The NBMBAA Institute proposes a bold, integrated ecosystem for Maryland — combining AI readiness, entrepreneurship education, and stackable credentials to create a self-sustaining engine of economic mobility and generational wealth.
The NBMBAA Institute is a collaborative think tank dedicated to advancing economic development for underestimated communities. By leveraging the power of AI and modern, real-world business practices, the Institute empowers emerging leaders to become more self-reliant, resilient, and growth-ready.
Maryland has the opportunity to set a national standard for workforce development — one that goes beyond job placement to build a self-sustaining ecosystem of business ownership, AI readiness, and economic independence.
Entry point for all members. Connect with 12,000+ professionals, access chapters, events, and national leadership through a trusted, members-only hub.
Discover your strengths and career pathway. Psychometric + adaptive testing via IRT identifies dominant Genius Factors and links them to organizational roles.
Pro Learning+, Grey AI readiness, Gravy Wealth ownership pathways, or Trades Apprenticeship — every path is personalized to your goals and profile.
Career advancement, AI readiness, business ownership, skilled trades mastery, and wealth creation — every path leads to your transformation.
On-demand access to a comprehensive platform featuring certification prep, leadership development, and curated learning pathways across business, technology, and professional skills.
Research-backed enterprise tools that move organizations from AI exploration to full adoption — integrating assessments, talent systems, and change management for measurable transformation.
An ownership education and access platform helping individuals transition from earner to owner through five strategic pathways: Advise, Create, Build, Acquire, and Launch.
Designed to work together as a cohesive experience, directly supporting the Governor's priorities across workforce development, economic empowerment, displaced professional reintegration, and long-term small business growth.
Build a statewide, AI-enabled platform that transitions workforce participants from skilled earners to business owners through entrepreneurship education, vetted service providers, expert access, and an always-on AI assistant — closing the gap in Maryland's existing workforce ecosystem where participants learn the trade but never learn to own the business.
Integrate applied AI literacy directly into entrepreneurship, small business development, and workforce programming — ensuring Maryland residents build and operate AI-enabled businesses from day one. This initiative addresses both the ownership gap and the AI fluency gap, because the most effective path to ownership in 2026 requires AI competency.
Provide Maryland residents with live and virtual learning pathways, nationally recognized certifications, and AI-powered job search tools to accelerate reemployment, wage growth, and long-term economic mobility. Three integrated components: AI Literacy in the Job Search, Infinite On-Demand Education, and Stackable Credentials for nationally accredited exams.
30+ years of Fortune 500 leadership across Fanatics, Holland America Line, Marsh & McLennan, Coca-Cola, and Motorola.
Global change and innovation leader; two decades in finance and human capital, international speaker and certified executive coach.
Former Google & LinkedIn executive, Harvard Business School MBA — redefining wealth through ownership and long-term asset building.
Former senior AI roles at Meta and X. Creator of the GREY Score™ and SPARK Score™ — champion for inclusive AI development and governance.
Founded Black Women In Artificial Intelligence in 2020 — grown to a global movement on five continents in partnership with Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Amazon.
Founder of DDI and creator of Bridging the Code™. 40+ years in enterprise technology at IBM and Microsoft, ethical AI governance expert.
Leads a culture-forward, AI-native media platform empowering Black and Brown communities through literacy, authorship, and digital agency.
Workforce development strategist leading university partnerships, designing career readiness and AI-focused programming for emerging talent.
If piloted successfully, this positions Maryland as the national model in ownership-driven workforce transformation — replicable across all 50 states.