Together, we are building thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems where diverse founders lead and prosper
Team
Lisa-Marie Pierre, PhD
Executive Director
Dr. Lisa-Marie Pierre leads Founder Forward’s mission to support economic participation in overlooked regions. Under her leadership, the organization has provided $85k+ in unrestricted funding to 12 diverse founders. She previously served as an innovation strategist at Luminary Labs, working on future work and education projects for federal agencies. Dr. Lisa-Marie also provided strategic direction on entrepreneurship programming at Bronx Community College/CUNY. She holds degrees from Spelman College, University of Miami, and Michigan State University, and serves on the board of Grown in Haiti.
Lisa-Marie Pierre, PhD
Executive Director
Lisa Napper
Development Manager
Lisa is an award-winning storyteller and strategist recognized by the White House, Princeton University, and Teen Vogue for her advocacy work. She began her career at the United Nations Foundation with the Girl Up campaign, building global movements for gender equality. Lisa has extensive experience implementing programs and executing marketing strategies across tech, financial services, and Fortune 500 companies. As Development Manager, she supports Black, Indigenous, and other diverse founders navigate the small business landscape while building partnerships that advance Founder Forward’s mission.
Lisa Napper
Development Manager
Ayanfe Edun
Insights Intern
Ayanfe brings diverse experience in product design, business development, and strategic planning to Founder Forward. He recently received his Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership from African Leadership University. He previously served as Chief Operations Officer at Alusive Africa and Product Designer at Dot, developing finance management solutions for African college students. Ayanfe has contributed to nonprofit development through climate action initiatives at Take Action Global and brand strategy work. Currently, he is the founder of NIA Talents and Dotseon, where he combines creative problem-solving with strategic insights to create sustainable, impactful solutions for entrepreneurs.
Ayanfe Edun
Insights Intern
Alli Ajabe
Insights Intern
Alli recently graduated from Plaksha University and is now pursuing his MS in Data Science at Wake Forest University. He contributes to Founder Forward by applying data techniques to uncover insights and track program impacts that inform strategic planning. Alli’s analytical approach helps the organization understand founder outcomes and optimize programming effectiveness. His attention to detail and inquisitive nature make him invaluable in providing data-driven analysis to support entrepreneurs. When not analyzing data, Alli enjoys playing and watching football.
.
Alli Ajabe
Insights Intern
Board of Directors
Christopher R. Upperman, Board Chair
Director, Head of Global Strategic Engagement for Governance, Meta
Chris leads global initiatives enhancing transparency and responsible decision-making across Meta’s governance ecosystem. He manages strategic engagement for programs like the Oversight Board, ensuring external perspectives inform Meta’s approach to responsible innovation. Previously, Chris served as CEO of the American Entrepreneurship Award and Envolve USA, early versions of Founder Forward. He also served as Assistant Administrator of Public Engagement at the SBA during the Obama Administration, managing stakeholder relationships and entrepreneurial development initiatives. He holds a BA in Sociology from Georgia State University and was honored as a 40 Under 40 recipient.
Christopher R. Upperman, Board Chair
Director, Head of Global Strategic Engagement for Governance,
Meta
Angeline Apostolou
Assistant Director,
Operations & Special Projects
Angeline leads daily administrative and operational management for Libra Philanthropies. She previously served as Acting Executive Director of Founder Forward and was a member of Libra Group’s strategy team, working across global business sectors. Angeline has extensive experience managing nonprofit portfolios and supporting programming operations. She also served as Coordinator for the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit and has experience with the US House of Representatives and Hudson Institute. She graduated from Dickinson College with a degree in International Studies.
Angeline Apostolou
Assistant Director, Operations & Special Projects,
Libra Philanthropies
Brian Taylor
Assistant Director,
Regional Sales Manager, Packsize
Brian is a sales and marketing professional with deep experience in tech and logistics industries. He specializes in creating innovative solutions that help businesses grow, leveraging market research and customer insights to develop effective go-to-market strategies. Brian excels at building relationships with key stakeholders and driving business success through strategic product and business development. His collaborative approach and results-driven mindset make him effective at working across functions to achieve growth objectives. He graduated from Georgia State University and brings expertise in B2B sales, messaging, and complex sales cycle management.
Brian Taylor
Regional Sales Manager,
Packsize
Gina Crivelli
Director of Programs & Impact
Gina oversees Libra Philanthropies’ strategic giving, partnerships, and impact measurement while managing daily foundation operations. She joined Libra Group in 2015 and has progressed through roles including programs coordinator and chief of staff, working across all social responsibility programs and facilitating philanthropic giving initiatives. Previously, Gina worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in membership and fundraising. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Drexel University and completed an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development from the University of Notre Dame.
Gina Crivelli
Director of Programs & Impact,
Libra Philanthropies
Rosanna Mortoglou
CEO, Libra Philanthropies
Rosanna leads Libra Philanthropies’ vision through strategic planning and meaningful partnerships, driving initiatives that shape positive change across borders and communities globally. She started at Libra Group in 2014 through the internship program, later supporting Executive Chairman George Logothetis and coordinating his global speaking program. From 2018-2023, she served as Chief Representative in Greece, leading strategic operations and business development. Rosanna holds a BSc in International Business from Deree, The American College of Greece, and is a fierce advocate for gender equity.
Rosanna Mortoglou
CEO,
Libra Philanthropies
Tulani Watkins
Director, Women’s Business Center, Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation
Tulani is passionate about closing gaps between those who have access and those who are underserved. As a community builder and business development strategist, she helps teams and entrepreneurs increase their audience and access revenue-generating opportunities. Tulani’s career spans media (Creative Artists Agency), technology (Founder of Scoop), and social impact across various nonprofits. She serves on boards including Blackbird Alliance, Ladies Who Launch, and Love Scholars, ensuring young professionals of color have access to opportunities. Tulani is an alumna of USC and the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
Tulani Watkins
Director,
Women’s Business Center, Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation
Uriridiakoghene ‘Ulili’ Onovakpuri
Venture Partner, Motley Fool Ventures
Ulili is passionate about innovation that improves lives and livelihoods globally. With 15 years of investment experience, she has partnered with visionary founders at pre-seed through Series A stages, focusing on digital health, medical devices, HR tech, and the future of work. She previously served as Managing Partner at Kapor Capital and Director of Global Programs at Village Capital, supporting healthcare, education, and FinTech businesses worldwide. Ulili holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and is a UC Berkeley alumna.
Uriridiakoghene ‘Ulili’ Onovakpuri
Venture Partner,
Motley Fool Ventures
Advisory Board
alfredo capps
UX Designer & Veteran
alfredo brings user research and interaction design experience from corporate and nonprofit projects. Known for communication, conflict resolution, and team-building, he served as a founder in Reunion, an early collaboration with Founder Forward that became the model for our current cohort programming. Previously, he worked as UX Designer at General Assembly, Community Associate at Lyft, Media Producer at the Veterans Administration, and Instructor at TechShop. alfredo is a US Army veteran who served as a Cryptologic Linguist in Signal Support, bringing unique problem-solving skills to design challenges.
alfredo capps
UX Designer & Veteran
Charles D. Brown
Independent Non-Executive Director,
Morningstar DBRS
Charles is an experienced senior executive and general counsel with demonstrated success in financial services and nonprofit sectors. Currently serving as Independent Non-Executive Director at Morningstar DBRS and Executive VP & General Counsel at Fitch Group, he previously held the role of Chief Credit Officer at Fitch Ratings. Charles is skilled in capital markets, structured finance, risk management, corporate governance, and strategic planning. He graduated from Fordham University School of Law and brings deep expertise in securities law, M&A, compliance, and regulatory relations to advisory roles.
Charles D. Brown
Independent Non-Executive Director,
Morningstar DBRS
Chris Taylor
Chief Growth Officer,
Left Lane Capital
Chris is an innovative, highly analytical senior digital marketer and marketing strategist with expertise in prospect acquisition and customer engagement across web, mobile, email, and other channels. He brings seven years of progressive experience at a leading online financial brand and sixteen years total experience driving data-driven business strategies and results. Chris graduated from Duke University and specializes in scaling growth initiatives through strategic digital marketing approaches. His analytical mindset and proven track record in financial services marketing provide valuable insights for Founder Forward’s growth strategy.
Chris Taylor
Chief Growth Officer,
Left Lane Capital
Ibrahima Diallo
Co-Founder,
Ginjan Bros
Rahim was one of the first founders to receive funding from Founder Forward, representing the community impact of our mission. He is a two-time founder and co-founder of Ginjan Bros, a NYC-based CPG company developing food and beverage products inspired by traditional African recipes. He also founded Jawudi, a fintech startup connecting global African diaspora resources. Academically, Rahim is a Materials Scientist & Engineer with degrees from Technical University Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, University of Montpellier, and Michigan State University. He remains insatiably curious about how everything works.
Ibrahima Diallo
Co-Founder,
Ginjan Bros
Ecosystem Partners
Our ecosystem partners are community allies, past and present, working alongside us to reshape the entrepreneurial ecosystem