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Building sustainable diversity in the final frontier takes commitment and the kind of vision & expertise required to not only launch a rocket but also build the foundations for the future of humanity. Janeya Griffin and Aisha Bowe understand the depths of the field and how far it still needs to go.
Janeya Griffin is The Commercializer® - a space revolutionist, strategy consultant, serial and social entrepreneur, advocating for entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation, social justice, and generational wealth, specifically within underserved communities. A HBCU STEM graduate, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and the daughter of two formerly incarcerated individuals; at the young age of 16 she and her younger brother of 6 were introduced into the world of what it meant to experience hardship. Not knowing it would be a catalyst in helping her to fulfill her purpose. 14 years later, two degrees, a certificate and a contracting job with the National Aeronautics Space Agency (NASA), Janeya’s passion for problem-solving and establishing connections would turn her into a lead Technology Transfer Specialist Contractor and an Executive Board Member for Federal Labs all over the country. She recently founded a consulting startup called The Commercializer®, LLC a strategic firm that actualizes independent Inventors' intellectual assets, monetizes entrepreneurs' ideas, and bridges the gap between resources and historically excluded communities. In addition, she is the co-founder of a creative agency called ConCreates, focused on changing the stigma and narrative behind how society views people with criminal histories and how people with criminal histories view themselves. Lastly and most recently she began conducting a study that focuses on increasing diversity in space for historically excluded communities; creating the first-ever Equity Space Alliance to advocate and ensure the new space economy is diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible.
Aisha Bowe
STEMBoard
Aisha Bowe is a former NASA rocket scientist and the Founder and CEO of STEMBoard, an engineering solutions company that recently ranked in the top half of the 2020 Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies in America.
As an aerospace engineer who started her degree with pre-algebra in a community college, Aisha is on a mission to help youth break stereotypes, stop internalizing false narratives and believe in themselves, enough to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
While she never pursued cosmetology professionally, Aisha is still a huge fan of beauty and fashion-especially when she is able to use technology to keep that love front and center.
Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, Esq. is a writer and strategic advisor. She supports leaders and communities bridge systemic access and opportunity gaps with a focus on cultivating REDI (racially equitable, diverse and inclusive) technology, innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. She has advised innovation and technology leaders at Fortune 500 companies including Google, Facebook, Delta, P&G Ventures, AirBnB, HSBC and UBS. As a founder, she has launched ventures from concept to scale, raising over $4.5 million in equity free capital for various projects and ventures. Leigh-Ann is the Founder of Nyah Project and currently serves as the President of aīre ventures. She co-hosts the Innovation City podcast and produces storytelling projects.TOP 5 Inspirations:1) my mum2) my personal mantra- “people, purpose and impact”3) stories of the human condition (in all mediums, particularly audio, video and still photo)4)my faith + spiritual practice 5) visionary thinking