Taneshia Nash Laird is a recognized leader in diversity and inclusion within urban development and the arts. A former city and state official for economic development, Taneshia has not only overseen multifamily housing, commercial office, retail, and light industrial projects, but as both an entrepreneur and a nonprofit CEO, she has also spearheaded the development of culturally significant real estate ventures, such as art galleries and performing arts centers in urban communities. She has successfully navigated public-private financing initiatives to drive economic growth and cultural preservation. Taneshia is also an Associate Professor in the Africana Studies department at Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she shares her expertise in creative entrepreneurship. In addition, she serves on the boards of the National Medal of Arts-winning Billie Holiday Theatre and the National Independent Venue Foundation.

Taneshia holds a BBA from Bernard Baruch College and an MA in Live Entertainment Management from the University of Miami. As Executive Director of Project REAP, she is dedicated to empowering professionals of color to thrive in the real estate industry. She is a proud graduate of the REAP Academy, NYC, 2022.