Experience

The Heron Foundation

• United States
• Philanthropic Fundraising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Integrated Capitals & Communities

  • Feb 2021 - Present

  New York City Metropolitan Area Helms Heron’s Communities Practice: developed foundation’s place-based philanthropy strategy focused on ceding power, decision agency, and financial resources to community partners. Leads Heron’s integrated capitals team responsible for managing foundation’s investments (grantmaking and endowment). Member of senior leadership team. Recent public speaking: Mission Investors Exchange 2022, Just Economy Institute



RSF Social Finance

• United States
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Philanthropic Services

  • Jul 2020 - Feb 2021

  San Francisco, California Leads Donor Advised Fund program; serves as Philanthropic Advisor, sets strategy, oversees grantmaking and operations; program AUM $87M. Advises donors on giving strategies with focus on trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking approaches. Manages donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship. Designs and leads philanthropic projects addressing racial justice: Shared Gifting Circle to address the racial wealth gap in Jackson, MI, and launch of community-led fund to expand land… Show more Leads Donor Advised Fund program; serves as Philanthropic Advisor, sets strategy, oversees grantmaking and operations; program AUM $87M. Advises donors on giving strategies with focus on trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking approaches. Manages donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship. Designs and leads philanthropic projects addressing racial justice: Shared Gifting Circle to address the racial wealth gap in Jackson, MI, and launch of community-led fund to expand land access and ownership among Black farmers in the South. Member of Executive Team; Co-chair of internal Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee.

• Director, Client Engagement

  • Oct 2018 - Jul 2020

  San Francisco, California Philanthropic advisor leading donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship efforts. Manages RSF’s donor advised fund program. Oversees business development and client services for Social Investment Fund. Current projects include leveraging participatory grantmaking strategies to address the racial wealth gap and land access and ownership among Black Farmers in the South.



The Daniels Consultancy

• United Kingdom
• Education Management

• Principal

  • Jun 2017 - Sep 2018

  Greater New York City Area Supporting for-profit and nonprofit organizations, The Daniels Consultancy offers services including management consulting, strategy, fundraising, program design, and marketing & communications. Focus areas: social justice and social impact; diversity, equity, and inclusion. Clients include: Cortes Films, RSF Social Finance.



Social Venture Network

• Sweden
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Deputy Director (promoted)

  • Jul 2012 - Oct 2016

  San Francisco Bay Area National network of leading social entrepreneurs, impact investors, philanthropists, and nonprofit leaders Redesigned and scaled network's diversity initiative, raising nearly $350K in foundation, corporate, and donor support Primary liaison to SVN members, prospective members, and strategic partners on East Coast; remote manager with 2 direct reports and 2 report-through staff Spearheaded use of data and performance metrics, leading to increased revenue, recruitment and program… Show more National network of leading social entrepreneurs, impact investors, philanthropists, and nonprofit leaders Redesigned and scaled network's diversity initiative, raising nearly $350K in foundation, corporate, and donor support Primary liaison to SVN members, prospective members, and strategic partners on East Coast; remote manager with 2 direct reports and 2 report-through staff Spearheaded use of data and performance metrics, leading to increased revenue, recruitment and program improvements, and reduced member attrition Co-led strategic planning process, managed plan implementation Public speaking: SVN National Conferences and Local Gatherings, 2016 World Future Conference

• Executive Director (interim)

  • Dec 2015 - Mar 2016

  San Francisco Bay Area Successfully led 600-member organization through leadership transition Consistently secured lifetime memberships, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropic gifts ($10K-$100K), meeting or exceeding annual revenue goals Accelerated high-value relationships among impact investors and social entrepreneurs increasing deal flow and social impact, and facilitating valuable strategic partnerships Organized SVN Investors' Roundtable at national conferences, a private gathering of network's… Show more Successfully led 600-member organization through leadership transition Consistently secured lifetime memberships, corporate sponsorships, and philanthropic gifts ($10K-$100K), meeting or exceeding annual revenue goals Accelerated high-value relationships among impact investors and social entrepreneurs increasing deal flow and social impact, and facilitating valuable strategic partnerships Organized SVN Investors' Roundtable at national conferences, a private gathering of network's impact investors and philanthropists Managed core functions including operations, finance, development, programs, membership, marketing & communications, and events; oversaw staff of 10

• Principal

  • Jan 2009 - Jul 2012

  San Francisco Bay Area and Greater New York City Area Market research and strategy consultancy supporting for-profit and nonprofit clients Advisor to for-profit and nonprofit leaders and teams on programs, innovation, marketing strategy, and communications Clients included SVN, Abbott Nutrition, Samsung, Vertex Pharmaceuticals



Iconoculture

• V.P. and General Manager (promoted)

  • Jul 2005 - Oct 2008

  Virtual Global consumer research start-up providing strategic advisory services to Fortune 1000 companies Member of senior management team overseeing client portfolio of over $20MM and 50-person advisory & sales staff Advisor to C-suite clients, delivering consumer insights and strategy, successfully sold and up-sold custom consulting and services Co-led business development activities for retail practice resulting in 20% growth, managed $1.5MM client roster, and 5-person business… Show more Global consumer research start-up providing strategic advisory services to Fortune 1000 companies Member of senior management team overseeing client portfolio of over $20MM and 50-person advisory & sales staff Advisor to C-suite clients, delivering consumer insights and strategy, successfully sold and up-sold custom consulting and services Co-led business development activities for retail practice resulting in 20% growth, managed $1.5MM client roster, and 5-person business unit Implemented new approach to assessment of clients' strategic communications, significant improvements in messaging and marketing reported Successfully established and launched African American and LGBT consumer practice areas leading to new business and increased revenue Clients included Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart, General Mills, Honda, Viacom, Disney, Verizon Wireless, Kimberly-Clark, Pfizer, Aetna, Paramount Pictures Public speaking: Ad:Tech, The Market Research Event, Consumer Trends Forum International Show less



Columbia University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Visiting Scholar, Institute for Research in African-American Studies

  • Aug 2003 - Jun 2005

  New York, New York Recognized by Institute director for engendering “tremendous improvements” to graduate students’ quality of work and level of intellectual engagement Taught and advised undergraduate and graduate students. Courses included Gender in the African Diaspora, Introduction to African American Studies



The Urban Agent

• Co-Founder

  • Jan 2002 - May 2005

  New York, New York Ethnography-based market insights and strategy consultancy focused on women & girls and African Americans Advised clients on program design, marketing strategy, and innovation Clients included Bank of America, Maybelline, Gotham Advertising, Gay Men's Health Crisis, Harlem Directors Group, Gay Men of African Descent



New Africa Advisors

• Mauritius
• Capital Markets
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Market Research Consultant

  • Sep 1999 - Sep 2001

  Johannesburg, South Africa and Durham, North Carolina First African American-owned investment firm to enter South Africa. First post-Apartheid, Pan-African fund. Businesses included TVAfrica and Africa.com Oversaw 7-person team, designed and managed all aspects of research, planning, and strategy for Africa.com, an online portal for governments, businesses, and consumers focused on the African continent Conducted research for sales, programming, and strategy divisions of TVAfrica, an international broadcaster serving 26 sub-Saharan… Show more First African American-owned investment firm to enter South Africa. First post-Apartheid, Pan-African fund. Businesses included TVAfrica and Africa.com Oversaw 7-person team, designed and managed all aspects of research, planning, and strategy for Africa.com, an online portal for governments, businesses, and consumers focused on the African continent Conducted research for sales, programming, and strategy divisions of TVAfrica, an international broadcaster serving 26 sub-Saharan African countries Show less



Duke University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Asst. Professor, Dept of Cultural Anthropology and Program in African and African American Studies

  • Aug 1996 - Jun 2000

  Durham, North Carolina Taught and advised undergraduate and graduate students; served on graduate admissions committee, and as a dissertation advisor. Courses included Ethnographic Research Methods; Race, Gender and American Sport; Introduction to African American Studies Appointed to selection committee for inaugural undergraduate class of University Scholars, interdisciplinary program sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation