Experience

Rising Tide Capital

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships

  • Jun 2021 - Present

  Cultivates local, national and international collaborations in major markets and identifies potential partners to share the Rising Tide Capital model and build the program capacity of local entrepreneur support organizations. Cultivates local, national and international collaborations in major markets and identifies potential partners to share the Rising Tide Capital model and build the program capacity of local entrepreneur support organizations.



Purposeful World Strategies

• President

  • Feb 2019 - Present

  Purposeful World Strategies (PWS) helps cities and countries Identify, Incubate, and Ignite their entrepreneurs and small business owners by creating structures for inclusive entrepreneurship and small business support. We utilize a cultural competency lens to create and enhance small business ecosystems that leverage community and cultural assets for economic independence and wealth creation. Purposeful World Strategies (PWS) helps cities and countries Identify, Incubate, and Ignite their entrepreneurs and small business owners by creating structures for inclusive entrepreneurship and small business support. We utilize a cultural competency lens to create and enhance small business ecosystems that leverage community and cultural assets for economic independence and wealth creation.



City of Takoma Park

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Economic Development Manager

  • Jan 2019 - Jul 2021

  Provided guidance and direction for business development, housing and commercial redevelopment, and workforce development in the City of Takoma Park, MD Provided guidance and direction for business development, housing and commercial redevelopment, and workforce development in the City of Takoma Park, MD



Global Empowerment Solutions (GES)

• Founding Partner

  • May 2015 - Jun 2019

  Global Empowerment Solutions (GES) is dedicated to helping create sustainable community wealth through entrepreneurship and economic development in cities and countries across the world. GES collaborates with governments and organizations to create entrepreneur eco-systems through supportive programming, policy, and partnerships. Global Empowerment Solutions (GES) is dedicated to helping create sustainable community wealth through entrepreneurship and economic development in cities and countries across the world. GES collaborates with governments and organizations to create entrepreneur eco-systems through supportive programming, policy, and partnerships.



National Community Reinvestment Coalition

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief of Economic Empowerment

  • Aug 2014 - Mar 2017

  Samira Cook Gaines served as the Chief of Economic Empowerment for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) where she provided strategic, programmatic leadership and direction in the areas of wealth creation and asset building for NCRC’s Housing Counseling Network, the National Training Academy and four small business development centers serving the Washington, DC and New York metropolitan areas.

• Vice President of Business Development

  • Mar 2013 - Aug 2014

  Provided vision and leadership for four small business development centers: The Washington, DC Women’s Business Center (DC WBC), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Minority Business Centers in Washington, DC and Manhattan, New York, and an SBA Small Business Teaming Center.



Washington, DC Women's Business Center

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founding Director of the Washington, DC Women's Business Center

  • Jan 2010 - Mar 2013

  The Washington, DC Women's Business Center is hosted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and provides training and counseling for women entrepreneurs. The Washington, DC Women's Business Center is hosted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and provides training and counseling for women entrepreneurs.


DC Department of Small & Local Business Development (DSLBD)
• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Division Director, Training & Education

  • Sep 2006 - Dec 2009

District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
• United States
• Truck Transportation
• 200 - 300 Employee
• Transportaion Infrastructure Planner

  • 2003 - 2006

Coro Leadership Center - St. Louis
• United States
• Professional Training and Coaching
• Coro Fellow

  • 2000 - 2001