Phaedra Ellis Lamkins: Promise and the Power of Humanization

Disruption Now

• Phaedra Ellis Lamkins is the CEO of Promise, a payment technology platform that simplifies how people manage government payments like utilities, child support, parking tickets and more by offering customizable plans and providing digital payment options. The organization has secured funding from a wide array of investors including Roc Nation, Starbucks, Bumble, Kapor Capital, XYZ, First Round, and many more. Promise secured 20 million dollars in its Series A collectively raising 50 million dollars overall which is one of the largest funding rounds for a Black, women-led startup with investors like Kapor Capital, Bronze, First Round, and Y Combinator.

Phaedra herself is a rockstar in the world of social justice and music: prior to starting Promise, she served as the Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL–CIO Labor Council, she served as the personal manager for legendary musician Prince, and helped procure Prince’s ownership of his catalog, negotiating his deal with Warner Bros and co-founding NPG Music Publishing LLC. She also succeeded Van Jones as the CEO of Green For All, and worked with the Congressional Black Caucus to advocate for standards in environmental protection and spearheaded state, local and federal victories in creating solutions to both poverty and pollution.

Her work and leadership has been recognized over the course of her career, including highlights like:

the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader

Essence for their 25 Most Influential African Americans

Ebony for their Power 150

The Grio for their 100 History Makers in the Making

Black Enterprise for their 40 Next: Emerging Leaders for our Future

2018 SPUR Award from the San Francisco Urban