Dr. JaNay Queen Nazaire
Co-Founder & CEO - Blk Grvty, a known lab
JaNay is an advisor and investor, working alongside CEOs and other executives to help them embed equity and liberation into how they work and who they serve. She sits at the intersection of public, private and philanthropic sectors to influence where, how and to whom capital flows, in order to enable a multiracial democracy where everyone prospers.
As the co-founder and CEO of Blk Grvty, she leads a research and innovation enterprise working to create a world where Black people and others from the New Majority in the US are wealthy and well. She curates, capitalizes and catalyzes opportunities to fuel the supply side of capital, with a particular focus on general partners, angel investors and business ecosystem builders.
In her role as Senior Advisor for PSG Equity, JaNay partners on social justice initiatives across a portfolio of 17,000+ employees in B2B SAAS companies, advises the ESG strategy, expands access to diverse talent, and creates connections for investable opportunities.
Throughout her career, she has worked with public, private and philanthropic stakeholders across the country, providing creative, solution-focused leadership and strategy while deploying millions in public and private capital to overcome social and economic challenges for people and places.
Previous positions include her role as Chief Strategy Officer at Living Cities, a national philanthropic collaborative, deploying more than $100m in philanthropic and private capital; Senior Fellow at PolicyLink, a national policy and action institution moving 100 million Americans out of poverty; and Senior Director for Clear Impact, a social sector software company driving institutions towards results.
A consummate educator, Dr. Queen Nazaire serves as faculty and advisor for leaders and students, namely for the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York and the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. She is a research affiliate with Case Western University, a collaborator with Equity & Results, and a board member for Global Electronics Council and CollaborateUp Institute. Dr. Queen Nazaire also serves as an advisor to Living Cities Catalyst Fund III, a $100 million fund of funds; SEE Change Collective, a public-private partnership anchored by the Urban League of Louisiana to close gaps across the state; and Medici Road, a community development corporation redefining how governments solve poverty using antiracist principles. Some of her awards include the Social Innovation Fund’s 40 Under 40; Women of Wealth Award; and the Pete Neville Award from Trinity University.