New York, New York, United States
You want to invest and build wealth. But the platforms don’t speak your language. The minimums are too high. The education doesn’t reflect your reality. And the institutions that should help you? Many of them have never earned your trust. I’ve spent decades on the front lines of this problem. Through my nonprofit World of Money, I’ve delivered immersive financial education to more than 15,000 young people from pre-K through college. I’ve testified before Congress, contributed to Ghana’s national digital financial services policy, and watched as community after community gets locked out of the same wealth-building tools others take for granted. That’s why I built Wekeza. Wekeza—“save and invest” in Swahili—is a financial education and investing platform live in the United States and expanding globally. Invest in U.S. stocks and ETFs starting at $1. Learn in the language you think in—English, French, Hausa, Yoruba, Wolof, Haitian Creole, or Twi. Use self-guided roboadvisor tools built for first-time investors. And unlike traditional brokerages, we lead with education—the same proven curriculum I’ve refined for decades—because trust comes before transactions. We’re live in the United States, with thousands of users, and are scaling internationally. Our curriculum is deployed in more than 20 school sites across New York City, Tulsa, and Dakar, Senegal. And we’re backed by Techstars. I’m always looking to connect with impact investors focused on financial inclusion, schools and credit unions serving multilingual communities, journalists covering fintech and wealth gaps, and strategic partners in cross-border payments and brokerage compliance. Financial inclusion can’t wait. Every day without access is another day the wealth gap widens. Wekeza is building a future where every person—regardless of language, location, or legacy—has the tools to build generational wealth. Techstars ’25 · Pharrell Williams Black Ambition Prize Finalist · Presided over NASDAQ · NAACP Image Award–nominated bestselling author · Honored by Congressmembers Meeks & Gottheimer · NBC News/Grio 100 · Essence “50 Women Who Made Us Proud” · Silicon Harlem Grand Prize Winner · WBLS-FM co-host · Former stand-up comedian · 3x NYC Marathon finisher
Techstars-backed fintech providing multilingual financial education and investment access for the diaspora. Building generational wealth. Wekeza means ‘save’ and ‘invest’ in Swahili.
NAACP Image Award–nominated author across satirical fiction, financial education, and children's literature—united by a mission to build financial confidence and authentic Black storytelling. Published "Do I Look Like an ATM? A Parent's Guide to Raising Financially Responsible African American Children" (Chicago Review Press, 2013) — a best-selling guide to youth financial literacy and generational wealth-building, helping families break cycles of financial vulnerability through candid money conversations and step-by-step exercises. Featured in financial literacy curricula and youth programs nationwide. NAACP Image Award nominee, Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional. "A Kettle of Vultures...Left Beak Marks On My Forehead" (Zane Presents / Strebor Books, dist. Simon & Schuster) — a satirical novel following Iris Chapman from Atlanta to New York as she navigates family, identity, and self-discovery. Blending dark humor with social commentary on Black family life and cultural authenticity. Represented by Sara Camilli Agency. Mel Watkins called it "a pungent, fast-paced tale...filled with ironic insights and wicked caricatures." "Have You Met Miss Jones?" — author and collaborator on the memoir of radio personality Tarsha "Miss Jones" Jones, host of the #1 morning show "Miss Jones in the Morning." Forthcoming — Children's Books (through WorldofMoney.org) "Save Up, Fly High! Donovan's Dream Adventure" — illustrated by Rajhean Rodriques. A picture book on saving toward a big dream, introducing goal-setting and money basics to early readers. "The $5,000 Idea: How To Be An Eleven-Year-Old Boss" — a middle-grade guide to youth entrepreneurship and turning an idea into a real venture. As founder of WorldofMoney.org, I bring these principles to youth financial education programs serving underserved communities across the U.S. and Africa. #FinancialLiteracy #ChildrensBooks #YouthEntrepreneurship #GenerationalWealth #KidLit #AfricanAmericanLiterature
WorldofMoney.org is a leading nonprofit delivering 120 immersive hours of youth financial education annually across the United States and Africa—preparing young people to become financially responsible global citizens. Since founding the organization in 2005, I've built the Youth Financial Education Training Institute, reaching 5,000+ youth through partnerships with schools and communities in the U.S., Senegal, South Africa, Rwanda, and Ghana. 🏆 Recognition & Impact: - Selected as a Promise Place by America's Promise Alliance - Named one of AOL Impact's Top 10 Social Good Organizations in America - Global reach through our multilingual mobile app - Presided over NASDAQ Opening/Closing ceremonies - Testified before House Sub-Committee on Financial Services (Capitol Hill) Our mission: Empowering the next generation with knowledge and skills to build financial independence and generational wealth—one classroom, one community, one country at a time. Through culturally-tailored curriculum and partnerships across continents, WorldofMoney.org is proving that financial literacy is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
Media commentator and broadcast journalist for WBLS-FM's "Openline Online"—New York's leading urban radio station—providing daily commentary on current events, politics, finance, culture, and social issues affecting African American communities. 📻 Role & Responsibilities: - Financial education commentator discussing economic empowerment, investing, and wealth-building - Cultural and political analysis of stories of the day - Conducts interviews with cultural leaders, entertainment figures, and government officials - Guest expert on financial literacy, generational wealth, and economic policy - On-air personality delivering thought leadership on issues impacting Black communities 🏆 Recognition: WBLS-FM's "Openline Online" received the New York State Broadcasters Association Award for Black History Programming—recognizing excellence in broadcast journalism and cultural storytelling. 🎤 Interview Highlights: Interviewed prominent figures across entertainment, government, finance, and civic leadership—bringing diverse perspectives on economics, culture, policy, and social justice to radio audiences throughout the New York tri-state area and beyond. As a media commentator specializing in financial education and economic empowerment, I amplify conversations about financial inclusion, investment access, youth financial literacy, and wealth-building strategies for underserved communities—bridging the gap between complex financial topics and everyday listeners. #Broadcasting #MediaCommentator #RadioPersonality #FinancialEducation #Journalism #WBLS #UrbanRadio #BlackMedia #OnAirTalent
Selected as a 2026 Chloe Capital Founder Fellow in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation. The highly selective fellowship supports New York City technology founders from underrepresented backgrounds who are building scalable, high-impact companies. Through investor introductions, mentorship, individualized growth planning, founder-focused leadership development, and connections across New York City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the program strengthens founders’ investment readiness and capacity to scale. Wekeza was selected as one of 15 companies in the 2026 cohort.