Part of Impact Alpha's Podcast Network,
The Market Makers is a dynamic podcast about the visionaries who are redefining capitalism.
DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives) has become a four letter word, polarizing and misused. Leading the charge toward a new wave of inclusive capital allocating, investing,
and company building, hosts Troy and Lenore share their unique experiences and thought leadership on the future of capitalism,
as well as welcome guests on the leading edge
of Inclusive Innovation. Overall, this podcast highlights diverse perspectives and leaders building a more inclusive economy.
Our Hosts
Lenore is the Managing Partner of Bright Ventures, a venture capital fund. As an Investor, Executive Coach, and Strategist with over a decade of experience coaching and investing in venture-backed founders, her expertise is in leveraging Inclusive Innovation to grow businesses and expand market potential.
Thousands of hours of work with founders influenced the creation of and fund thesis for Bright Ventures. The company’s overall mission is to create a more inclusive economy through capital, coaching and community. Specifically with regard to capital, Bright Ventures invests thematically in Inclusive Innovation, backing Pre Seed and Seed-stage ventures that will redefine the largest, highest-impact markets: fintech, digital health, and the future of work. Bright Ventures specializes in spotting and scaling leaders who can expertly fill gaps in large, mature markets, and adds value through partnering with founders to ideate, hire, fundraise, and exit their businesses.
Lenore is a board member, the treasurer and Investment Committee Chair at New York Foundation. She obtained her MBA from NYU Stern, and went on to co-develop and co-teach graduate coursework on the intersection of bias and innovation. Her Inclusive Innovation framework for identifying and scaling venture opportunities has been applied by enterprises such as Morgan Stanley, Coca-Cola, and Meta. Lenore also holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from American University. And she and Bright have been featured in Forbes, Fast Company , Yahoo Finance, Black Enterprise and Thrive, among other media outlets.
Troy is the Director of Financial Markets at the Milken Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable global progress across financial, physical, mental, and environmental health by bringing together the best ideas and resourcing to develop blueprints.
His work spans across venture capital, social impact investing, and affordable housing. Prior to his role at the Institute, Troy held numerous roles at S&P Global and worked as a climate tech and social impact investor at NextEra Energy Investments. He has conducted independent research in Ghana, China, and Cuba around the importance of equitable investment and the impacts of globalization on “non-Westernized” cultures. And as a passionate advocate for affordable housing, Troy has partnered with startups, local governments, and community development corporations to alleviate the affordable housing shortage across the US and Canada.
As a proud HBCU alumnus, he serves as head of the Milken Institute’s HBCU Strategic Initiative and Fellows Program and, in partnership with eight HBCUs, connects students with resources, soft skills, and internships with asset managers. Troy also serves as chairman of the board of the St. John Community Development Corporation, a multimillion-dollar not-for-profit developer of affordable housing in South Florida and is leading a team to create a faith-based 501(c)(3) to advocate for and build affordable housing in the Denver Metropolitan Area. He received his MS in finance and BA in economics and community development from Howard University.