LaToya Wilson
LaToya Wilson is an Executive Director on the Multicultural Client Strategy team at Morgan Stanley where she works to strengthen the firm’s connection with the multicultural business community by identifying, developing and executing commercial opportunities with corporate, government, and individual clients.
LaToya began her career as an investment analyst at GE Capital. Later, she pivoted her career to the non-profit space and became the Senior Vice President of Business Investments at the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), a $220MM urban revitalization initiative that leverages public and private capital to sustain the economic revitalization of Upper Manhattan through job creation, corporate alliances and strategic investments. She was also Director of Neighborhood and Commercial Revitalization for the City of New Haven’s Economic Development Administration where she managed the city’s Development and Redevelopment Commissions and originated >$500MM in new and revitalized development projects.
She serves on the boards of We Care Community Center and Harambee Development Corporation and is an active Troop Leader with the Girl Scouts of America organization.
Favorite Quote:
“She believed she could, so she did” - R.S. Grey
Fun Fact:
In addition to a BS in Finance, she also has a BFA in Accessories Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and briefly started her own handbag company called Je m'apelle (my name is in French).
Advice for her 20 year old self:
“Everything is going to be alright. I was 25 and unmarried when I had my oldest daughter Poet. I was an Associate in banking and although I was in a long term relationship, I thought my life was over, so I was scared and left banking to work in a non-profit for fear of how my all male team in banking would view me. I decided to focus on more mission based work which I am happy that I did because it has become the cornerstone of my professional career, however, I got to that point for the wrong reason. It was purely out of fear and insecurity. So I would tell my 25 year old self not to be afraid and to continue on your path. Everything happens for a reason but never let fear and doubt and insecurity take away from your destiny.”
