This year, I’m thrilled to unite leaders passionate about reimagining funding and development for creative projects. In previous years, we’ve explored diverse facets of the ecosystem, focusing on two key themes: 1) arts as a vital part of the innovation space and 2) the brilliance of Connecticut’s local talent. Now, in our third year, we’re tackling the challenge of building a scalable, sustainable creative ecosystem aligned with cutting-edge innovation practices in other fields. I’m especially excited about this year’s focus on strengthening our commercial ecosystem and positioning Connecticut as a trailblazing hub for cultural production. 

Jay-Z

Systems Thinking: Jay-Z has redefined the music and entertainment industries by building platforms like Roc Nation, which integrates management, production, and branding into a unified system that supports both artistry and business. Great Artistry: As one of the greatest rappers of all time, Jay-Z’s discography is a testament to his excellence in storytelling and musical innovation. Value Creation: From launching TIDAL to investing in startups and creating billion-dollar ventures, Jay-Z understands how to generate lasting economic value through creativity and strategic thinking. Wealth Creation: As a self-made billionaire, he exemplifies how creative talent, combined with business acumen, can lead to monumental wealth creation while empowering others. Excellence in Storytelling: His lyrics are a masterclass in storytelling, weaving narratives of personal struggle, societal issues, and ambition with universal appeal. Humanitarian Impact: Through initiatives like the Shawn Carter Foundation and criminal justice reform advocacy, Jay-Z has shown a deep commitment to systemic change and social impact.    

A major focus of our track will be on attracting private capital to support creative initiatives, ensuring that the arts are seen as a vital economic driver. Our programming will also address the need to create an ecosystem of financially literate and entrepreneurial artists who can navigate the business side of their work. By empowering artists with the tools to thrive independently, we’re not just supporting individual success but also cultivating a vibrant and scalable creative economy. This track will inspire attendees to think big, act boldly, and reimagine what’s possible for the arts in our state and beyond. 

My family is from North Carolina and Mississippi and I cook AMAZING soul food (not as good as my step mom but pretty dang close :D) 

You gotta come! 

I love the chance to bring together the top movers and shakers in our New Haven community and beyond to talk about possibilities for sustainable production and development of new artistic works. I'm particularly excited to highlight the new expansion of Connecticut's Economic Development priorities to include the arts, and the Arts Track has been such an incredible showcase each year of what the arts continues to offer to other fields and to the Innovation landscape more broadly. 

We're highlighting different ways of commercializing the arts in this year's programming, and how we can build out entire ecosystems that align interests between universities, non-profit arts organizations, and artists. We'll not only have presentations of novel ideas, but we'll also be showcasing some people who are already starting to put these practices into action as examples of potential models. 

My new favorite hobby is paddleboarding, and I have been exploring Connecticut's rivers and lakes by water! 

Energizing, Inspiring, Social

I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing team, and am honored to lead the Civic Track — happening for the first time this year! I am a deep believer in the public sector’s potential and ability to lift up families and individuals, invest in neighborhoods, and transform the lives of many for the better. And I believe there is a huge role for innovation to play to help us tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time: housing, inclusive economic development, trust in institutions, climate change, loneliness, and more. My hope for the Yale Innovation Summit Civic Track is to bring many people together — in government, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and community — to share wisdom and case studies for tackling these challenges to beget impactful, innovative solutions for the future.

I would love to invite impactful civic innovators across multiple sectors: Hasan Minhaj (comedian and creator of Patriot Act), Cory Booker (U.S. Senator and nonprofit founder), Jennifer Pahlka (Founder of Code For America), and Ezra Klein (Co-Founder of Vox, host of The Ezra Klein Show).  

The Civic Track will focus on bringing builders, innovators, and advocates who are working on some of the major public questions facing cities and towns across the country. Questions like: How do we ensure every single one of our neighbors has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home? How do we build pathways for individuals to have meaningful jobs — including for the emerging sectors of the future? How do we build our civic infrastructure to increase voter turnout and invest in the health of our democracy? Come join the conversation!

I have been a big fan of basketball since I was young! I still play pickup in the summers at local parks, and cheer loudly for UCONN Women’s Huskies alongside neighbors with a bucket of fries at Christopher Martin’s Restaurant on Upper State Street.

Energy. Momentum. Together.