Speaker's Profile

La Keisha Landrum Pierre is a force in venture capital: a purpose-driven investor, strategic operator, and three-time founder who brings clarity and structure to complexity. Her career reflects a singular focus—reshaping industries and building systems that create financial and societal impact at scale.As Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Emmeline Ventures, La Keisha leads a pioneering investment firm investing in women-led businesses, driving innovation in women’s health, wealth, and well-being. Emmeline Ventures stands as a bold answer to an inequitable system—fueling founders who are not just building businesses but rewriting paradigms.La Keisha is also the Executive Chairwoman of the Civic Media Lab, an initiative she co-founded in partnership with Omidyar Network, Luminate, MacArthur Foundation, and the National Endowment for Democracy.As the former CEO of Sahara Reporters Media Group, La Keisha built and scaled the organization into one of the most influential digital media platforms in West Africa and globally. Under her leadership, Sahara Reporters redefined the role of media in advancing governance transparency, secured multimillion-dollar partnerships, and became a global model for impact-driven digital storytelling. Today, as Chairwoman, she continues to guide its strategic partnerships and mentor the next generation of leaders.Her career has been shaped by her ability to see opportunities at the intersection of strategy, community, and impact: Founding and working with startups at the Harvard Innovation Lab, including one that exited to HudlHealth. Collaborating with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School to advance research at the nexus of technology and inclusion. Driving innovation and equity in the administration of Cambridge, MA’s first Black LGBTQ mayor.La Keisha is a sought-after speaker who has shared her expertise at premier institutions and events, including Harvard, NYU Stern, USC, Carnegie Mellon, Women’s Capital Summit, AWS Founders Events, LA Tech Week, and more.