Her Story
About Roshaunda
Roshaunda Davis is a community-focused nonprofit leader and social impact strategist who serves as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foster & Grow, a Vermont-based organization dedicated to creating pathways to stability, economic independence, and well-being for young adults, particularly those transitioning from foster care. Her work combines workforce development, sustainable agriculture, food systems education, and community wellness to address interconnected challenges such as unemployment, food insecurity, and limited access to opportunity. Through Foster & Grow, Roshaunda focuses on intervening before young people reach crisis and creating practical pathways that help them develop skills, gain meaningful work experience, and build long-term stability.
Before founding Foster & Grow, Roshaunda built a diverse career spanning corporate leadership, operations, education, technology, and community engagement. She held leadership roles with Amazon, Discover Financial Services, Capital One, and Teach For America, where she developed and executed programs focused on employee engagement, technology, STEM education, youth development, and community impact. Through initiatives such as youth technology camps, Girls Who Code programming, charitable events, and community partnerships, she demonstrated her ability to connect organizational resources with meaningful opportunities for young people and underserved communities.
Roshaunda holds a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Missouri, with academic focus areas including African American Studies, Political Science, and Sociology, along with a minor in Leadership Development. She further expanded her professional expertise through a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certification from Cornell University and additional training in social media strategy, design, and generative AI. Drawing on her cross-sector experience and commitment to service, Roshaunda approaches leadership through strategic thinking, relationship building, operational discipline, and measurable outcomes, with a broader vision of creating sustainable systems that strengthen communities while expanding economic opportunity.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Roshaunda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the complementary lessons I learned from my parents. My father taught me the importance of service, purpose, and doing meaningful work, while my mother instilled confidence and the belief that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. Together, those values gave me the confidence to navigate challenging professional spaces authentically and recognize that my differences can be strengths.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is that while others can offer guidance based on their experiences, my journey is uniquely my own. I viewed corporate America as a classroom where I learned to navigate professional environments, lead, communicate, and strategize. Those experiences prepared me for the meaningful work I do today, and taught me that success isn’t always about climbing the existing ladder—it can also mean using what you’ve learned to build a new one for others.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to ask themselves, “Is this my destination, my stepping stone, or my classroom?” If it’s a classroom, learn as much as you can from the experience—the people, strategies, resources, challenges, and opportunities—and use those lessons to move toward your greater purpose. Your career path may not always make sense in the moment, but every experience can be preparation for the work you are ultimately called to do.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is securing funding and building strong relationships as I grow Foster and Grow. Relocating to Vermont has required me to establish connections within a close-knit community while identifying donors, partners, and resources. I’ve leveraged the networking and relationship-building skills I developed in my corporate career by attending conferences, building partnerships, and increasing the organization’s visibility. These efforts have already led to three grants, with additional funding opportunities underway.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are impact, empowerment, and creating lasting change. My work focuses on helping young people aging out of foster care achieve meaningful, sustainable independence—not simply completing programs, but gaining employment, stable housing, financial literacy, confidence, resources, and support. Ultimately, I want to build a nonprofit that people no longer need by addressing systemic gaps and creating solutions that lead to lasting change.
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