LAURYN NWANKPA
Co-Managing Director, Brand Citizens
Lauryn Nwankpa is a social impact strategist, start- up advisor and investor, and entrepreneur. Drawn to inherently impact-driven organizations, Lauryn primarily focuses on developing and implementing effective strategies to engage diverse audiences, build sustainable and scalable social impact initiatives and promote diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Lauryn’s social impact philosophy is grounded in pushing brands beyond traditional conceptions of corporate social responsibility to sustain robust impact practices company-wide. Lauryn is committed to driving stakeholder value, and increasing access to key resources leading to the empowerment and self-actualization of marginalized communities.
Lauryn is the Co-Managing Director of Brand Citizens, a strategic consultancy spun out from renowned ad agency 72andSunny. Prior to Brand Citizens, Lauryn was the Head of Social Impact at Dave, an industry leading disruptor of the traditional banking industry helping millions of members solve immediate financial challenges through interest-free income advances, dynamic budgeting and savings tools and access to gig economy and full-time jobs. Lauryn spearheaded the company’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion strategy, built the data infrastructure for product, people and community centric impact measurement and reporting, and wrote the company’s inaugural Social Impact report.
Prior to joining Dave, Lauryn was Head of Social Impact at Headspace where she worked to ensure Headspace was accessible, relevant and affordable to all. Lauryn established Headspace for Educators, the Headspace’s flagship social impact program, was a founding member of the diversity, equity and inclusion taskforce, and deepened Headspace’s role in the greater LA community through strategic philanthropic and nonprofit partnerships. Lauryn is a member of the Santa Monica Tech Council, is an early stage start-up advisor through the Economic Development Collaborative, and is on the Board of Directors of ChargerHelp!, an early stage start up at the intersection of EV infrastructure and workforce development. Lauryn also serves as a mentor for the Jackie Robinson Foundation and Creative Futures.
Lauryn’s career began in Baltimore, where she specialized in development, community outreach, and youth enrichment programming. Lauryn then became a social impact film producer specializing in media production in the areas of education, victims’ services, and civil and human rights.
Lauryn holds a B.A. in Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago, and a Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship from The Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Education from Johns Hopkins University.