Imani Augustus

Imani serves as the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Opportunity, a partnership between Third Way and the National Urban League. She is committed to closing the opportunity gap and seeing communities of color build generational wealth through financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Imani works to advance research and policies with a strong belief that determination, education, and a network of support is capable of moving individuals, businesses, and communities forward.

Prior to joining Third Way, Imani spent several years on Capitol Hill working for moderate Democrats on a diverse portfolio of issues. Most recently, she served as Legislative Director to Representative Dean Phillips, handling his work as a Subcommittee Chairman on the House Small Business Committee. In this role, Imani regularly relied on Third Way’s work and built the Congressman’s reputation as a leader in entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth. Her legislative focus remains centered on bipartisan policies supporting startups and enterprises owned by women and minorities.

Imani is a military brat with deep roots in the Carolinas. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Political Science. She’s driven by a fascination with innovation and technology, a passion for building up strong leaders and teams, and a faith anchored in possibilities. When she’s not catching up on the latest blockchain news or serving at church, Imani is working on launching and scaling two businesses with her sister in Silver Spring, Maryland.