Desha Elliott

SpecialityDirector, Accion Opportunity Fund

Desha Elliott created her first tech company while studying for her Bachelor’s degree at Northern Kentucky University. Her namesake digital media and event company specialized in generating social media content and engagement for nonprofits and media companies. With the event side overseeing staffing and execution of marketing campaigns for multinational Brands like Cadillac, Kelloggs, and Rosa Regale.

Desha is the former Editor-in-Chief of Be Your Own Success Story Magazine (B.O.S.S), a nationally distributed educational publication for minority youth centered around highlighting success stories in business, entertainment, and tech. After getting her Master’s of Science in Management, Desha used her storytelling skills for pitch competitions and is the winner of the inaugural Celebration Bowl Hackathon, where she churned out PB7APP, an E-learning app that improves GPAs for student athletes. She served as the Director of Sponsorships and Strategic Partnerships at Rap Plug, Inc., a music tech platform. She is also the author of Hi My Name Is, and Entrepreneur’s Memo, guides written to help newbies with branding and entrepreneurship.

Wanting to impact diverse communities of color with investment, Desha coaches entrepreneurs on business development and accessing capital with the nation’s largest CDFI, Accion Opportunity Fund. When she’s not championing small businesses and finishing her PhD in Policy/Social Work at Clark Atlanta University, she enjoys basketball and art museums.

All session
by Desha Elliott