In 2015, Arlan Hamilton was homeless, sleeping on the floor at SFO and dreaming of making it big in the venture capital world. As a gay black woman, she knew she didn't fit the typical mold of a VC superstar, but she also knew that there were countless other people like her whose potential remained underestimated and untapped. 

She was motivated by her knowledge that there were other people with talent and potential who didn't have the resources to achieve their goals - and she wanted to lift them up. To make that happen, Arlan founded Backstage Capital, which has now raised more than $10 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by underestimated founders. In 2018 Arlan co-founded Backstage Studio which launched four accelerator programs for underestimated founders in Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and London. 

Arlan was featured on the cover of Fast Company magazine in October 2018 as the first Black woman non-celebrity to do so, and her new book It's About Damn Time was released on Penguin Random House's business imprint Currency in May 2020.  (Supporters at the $350 level will get a copy of Arlan's book.)

Joi Gordon joined Dress for Success as a board member in 1999 and became CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide in 2002.

Under her leadership, Dress for Success has become a globally-recognized leader that has empowered more than one million women to become economically advanced in nearly 150 cities in more than 20 countries. In addition to expanding the organization's reach, Joi has broadened its programming, offering a full continuum of services that help women secure employment, advance in their careers and achieve financial freedom.

Joi is an executive board member and Vice President of Greater Queens Chapter of The Links, Inc., a member of the Women’s Forum of New York and serves as an adviser to the G100 Women's Leadership Council. Previously, she served on several inaugural women's advisory councils for American Airlines, Office Depot and VOICE, an imprint of Hyperion Books. She also served on the corporate board of directors of Urban Brands, parent company of fashion brand Ashley Stewart.

Additionally, she has been profiled in Crain’s New York Business, Financial Times, Epoch Times and Black Enterprise. She also was named among Working Mother Magazine's “Most Powerful Moms in Non-Profit” list and named one of the “25 Most Influential Black Women in Business” by Network Journal Magazine. Joi received her B.A. in radio/television broadcasting from the University of Oklahoma and her juris doctorate from its College of Law. She lives with her husband Errol in Queens, NY. Her greatest joys are her daughter and son, Sydney and Nicholas.