Our Board
DRIVE SOCIAL IMPACT
For us, entrepreneurship isn't just a career, it's a mindset. Our programs, centered on entrepreneurial education, shift thinking from curiosity to action — preparing the next generation of Black changemakers to thrive in any career path they choose. As our in-demand educational framework continues to expand across the country, we need accomplished leaders like you with the passion to drive impact.
As a board member, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organization and your expertise and guidance will help us amplify our impact. Together, we’ll create a stronger, more equitable future for all.
The social and financial influence of our Board members helps us close the economic inequality gap and ignite the powerful futures that budding innovators and curious creators are eager to claim. As early as
14 years old, many of our young change agents have successfully established businesses, created cutting-edge technology and launched social impact initiatives.
Elevate your impact, build your legacy, and become a driving force for change by joining
The Gray Matter Experience's board.
MEET OUR BOARD
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Britney Robbins
As a catalyst for social change, Britney Robbins leverages entrepreneurial values to maximize opportunities for economic inclusion. In her role as Founder and CEO of The Gray Matter Experience, she empowers young people to strengthen their ties to self and society through experiential learning and leveraging entrepreneurial values. Since 2016, TGME has connected nearly 1000 Black youth to opportunities that propel their futures forward, serving as the paramount blueprint for entrepreneurship education across the country.
An innovator within Chicago’s business and tech community, Britney has partnered with some of the city’s top venture capital firms and incubators. Through her work with CAST US, a multi-million dollar Black-owned Capital firm and Accelerator, Britney has built connections across generational, financial, and status divides, creating more access and resources for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Most recently, Britney designed and spearheaded the Frederick Douglass Entrepreneurial Development & Leadership Institute (EDLI), a non-profit spinoff of CAST-US dedicated to empowering disinvested entrepreneurs to succeed with personalized connection to an ecosystem of resources and support.
She has been awarded and recognized as a trailblazer and champion for social justice by Essence, Ebony, Forbes, Chicago Bulls, Ariel Investments, City of Chicago and others for her significant contributions to the corporate, finance, and civic leadership communities.
Chika Umeadi co-founded Tiphub, a firm specialized in supporting African and African Diaspora-focused startups at the intersection of technology and impact. Since its inception in 2014, tiphub has engaged over 100 companies through programs, funding, mentorship, and technology assistance yielding to top partnerships with companies like the NBA, Uber, Google, and State Farm and $10 million raised by companies to date.
While he’s not working with start-ups through Tiphub, Chika is a Product Manager at Google. He also advises and supports Cornell Pharma, a pharmaceutical company based in New Jersey with operations in Nigeria and Kenya. Cornell Pharma’s mission is to bring cost-effective oncology and anti-infective therapeutics to underserved markets leveraging innovative manufacturing and delivery mechanisms.
Chika received his MBA from the Kogod School of Business at American University and his Bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Chika Umeadi
Seth Green
Seth Green is a university administrator and social entrepreneur with a passion for expanding educational opportunities.
Currently, he serves as the Dean of the Graham School at the University of Chicago.
Before joining Graham, Seth was the founding director of the Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility at Loyola University Chicago and, before that, he served as the executive director of Youth & Opportunity United. Earlier in his career, Seth served as a consultant at McKinsey & Company.
Seth speaks, writes, and teaches about social innovation. His commentaries and research have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Fortune Magazine, the Journal of Business Research, and the Social Innovations Journal. He has been a featured guest on Slate Podcasts, C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, MSNBC, and CNN, and his efforts have been covered by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Seth holds a law degree from Yale University, master degrees from Oxford University and the London School of Economics, and a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.
Layla Lumpkin
Layla Lumpkin is a business advisor, corporate attorney, and investor. She is a partner in the Corporate Transactions & Securities Practice at Thompson Hine LLP and focuses her practice on venture capital and emerging company transactions and mergers and acquisitions.
Layla mentors underrepresented founders and frequently presents on and writes about early-stage companies, venture capital and small business legal issues. She also teaches entrepreneurship law and venture capital finance as an adjunct law professor.
Layla supports local non-profits as an active member of the Junior League and Impact100. She previously served as Associate Board Chair for a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides resources to social entrepreneurs.
Layla received a Law Degree from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida A&M University.
Pamela Randle
As a recognized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Notable Executive by Crain’s Business in 2021, Pamela has 20 years of senior leadership experience in corporate, financial services, and higher education. She has pioneered several large-scale initiatives, such as the Small Business Administration program for a financial institution, oversaw a $50B portfolio as a Product Executive, and led National Training and Conversion activities that improved efficacies. In her current role as Sr. Business Consultant for the Minority Entrepreneur Initiative, she was first in the seat and a crucial member in creating, testing and executing this program.
Investing in her community has always been important to Pamela. She has served as a coach and executive mentor to businesses in Chicago Metro Communities. As a leader in the DE&I space, she has focused her efforts on expanding the number of successful minority-owned businesses. Pamela has evaluated start-up, business expansion, and acquisition strategies across industries. She believes in the power of mentoring and the synergy of teamwork by leveraging internal and external partnerships.
She serves on several advisory boards and has been featured in various media outlets including Cheddar, AWBC, Magazine, Radio, Crain’s, and other print publications. In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring and empowering young women.
Pamela is an adjunct graduate professor and holds a Bachelor’s in Business Management from National Louis University, a Master’s in Marketing Communication from Roosevelt University, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Leadership and Innovation.