Tammy Charles was born in the vibrant mosaic of Queens, New York City, to Haitian immigrant parents who carried dreams as vast as the ocean they crossed. From a young age, she felt a profound calling—not just to navigate the world but to transform it.
As the Chief Revenue Officer at the Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) since June 2021, Tammy has become a beacon of visionary leadership. She spearheads transformative initiatives that amplify Black ownership and equitable participation in the innovation landscape. Under her strategic guidance, she leads a $300 million capital campaign aimed at reshaping the ecosystem to be more inclusive and representative, having cumulatively raised over $30 million to enhance economic mobility and foster inclusive entrepreneurship.
Tammy’s multifaceted expertise encompasses fundraising, revenue generation, and the building and execution of complex business models. She leverages artificial intelligence to streamline sales processes, enhancing efficiency and impact. Her skills in grant writing, proposal development, and overall revenue strategy have been pivotal in driving growth for philanthropic initiatives. A master storyteller and pitch strategist, Tammy excels in building relationships with funders, crafting compelling narratives that resonate and inspire action.
Her proficiency extends to co-investment strategies, leveraging capital through funder coalitions, and fostering communities of practice to drive funding. She adeptly navigates cross-sector partnerships, recognizing the power of collaboration in achieving systemic change. Tammy is also skilled in crafting sound funder communications strategies, ensuring alignment and engagement with key stakeholders.
As the founder and Chief Strategist of Inovo Strategic Consulting, she leads a boutique firm specializing in strategic philanthropy and leadership development. Additionally, her passion for academic allowed her to serve as an adjunct professor and lecturer at the University of Tampa and Hillsborough Community College, where she taught courses in management and social entrepreneurship. As an ecosystem architect, she founded Tampa Bay Spark, an initiative connecting professionals and innovators to foster collaboration across the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Her notable achievements include securing an unprecedented $8 million from major funders toward a $50 million initiative—the largest investment in the Black-serving ecosystem to date—and leading the TIME Closers Project, highlighting 18 leaders, including Issa Rae, who are closing the racial wealth gap. Tammy has secured funding to launch two tech products to support inclusive entrepreneurs and provided direct funding and technical support to diverse ecosystem builders.
Residing in Tampa Bay with her two cats, Oscar and Olivia (Livvie), Tammy enriches her life through faith, attending church, hiking, traveling, enjoying time on the water, attending jazz shows, and indulging in her favorite Netflix series. She embodies executive excellence and thought leadership, leveraging her diverse expertise to drive meaningful change and shape a more inclusive and prosperous future in the innovation economy.
