Investors & Team

Originally from California, I was born in San Francisco, and raised in Los Angeles. From 2010 to 2018, I lived primarily in New York with 2 years in London and a splash of Tel Aviv before moving to Tulsa at the beginning of 2018. Raised by two parents working in the non-profit space, I have always been torn by my inner struggle for doing good vs. doing well. During my summers as a kid, I remember volunteering at my mom's non-profit (The Shoah Foundation) in the mornings, and selling lemonade on my street corner in the afternoons. But my love for business largely prevailed, leading me to pursue a BA in Business at USC in Los Angeles, as well as an MBA there a few years later. My passions outside of work include running (I have run 5 marathons), volunteering, traveling, seeing friends, introducing strangers, and spending as much time as possible with my amazing wife, Romi and our son, Leo.

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved to work, and loved to immerse myself within different kinds of businesses, both as an operator and as an investor. I started working full time in high school as a barista at a coffee shop in LA, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Seven years later, I was operating 22 stores, overseeing nearly 400 people, and managing a $19 million revenue operation. I was in the coffee space through undergrad and business school. During that time, two close friends of mine started a t-shirt company out of our fraternity. I joined as the 5th partner, and the 5 of us bootstrapped the business to 150+ people across 6+ countries and $30 million+ revenue before selling to the publicly traded Superior Uniform Group. Prior to that sale, I had already begun angel investing, and eventually joined one of my portfolio companies, Spotad, as President.  Within two years there, we built the company to 45 people across 4 countries and $15 million+ in revenue. But then the 2016 election happened, and I felt compelled to follow my heart into the Clinton Campaign--initially as a volunteer and eventually helping to organize Madison, Wisconsin. When we lost the race, I was looking for ways to make an impact given the current American political climate, which led me to Tulsa. More on that here.

For the past two years, I have had the privilege of working closely with the George Kaiser Family Foundation in Tulsa, in a role that straddles both investment and economic development.  Some of the questions we were looking to address in the work we were doing were: “Can you be intentional about how you deploy capital that not only drives return but has a local economic impact as well?”  “What are the right economic incentives needed to attract and retain talent in Tulsa?”  “Can you make large-scale social change through economic opportunity?”  While many of these questions have yet to be answered, the initial work was compelling enough that it led to the birth of Atento Capital.  Now, with a committed team behind our work, we are looking to shift our efforts into turbo drive and really catalyze growth for 21st century jobs in Tulsa.  I couldn’t be more excited and grateful to be on a team undertaking this challenge.

Coming soon.

A passionate Houston native, with a commitment to impact and a love of the entrepreneurial world. My earliest entrepreneurial endeavors were in the classical music world, though I didn’t know to call it that at the time. I am a flutist of over 15 years and thought for sure that music was the career for me. I was fortunate to perform and compete all over the country, and coordinated a variety of musical programs. Though I loved the arts, I felt that there was a greater impact I could make if I put my time and energy toward something else. I will be forever grateful for the grit, creativity, and hustle I bring from the musical world to my career.

While I didn’t know exactly where to go from music, I knew that I would have the flexibility that I craved through a business degree. Fortunately, I stumbled into a Women in Entrepreneurship class at University of Houston, which had a greater impact on my life than I could’ve imagined. I went through the RED Labs accelerator as a result of that class, and I learned the ropes of the startup world. This is ultimately how I joined  the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, where I learned the ins and outs of running any kind of business. I was fortunate enough to begin an Amazon store, found a medtech startup, compete at pitch competitions, and run the largest competition / food festival / fundraiser on campus, raising over $250,000 annually and serving 40,000 guests.

Following graduation, I joined the family business in general contracting. I split my time between managing budgets, leading teams, creating supply chains, and even painting a few decks, all while working at a social good startup, Umanity. Umanity has created a philanthropic marketplace to improve resource distribution during disasters. Both of these companies helped me understand the pivotal role that businesses play in building sustainable communities. My passion for transformative entrepreneurship led me to apply to Venture for America, and ultimately, Atento, where the mission of helpfulness and community building aligned with my desire to create change.

I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in the United States. My paternal and maternal grandmothers, being entrepreneurs in Lagos, have inspired my professional journey, to be an agent of change, in the entrepreneurial ecosystems. Given the incredible impact they had on their families and communities, I always imagine what greater impact they would have made if they simply had access to capital.

With over a decade of experience, as a creative executive across digital health, media, technology, and lifestyle, I bring a strategic approach to business management. My far-reaching digital, media and social presence facilitate engagement and support for iconic brands around the globe. My career has been the intersection of creativity, culture, commerce, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Spanning the roles of creator, executive producer, and host of I of Africa, I  explore the stories of innovative thinkers, on the African continent and across the Diaspora, who are inspired by Africa. These stories of innovators across industries, from fashion and art to technology and music, and to film and venture capital world, provide a unique view into the creative and entrepreneurial minds, filtered through my cultivated global lens.

During my 13 - year career as a fashion model, my clients included Oscar De La Renta, Versace, Fendi, Alexandar McQueen, Akris, Bergdorf Goodman, Barney, Saks, and Celine.

I received an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BS in Public Health Administration from Temple University.

During my downtime, you can find me at a concert, obsessing over DJs, at an art gallery, traveling around the world, and producing creative projects. One of my future goals is to executive produce a feature film.

My personal and professional thesis has been to empower founders with access to capital, provide them with strategic and operational solutions, and create a positive impact in communities, in all corners of the world. Moving to Tulsa and joining Atento, affords me the opportunity to continue my path to build and create a positive impact, while being part of an exciting ever-evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

I’ve had a somewhat unconventional journey to arriving in Tulsa. I grew up living off the grid in Northern Idaho and so have an eye for all things related to agricultural sustainability. I also grew up as one of the only multi-cultural households in our area am highly sensitive to how communities define and expect conformity and “normalness”. In the wake of civil unrest in Albuquerque while I was attending the University of New Mexico, I changed my entire career path and accepted an offer to join Teach For America, Greater Tulsa in 2014.

My two years in the corps made me a life-long advocate of education and taught me just how interconnected the systems impacting education and educational success truly are. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to working in roles and responsibilities I know have a direct impact on growth – educational, social, environmental, and economical – for Tulsa and its community members.

I’m an active participant in my faith community, I’ve made close friendships with people here, volunteer with regularity, spend my money at locally owned vendors, restaurants, and service providers, and bought my first home here. I believe Tulsa is an optimal place to put forth efforts for both personal and professional growth and that while I can see success for myself I can also do the same for the broader community.  Here, we can be professionally ambitious without sacrificing personal connections and familial pursuits; we take the time to enjoy life’s pursuits without losing touch with our professional goals. The balance possible here, isn’t available in most places.

Coming soon.

Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I spent the majority of my life playing tennis. By the time I was 18 years old, I had competed from coast to coast against all the best US players my age. Most of the other top junior players were from big coastal cities, but I took pride in being a tennis player from Tulsa, and I have that same passion for my hometown today. I later played for the University of Tulsa, where I played on a team represented by eight different nationalities, and it was that immersive experience which gave me an appreciation for other languages, cultures, and people. After playing at TU, I tried my luck on the ATP tour. But as it turns out, it’s tough to make a living playing professional tennis, so I went back to school to complete my Spanish degree and pursue my MBA.

I first realized that I enjoyed business when I helped organize one of the largest tennis events in state history. The exhibition featured several of the highest ranked professional players in the world and served as a benefit for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma. Having volunteered as a Big Brother for several years, I wanted to help the organization at scale, and the best way I knew how was through tennis. The event raised funds and gained several new volunteers for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters. I've always had a passion for helping others, and through that event, I got my first business experience.

After completing my MBA at The University of Tulsa, I took a job at BOK Financial, where I always felt gratified working because of the incredible impact our chairman, Mr. George Kaiser, was making in the community. I spent the majority of my career as a fundamental equity analyst for the internal mutual fund company Cavanal Hill Investment Management, where I covered the Consumer Discretionary, Energy, REITs, and Communication Services sectors. While working on the buy-side, I became a CFA charter holder, and gained a strong interest in tech related businesses. I still love tennis and occasionally get to hit balls with my wife, Michelle (who played for the women's team at TU) but today I also enjoy riding bikes, doing yoga, and walking our dog. Michelle and I also love hanging out with friends and introducing others to the city of Tulsa!

Born and raised in Muskogee, OK, I am a Cherokee Nation citizen and first in my family to attend college. My career path has been winding, but my commitment to serving others has remained steadfast. While I loved my time in SF and NYC, I'm thrilled to be in Tulsa helping to tackle intergenerational poverty and create equitable economic opportunities.

After graduating from Oklahoma State University, I taught special education in Oklahoma City as part of Teach for America where I met my now husband. I moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley School of Law, and I also taught special education at City Arts and Technology High School in San Francisco. In California I discovered a love for hiking, backpacking, and all things outdoors, and I'm excited to explore all of the outdoor adventures the Heartland has to offer.

I started my legal career as part of the Ropes & Gray family advising clients on executive compensation and employee benefits matters. Thanks to Ropes' commitment to public service, I was also able to maintain a robust pro bono practice in immigration, non-profit formation, and disability rights. Most recently, I had the privilege of working at Smithline PC where I advised industry-leading SaaS/software companies on a variety of privacy, product, and technology matters.

I grew up in Lagos where community service and team sports were important in my childhood. I have led community service and international development projects as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Engineers Without Borders and World Economic Forum Global Shapers. I also founded a pro bono consultancy for small businesses. I am a rower and soccer goalkeeper: I was a member of the rowing and soccer teams of Sidney Sussex College at Cambridge University and Harvard Business School—I represented HBS in the Head Of The Charles Regatta.

Before Atento Capital, I was an investor at Pamoja Capital, the Geneva-based family office of the McCall MacBain Family and the McCall MacBain Foundation. Previously, I was a management consultant at Boston Consulting Group. At BCG, I worked in the Houston, London and Lagos offices and advised clients around the world. I started my career as an associate in General Electric’s Operations Management Leadership Program. At GE, I worked in multiple roles across different countries, most recently in a supply chain management consultant role. I earned a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in electrical engineering from the honors college of University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and a master’s degree in supply chain management from Pennsylvania State University. I also earned a master of public policy (MPP) from University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Through Atento, I am working to drive innovation and accelerate economic development in Tulsa and create a model that may be replicated in cities around the world.

Before I start my story of how I ended up in Oklahoma, take a moment and grab your beverage of choice! Depending on the time of day, mine is either black coffee or a nice pinot noir. Born in Minnesota, my family moved to Silicon Valley by the time I was four where I grew up and developed my excitement for STEM and new technologies. By the time I graduated from Santa Clara University with my B.Sc. in Biochemistry, I took on an Associate Scientist role at AbbVie Biotherapeutics in Redwood City. A little over two years later, with a thirst for new experiences and need for a cultural change, I moved to Oklahoma in summer of 2017 to pursue higher education.

During my time in Oklahoma as a graduate student, I joined the OK Catalyst team as one of the first hires and quickly became the Oklahoma Women Impacting STEM & Entrepreneurship Conference (OK-WISE) coordinator, overseeing the development and growth of the events. I helped raise over $20,000 in sponsorships, invited 62 local and national speakers, and successfully executed two 350+ attendee conferences in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Our team also helped 13 startups secure $13M in SBIR/STTR and $6M+ in private funding. With my background in scientific research, I sought out ways to contribute to our programs by starting the NIH SBIR Accelerator program designed to help faculty and graduate students win NIH SIBR funding. It was through these experiences that I realized a passion for the startup culture and desire to continue my journey in improving the technology and startup landscape of Oklahoma. All this work ultimately culminated in the honor as a 2020 NextGen Under 30 awardee in the Science and Technology category.

From my time planning the OK-WISE conference, I learned about the bustling developments in Tulsa and as I finished my MBA at the University of Oklahoma, I yearned to be involved. Atento means “helpful” in Spanish, and this truly speaks to the person that I am. From working in the lab at a pharmaceutical, to planning a conference for women to build their networks and to be showcased, or to starting a program dedicated to helping commercialize research discoveries, my mission has always been to create better opportunities for future generations by being helpful in any way I can. I truly believe that when you allow yourself to be open to new prospects, life gets more interesting.

I am a native of Anderson, SC who is passionate about technology, business, and community development. During my youth, I was an avid basketball player, which taught me teamwork, discipline and competitive grace, and led me to play on the varsity basketball team at Harvard College. There, I took advantage of as many opportunities as I could to broaden my interests, enhance my perspective and experience different walks of life.

This unlocked a lifelong obsession for Social Entrepreneurship within me, and in 2013, inspired me to co-found CommunityCode, an EdTech company that has taught computer science principles to thousands of diverse K-12 students, as well as educators and schools across the Southeastern US.

After participating in my own entrepreneurial journey, I knew that I also wanted to help other driven entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses. To this end, I spent time at Plexo Capital, a global venture capital fund that invests in woman- and minority-led startups and seed funds; in Tanzania at ZOLA Electric, a late-stage solar technology company that provides more than a million people across Africa with access to affordable solar energy; and in management consulting in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I completed my JD at Columbia Law School in New York, NY, earned my MBA at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in Berkeley, CA and have had the honor of being recognized as a 2015 Hive Global Leader, a 107.3 JAMZ 2015 Upstate Black History Maker, a 2016 Management Leadership for Tomorrow Fellow, a 2017 Consortium Fellow, a 2018 Forbes Fellow by Forbes Under 30, a 2018 Haas Social Impact Fund Award Winner, a 2018-2019 Rankin Fellowship Recipient, and a 2019 Beyond Yourself Fellow.

In my spare time, I’m a fitness enthusiast and licensed private pilot who loves to travel. I’m looking forward to becoming a part of the Tulsa community and am excited to play a role in driving economic impact, community development, financial returns and large-scale social change through my work at Atento Capital.

I'm a Cincinnati, Ohio native with stops in London, England and Washington D.C along the way. Having grown up in Cincinnati, I witnessed firsthand the transformation a city can go through when its government and residents are aligned on a mission to pursue growth and change for the good. It was this experience that turned me on to entrepreneurship and led me to begin interning at several startups in the city. Having deep roots in the area, I went to Xavier University to obtain my degree in Finance. At the end of my junior year, a friend mentioned a program called Venture for America (VFA). I applied and was accepted as the second student from Xavier ever to receive the fellowship. I spent a summer learning a multitude of skills from IDEO, Mckinsey, and Training the Street, and even met my now-wife! I eventually went on to serve my fellowship in Charlotte, North Carolina, where I worked in operations at a high-growth, cloud-based deal management software company. After realizing I wanted to experience life at an early-stage company, I moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where I worked as the first full-time employee in Biz Dev and Product Management within the construction technology space. I continue to be involved in VFA as a volunteer and supporter.

I met my incredible wife at a VFA job fair, where we were both pursuing roles at startups. We got married in June and packed our bags for Tulsa just a few weeks later! We have a dog named Griffey -- named after Ken Griffey Jr., of course. Outside of spending time with them, I love to read science fiction and history books, cook anything from Matty Matheson’s Cookbooks, play basketball, and watch the Bengals, Musketeers and Reds play. I have successfully summited Mt. Rainier and Kilimanjaro and hope to climb a few more down the road. When I’m not meeting or researching founders and tech companies for work, I’m writing about them in my weekly tech startup newsletter called Welcome to the Stage. 

In the documentary The Defiant Ones, famed record producer and founder of Interscope Records Jimmy Iovine described what it was like for him and Dr. Dre to meet Eminem for the first time, ignoring the advice of their peers not to meet with him. Despite the many critics who said someone from Detroit couldn't make it in music, Dr. Dre and Jimmy signed Eminem. When asked why, he simply said, “Greatness can come from anywhere.” I believe the same message applies to entrepreneurs -- today more than ever. The internet has helped level the playing field in the world of tech, and founders can emerge from anywhere. I’ve come to Tulsa and Atento because I want to make sure that all founders -- no matter where they are -- have the resources they need in order to innovate and grow incredible businesses. Atento is a firm that believes in being more than just a check to those founders innovating and growing their businesses. They’re truly dedicated to being the trailwise sidekicks every entrepreneur needs in order to be successful.

I am a Tulsa native who comes from humble beginnings. The youngest of five siblings and daughter of an African American mother and a Ghanaian father, I was raised in a single-parent home. My mom worked in non-profit as a recreation director for low-income housing. Watching her drive inspired me to work hard at an early age and taught me the importance of having a variety of skillsets. At the age of 10, I was folding “The Chronicle” (a neighborhood newsletter) to earn income. By 12, I was charging girls to style their hair during lunch at school and had convinced my aerobics and weightlifting teacher to let me use the locker room as my salon. By the time I graduated from high school, I was a licensed cosmetologist. I used that license to work my way through college, while also maintaining a work study in media relations. At the close of my post-secondary education from the University of Tulsa, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a minor in Chemistry. Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband Courtney, our daughters JoAnna and Allena, painting, and watching a lot of HGTV. 

Post-graduation, I followed in my mom’s footsteps and entered the non-profit sector for a span of 10 years. I worked as a Mentor Coordinator and a Director of Community Outreach. It was during that tenure that I discovered my strength in identifying gaps in compliance, developing processes, and finding ways to make processes more efficient. I am a proud alumna of Leadership Tulsa’s New Voices Class 11, the 2019 recipient of the Youth at Heart Alumnus Achievement Award, and the 2018 recipient of the Youth Work Professional Supervisor of the Year Award.

Atento’s mission falls in line with my personal mission. The word literally means “helpful” in Spanish. I am passionate about ending the generational cycle of poverty in my community. Our Atento team has been given the great gift of being at the forefront of nurturing and developing entrepreneurial talent, creating business sustainability, and in turn creating jobs in Tulsa. I am so honored to be a part of a team that is intelligent beyond measure and hungry for change.

I am originally from Dallas, TX but have called Tulsa home since 2014. I grew up as a ballet dancer and attribute my lack of skill in organized sports to the fact that I spent my youth years at the barre and not on the field. I am a Double Domer and received both my undergraduate and Masters degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!). I met my husband Reid while at ND, and we have a son, Anthony, who brings so much joy to our lives. I love running, show tunes, and have recently taken up piano.

After college, I began my career with Ernst & Young as a tax professional. I worked in both the Dallas and Tulsa offices for several years. I then had the opportunity to work for The McNellies Group as a Financial Associate and helped with analytics for 15+ restaurants. Most recently, I worked as an Associate for Argonaut Private Equity in Tulsa.

I have always wanted to have a voice and make a difference in the community where I live. In Tulsa, that opportunity is tangible. Since moving here in 2014, I have found that it is possible to be involved in the future of the city as a young person in her career. The united desire for a better Tulsa is real, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of the progress through my work at Atento.

I am a newlywed husband to Zoe, a father to Nova, a son of Brenda and Tommy, a brother and friend to many.  I am a graduate of The University of Tulsa with a Business Management degree and a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Family-Owned Business. While being a full-time student-athlete, I gained invaluable leadership experience as part of the TU Football team, as well as strategic involvement in organizations such as the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, Team Leadership Council, and the FCA Leadership Board. Ultimately, I returned to work for TU after my football career ended to mentor upcoming student-athletes as well. In my time at Transformation Church, I have held a variety of leadership roles including: Project Manager in the Office of the Pastor, Human Resources Recruiter, Executive Assistant to Lead Pastor, and Facilities & Building Assistant. More than any of the titles, I felt my role was to be a vision cultivator and help propel the organization through its exponential growth in the last three years.

Alongside my roles, I have continually worked with entrepreneurs and organizations in their development from ideation and strategic planning to marketing implementation. For me Tulsa is home. I am born and raised here and although I am well-traveled, I can not see myself calling anywhere else home (although a beach house in Miami for vacations will be nice one day). I know I am called to Tulsa and I am excited to be able to add to the economic growth of the city through walking with entrepreneurs and helping to cultivate their visions.

I was born in Taiwan and moved to Shanghai when I was 11. Then I came to the US for high school in Cherry Hill New Jersey, college in Boston, and graduate school in New York. The experience of living in many different cities and stepping out of my comfort zone shaped my personality of being independent, autonomous, and open to new and exciting challenges.

Before Atento Capital, I worked at EduLab Capital Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses exclusively on the education market, investing in business models that transcend the traditional education landscape. I worked at Bank of Shanghai’s Investment Banking Division where I supported a $300M commercial mortgage-backed securities deal. During my time at Deloitte’s Financial Advisory team, I conducted financial due diligence for a $1.7B foreign acquisition deal in the energy sector. I also worked for an employee training SaaS startup and helped the founders to expand sales to vocational schools. I earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston University with magna cum laude. In my senior year, I represented Boston University and achieved 1st place in the New England Finals of Venture Capital Investment Competition held by UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, and currently serving as a judge on the competition. I also earned a master’s in applied analytics at Columbia University.

I'm passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship, and creating positive impacts on people. Through Atento, I’m able to drive innovation, economic development, financial return, and large-scale social change through investments. My passions outside of work include traveling, music, basketball, video games, poker, and walking dog.