath), and is Vice Chair of The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation.
In 2020, Christina founded Giving Gap (formerly Give Blck) a nationally-recognized platform that has channeled millions of dollars to Black causes around the United States.
In 2013, she founded All Star Code, a computer science education non-profit that dramatically increased awareness of the underrepresentation of boys of color in tech. The Obama Whitehouse honored Christina as a Champion of Change in 2014.
She is the author of “Lonely at the Top”, a short memoir published as an Amazon Kindle Single, which earned her features in Harper’s Bazaar online and the Baltimore Sun among other places.
In the early years of her career Christina was an award-winning journalist, and spent five years as a staff writer for the Wall Street Journal and one year as a ‘night cops’ reporter in Stamford, CT.
Christina graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. in French and American History & Literature. She lives in New York City with her husband and their three children.
Alison Mathias is shaping the future of corporate philanthropy through bold community-centered strategies that deliver lasting impact. As Head of Corporate and Foundation Giving at MassMutual and Vice President of the MassMutual Foundation, she led a strategic shift from traditional, transactional philanthropy to a catalytic model—one that empowers communities and engages stakeholders in co-creating solutions. In alignment with MassMutual’s vision of financial well-being for all, Ali has steered the Foundation in embracing transformative philanthropy, forging cross-sector collaborations that address systemic challenges at a national scale.
Prior to MassMutual, Ali built and scaled corporate responsibility programs in New York City’s real estate and fashion industries. She began her career as a public-school teacher in the Philadelphia area, bringing a lifelong passion for education and access to opportunity to every role she’s held.
Ali earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in history from Lafayette College. She continues to champion education as a board member of Teach Western Mass and advances the philanthropic sector as a Director on the Board of Philanthropy Massachusetts.
Based in West Hartford, CT, Ali finds joy in gardening, pottery, and planning her next global adventure with her family.
Tulaine Montgomery is CEO of New Profit, a venture philanthropy firm that backs visionary leaders transforming the systems of opportunity in America.
Tulaine has spent her career building and advising mission-driven organizations across the U.S. and globally working at the intersection of innovation, impact, and justice. Before joining New Profit, Tulaine was the Founder and President of New Resource Strategies, a consulting firm that supported organizations like the United Nations, Harvard University, and the National Urban League.
In addition to her executive leadership, Tulaine is a sought-after advisor to nonprofits and socially responsible companies. She currently serves as Board Chair of GirlTrek and holds board seats at Beyond 12 and the College for Social Innovation. Her thought leadership has appeared in The Atlantic, TIME, The Root, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and Worth Media.
She is the Host and Executive Producer of the podcast Say More with Tulaine Montgomery, where she creates space for bold conversations on justice, belonging, and systems change.
Tulaine holds a master’s in public policy from Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College. She is also an award-winning artist, cellist, and playwright whose creative work animates her commitment to human dignity, possibility, and collective power.
Rey Ramsey is a social justice entrepreneur who brings more than three decades of experience as an executive in the non-profit, public, and private sectors. Rey is NCF’s CEO and President, an Independent Trustee, and a member of the Investment Committee at Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF), where he plays a key role in helping fulfill the Foundation’s commitment to align 100% of its endowment with its mission.
Rey currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Centri Capital, an investment firm designing and executing impact investment strategies with a focus on real estate development and affordable housing as a platform for human advancement.
Rey has devoted his career to building and leading social enterprises. After serving as Oregon's Director of Housing and Community Services, he held successive positions as President and COO of Enterprise Community Partners, Chairman of Habitat for Humanity International, and founding CEO and Chairman of One Economy Corporation, a nonprofit provider of internet services to low-income homes.
Additionally, Rey served as President and CEO of TechNet, a bipartisan network of tech executives representing two million employees and $800 billion in revenues. He has served as Chairman of the NAACP Futures Commission and now serves as a director on numerous boards, including Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainability, MMGL Real Estate, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and Claremont McKenna College.
Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson is a recognized thought leader and entrepreneur in the asset management space. She’s spent over 15 years in philanthropy, impact investing, and building new platforms to drive deeper global impact in capital markets.
With a passion for building new pathways to drive alpha in the alternative asset management industry, she launched VC Include (VCI) in 2018 and Include Ventures in 2021. VCI has gone on to support firms with $4B of targeted AUM, led by new and emerging asset managers building institutional grade asset management firms to generate outsized returns. Include Ventures has invested in 15 VC, Growth and Buyout funds to date.
Bahiyah is an Aspen Institute Finance Leaders Fellow, a member of the Ceres President's Council, and a Bloomberg New Voices Fellow whose firms have been featured in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Responsible Investor Magazine, Institutional Investor Magazine, Crunchbase, Techcrunch, Impact Alpha, Entrepreneur Magazine, Bloomberg, Yahoo News, Cheddar, CNN and Forbes. She has spoken at
The Milken Global Conference, The Financial Times, LG Nova, SOCAP, Toniic, CAIA, Apex 360, The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, The National Urban League, The SEC and CAIA, to name a few.
Nina Sharma is a dynamic ecosystem builder with a track record of turning bold ideas into action across sectors. She currently serves as Head of Programs at VC Include, where she combines her passions for education, program design, and ecosystem activation.
Previously, Nina was an operating partner at Chloe Capital, leading fundraising strategy and investor relations. She also served as Chief Marketing Officer at the Greater Washington Partnership and built Project X-ITE at the University of Denver, supporting student entrepreneurs through incubators, accelerators, and a student-led fund.
Her early career includes roles at the New York Public Library, Carnegie Hall, Yale University, and the Ad Council. She has worked globally with Handshake and Millennium Promise, and co-founded The Whole Truth Booth, a mobile storytelling platform.
Nina attended the Stanford d.School’s Teaching and Learning Studio, and has been recognized as a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 and Colorado Inno “Blazer” Award winner. She has advised the UN Foundation’s Solutions Summit program and currently as adjunct faculty at the University of Denver.
Nina holds degrees from Hamilton College, NYU, and the University of Denver. A published essayist and marathoner, she lives in NYC with her dog, Kevin.
Milton Speid is the Executive Director of VC Include (VCI), a dynamic education platform and support network that has equipped emerging fund managers with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to succeed. VCI expands access to capital and ensures that innovation and inclusion drive the future of investing.
Previously, Milton served as Director of North America at The ImPact, guiding families to align their assets with their values. He also led strategic initiatives at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, working with individuals and corporations to drive global philanthropic impact.
His career spans senior roles at Epic Foundation, TED, and Bank of America Charitable Foundation. At Epic, he helped cultivate a network of charitable entrepreneurs; at TED, he collaborated with Fortune 500 companies to amplify groundbreaking ideas. He has also advised SAP , Dolby, StubHub, Texas Instruments, and LinkedIn on philanthropy and social impact strategies.
As the son of Jamaican immigrants, Milton is deeply committed to poverty alleviation and economic mobility. He holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Hartford, where he captained the soccer team and was honored as Alumni of the Year in 2018. He serves on the boards of Forward Global, The African Visionary Fund, and We Are Family Foundation.
Based in Brooklyn, NY, Milton enjoys spending his weekends playing or watching soccer with family and friends.
Jacob Walthour is CEO of Blueprint Capital Advisors, a $1.6 billion investment and advisory firm with expertise in private equity and private credit fund investing.
Since the firm’s inception in 2015, it has been dedicated to investing in emerging and diverse managers. The firm advises $1.6 billion on behalf of family offices and institutional investors. The firm was founded on the premise of “We are different – we care about profits and people.” In 2024, Jacob founded Power100, an initiative designed to bring greater visibility and support to those reshaping the landscape of the alternative investment industry. Power100 connects industry allocators, advocates, and asset managers who are dedicated to driving meaningful change and fostering new opportunities within the sector.
Previously, he served as Vice Chairman of Product and Business Development at Cowen & Company where he was responsible for seeding emerging and diverse alternative investment organizations. He currently serves on the Investment Committee for the $9 billion Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropy.
Daniel Wanjira manages the Initiatives Portfolio at Blue Haven Initiative where he deploys impact prioritizing capital to build the impact investing practice and address transient market pain points. Daniel also works closely with their market rate teams to provide strategic advisory on capital allocation across the returns continuum.
With a deep commitment to global impact investing, he leverages innovative capital to empower entrepreneurs, managers, and ecosystem builders.
Daniel's previous experience as a Strategy Consultant at the World Bank Group and as a Senior Advisor at EY showcases his expertise in driving sustainable development. He combines academic rigor with practical insights to navigate complex challenges and deliver positive social and environmental impact at Blue Haven Initiative. His strategic leadership and innovative thinking continue to shape the family office’s mission of creating lasting change through impact investing. Daniel plays a vital role in shaping the future of impact investing, driving inclusive growth, and fostering a more sustainable world.
Daniel has a MSc in International Relations from Georgetown University and a BSc in Actuarial Science from Strathmore University.