Damon Cox is currently the Head of Next Practice and Inclusive Growth at MassChallenge, one of the world's largest business accelerators. He is responsible for identifying and supporting emerging technologies and working to ensure existing tech and emerging spaces are diverse and inclusive. He oversees the organization's international Bridge program and MC's Development efforts.

Prior to joining MassChallenge, Damon served as the Secretary for Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship for Massachusetts. For four years, he set the vision for the commonwealth's innovation and tech efforts, notably in FinTech, BioTech, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Robotics. Also during that time, he served as the President & CEO of The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, where he led the organization during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Cox oversaw that organization's deployment of over $30mil in grants, including funding to support new Covid testing solutions.

Prior to that role, he reestablished The Boston Foundation's economic development portfolio of investments focusing on workforce development, innovation, and economic mobility, where he steered capital and support to women and underrepresented minorities starting businesses.

In addition, he led a joint effort with MassChallenge, to increase participant diversity, resulting in 30 women- and minority-led start-ups completing rigorous business training and mentorship. Damon held leadership roles at Boston Small Business Competition and Boston Rising, providing capital and technical assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs in Boston's inner-city neighborhoods.

Earlier in his career, Cox worked in the entertainment and music industry in New York City, working with artists Lil Wayne, Elton John, Boyz II Men, and Nelly. Damon earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of North Florida.

Melissa L. Bradley is the Founder and Managing Partner of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates New Majority entrepreneurs from high potential to high growth and co-founder of New Majority Ventures, a purpose-driven media brand featuring content that is entertaining, inspirational and actionable so that these entrepreneurs and their businesses survive and thrive. Melissa is the former Co-Chair of the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and was named to the 2022 Forbes 50 Over 50 list for social entrepreneurship. 

Lisa is the Vice-President of Global Brand Marketing & Communications at ThriveDX.  A 20-yr marketing veteran, Lisa has developed a reputation as a seasoned executive, builder, and innovator who leads teams in building marketing strategies that amplify brands in ways that inspire and create experiences that drive growth and transformation.

Over her career, Lisa has held leadership roles in global branding, marketing, and communications strategies for companies such as Microsoft, Xbox Live, Marriott, Duracell, Verizon/AOL, Facebook, Google, and Deloitte. Known as a force multiplier, she has spent the majority of her career focused on driving global business growth and building high-performing teams specializing in capturing market share and visibility for new and emerging products by leading innovation initiatives.

Lisa is a champion for building great leaders as well as advocating for diversity and inclusivity at every level of an organization. 

Jennefer Witter is the chief executive officer and founder of The Boreland Group Inc. (TBG – www.theborelandgroup.com), a 20-year-old boutique public relations firm headquartered in New York City. The agency specializes in women-led and minority owned businesses. It was selected by TheStreet.com as one of five national, black owned businesses “making a buzz”. Jennefer was named one of the nation’s “10 most successful black CEOS and entrepreneurs” by MadameNoire Magazine, and her company was recognized as one of 12 black-owned businesses to be “loved by its community and beyond” by ThriveGlobal (https://tinyurl.com/y7k4a6hw).

Witter is also an active public speaker on business development and implicit bias topics. She is a TedX speaker, and has presented at numerous high-level venues including The Pentagon, The Brookings Institution, Columbia University and Latham & Watkins. She received a DEI certificate from Cornell University and a certificate in racial equity from Northwestern University. Witter is the author of “The Little Book of Big PR: 100+ Quick Tips to Get Your Business Noticed” (AMACOM/HarperCollins). Connect with her on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenneferwitter/.  

Maricella Herrera Avila is the CEO of Ellevate Network, the largest community for women+ at work focused on creating a culture of equity and inclusion in business. She oversees overall business operations, growth and strategy, and works closely with Ellevate's Chapter Leaders, Business Partners, and Champions to further Ellevate's impact. 

As a strategy executive with 15 years of experience building and scaling teams, brands and businesses, Maricella has led the creation of impactful programming such as the annual Mobilize Women Summit, which reaches thousands of professionals across the globe and is supported by some of the world’s leading companies. Maricella is also the host of the Ellevate Podcast, Conversations with Women Changing the Face of Business. Through her 10-year career at Ellevate Network, she has managed the business through an acquisition, a re-brand, and a full operational/workforce transformation. 

Prior to Ellevate, Maricella held several positions in real estate banking at Banamex, Citi’s Mexican subsidiary, where she worked on providing credit funding for low income housing development projects in the north of Mexico. 

Maricella received a BA in Financial Management from ITESM in Mexico and an MBA from Columbia Business School. 

Nicole Javanna Johnson is the Founder & Creative Director of the Harriet Tubman Effect Institute www.harriettubmaneffect.com, a human resource center and institute of research and strategy for justice advocacy. The institute seeks to usher in a new era of empathy by producing empathy-driven artistry, participatory action research, and human resource initiatives. Nicole is also the Founder of Javanna Productions M.O.V.E. www.proudtobeamover.com, a non-profit arts and education company that provides community members with the resources and platforms necessary to address social issues creatively. A member of SAG-AFTRA and a leader in the educational theater community, Nicole is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at New York University (NYU) in the Music and Performing Arts Department of the School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Nicole has served as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director on Passover at the August Wilson Theater, Freestyle Love Supreme, Strange Loop, Dana H, Is This a Room, and A Christmas Carol. Nicole also works with arts departments at Columbia, NYU, Augsburg University, and New York City Department of Education schools.