Founders

Leigha Pittard

Leigha Pittard is an innovative entrepreneur and philanthropist dedicated to uplifting her generation. Graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a dual bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and Sociology Pittard has created a multicultural platform that incorporates art, fashion, education, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship to connect and motivate up-and-coming influential community leaders. Leigha is the CEO of Glitter Realm Cosmetics

Malcolm Lee

Malcolm Lee is the founder and CEO of Gabb Global. His background is in cognitive neuroscience research and his skills span fundraising, market research, partnership development, and financial analysis. Before Gabb Global, Malcolm worked for Virginia Union as a neuroscience researcher and Wilson Lee Interiors, specializing in startup business development. He is fluent in French and is self-taught. The idea for Gabb Global blossomed from his experience learning French abroad in Paris.

Miracle Allums

Miracle Allums is a Licensed Psychotherapist and a fierce advocate for holistic wellness. As a part of her journey with holistic wellness, she became a Labor and Postpartum Doula, a Reiki II Practitioner of both western and eastern lineages of Reiki and a Registered Yoga Teacher. In May 2020, she launched The Mossy Mob, a premium sea moss and wellness company that provides a complete and high-quality plant-based supplement with tasty and creative infusions to support optimal health and wellness shipped straight to your door.

Michael Lloyd

Michael Lloyd is a Nutritional Biochemist, a Food Scientist and the founder of Num Num Sauce Company. Mr. Lloyd began his professional career as a Pharmaceutical Scientist working to develop vaccines in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. While working to save lives by developing immune-system boosting vaccines, he realized that healing was more effective coming from plants so he transitioned to Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences to commercialize his bioprocessing technologies and launched his healthy food brand company to serve the people more efficiently. Mr. Lloyd is a single father raising his teenage son in Decatur, Georgia.

Shakya Geiger

THE MORENITA COLLECTION IS AN AFROLATINA OWNED BUSINESS THAT CREATES HANDCRAFTED PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR HAIR AND EMPOWER YOU THROUGH THE ROOTS OF YOUR CROWN WITH INFLUENTIAL AFFIRMATIONS !

Omolara Fatiregun

Omolara Fatiregun, Founder and CEO of Thrive!, designed the Equity Algorithm based on her experiences as an impact evaluator, a cabinet level official in DC’s juvenile justice agency, and as a foundation executive. The podcast, Thrive! The algorithm designed to root out racism, gives a compelling summary of Omolara’s work and family background. Thrive! was featured in Nasdaq, MSN, and Boston Globe Business earlier this year. Thrive! is an honoree of Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards. Omolara holds a bachelor’s in Sociology & African American Studies from Harvard, a master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown and is currently a doctoral candidate in Education Leadership at Harvard.

Symone Gates

Sincerely, Bädé specializes in body care products that relieve physical pain while reducing economic pain in the Harlem community. We build production learning labs in unused space within Harlem Community centers, allowing our business to grow through impact. Products such as scrubs, creams, massage candles and more are crafted using raw materials that are water free, ethically sourced and thoroughly tested for toxins. We aim to continually elevate the body care industry through wellness education, testing transparency and uplifting our Harlem community.

Brittney Perry

Lifelong sneakerhead Brittney Perry grew up facing a market saturated by sneakers made for and by men. With few options marketed to women at the time, Brittney resorted to buying men’s sneakers, but felt the need for something more inclusive. In 2018, Brittney launched PerryCo shoes with the mission of creating a genderless sneaker that can appeal to all styles and identities.

Piankhi Zimmerman

After years of leading various summer camps, teaching various arts and sciences, training as a professional athlete, and being an overall nerd, I decided to combine my passions. Under the mantra, “a healthy mind, needs a healthy body”, I put together a team of talented DC natives from various STEAM professions to fuse together the fields of computer science, art, and fitness, thus creating Cyberninjaz Summer Tech Camp, which quickly became Cyberninjaz Global Inc.: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our mission: Closing the digital divide by providing STEAM (STEM + Art) learning opportunities to underrepresented children.