Lolita D. Nunn

I attribute my success to my faith and to my mother. I am thankful to God for all my blessings and remain deeply grateful for the guidance, strength, and opportunities I’ve been given throughout my life. My mother is the foundation of who I am; her love, support, sacrifices, and unwavering belief in me have shaped every part of my life's journey.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to trust my own voice and not to allow fear to keep me from doing what I know is right.   I’ve learned that doing what is right and authentic to me may not always be the easiest or most popular choice, but I have to be grounded in my own values, purpose, and intuition.  Follow the choice that allows me to grow, remain true to myself, and move forward with integrity. 

Trust yourself, know your purpose, and don’t let fear make your decisions for you.

My advice to young women is to trust your instincts, be fearless, and be unapologetically yourself. There will be moments when you question whether you belong, whether you are ready, or whether you should speak up. I say, do it! Your voice, your perspective, and your lived experience have value.

To be intentional about the choices you make. Ask questions. Stay curious. Learn from people around you, but never lose sight of your own voice, judgment, and values. Do not let fear of failure, rejection, or what others may think keep you from going after your goals or doing what you know is right. This work is not always easy. There will be setbacks, difficult conversations, and moments when the path isn't clear. Be confident in your abilities and remain open. Seek out places and spaces that nourish you, support you, stretch you, and allow you to thrive. Your career is part of your life; it should not require you to lose yourself in the process. Don't let anyone or anything dim your light, diminish your voice, or steal your joy. Continue to be bold. Know your worth.

I believe the biggest challenge in my field right now is the growing scarcity of catalytic capital and more opportunities for communities that have historically been excluded from wealth-building systems. Much of this stems from the attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, combined with the retrenchment and rollbacks we have seen across the federal and financial sectors, are having a ripple effect. When institutions pull back from equity-focused investing, community development, and inclusive finance, the impact is felt most by marginalized and historically underserved communities that already face significant barriers to accessing capital.

Another challenge and, in many ways, an opportunity is finding ways to move capital that is currently sitting on the sidelines. There is significant philanthropic capital, which includes donor-advised funds, that has been designated for charitable purposes but is not necessarily reaching communities at the pace or scale that is needed. I see an important opportunity to rethink how we activate that capital and encourage donors, foundations, financial institutions, and impact investors to move from simply holding wealth to strategically deploying it in ways that create meaningful and lasting community impact.

At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity in the great wealth transfer that is underway. We have an opportunity to influence not only where capital goes, but who gets to make decisions about that capital in the decades ahead. That means intentionally mentoring, educating, and preparing the next generation of philanthropists, investors, nonprofit leaders, and changemakers to understand both the power and responsibility that come with wealth. We cannot simply hand the reins to the next generation and expect them to know what to do. We have a responsibility to prepare them, give them meaningful opportunities to lead, and create space for their voices and ideas. 

For me, this is it; the greatest opportunity is at the intersection of capital, leadership, and generational change. If we can unlock more catalytic capital, make it more accessible and intentional, and empower the next generation with the knowledge, relationships, and agency to deploy it differently, we have an opportunity to reshape systems that have not worked equitably. This is the kind of systems change I want to be part of.

The values most important to me are honesty, integrity, and authenticity. I believe in being true to who you are, standing firmly in your principles, and bringing that same sense of purpose and character to everything you do both professionally and personally. My faith and the influence of my mother are foundational to who I am. They have shaped my values, how I treat people, how I approach challenges, and how I make decisions. I carry those lessons with me in every area of my life and strive to lead with compassion, humility, courage, and accountability.

In my work, I am committed to staying focused, mission-aligned, and grounded in what is right for people, communities, and the planet. I believe that how we achieve an outcome matters just as much as the outcome itself. I also value growth and resilience. Life teaches us through both the opportunities, trials, and the challenges we encounter. I believe we have a responsibility to learn from life lessons, evolve, and use what we have learned to choose a positive path and make a difference. Keep learning, keep growing, keep doing, and keep shining.