Bio
Ayana Parsons is an extraordinary entrepreneur, visionary executive, and charismatic speaker on an unwavering mission to drive global change through inclusive leadership and economic freedom. Her mission in life is to empower generations to reach their full potential, both professionally and personally. She envisions a world where there is a level playing field for all, a world where historically disadvantaged, underrepresented, and marginalized people can rightly take their places in the leadership ranks of business and have equal access to the best quality of life.
She has over two decades of experience as a venture capitalist, organizational consultant, corporate executive, and entrepreneur. Ayana leverages her deep expertise in consumer markets, business strategy, general management, enterprise leadership, board and top team effectiveness, and diversity, equity, and inclusion to help catalyze and drive peak performance in leaders, boards, and enterprises.
She is Co-Founder and General Partner at the Fearless Fund, the first venture capital fund created for women of color by women of color. The fund was formed in 2019 to eradicate the racial and gender disparities that exist in venture capital. Today, the fund has a diverse and dedicated team of committed professionals who have invested $30 million in more than 40 companies, driving substantial economic impact.
Ayana’s expertise paved the way for a remarkable career in leadership consulting. She held influential roles at firms like Heidrick and Struggles and as Senior Partner, Board & CEO Inclusion at Korn Ferry, where she spearheaded the firm’s global commitment to diversifying the ranks of leadership at the highest levels.
Prior to Fearless Fund and Korn Ferry, Ayana co-founded Yardstick Management alongside her husband, Dr. Ebbie Parsons. Yardstick eventually became the nation’s leading Blacked-owned management consulting firm, providing organizational strategy, DEI support as well as talent management expertise to hundreds of distinguished clients. In 2022, Yardstick was named Best in Business in Management Consulting by Inc. Magazine. The company was successfully sold to a private equity firm in January 2023.
As a testament to her commitment to diversity and inclusion at the highest levels, Ayana served as a cabinet member of Stanford University’s Clayman Institute for Gender Research where she provided invaluable thought leadership on closing the gender gap in corporate boardrooms and in the executive suite. She also served as the Global Head of Retail, Consumer Goods, and Lifestyle Industries at the World Economic Forum where she led the preeminent global discussions in Davos, Switzerland on all topics related to her respective industries.
A seasoned corporate executive, Ayana’s industry career spans sales, marketing, strategy, and general management roles at several of the world’s most admired companies including Philips, Pfizer, Kimberly-Clark, and Procter & Gamble.
Born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ayana attended Oral Roberts University on a Division I basketball scholarship and completed her studies at Florida A&M University, where she earned an MBA in Marketing. Ayana resides between St Maarten, Atlanta and coastal Georgia with her husband, Dr. Parsons, and two young daughters.
