KENASHA PAUL

FOUNDER & CEO, BLACK PROFESSIONALS NETWORK, MIAMI

Miami has one of the most diverse entrepreneurial communities in the country, and Paul is one of the leaders at its center. For nearly two years, she led the Venture Miami Opportunity Program, a partnership between Florida International University and city government focused on helping minority startup founders connect with investors. As a Florida International University student, Paul led the Black Student Union, now numbering more than 20,000 members, and she serves as president of Black Alumni Chapter. She founded the Black Professionals Summit in 2014, with the organization later becoming the non-profit Black Professionals Network. Paul grew up in a Haitian immigrant family in Miami, studied political science, international relations and English at FIU, and later graduated with a law degree from Nova Southeastern University. She serves as a shareholder in the Miami Millennial Investment Firm, a real estate organization that encourages young professionals to invest in and revitalize urban communities. Paul also works as a business consultant for the Miami Minority Business Development Agency.

EDUCATION: Florida International University (BA), Nova Southeastern University (JD)