Deloris (Dela) Wilson is a lawyer and policy analyst by training, she chose entrepreneurship early-on as a personal protest to archaic form. Logic could not unearth the illogical systems of injustice. Instead, creativity bore the strongest vessel for shifts in thought. Building organizations from inception allowed her creativity to flourish, and she translated skills in non-profit and start-up management into Axle’s advisory support of mission-driven organizations. As a writer, Dela published Black Founders at Work to chart the leadership journeys of technologists from their first investment to acquisition. She is building upon this to explore how creativity and imagination are cultivated and sustained amongst first-generation populations. Dela was the inaugural Inclusive Innovation Fellow at Georgetown Law’s Tech Institute, a Social Entrepreneur in Residence at USC Marshall School of Business, and has been previously recognized as HBCUvc’s 31 Under 31 for the Future of Venture Capital. She is currently a Senior Fellow for Racial Equity and Global Fellow for the Atlantic Institute, and sits on the Global Fellows Advisory Board for Atlantic Institute/Rhodes Trust. With lineage through African descendants displaced across the Alabama Black Belt and the Haliwa-Saponi tribe of Hollister, North Carolina, Dela is a first-generation graduate of Spelman College, Harvard University and Georgetown Law.

Juliana Cardona Mejia is a curious, passionate creator who continually drives local action and impact. In 2015 she Founded Street Entrepreneurs (SE), an accelerator rooted in the belief that people experiencing problems have the insights needed to solve them. Previously, she collaborated with the World Bank Group's Information Communications Technology Community of Practice for Agriculture to design and support the first Agri-Hackathon program in Uganda. She also gives talks on innovation and design thinking and has lectured at the Women Tech Conference by the Inter-American Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank; the Darden Center for Global Initiatives; Howard University; and the Inclusive Innovation Incubator, where she also was an Advisor. Currently, she serves as the CEO of SE, Co-President of Beacon: D.C. Women Founders Initiative, and Entrepreneurship Advisor at the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. In 2021 she received the Women Who Mean Business Award, D.C. Inno's Fire Award, and was featured in the Washington Business Journal's Power 100.

rowing up in Detroit, a city with unique challenges, I’ve always been interested in social impact work. This interest grew as I became involved in advocacy work while in law school in DC, but I wanted to bring that energy back home. Through my work with the Eastside Community Network, Fractal Strategies, and other consulting and community impact organizations, I’ve developed a unique background that allows me to navigate and catalyze change across diverse spaces ranging from start-ups and small businesses to large corporations and legacy organizations. I’m a cross-functional leader and strategist with a proven track record of transforming organizations by streamlining operations, building and leading high-performing teams, and creating compelling narratives to boost fundraising and development. I have extensive experience consulting companies and organizations across various industries on driving transformation and stimulating growth through strategic planning, capacity building, and partnership development. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking and eating at cool new restaurants. I’m slightly obsessed with Michigan football, so you’ll probably catch me recovering from a mild heart attack every fall Saturday. I also love spending time with family and friends and traveling to see more of the world.

Annette is a versatile strategic advisor with a unique blend of corporate strategy and public affairs expertise, including extensive experience at the United Nations. Annette served as a Senior Advisor to the UN Office for Partnerships under the leadership of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and was instrumental in convening some of the most significant high-level, multi-stakeholder dialogues related to public-private partnerships at the UN and around the world. Annette designed, curated and implemented global multi-stakeholder policy, advocacy and outreach programs and campaigns in support of the UN Secretary-General’s global development priorities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She is a former Special Advisor to the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy and remains a Special Advisor to the Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. In 2016, Annette launched Decade Citizen, a strategic advisory boutique assisting corporations and social investors build sustainability, legacy, philanthropic, and pro-social initiatives. Annette is the former Director of International Relations for the New York City 2012 Olympic Bid Committee and former Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO of Vivendi Universal. She was selected as one of 200 “Most Powerful Minds” by Forbes Woman in 2013 and 2014.

I’m a law student at The Hague University of Applied Science, currently wrapping up my final year in the Netherlands. I'm currently interning at Axle Impact Studio, and specifically the Island’s Innovation Foundation project,, where I'm sharpening my skills in communication, teamwork and research. Beyond my legal studies, I'm deeply passionate about art, environmental sustainability, and craft projects, which I pursue in my free time. I thrive in collaborative environments and look forward to learning new things, always eager to expand my knowledge and skills. I'm able to quickly adjust to new environments and challenges. As I approach the end of my academic journey, I'm excited to leverage my diverse skill set to make a meaningful impact in the legal field.

Moyo Oyelola is a photographer, multimedia artist and activist. He creates intimate, real interactions with his subjects and communities and synthesizes that into deep, universal activations expressed in multimedia, photography, environmental installations and public arts projects. Born in Nigeria, Moyo moved to Austin when he was seven. Having grown up as the “product of two worlds” has shaped his thinking and work, reflecting perspectives of pan-African and modern western worlds. Moyo’s work has been featured in brand films, advertising, editorial, music videos, environmental installations, personal projects, and an evolving number of public arts projects.

I am a brand and design strategist, community builder and a trusted advisor known for applying structure to complex problems, uncovering creative insights and setting forth strategic solutions for brands and cultural institutions.

Upon Dante's many missions, one key focus is to continue examining and educating individuals and organizations about the legal construction of colonial and post-colonial America, in order to evaluate the current legal, cultural, economic, political, and social conditions pervading U.S. institutions and society today. ​The goal is to create and lead informed discussions about this country's legal, economic, and political history, that can lead to intentional and informed decisions concerning racial justice, reparations, and equity for African Americans; as well as address other forms of racism moving forward.

Dr. Danielle King is a professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Rice University and the founder and principal investigator of the WorKing Resilience Research Laboratory. At Rice, she teaches graduate-level seminars on work motivation and leadership. Her research focuses on employee resilience and identity, and organizational resources that support employee thriving. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and has been published in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals, such as the Journal of Applied Psychology and the Academy of Management Journal, and in popular media outlets, including Harvard Business Review. Dr. King is a 2022 recipient of the American Psychological Association Achievement Award for Early Career Psychologists, and was designated by the Association for Psychological Science as one of the 2023 “Rising Stars.” She is also a 2023 recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, one of NSF's most prestigious 5-year awards, designated for scholars who serve as role models and leaders in research and education by advancing science for the betterment of society.

Titilayo is an attorney and policy expert specializing in pretrial legislation and community organizing within the criminal legal system. She is also a wellness practitioner focused on restorative justice and trauma-informed design.

As the child of educators, I watched my parents have an incredible impact on the lives and stability of individuals and families simply by listening and loving. I knew that I wanted to have a similar impact through my life and work. As a multipassionate person, I have curated an academic and professional background that spans various disciplines and industries but has always allowed me to create and support environments for families to become stable and thrive. I love doing work that uplifts families. I have provided resources through case management, supported academic achievement and post-secondary plans through nonprofit program administration and coordination, and litigated cases in juvenile court. As the founder and CEO of Black Girl Buying, I am committed to connecting Black businesses and consumers to remove the stigma around buying Black and also helping Black business owners be part of shifting the narrative.

Fatima is a freelance graphic designer, content creator, and marketing creative based in Brooklyn, NY. Fatima gets goosebumps whenever she finds a good font and the right shade of pink. Fatima learned most of her design skills through Youtube, Google, and experimentation. Fatima would not be able to live without the Notes app, audio messages, and Adobe Illustrator. Fatima loved design before she even knew what design was.

As an Associate Program and Operations Manager at Long Beach Accelerator, a public-private partnership that supports diverse and innovative founders, I leverage my superpower of connecting with people to expand access and opportunity for underserved communities in the venture capital space. With over seven years of experience in various sectors, including state and local government, health education, and employment, I have developed a diverse skill set and a passion for social justice and economic empowerment. I work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders from community organizations to large corporations and public entities at all levels of management, while also leading the accelerator's programming and operations for aspiring, current, and alumni founders, funders, and instructors. I excel at creating and executing effective strategies, managing event logistics, and driving operational excellence using CRM and related tech stack. While at USC Marshall School of Business, I gained valuable experience helping founders as a Program Manager for a social venture competition and Teaching Assistant for graduate courses in entrepreneurship, where I received my Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship degree. I find purpose in collaboration and helping individuals and organizations achieve their goals, and I am always eager to learn new skills and explore new opportunities.

Elimane is the Founder and Chairman of LEGS-Africa, a pan-African think-tank that promotes transformative citizenship in Africa. His work currently focuses on deep-rooted causes of inequality in the natural resources’ economy. Previously, he worked for Oxfam International leading the Governance vs Inequality programme in West Africa. In the field, he supported local partners to address the issue of inequality in the national context through tax equity and budget monitoring for social spending. He coordinated research on fair tax and advocacy campaigns to prepare national officials and CSOs to address challenges in tax incentives, fiscal conventions, and illicit financial flows that provoke tax evasion, tax avoidance, miss-pricings, and other practices low-income countries are facing. He was formerly the Executive Director of Forum Civil, the Senegalese chapter of Transparency International, and the CEO and co-founder of The Panafrican Institute ISAF-Kangfore in Mbour, Senegal from 2009 to 2011. Elimane has experience as both a consultant and trainer and has participated in several international anti-corruption meetings and special courses in human rights, extractive industries, climate change, multi-stakeholder processes, social learning, governance, and responsible business practices. He has training in social sciences (psychology, sociology of development) and holds an MSc in Project Management. He also has international certificates in human rights (IHRTP-Equitas-Montreal-Canada) and international development (CDI, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands).

Shreya Singh Hernández (she/her) is Aspen Digital’s Research Manager for the Tech Accountability Coalition and works at the intersection of tech, policy, and justice for underrepresented communities. In this role, Shreya partners with leaders and academics in the digital technology sector to standardize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) data collection, provides expert support from employee engagement to product impact, amplifies best practices, and helps hold the tech industry as a whole accountable. Shreya Singh Hernández is a data-driven strategist focused on social impact with over 8 years of cross-industry experience. Her career has taken her from the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, to Edelman Intelligence, and most recently Planned Parenthood Federation of America where she used data and technology to make community engagement, public policy, and advocacy programs more equitable, effective, and efficient. Shreya has independently trained and spoken at over 20 organizations and conferences on employing data and tech equity in organizing and community engagement. Shreya has always believed that data contains the lived experiences of diverse communities that deserve to be represented accurately and equitably to inform impactful decisions across every sector. In addition to her career in progressive technology, Shreya is a strong champion for menstrual justice as the founder of Periods for the People, inc. where she has distributed free period products to cover close to 200K periods worldwide while saving 4K lbs of menstrual textile and plastic waste from entering the waste cycle through her work with sustainable products. Shreya is a 1.5 generation Indian immigrant raised in Marietta, GA and is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs.

Riana Lynn is the founder of Journey Foods, a food tech company that supports cutting-edge product management and data services for food businesses. A biologist by training turned entrepreneur, Riana Lynn has developed high-growth and nationally recognised food businesses, using innovative technology. These include “Peeled”, at the time one of America’s fastest growing beverage brands offering bespoke beverage nutrition and early cold-press innovations, and “Food Trace” which developed software and mapping applications for better food sourcing management data. After the acquisition of her second business, Riana Lynn was an Entrepreneur in Residence at Google. There, she acted as a business development coach, start-up mentor, and diversity advisor. Following this, she joined Cleveland Avenue, a private equity and venture capital fund focused on food and beverage brands. It was founded by former McDonald’s CEO, Don Thompson. In her capacity as Director, Riana worked with and advised several of their portfolio companies, including Beyond Meat, Farmwise, and Farmer’s Fridge. Riana left Cleveland Avenue in 2018 to focus full-time on her latest venture, Journey Foods. The company’s proprietary AI platform helps companies use data to find the most nutritious ingredients at the lowest price. It also makes recommendations for healthy and affordable ingredient swaps. Journey’s customers include Ingredion and Unilever. Her accomplishments have been featured on MIT 35 under 35, CNBC, Forbes, USA Today, Wired, TechCrunch, Entrepreneur Magazine, Food Tank and more. Riana Lynn graduated from the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Science. She is a quarterly lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Assata Harris is a movement builder, community organizer, trainer, facilitator, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker living in San Francisco, Bay Area. She is a proud alum of the University of California, Davis, Sciences Po, Paris. Since 2009, she’s organized, facilitate, and directed climate justice programs that focus on advocating and mobilizing frontline communities around equitable solutions to the climate crisis. Assata Harris has trained over 3,000 activists on justice and equity issues, organizational change, and strategic design.

A passion and track record in tackling complex social problems through collaboration, systems thinking and entrepreneurial best practices.

First, I am a mother to a beautiful baby boy and it is my duty to ensure I am contributing to making the world a better place for him. I am heavily influenced by my up brining in the Civil Rights Capitol of the South (Birmingham, Alabama) and carry the spirit of my Jamaican roots; growing up as a first generation American. I graduated from the University of Montevallo with a BS in Speech Pathology, but my passion lies within public service work. My mission in life is to always be a part of something bigger than myself and work to create change for the betterment of our people of color and society at large. I am currently working to become certified as a User Experience Researcher and User Interface Designer through Georgia Institute of Technology. I find enjoyment through exercise as it heavily relates to my mental peace and strongly believe in finding your "lane" and creating the life you want centered around your own personal happiness.

Dr. Elana Needle is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Needle Strategies LLC. Elana formed Needle Strategies after serving as the Racial Equity Anchor Collaboration Director at UnidosUS where she brought nine nationally preeminent racial justice organizations together to move the needle on racial equity in the US. Previously, she worked in the leadership development field, at a childhood obesity intervention and addressing various women’s issues. Elana received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Tufts University, and her doctorate from Stony Brook University. Dr. Needle’s dissertation applied a social determinants of health theoretical model to childhood obesity. Depending on the season, Elana can be found running, reading, snowboarding, going to concerts, or traveling.

Monica Kang is a creative educator who is transforming today’s workforce through the power of creativity. As the Founder and CEO of InnovatorsBox®, Monica teaches creativity in a tangible, practical, and relatable way regardless of industry or job title. She has worked with clients worldwide including Fortune 500 companies, higher education, government, and nonprofits. Monica’s work has been awarded across numerous platforms, including The White House, Ashoka Changemakers, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). She is also the author of Rethink Creativity: How to Innovate, Inspire, and Thrive at Work. Driven by her lifelong love of knowledge, she is also an adjunct professor at BAU International University where she teaches entrepreneurship and leadership. Prior to InnovatorsBox®, Monica was a nuclear nonproliferation policy expert in international affairs. She holds an M.A. from SAIS Johns Hopkins University in Strategic Studies and International Economics and a B.A. from Boston University.

Nic[o] Brierre Aziz is a Haitian-New Orleanian interdisciplinary artist and curator born and raised in New Orleans, LA. His current practice is deeply community focused and rooted around the utilization of underdiscussed personal and collective histories to reimagine the future. His work is also very centered around the Caribbean Diaspora and he is very interested in Blackness as an experience, construct and capitalist tool. He has worked extensively leading community engaged projects throughout New Orleans with entities such as the Office of Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Antenna, The Joan Mitchell Center, the Arts Council of New Orleans, Prospect and most recently the New Orleans Museum of Art. He is also the manager of the Haitian Cultural Legacy Collection, a collection of over 400 artworks started by his maternal grandfather in 1944. He has contributed to publications such as HuffPost, Terremoto and Hyperallergic and his work has been featured by The Oxford American, The Associated Press and The Alternative UK. He is also the recipient of several artist residencies and fellowships and most recently was selected as a 2020 Andy Warhol Foundation Curatorial Fellow and a 2021 Joan Mitchell Center Artist-in-Residence. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and a Master of Science degree from The University of Manchester (UK).

An award-winning storyteller, multicultural creative strategist, and social entrepreneur, Jessica combines her creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, curiosity, multidisciplinary background, and strategic thinking to create and execute innovative content, social-impact initiatives, and messaging that connects with people, inspires change, and drives meaningful results. Her mission is to empower minorities with education and help purpose-driven businesses and organizations educate, entertain and inspire.

Amber Ivey “AI” is currently a Vice President at a non-profit where she leads a team that helps governments drive impact. In her prior role, as the Senior Director for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University, she led a team that assisted governments in utilizing data and performance management for decision-making. Furthermore, she played a key role in the design and launch of the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance. The program aims to train 100 mayors and their senior leaders throughout the Americas on utilizing data to lead achieve better outcomes. Formerly, she worked at The Pew Charitable Trust—a nonprofit focused on solving today's challenges by using data-driven, nonpartisan analysis. Here, Amber led the data collection and organization efforts of a first-of-its-kind research study on how all 50 states and the District of Columbia use data to solve complex problems, improve the delivery of government services, manage resources, and evaluate effectiveness. Most recently, Amber led a team that provided technical as well as strategic assistance to states and counties, who were working towards streamlining their business processes and launching technology, like legal assistance websites and online courts, to modernize and improve access to the legal system. Before joining Pew, Amber served at Maryland StateStat, a performance-measurement and management office established by former Governor Martin O'Malley (D). Following the change in administration, she helped facilitate the transition by demonstrating the effectiveness of data-driven decision-making through StateStat. Additionally, she played a key role in the establishment of the Governor's Office of Performance Improvement under Governor Larry Hogan (R). Before joining the State of Maryland, Amber was a logistics manager for a Fortune 50 company where she used data to drive efficiency, productivity, and profits. She switched from private to the public sector to use her skills in service of government efficiency. She has her MPA and J.D. and is excited to serve at the intersection of data, technology, public policy, and law. She is also the creator and host of AI: Decodes the System podcast–a series of podcast interviews with industry experts and everyday people who help explain topics related to policy, tech, data, and law to the general public. In addition, Amber is a co-founder of AuraSense--a company using Blockchain, AI and Digital Haptics to develop a remote, non-invasive physical examination platform that aims to provide equitable healthcare globally.

Dr. Sheryl Felecia Means (she/ella/ela) is an independent cultural inclusion, diversity, and equity consultant. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Spelman College and earned her Ph.D. in Education Sciences, Philosophical and Cultural Inquiry from University of Kentucky in May 2018. She is trained in narrative research methods and ethnography and speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Her doctoral research focused on Black racial identity formation at Steve Biko Cultural Institute in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Most recently, Means was a postdoctoral fellow in Africana Studies at University of New Mexico. Means’ interests include Afro-Latin America and racial identity formation. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and is originally from Newark, New Jersey.

Zani Wilson is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and educator from Annapolis, MD. Her work explores social issues and political movements through everyday interactions amongst ordinary people. Her goal is to bring awareness and educate others about issues centered around mental health, civil rights, and human rights through a personal and intergenerational lens. She has received a Spotlight Silver Documentary Award for her film My Brother Luis. Zani recently graduated summa cum laude from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and holds a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in film and television and psychology. She currently resides and works in New York City.