Joy Randels

CEO AND BOARD CHAIR, PROWESS GROUP & NEW MARKET PARTNERS, Bradenton

Randels started venture capital fund New Market Partners in 2005 and Prowess Group in 2018. Prowess’s team guides founders and CEOs in scaling companies, strategic growth and securing investment capital. The company has worked with more than 500 CEOs in companies ranging from startups to IPOs and post-acquisition to a few “grown-up” tech companies. “I’ve built and successfully exited 10 companies and lived through two miserable failures,” Randels says. “I launched Prowess Group to help other founders achieve success and avoid challenges I’ve lived through.”

EDUCATION: University of Georgia (BS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS)

MENTOR: My father was my mentor, and even though I lost him when I was 16 and he was 45, he imparted invaluable lessons on integrity, resilience, and the pursuit of one's dreams. He told me I could accomplish anything but to remember each achievement also requires sacrifice.

INSPIRATIONAL FLORIDIAN: Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, the first and only female chief of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, serves as a source of inspiration for me. Her unwavering commitment to her community's well-being, resilience in the face of adversity, and pioneering leadership exemplify the transformative power of courage, perseverance, and advocacy. Her legacy continues to resonate, inspiring future generations of indigenous women leaders.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA
“‘No Hype, Just Hustle!’ Ignore the hype of startups and tech innovators that you see in the press. In today’s volatile business landscape, authenticity, perseverance, and hard work are the true drivers of success.”