Founders

Leilani Dexter

Leilani Dexter is the CEO of That’sDiamondMedia hailing from Los Angeles, California. She is currently working on obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the illustrious Howard University. Though she’s always had interest in photography, her Graphic Communications class in high school is what drove her business journey back in 2020. What was initially just a class grade quickly emerged into a hobby and lifestyle! As her love for creativity grew, she sharpened her skills both in and outside the classroom to further her expertise. With her charismatic personality and strong focus on showcasing Black culture, she plans to go far in the Entertainment industry along with That’sDiamondMedia.

Melissa Mitchner

Melissa Mitchner is Founder and CEO of New York Institute of Pet Grooming. After successfully owning & operating a premier pet care company The Bark Shoppe. Its New York flagship location and mobile grooming services built a strong sense of community with groomers, pet owners, and their pets. As an advocate for alternative education, Melissa created The New York Institute of Pet Grooming. Her mission is to provide high quality in-person and digital education and certification programs for those who aspire to join and thrive in the pet grooming industry. Melissa has over a decade of leadership experience in supply chain management, making her a relatable and knowledgeable leader and educator in any setting. She loves what she does and is committed to bringing much needed diversity and inclusion to the pet care industry. She believes that technology, better working practices, and innovative business models make the world a great place, and she is excited about the future of the pet grooming industry.

Britney Crowell

Britney Sadè wears many hats! Most notably, the CurlCap is her revolutionary, patented headwear made with hair care in mind. Britney made history as the first Black woman with a patented product to sell officially licensed Disney apparel. Her monumental collections of CurlCaps also include collaborations with Paramount and NASA. Upon her pivot into uniforms with USPS CurlCaps, she has taken strides on her mission to end hair based discrimination. Over 5,000 five star reviews speak to it’s brilliance and necessity. She is the recipient of the 2023 Inventor/Designer of the year award from Women in Toys, Licensing and Entertainment. Britney is a disruptor to say the least but her favorite hat is Proud Auntie. Her community work with youth is the driving force behind her CurlCap Creative Workshop. Unlocking confidence through creativity, with CurlCaps as the canvas is how she makes a positive impact. The NY native was inspired by growing up in her mom’s hair salon and has some bright ideas on how to change the game in headwear.

Charlecia Joy Cole

Charlecia Joy is an artist, art educator, and the Founder/CEO of Stapledon Arts, an inclusive art supply company transforming creativity by addressing the representation gap for artists of color. Beyond its social impact, for Joy, Stapledon Arts also embodies her Caribbean-American upbringing, her journey as a devoted student artist, and her pioneering role as an agent of artistic empowerment. Joy's own artistic journey was inspired by the vibrant tapestry of Junkanoo in Nassau, Bahamas, shaping her lifelong dedication to creative excellence. With academic achievements culminating in a BFA from the University of Florida and an MA from Columbia University, Teachers College, Joy is deeply committed to shaping young minds through art education. Amidst her academic pursuits Joy also exhibited in several galleries and art spaces, planned beautification projects and murals throughout urban communities, and most recently taught high school visual arts within the NYC DOE. With a patience to teach and curiosity to meet people in their truth Joy bridges the gap between people’s creative inhibitors and their authentic expression. Through Stapledon Arts, Joy has created more than just a business; she’s built a platform for artistic exploration – it is a testament to the enduring power of creativity in authentically fostering inclusive communities.

Chioma Ngwudo

Cee Cee’s Closet NYC is a values-facing, e-commerce powerhouse. The company is a strategic fusion of sector expertise, product acumen, and passionate joy from sisters Uchenna and Chioma Ngwudo. Their finance, fashion design, beauty, and marketing sector experience, coupled with deep commitment to socially meaningful entrepreneurship, established them as an up and coming enterprise to watch. In the company’s eighth year of remarkable growth, the Ngwudo’s profound marketplace impact is evident in their partnerships to date with Forbes, Essence, HBO, Google, Facebook, Shopify, and Afterpay. Their influence has expanded to reach such notable clients as Tracee Ellis Ross, Tiffany Haddish, Ivie Ani, Jackie Aina, and Simone Missick, and the company has now been featured in the publications Instyle, Time Out NY, Elle, Allure, Teen Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Cut, Essence, Glamour,and Byrdie, among others. The extraordinary success of this family startup is rooted in professional expertise and commitment to creating equitable paying jobs and sustainable, economy-building enterprise opportunities in traditionally non-paying, low-paying, and exploitative industries in Africa. Chioma Ngwudo studied economics and graduated from Columbia University and The General Course at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has worked as a strategy consultant with private equity clients focused on the consumer industry sector with Parthenon-EY,and in Debt Trading at Morgan Stanley where she performed data analytics, research, social media impact studies, and market trend evaluation. Her specialties include building supportive environments that cultivate dynamic individual and group growth, and as the face of Cee Cee’s Closet NYC, Chioma leads the social media and customer-facing interactions to create a warm, open, and interactive brand presence across social media platforms. She designed the company’s Tiktok Strategy which directly resulted in rapid sales growth and exponential increases in follower engagement and content reach.

Corrie Amos

Dr. Corrie Amos is a board-certified anesthesiologist, culinary enthusiast, and wellness advocate. She is the proud founder and CEO of The Spice Theory, a food company that specializes in low-sodium seasonings, sauces, and infused olive oils with bold Caribbean flavor. Dr. Amos practices full-time at Westchester Medical Center and serves as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at New York Medical College. Dr. Amos received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Spelman College, followed by a Master of Science from Hampton University, and ultimately her Doctor of Medicine from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Noting the disproportionate rates of heart disease in the Afro-Caribbean diaspora and the lack of healthy seasoning options for this demographic, Dr. Amos created The Spice Theory to provide low-sodium options for the community. Her all-in-one complete seasoning options and infused olive oils make prioritizing health and wellbeing easy while preserving culture. Her entrepreneurial prowess recently earned her the victory in Shopify and Daymond John's Black Entrepreneurs Day Pitch Competition, showcasing her innovative approach to addressing health disparities. She was also honored as a recipient at the 5th Step-by-Step Women of Color Entrepreneurs Conference by NYC Celebrates Women in May 2024. Dr. Amos currently resides in Mount Vernon, NY, where she is a devoted mother, wife, and community advocate.

Lisa Bailey

Lisa’s journey began on a personal note. Teaching her teenager to drive amidst a rapidly evolving era of vehicle automation, she encountered firsthand the complexities of modern driving technology. This experience ignited her passion for demystifying ADAS and empowering drivers with practical, accessible knowledge. "The level of technology in today’s vehicles demands a new approach to consumer education,” Lisa notes. “We need solutions that resonate with drivers, fostering both understanding and trust in these systems." Under Lisa's leadership, FeaturesFirst Auto has become a transformative force in transportation safety. She has developed innovative training programs tailored to the diverse needs of drivers, from teens to seniors, ensuring that education is consumer-friendly, relevant, and non-technical. Her work also extends to promoting zero-emission vehicles, further aligning with her vision for a safer and more sustainable future. As a thought leader, educator, and speaker, Lisa brings together public and private stakeholders to tackle consumer understanding challenges in transportation technology. Her efforts are paving the way for a cultural shift in how society views and adopts safety innovations. FeaturesFirst Auto's impact has not gone unnoticed. The organization has been recognized by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, Dallas Innovates, The Dallas Morning News, Wells Fargo, and AEG. It has participated in prestigious programs, including the Toyota Mentorship Program, Capital One Mobility Impact Accelerator, Israel Innovation Academy, USC EdTech Accelerator, and Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business Diverse Business Executive Program. Lisa Bailey’s mission is clear, to save lives, foster innovation, and reshape how drivers engage with the vehicles of tomorrow. Through FeaturesFirst Auto, she continues to challenge norms, inspire change, and lead the charge toward safer roads and smarter driving.