Latresa McLawhorn Ryan

Latresa McLawhorn Ryan is the founder and CEO of Blackbird Strategy Group - a capital markets advisory services firm focused on capital deployment strategies rooted in equity to expand access to capital. With a personal purpose and career focused on creating economic security and sustainable generational wealth, she has more than 20 years of experience as a trusted advisor with a unique ability to make complex ideas compelling by combining critical thinking with practical implementation.

Prior to founding Blackbird Strategy Group, she served as the founding Executive Director of the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative (AWBI) where she raised and facilitated over $36M in capital to support small business growth, development–– and ultimately, survival at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before joining AWBI, Latresa held leadership roles at SunTrust Bank, Operation Hope, and as an attorney serving clients nationally.