2025 Women of Excellence Honoree

Jessyca Dudley

CEO
Bold Ventures

Jessyca Dudley is reimagining the role of wealth in society, creating pathways where capital actively supports community-driven progress and equitable systems. As Founder and CEO of Bold Ventures, she leads an advisory firm that has directed over $50 million to BIPOC-led organizations and initiatives serving communities of color. Under her leadership, Bold Ventures pioneers equity-centered funding strategies and facilitates critical dialogues on race, equity, and social justice in the philanthropic sector.

A strategist with over 15 years in the social sector, Jessyca previously served as Executive Director of Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy (CAAIP), and as a Director at Arabella Advisors, where she advanced investment strategies for BIPOC communities and advocated for systemic shifts to improve philanthropic practices. At the Joyce Foundation, she managed a multimillion-dollar portfolio aimed at reducing racial disparities and preventing gun violence.

Jessyca co-founded the South Side Giving Circle at the Chicago Foundation for Women, a pioneering model mobilizing resources for Black women and girls. Named a 2024 Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Black Leader and Just Economy Institute Fellow, she holds a BA in Women’s Studies from Skidmore College and an MPH from UIC.

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