A Team Planted in Purpose
Meet the RUNWAY Roots Team
Meet the RUNWAY Roots Team
RUNWAY Roots runs on experience-informed leadership.
RUNWAY Roots is led by a Black women–centered team of visionaries, organizers, and innovators. Grounded in lived experience, we confront systemic barriers, reimagine what’s possible, and work toward economic prosperity and justice for Black communities. Comment end
Fundraising
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Jessica Norwood
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Stephanie Glenn
INVESTOR RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Stephanie Glenn (she/her) is a strategic leader in philanthropic innovation, a community champion, dedicated to creating meaningful relationships and transformative impact.
Lending
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Preston P. Price
CHIEF LENDING OFFICER
Preston Price (He/Him) is a financial advisor, activist, founder and creative.
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Leila Tamari
UNDERWRITING MANAGER
Leila (She/Her) looks forward to bringing her artist-self to RUNWAY, and hopes to bring creative approaches to financial innovation!
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Laurika Harris-Kaye
PORTFOLIO DIRECTOR
Laurika Harris-Kaye (She/They) is a changemaker, systems enthusiast, and seeker.
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Keena Pierre
CHICAGO FUND MANAGER
Keena Pierre is a social impact investor, serial entrepreneur, and people connector committed to closing the racial wealth gap.
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Nina Robinson
Programs
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Naima McQueen
DIRECTOR OF TRAINING & EDUCATION
Naima McQueen (She/Her) is a weaver of stories and experiences, convener, and strategist. She is a lover of people and systems AND people as systems and is driven by the passion, ideas and joy of others and the process of bringing those to actualization.
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Melody Short
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE MANAGER
Melody (She/Her) hopes to foster strong and meaningful connections between Runway and all stakeholders (entrepreneurs, investors, etc.), create spaces of collaboration, design and implement innovative programming and create community engagement opportunities.
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Tomme Faust
Narrative Strategy
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Jamica El
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jamica (all pronouns) is a digital strategist, multimedia artist and technologist living and loving in Washington, D.C.
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Kela Lester
COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST
Kela Lester bridges the worlds of people, creativity, and business.
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Ivellisse Morales
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE
Ivellisse is a proud RUNWAY entrepreneur, agency founder and communications strategist based in Cambridge, MA.
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Megan Totah
DESIGNER
Megan (she/her) is a Palestinian-American, award-winning designer based in California's Bay Area, deeply proud of her creative collaboration with RUNWAY's Creative Director, Jamica El.
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Sarah Joy Chung
CONTENT STRATEGIST
Sarah Joy Chung (they/she) is a queer, second-generation Korean-American writer, storyteller, and digital strategist based in the Bay Area. Their work is deeply informed by decolonized approaches to communication and healing.
HR and Operations
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Aisha Blackman
DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & CULTURE
Aisha (She/Her) is excited to bring a blend of strategic vision, inclusive leadership, and a passion for continuous improvement.
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Jeanine Lee
HEAD OF INFO TECHNOLOGY
Also known as Lee (all pronouns) is a technologist and creative, with a background that spans engineering, writing and poetry, photography, and finance.
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Chris Cook
FRACTIONAL CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER
Chris Cook is a recognized and respected leader, team builder and mentor, and a sought-after financial advisor.
Advisory Board
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Konda Mason
Konda (She/Her) is a social entrepreneur, eco-spiritual thought leader and justice advocate working at the intersection of social and financial justice and planetary healing.
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Rani Croager
Rani (She/Her) is a social entrepreneur, educator, and business advisor focused on redefining how business support is offered to entrepreneurs of color.
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Bosko Kante
Bosko Kante is an award-winning music producer, inventor, tech founder, and artist advocate. As one of the world’s top talkbox artists, he has written and performed on Grammy-winning albums by Dua Lipa and Kanye West.
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Victoria Watkins
Victoria R. Watkins is an attorney in Chicago, specializing in business, legislative, and creative industry law.
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