IWEE Names New Board to Drive Women Entrepreneurship in Maryland
Event summary
- IWEE appoints 2026-2027 board of directors with 9 members, including representatives from Maryland HBCUs and private sector leaders.
- Arti Santhanam of Applied Neurons named chair, Treava Hopkins-Laboy of EEO Services LLC named vice chair.
- Board includes professionals from Morgan State University, Coppin State University, and private equity firm Blue Fire Equity.
- IWEE was established in 2022 in collaboration with four Maryland HBCUs to empower women entrepreneurs.
- TEDCO's president Tammi Thomas highlights expansion of resources and opportunities for Maryland entrepreneurs.
The big picture
The appointment of IWEE's new board comes as Maryland's entrepreneurial ecosystem seeks to address persistent gender disparities in access to capital and resources. With representation from both academia and private industry, the board aims to strengthen the organization's foundation and expand its reach. This governance shift reflects broader trends in nonprofit leadership, where cross-sector collaboration is increasingly seen as key to driving systemic change.
What we're watching
- Governance Dynamics
- How the new board composition will influence IWEE's strategic direction and program expansion.
- Program Impact
- Whether the board's diverse expertise can translate into measurable outcomes for women entrepreneurs.
- Ecosystem Growth
- The pace at which IWEE can scale its cohort-style programming and access to capital initiatives.