From Sharecroppers to Strategic Leadership
In Her Own Words
I'm the great-great-great-granddaughter of Monroe Graham, born in Africa around 1800, brought to Charleston, South Carolina, and sold as an enslaved child. His descendants, my grandparents, became sharecroppers in North Carolina. My mother escaped picking cotton—her older siblings did not.
I am my ancestors' wildest dreams.
My career has spanned the music industry, municipal economic development, cultural institution leadership, and commercial real estate—not by accident, but by learning to architect access across sectors. I've raised tens of millions of dollars, secured gubernatorial appointments in two states, and built pathways where none existed.
This isn't luck. It's a replicable system:
INHERITANCE → What you start with (cultural wealth, community ties, knowledge)
CONVERSION → How visibility becomes access (advocacy, strategic positioning)
ACCUMULATION → Building bridges across sectors (government → nonprofit → corporate → real estate)
TRANSFER → Institutionalizing individual success (Project REAP does this at scale)
Testimonials
"Taneshia Nash Laird is an absolute rockstar. Her dynamic leadership and genuine passion for community impact are truly remarkable. I was paired with Taneshia as my mentor through a Women In Music program, and she was integral in my decision to launch RAMPD—a global network for Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities. Today, RAMPD is an award-winning, Ford Foundation-funded, U.N.-recognized organization partnering with everyone from the Grammys to Netflix. Taneshia's ability to inspire is unparalleled. She was—and is—a true game-changer."
— Recording Artist Lachi, Founder of RAMPD
“They say ‘Success leaves clues…’ and if you follow Taneshia close enough—even from afar—you’ll receive a masterclass in execution. She’s a visionary leader who knows no bounds. Everything she touches is made better by her ability to strategize and see things through. Taneshia has spoken to our group of nonprofit professionals a few times, and each time we left full of gems. She’s transparent about her journey as a Black woman CEO and generous in offering tools others can use to reach the C-suite. A dynamic speaker and true servant leader in our sector—highly recommend.”
— Tyneisha Gibbs, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective
