A seat is a position. An alliance is a legacy. When Black women lead together, we don’t just access power—we redefine it, and elevate entire systems.

Marisa Hall, MBA is a healthcare executive, strategic leader, and community advocate with more than 20 years of experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries. A graduate of the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, she earned her Executive MBA and has cultivated a successful career with several Fortune 500 healthcare and life sciences organizations, including GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), AbbVie, GE Healthcare, Abbott Laboratories, Eisai, and Puma Biotechnology. Throughout her career, she has partnered with healthcare providers, community organizations, policymakers, and industry leaders to advance health equity and improve access to care.

Marisa is a former Commissioner of Affordable Housing for the City of Los Angeles and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Build Hope, Inc., the philanthropic arm of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). She has championed initiatives that support underserved communities, expand access to resources, and create pathways to opportunity.

Her commitment to civic engagement and public service continues through her active involvement in leadership organizations, including The Links, Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Los Angeles African American Women's Public Policy Institute (LAAAWPPI/LAAAWPAC), and Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA).

Marisa is passionate about empowering women and girls through mentorship, leadership development, public policy, and strategic partnerships that create lasting impact and opportunities for future generations.

 Kenya Lee is the CEO of Faith In Girls, a real estate developer, and an elected official serving on the Venice Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles. Through her leadership, she has created a powerful pathway to economic independence—designing programs that prepare women for homeownership while expanding access to housing for women and girls. Her work sits at the intersection of development, empowerment, and public service, advancing both stability and generational wealth in the communities she serves. 

Trista Harris, President of Future Good, is the leading voice at the intersection of futurism and the social sector, helping changemakers use long-term thinking to create more equitable and just communities. She is the author of FutureGood, a guidebook for leaders who want to harness the tools of futurism to drive bold social change. Trista has been featured on CNN and her work has appeared in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, The New York Times, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Forbes, and numerous social sector publications for her groundbreaking work. 

 Stasia Washington advises successful families, nonprofits, and private foundations on complex financial decisions, centering her practice on the seamless alignment of investment strategy, financial planning, non-legal trust services, and strategic philanthropy to ensure capital is responsibly stewarded across generations. Driven by the belief that thoughtfully managed wealth can create a lasting legacy, she pairs her advisory work with active governance, serving on the boards of The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and the LA84 Foundation. By contributing to audit, grants, and investment committees in these roles, Washington reinforces a steadfast commitment to disciplined oversight and fiduciary accountability, ensuring that resources are optimized to strengthen both institutions and the broader community. 

 Kathryn Shirley is a seasoned financial strategist and President and CEO of World Management Solutions, Inc., a boutique firm delivering customized financial, tax, and operational solutions to individuals and organizations navigating complex landscapes. Beginning her career at KPMG before transitioning to corporate leadership, she developed a deep expertise in navigating intricate tax structures, strengthening financial reporting, and designing efficient systems across the entertainment, sports, medical, and nonprofit sectors. A trusted governance leader, Shirley serves on boards like Valley Presbyterian Hospital and the American Heart Association, ensuring long-term institutional sustainability and compliance. Driven by a commitment to mentorship and community impact, she actively champions youth financial literacy and remains deeply engaged with organizations such as The Links, Incorporated and the USC Black Alumni Association to expand access to opportunity. 

 Starr Thompson, a Six Sigma Black Belt in Human Resources, is the Chief People and Administrative Officer for the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA), where she aligns talent acquisition, leadership development, and JEDI strategy with the company's national business goals. With a proven track record of transforming HR cultures, she previously directed comprehensive human resources, compliance, and talent planning strategies for organizations including Fitness Club Manager, The Medical Group Executive Services, and Lemonade Restaurant Group. Beyond her executive leadership, Thompson serves on the Board of Directors for Maternal Mental Health Now and is a dedicated mentor to emerging HR professionals. Driven by a passion for community impact, she actively advocates for the empowerment and advancement of Black women and girls. 

Andrea Foggy-Paxton is the Founder and CEO of the Social Studies Accelerator. A true believer in equity and justice for the neediest and most vulnerable communities.  A leader with the unique ability to take bodacious ideas and develop and implement initiatives, programs and grant making designed to transform the lives of young people. Experienced senior executive and advisor, social entrepreneur with three start-up non-profit organizations and a dozen K12 product development investments. Industry match-maker, successfully developing and managing complex partnerships that cut across government, K12 systems, non-profit organizations, philanthropy, higher education, and profit organizations.  A “can-do” team player who thrives in collaborative environments driven by impact and results. An empowering team leader and manager that has built and mentored diverse teams of up to eight direct reports, forty team members, and hundreds of volunteers. 

 Kaprisha Hosey, Esq. is a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, where she leverages her extensive legal expertise to serve the public interest. A graduate of Cornell University and the USC Gould School of Law, she has established a distinguished career specializing in high-stakes litigation and civil rights advocacy.

In addition to her work at the Department of Justice, she is a committed community leader who has served on the LA-32 Neighborhood Council. With a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a background as a national moot court finalist, she combines sharp analytical skills with a deep dedication to justice and civic engagement.

Kim Anthony is the Founder & CEO of Urban Excellence and a certified Transformational Trainer who has been leading individuals and communities in breakthrough work for over 30 years. A community-centered leader and masterful space-holder, Kim is devoted to helping entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and changemakers rise with clarity, confidence, and purpose. She partners with leaders to uncover what’s beneath the surface—shifting limiting beliefs, reframing perspectives, and creating new possibilities for action and impact.

Grounded in transformational training principles, Kim’s work goes beyond strategy. She empowers leaders to move from default ways of being to intentional creation—where they can operate with authenticity, ownership, and vision. Through coaching, training, and immersive experiences, she supports individuals in moving from overwhelm to clarity, from ideas to committed action, and from possibility to measurable outcomes.

Tanya Diggs is a results-driven marketing strategist with more than 25 years of experience shaping global brands, Fortune 500 companies, startups, and nonprofits. As Managing Partner at Going Public PR, she brings a 360-degree approach to every campaign, blending traditional marketing with experiential, digital, and social media to deliver measurable outcomes. Her career spans senior roles at Sony Electronics, AT&T, Walton Isaacson, Burrell Communications Group, and Honeywell Aerospace. A USC Marshall School of Business MBA graduate, certified Six Sigma Green Belt, and YouTube Content Strategy Professional, Tanya connects research, product marketing, events, PR, and media to craft inspiring campaigns for diverse consumer markets. 

Monalisa Okojie is a community leader, nonprofit executive, and advocate dedicated to empowering women, youth, and underserved communities. She is the Founder and CEO of EXPOSE, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused on education, mental wellness, leadership development, and cultural engagement. With a background in law, business, and psychology, Monalisa has spent more than a decade creating programs and partnerships that expand opportunities and strengthen communities locally and globally. She is passionate about bringing people together, building bridges across cultures, and creating lasting social impact. 

Tiffany Owens, DNP-NP, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and executive nurse practitioner leader dedicated to building innovative healthcare programs, developing high-performing clinical teams, and advancing the advanced practice workforce.  Dr. Owens currently serves as the  Director of Geriatrics and Extended Care Nurse Practitioner Residency with the Veterans Association Healthcare System.  Throughout a distinguished career  focused on strategic leadership, clinical education, and population health, she has consistently translated complex organizational priorities into measurable outcomes that enhance both patient care and provider development. Notably, Dr. Owens led the development, implementation, and successful national accreditation of a multi-track Nurse Practitioner Residency Program, establishing a sustainable educational infrastructure that prepares clinicians to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care across diverse populations.

Her extensive clinical expertise spans primary care, women’s health, geriatrics, and home-based primary care, with a profound commitment to improving outcomes for veterans, older adults, and underserved communities through targeted initiatives addressing healthcare access, food insecurity, homelessness, and caregiver support.  Driven by a mission to develop people, transform programs, and engineer sustainable healthcare solutions, Dr. Owens to influence healthcare strategy, strengthen workforce pipelines, and drive organizational excellence for optimal patient outcomes.

Nicole Minor Buchanan is Head of Cultural Strategy and Sales for Growth Audiences and Inclusive Marketing at SiriusXM Media, where she leads multicultural marketing and sales across SiriusXM, Pandora, and SoundCloud. With more than 17 years of experience in media, sales, and brand partnerships, Nicole helps brands move beyond buying media to building relevance with the multicultural audiences, fandoms, and creators shaping culture. Her work sits at the intersection of culture, business, storytelling, and revenue growth. Nicole partners across sales, marketing, research, content, and executive leadership to translate cultural insight into measurable business impact. Her leadership has helped power SiriusXM Media’s key cultural platforms and initiatives, including HH50, HBCU programming, World Cup, Black Music Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and other integrated brand experiences. A sought-after speaker and industry voice, Nicole has been featured by SiriusXM, Pandora, ANA Multicultural, Cannes, Advertising Week New York, ADCOLOR, Sistas In Sales, and The Female Quotient. She is known for shaping conversations before they become campaigns and challenging brands to show up in culture with intention, authenticity, and respect. A Northwestern University alumna based in Los Angeles, Nicole is a music fanatic, mentor, wife, mother, and advocate for women and children’s rights. 

 Rosezetta Upshaw, Esq. is a seasoned business lawyer and litigator with over 15 years of experience, including more than a decade of distinguished courtroom advocacy. She serves as General Counsel to Athletic Gaines, a multi-vertical sports company spanning media, technology, and athlete development. In this role, she leads legal strategy across corporate development, partnerships, transactions, intellectual property, and operations. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley and her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California. She is a Lifetime Member of the Langston Bar Association and was honored to serve as the 45th President of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including being named Lawyer of the Year by the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce and a Top 40 Under 40 Lawyer by the National Bar Association. She has also been formally recognized by the United States House of Representatives for Outstanding Service and by the California State Legislature as a Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award nominee. 

Dr. Regina Smith is a distinguished executive, equity strategist, and dedicated public servant with a profound legacy of championing transformative change across Los Angeles County. Currently serving as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor on Equity and Social Justice, Dr. Smith brings decades of visionary leadership in higher education, public policy, and community advocacy.

Previously, she served as Vice President of Los Angeles City College for nine years, where she spearheaded vital institutional advancements focused on student equity, access, and success. Her commitment to community health and advocacy is equally robust; she chaired the American Cancer Society Relay for Life for Los Angeles County for two years—surpassing previous fundraising milestones and hosting dedicated survivor and caregiver dinners alongside the signature 24-hour walk. Furthermore, her voice as an expert on health disparities led her to serve as a keynote speaker at the City of Hope International Cancer Conference, addressing systemic inequities in metastatic cancer and its disproportionate impact on women.

Appointed to the Los Angeles County Commission for Women by Supervisor Holly Mitchell of the Second District, Dr. Smith has held numerous pivotal leadership posts, including Chair of Policy and Legislation, Chair of the Southern California Commissioners Convening, Chair of the Women of the Year Gala for Women & Girls Resilient Scholarships, Treasurer, Vice President, and now President.

Under her current presidential leadership, Dr. Smith is spearheading the Commission’s milestone 50th Anniversary commemorative book and documentary film project in partnership with Mount Saint Mary University. This landmark initiative honors half a century of advocacy, capturing the Commission’s enduring impact and vital contributions to advancing equity and opportunity for women and girls throughout Los Angeles County.

Rebecca F. Kauma is a nationally recognized public-sector executive, digital empowerment strategist, and equitable opportunity leader who fosters an inclusive, resilient future of economic mobility for residents. In July 2023, Rebecca was appointed as the inaugural Director of Digital Equity for the largest County government. In this trailblazing role, she leads strategies to promote digital opportunity for residents by collaborating across sectors to transform ecosystems. Rebecca led the co-creation process of the first County Digital Equity Roadmap with 80 cross-sector organizations and residents. She currently spearheads the regional implementation framework for the Roadmap, turning strategic priorities and resident-identified solutions into measurable community action and impact.

Rebecca served as the Digital Equity and Economic Inclusion Officer for a large Southern California City, where she established and led the Digital Inclusion Initiative for five years. She also implemented strategies for economic inclusion priorities, including a citywide Listening Tour that elevated the voices of low-income residents and identified pathways towards economic opportunity and mobility. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she deployed more than $2.7 million in federal funding, in collaboration with community partners, to expand access and adoption of the internet, technology, digital training, and support for underserved communities. Rebecca co-developed the City Digital Inclusion Roadmap, bringing together a multi-sector coalition of stakeholders and residents and establishing recommendations that addressed systemic barriers to digital inclusion.

Rebecca’s leadership has earned national honors. In 2025, Government Technology named her a Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers, recognizing leaders who are redefining government through digital innovation. In 2024, the Public Sector Network named her a Global Top 50 Government Innovator, celebrating leaders advancing digital transformation through civic engagement. She is also a recipient of the 2020 National Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion Award, presented by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, honoring leaders who have made significant contributions to closing the digital divide.

Rebecca holds a Master of Public Administration from The American University School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from California State University, Northridge. 

 Samara Ashley is a recognized leader in intergovernmental affairs, public policy, and public relations with 25 years of experience shaping legislation, building coalitions, and securing critical resources for communities across Southern California. Before launching The Strategic Advocacy Group, a premier advocacy and public affairs firm, Samara served as the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs for the County of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest county, serving 10 million residents. In this role, she crafted and executed legislative strategies, advanced impactful public policy initiatives, and helped secure billions in funding for healthcare, housing, infrastructure, and social programs on behalf of the Board of Supervisors. Her career also includes serving as the Director of Government Relations for the Port of Long Beach, where she advanced international trade, transportation, infrastructure, and sustainability priorities. Samara’s experience also includes private sector lobbying at Cerrell Associates and serving as a field representative for the California State Senate, where she ensured constituent voices were heard in the legislative process. Samara is widely regarded for her ability to cultivate trusted relationships with elected officials, agency leaders and community stakeholders, and for her skill in translating complex policy challenges into actionable strategies. Through The Strategic Advocacy Group, Samara continues to help organizations and leaders translate policy into progress, positioning them to thrive in today’s dynamic political, regulatory, and media environment. Her career reflects unwavering commitment to public service and results-driven advocacy, making her an influential voice in government affairs and public policy. 

 The strategic liaison and cultural architect between the organization and the professional sports and athletics industries. This role oversees S.E.A.T.'s engagement across sports leagues, franchises, and athletic organizations—positioning the organization at the intersection of business, culture, and high-level athletic influence. She cultivates transformative relationships with sports executives, athletes, and industry leaders while developing signature experiences, brand activations, and collaborations that amplify visibility, access, and economic opportunity. Through industry stewardship, strategic deal-making, and high-profile networking, she creates pathways that expand members' presence in these dynamic sectors. She transforms industry access into enduring opportunity—ensuring sports and athletics serve as powerful vehicles for professional advancement and legacy. Her charge is: to Activate professional sports and athletics as powerful catalysts for connection, economic empowerment, and lasting industry influence. 

The strategic architect of the organization’s civic engagement, community mobilization, and advocacy footprint. This role oversees S.E.A.T.'s initiatives across grassroots organizing, social justice campaigns, and civic partnerships—positioning the organization at the forefront of community advocacy and public action. She cultivates transformative alliances with civil rights leaders, community organizers, and social change agents while developing strategic programs and initiatives that drive systemic change and community empowerment. Through intentional advocacy, coalition building, and civic stewardship, she creates pathways that amplify the collective voice of members on critical social issues. She transforms civic awareness into tangible action—ensuring advocacy serves as a powerful vehicle for community impact and lasting social change. Her charge is: to Mobilize community action, drive strategic advocacy, and advance social change through impactful civic engagement and principled leadership.

The strategic architect of S.E.A.T.'s engagement across the entertainment, film, television, music, and talent industries. This role leads the organization's industry relationships and presence within entertainment ecosystems, positioning S.E.A.T. at the intersection of influence, cultural storytelling, and business opportunity.

She cultivates transformative relationships with industry executives, producers, creators, talent, studios, networks, and strategic partners while developing signature experiences, partnerships, and platforms that expand member visibility and economic opportunity. Through high-level relationship building, industry stewardship, and strategic deal-making, she creates pathways for members to access networks, platforms, capital, opportunities, and leadership across the entertainment landscape.

She transforms entertainment into influence—leveraging the industry's reach and cultural power to advance S.E.A.T.'s mission, amplify the voices and achievements of Black women, and create opportunities that extend beyond visibility to meaningful professional advancement, economic empowerment, and lasting legacy.

Her charge is to harness the power of the entertainment industry to amplify S.E.A.T.'s reach, elevate our stories, cultivate strategic industry relationships, and create enduring pathways for member influence, visibility, and economic opportunity. 

The guardian of S.E.A.T.’s moral compass, spiritual foundation, and leadership culture. This role ensures that the organization’s mission, decisions, and member experience remain grounded in its core values, principles, and commitment to service. She provides spiritual guidance, inspiration, and support to members while fostering a culture of integrity, purpose, compassion, and accountability across the organization. She oversees spiritual engagement, ceremonial traditions, leadership reflections, and values-based programming that strengthen community, resilience, and personal growth among members. Through mentorship, thought leadership, and principled counsel, she helps cultivate leaders who are not only influential in their professions, but anchored in character and purpose. She serves as a trusted voice during moments of celebration, challenge, and transition—helping to ensure that S.E.A.T.’s growth and influence remain aligned with its highest ideals. She safeguards the heart behind the mission—ensuring that leadership is guided not only by achievement and ambition, but by faith, values, service, and a commitment to uplifting others.

Her charge is: to Anchor the organization in faith, purpose, integrity, and service—ensuring that leadership remains aligned with its highest ideals.