Meet the mentors of The Collective Identity Mentoring
Step into the world of mentorship with The Collective Identity Mentoring, where the transformative power of guidance takes center stage. Meet the heartbeat of our organization – our extraordinary mentors. Without their selfless dedication, none of our endeavors would be possible. These remarkable individuals volunteer their time and share their expertise, creating a vibrant tapestry of support for the youth of TCI. Get to know our mentors by exploring the profiles of these incredible individuals who, through their generosity, shape the future of young minds under the wings of The Collective Identity Mentoring.
Sarah Fobbs
Manager at Lakers Youth Foundation
Originally hailing from Long Beach, CA, Sarah Fobbs is a spirited individual fueled by a love for sports and mentorship. From an early age, sports have been a major pillar in Sarah's life, from youth sports to receiving a full Division 1 Softball scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University. After graduating from EKU with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management and a Masters's Degree in Sports Administration, Sarah combined her love for softball and mentorship. She began coaching girls of all ages at the Major League Baseball (MLB) Youth Academy in Compton, CA. In keeping with the theme of sports and giving back, Sarah is currently a manager at the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation. In her 2nd year with The Collective Identity, Sarah has found deep fulfillment in guiding and supporting her TCI mentees and truly believes in the transformative power of mentorship.
Drue Thomas
Product Designer
Drue Thomas (she/her) is a dynamic Product Designer based in Los Angeles, currently crafting studio tools for Netflix. She's also a dedicated mentor at The Collective Identity and previously contributed her expertise as a mentor and technical expert at Thinkful. In her prior role, she worked as a Product Designer at The New York Times, focusing on publishing tools for the NYT Home desk. If she’s not on the internet somewhere talking about accessibility, design systems, or internal tools, you’ll likely find her at home, reading comic books.
Kendall Bass
Legal Director, Corporate and Investment Funds
Kendall June Bass is a Legal Director at Hillspire, LLC, the family office of Eric and Wendy Schmidt. She acts as an in-house counsel covering private investments, philanthropic investments, and special initiatives. Kendall leads a variety of transactions, including investment funds, ventures, and other equity and debt deals. She received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where Kendall was a Primary Editor of the Human Rights Journal and the Intake Director of Harvard Immigration Project’s Bond Hearing Project. In addition to her work with TCI, Kendall is on the Associates Advisory Board of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and the Ambassadors Board of Friends of the Children - Los Angeles.
Grace Fooden
Beauty & Fashion Brand Executive | Startup Advisor
Grace Fooden Correy is a seasoned Fashion Industry Veteran and Beauty Entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. During her corporate tenure, she held senior executive positions at esteemed brands like Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Spanx, Victoria's Secret, and J Crew. In 2017, Grace transitioned from corporate fashion to entrepreneurship, co-founding the skincare brand Biophile. As CEO, she successfully expanded the business, securing placements in over thirty retail stores across three countries, including prestigious outlets like Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Blue Mercury, and the Detox Market. Biophile gained significant recognition, being featured in Forbes, Vogue, and Marie Claire and receiving the coveted Indie Beauty award. Grace is also a consultant and advisor for selecting fashion and beauty startup ventures. Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds solace in yoga and meditation. Grace's personal life includes her marriage to Michael Nicholas Correy (known as Mickey), and their wedding was featured in the New York Times style section in 2023. They cherish spending time with their first grandchildren, twins named Davey and Olive.
AdrianE Turner
Human Resource Generalist
Adriane Turner, a Los Angeles native, has built a successful career as an HR professional, drawing on her deep understanding of human behavior rooted in her undergraduate degree in psychology. With over a decade of experience in HR, she has become a seasoned professional who excels at creating inclusive work environments. Beyond her professional endeavors, Adriane is deeply passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion, particularly in recreational spaces. Her commitment to this cause led her to co-found "Black on Board," a snowboard club with a specific mission: to encourage more Black women to take an interest in snow sports.
Adriane's dedication extends beyond breaking barriers in the corporate world; she actively works towards creating a more inclusive and diverse community on the slopes. By founding Black on Board, she seeks to provide a platform for Black women to explore and enjoy snow sports, an area where they may be underrepresented. In her corporate and recreational pursuits, Adriane is driven by a desire to foster community and empowerment. She strives to make a positive impact every step of the way, not only in the professional realm but also in creating spaces where individuals, particularly Black women, can feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to pursue their interests and passions.
Pilaar Terry
Managing Partner & COO
Pilaar Terry is the managing partner of POV Agency, a boutique strategic communications firm focused on reshaping PR and communications to resonate with evolving cultures. With over 20 years of experience in entertainment PR and marketing, she has worked with numerous global brands and agencies, including Nike Brand Jordan, AT&T, Universal Pictures, and more. Pilaar's career journey led her through top-tier agencies like Edelman and Fleishman Hillard. She champions diversity and representation within her agency, emphasizing its importance across all facets of operations. Her expertise spans PR, corporate communications, brand strategy, partnerships, content creation, and more. Despite her varied background, her passion lies in communications strategy and media relations. Pilaar holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California and serves on several boards, including Hearst Castle and USC's Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Alumni Advisory Board. A Bay Area native, she enjoys horror movies, Black Twitter, LEGO, dancing, and memes. Pilaar resides in Thousand Oaks with her husband and their energetic dogs, Melvin and Ocho.
Teri Lacy
Senior Loan Analyst
Teri Lacy is a seasoned Senior Loan Analyst at Marcus & Millichap, boasting an impressive 18-year journey in Commercial Real Estate Lending. Her education in Sociology from Clark Atlanta University enriches her understanding of human dynamics and community building. Teri's passion for the arts, particularly photography, has led to her participation in numerous group shows, and she has even featured her work on a digital billboard at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. She actively supports emerging artists, fostering connections within the vibrant art scene. Outside of work, Teri immerses herself in sports, particularly college basketball, and channels her creativity into writing, including a screenplay and a forthcoming book of poetry. Engaged in community initiatives, Teri serves on the advisory board of The School of Graphic Design and contributes to Cookies & Kombucha, a holistic healing collective. Embracing the outdoors, live music, museums, vinyl records, books, and travel, Teri finds inspiration in life's diverse experiences, always ready for new adventures.
Camille Tenerife
Licensed Marriage And Family Therapist
Camille is a dedicated mentor and advocate for the empowerment of young Black women. With a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from USC, she has built her career supporting high-achieving professionals of color in her private practice in Los Angeles. Mentorship with TCI is an extension of her enthusiasm for helping Black women to have inclusive spaces where all voices are heard and valued. Camille's passion for mental health in people of color, especially Black women, has been instrumental in her building career, her personal growth, and her role as a mentor. Her dedication to social justice fuels her commitment to uplifting and empowering the younger generation. Known for her empathy and kindness, Camille believes that mentorship can help motivate mentees to overcome challenges that Black women face, embrace our uniqueness, and achieve our highest potential.
Outside of mentorship, Camille enjoys hiking in nature with her doodle, Koa, traveling, and discovering new restaurants in the city!
Kourtney Broadnax
Assistant Grant Manager
Kourtney Brodnax was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She attended Culver City High School as a three-sport athlete and developed her passion for sports and entertainment. After matriculation, she attended Whittier College, where she was a student-athlete peer mentor, captain of the track and field team, and creator of her own interdisciplinary major under the Whittier Scholars program.
While obtaining her Master's from The University of Southern California's Gould School of Law, Kourtney was the Vice President of The Black Graduate Student Network. In her role, she created "Black Brunch Saturdays" to bridge the gap between the virtual and on-campus Black Trojan community. In May 2023, Kourtney was honored to address the Class of 2023 as the Graduate Student Commencement Speaker.
In her free time, Kourtney enjoys attending all things sports-related, working out, and exploring the best Matcha spots in LA.
STEPH JONES
Manager, Global Digital Accounts
Steph Jones is a dedicated music industry professional with 10+ years of experience in entertainment, currently breaking new artists and growing established artists' fanbases at Red Bull Records as the Manager of Global Digital Accounts. Through her many years of varied experience in the industry, Steph has remained dedicated to working with independent artists and teams to bring their visions and dreams to fruition. She has had the pleasure of working on campaigns for artists such as Blxst, Wiz Khalifa, HARDY, Emotional Oranges, and the Isley Brothers. Originally from Delaware, Steph moved to Los Angeles to study Music Industry at USC's Thornton School of Music with a focus on business. As an active member of USC's community, she volunteered with Product of My Dreams and A Community Place, served as President of Young Life at USC, was a Thornton Board of Councilors Mentee, and was a House Manager at the performance venues on campus. Since graduating, Steph has been exploring Los Angeles's many neighborhoods, attending a live show at one of the city's iconic venues, or dabbling in watercolor painting.
Kaaya Allotey
Creative Strategist
Kaaya is a multidisciplinary strategist who prides herself in delivering culture-forward work. Currently, she is developing promotional creative strategies at Netflix as a part of the Creative Labs team. Previously, Kaaya held roles at 72andSunny and Cashmere Agency, where she built strategies for leading brands such as Disney, FX, Twitch, Taco Bell, and the NFL.
Over the years, Kaaya has shown a longstanding commitment to mentoring Black students and young professionals. She is involved in organizations such as the HU 21st Century Advantage Program, The One Club, and Tec Leimert. She looks forward to continuing her service as part of The Collective Identity's 2024 mentor cohort.
Kaaya is a proud cum laude graduate of Howard University with a bachelor's degree in marketing. In her spare time, you can find Kaaya on the tennis courts, at an art show, or racking up purchases at a local flea market!
Brittany Allen
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director, North America
Brittany Allen is a dedicated advocate for inclusion, equity, and liberation, renowned for her impactful marketing campaigns for brands like Adidas, Tinder, and Adobe. Currently serving as the DEI Director at 72andSunny, she's pioneering change in North America. Starting as a Brand Manager at The Marcus Graham Project's iCR8 Bootcamp in 2014,
Brittany's passion for culture and brand development propelled her into advertising. Recognized with the 2022 Bill Sharp Award for her leadership, she's Vice Chair of The American Advertising Federation's Mosaic Council, committed to fostering industry access. Brittany mentors for programs like The Collective Identity and Seeing ME in Media, embodying empathy and excellence in community service. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Brittany holds a BA in
Communication from The University of Southern California. In her leisure, she enjoys yoga, reading Black female authors, and dancing to Beyoncé.
Lisa Love
Co-CEO & Co-Founder
Lisa Love is the co-CEO and Co-Founder of Tanoshi, where the mission is to prepare all kids for a digital future, no matter their socio-economic background. Lisa received her MBA from an HBCU, Clark Atlanta University. She began her career over 20 years ago, working in brand and product marketing for Fortune 500 CPG companies, including Heinz and Del Monte. She managed a portfolio of brands that generated revenue of up to $75M. She also spent 11 years working for the #1 online retailer of wine, where she wore many hats and worked in various departments throughout her tenure, including operations, merchandising, and partnerships.
Lisa and Team Tanoshi appeared on Shark Tank in 2020. Entrepreneur Magazine named her one of the 100 Powerful Women of 2020, and Inc. Magazine named her one of the Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs of 2020. In 2021, she made the Forbes Next 1000 list. Tanoshi is bridging the digital divide by providing educational, affordable, safe computers for kids with pre-loaded, curated content. Kids can do their homework and learn to code on the Tanoshi without internet access. Lisa is passionate about giving all kids a fair chance to succeed.
Coli Turner
Planning Technician
Coli Turner, a dedicated urban planner and Southern California native, is deeply committed to empowering her community. With extensive experience in community development, she passionately works on projects to enhance residents' quality of life. Coli's dedication extends beyond her professional role; she mentors students at Inglewood High School, aiming to instill ambition and confidence in the next generation. She is also an avid traveler, embracing diverse cultures and flavors worldwide. Coli's culinary adventures reflect her appreciation for cultural unity. Through her work and personal pursuits, Coli embodies a commitment to positive change and community upliftment, particularly for black individuals. She serves as an inspiration, advocating for inclusivity, mentorship, and community engagement.