Rachel Laryea
Dr. Rachel Naa-Du Laryea (GRD ’22) is a thought leader specializing in race and money, ethical entrepreneurship, and social good. After cutting her teeth on Wall Street at Goldman Sachs, Laryea received her dual Ph.D. in African American Studies and Sociocultural Anthropology at Yale University. Her ethnographic research aims to understand nuanced forms of Black participation in capitalist economies. Laryea received the National Science Foundation Research Fellowship award and an honorable mention from the Ford Foundation for her research. She has held Adjunct Professor appointments at NYU Stern Business School, and worked as a racial equity investment strategist at JPMorganChase. Currently, she is an Asset Wealth Management researcher at JPMorganChase.
Laryea founded Kelewele, a lifestyle brand based in Brooklyn, New York, that creates vegan, plant-based, plantain treats and bespoke African travel experiences. Kelewele has partnered with the James Beard Foundation and Black Entertainment Television (BET) and has been featured in several global publications and media platforms, including The New York Times, Forbes, MarketWatch, and CBS. She is the recipient of the Ghana UK-Based Achievement (GUBA) award.
Title: Founder
Organization: Kelewele
