“I spent almost 10 years as a K12 educator, first as a teacher, then an instructional coach, a career academy leader, and a principal-in-training. No matter whether I worked in a private school, public school, or district office, I was constantly confronting systems bound by constraints and bureaucracy. Finally, after years of trying to implement change from within, I realized I could help more students and affect greater systemic change outside of the system.”

“I hope Poder Capital will transform the way BIPOC communities access capital and build wealth in the present and generations to come. I hope we play a role in undoing centuries of exclusion from the financial system.”

“At Abloom, we're bridging the mental health gap and making schools better for students. We achieve this by leveraging machine learning and AI to provide personalized student check-ins, real-time analytics, and proactive support to educators and students. It's about creating positive change through technology, and that's what I love most about being a founder.”

“Many thought this was an unattainable task, while others had concerns over my safety ‘if/when’ we succeeded. What they didn't know was that we (including those that joined the cause along the way) decided early on that accepting this lack of transparency and colonial governance that fed corruption and mismanagement of public funds was out of the question. We were and are willing to die for this, and thus, determined to find a path. And we did. And we are just getting started.”

“I ultimately pursued entrepreneurship to control my time and working conditions, and to have the potential for unlimited wealth. I want this freedom not only for myself, but for others as well. That’s why the businesses I’m building will help employers, employees, and stakeholders prosper together.”