TeLisa Daughtry is an Award-Winning Serial Social Entrepreneur, Conscious Technologist, DEI+B / STEM / SDGs Advocate, Author, and Gender Equality Champion recognized for her impactful contributions to the technology sector.
As an entrepreneur, engineer, technologist, educator, investor, and speaker, TeLisa passionately addresses societal challenges aligned with the United Nations (Sustainable Development Goals) and UN Women (Women's Empowerment Principles). Through her commitment to empowering women, youth, and underrepresented groups to thrive in lucrative 21st-century opportunities; she actively promotes and facilitates their engagement in STEM education; emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, and Web 3; and entrepreneurship.
As an author and distinguished speaker at prestigious institutions including the US Department of State Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs, United Nations, and as a Google Women Techmakers ambassador, TeLisa utilizes her voice and visibility to educate, advocate, and elevate important and relevant topics in technology, entrepreneurship, gender equality, equity, and societal progress. She has been recognized and awarded by numerous government agencies, institutions, community organizations, and media publications; for her work, achievements, and advocacy in STEM education, gender equality, entrepreneurship, diversity, and. technology.
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I am passionate about:
innovation, design, technology, and entrepreneurship
As a lifelong learner, technologist, and multi-disciplined creative; TeLisa has received education and training in:
Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning, Google
Data Analytics, Data is Good
Artificial Intelligence for Business, Udacity
User Experience & Product Design, General Assembly
International Marketing, Boston University
Human Computer Interaction, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S. in Interactive Media Design, The New England Institute of Art
Visual & Applied Arts, Boston Arts Academy
Emerging Technologies (Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Development, Robotic Process Automation, and Augmented and Virtual Reality), PwC Digital Accelerator
As an entrepreneur and investor, she has completed entrepreneurial studies and training from:
BabsonX
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women
Bank of America + eCornell: Women’s Entrepreneurship Program
UC Berkeley Law/National Venture Capital Association
Y-Combinator Startup School
Founder Institute accelerator program
Made In NY Media Center by IFP: Creative»Founder Lab program
empowering women & girls in S.T.E.A.M. and entrepreneurship
As the Founder & CTO of FlyTechnista, mobile app; Founder of STEEAMnista, a non-profit that seeks to increase the visibility, participation, and leadership of women & girls in S.T.E.A.M.; and a Founding Partner & Impact Investor at FemX Ventures, a private fund and launchpad for female founders; TeLisa has created products, executed initiatives, and shaped policies to empower women, youth, and underrepresented groups to participate in technology and entrepreneurship; in support of the United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals; WeEmpower, UN Women, Women's Empowerment Principles; and Computer Science for All; which have successfully engaged thousands of women and girls globally.
TeLisa has been awarded and recognized by numerous government agencies, institutions, community organizations, and media publications for her work, achievements, and advocacy in STEAM education, technology, women's empowerment and diversity.
building inclusive & equitable environments
As an award-winning diversity, equity, inclusion expert & coach; and previously Founder of DEI Dojo, a Diversity Equity and Inclusion consultancy; she brings passion and proven experience in building diverse teams, creating inclusive and equitable environments; and has developed DEI strategies for more than 200+ enterprises; helping to reduce turnover, ensure pay equity, advance women in leadership, and create equitable outcomes. Additionally, she has completed education, studies, and training in Cross-Cultural Leadership and Innovative Entrepreneurship with focuses on bridging the gap between Islamic, Jewish, and African-American communities, as an Ariane de Rothschild Fellow.
using my voice & visibility to educate, advocate, and illuminate
As a keynote speaker and speaker at the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs and United Nations; TeLisa uses her voice and visibility to educate, advocate, and elevate important and relevant topics on international platforms. She has been listed as “1,000 Women in Tech and Science Speakers” by MIC; and named “Top 50 Visionary Women in Tech to Watch in 2017” by Innov8tiv Magazine, and was named “50 Most Influential Women Entrepreneurs in New York City” by My Boss Tribe.
She is the author of "A FlyTechnista's Guide to Getting Started in Web3 A to Z", "Learn, Lead, Launch: A FlyTechnista's Guide to Tech FLY & Hustle FLY", a co-author of "A Collective Breath: Stories of Being Black in America and Visions of Change", and a co-author of “Own the Microphone: How 50 of the World's Best Professional Speakers Launched Their Careers (And How You Can, Too!)”, and a featured story in Behind Her Vision: Women of New York City.
She has frequently spoken at The White House; United Nations; G7 Summits; conferences such as Grace Hopper Celebration, SXSW Edu, Google Women Techmakers; corporate events such as American Heart Association: STEM Goes Red; as well as institutions such as Harvard University, Wellesley College, and Babson; and has been featured on television, radio, and in publications such as Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Create & Cultivate, Fox News, Black Enterprise, Cheddar TV, CNN, CBS Radio, Salon, Good Day New York, WeRule, Bustle, BOLD, SWAAY, and more.
Awards & Accolades
2024
Women in Innovation (Advisory Council)
UN Women - Commission on the Status of Women (Delegate)
CUNY: Practicioner's in Residence Corps (Technology Adjunct Professor)
2023
Google Women Techmakers (Ambassador)
Luminary x UBS (Fellow)
BEYA: Champions of the Metaverse Award (Honoree)
2021
WE Empower SDGs Challenge (Finalist)
UN Women UK - Commission on the Status of Women (Delegate)
2020
UN Women - Women's Empowerment Principles Award (Honoree)
COLOR Magazine, All-Inclusive Leadership Award (Honoree)
Udacity Tech Scholar - A.I. in Business, (nanodegree candidate)
Inner City Capital Connections, Fall 2020 (Fellow)
AllRaise Visionary Voices (speaker)
Stanford Graduate School of Business, Rebuild program (participant)
Women's Empowerment Principles (signatory)
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Black & Latinx Information Science Technology Support, Women in Tech (Honoree)
California State Assembly, Women in S.T.E.A.M. (Honoree)
Cabrillo High School Engineering & Design, Women in STEAM (Honoree)
US Department of State Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs (speaker)
2019
VC University, Fall 2019 (Fellow)
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, Fall 2019 (Fellow)
American Express & Ashoka: Emerging Innovators (Fellow)
SWAAY (founding member)
Bank of America / eCornell, Women Entrepreneurship Program (Fellow)
2018
My Boss Tribe, 50 Most Influential Women Entrepreneurs in NYC (Honoree)
2017
ACT4 Award, Diversity in Tech (Honoree)
The Ariane de Rothschild (Fellow)
eBay Startup Cup (Finalist)
MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (participant)
Y-Combinator Startup School (participant)
Tech.co: Startup of the Year (participant)
Social Enablers #SE100 (Fellow)
1,000 Women in Tech Speakers' by Mic.com, Melanie Ehrenkranz
200 Black Women in Tech to Follow on Twitter #200BWT, BlackWomenTech.com
Code Interactive: 2017 Diversity in Tech Awards (Finalist)
Leading Woman Entrepreneur (nominee)
Tech Crunch Disrupt, Pitchoff (Winner)
Nespresso Innovation Challenge (Winner)
UNCF, STEM Scholars (volunteer)
Women@Forbes, (Advisor)
Top 50 Visionary Women in Tech to Watch in 2017, Innov8tiv Mag
2016
The White House: Computer Science for All #CSforAll (participant)
The White House: United State of Women, Changemaker (nominee)
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (ambassador)
Centre for Social Innovation: Women's Lab (founding member)
Dreamers//Doers (founding member)
Made in NY Media Center by IFP, Creative >> Founder Lab (participant) / Women in Tech (scholarship recipient)
2015
Best for NYC Challenge (participant)
The Founder Institute (participant)
2010
Pepsi Refresh Project (participant)