Lajuanda M. Asemota is an award-winning technologist passionate about innovation’s ability to affect social change. With a proven track record in venture building and strategy, she boasts a diverse background spanning 20 years in industries such as technology, media, education, and more.

As Cofounder & Chief Executive Officer of Second Chance Studios, she led a digital media company dedicated to employing formerly incarcerated individuals. Lajuanda's visionary leadership codified the innovative model that trained cohorts of Digital Media Fellows to produce media, with the organization’s podcasts, short films, and collaborations with MTV, AdCouncil, and PBS earning media features in CBS and Forbes. 

As President & Executive Director of Y-Combinator-backed startup /dev/color, Lajuanda played a pivotal role in expanding the foundation of the organization. During her tenure, the company partnered with Netflix, Google, and others to empower Black software engineers to become industry leaders. Notably, Lajuanda also held leadership positions at Singularity Education Group, where she established and led impactful divisions focused on operations, impact, and inclusion, bringing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and blockchain to the masses. Prior to that, she co-founded SingularityU West Africa Global Impact Challenge, SpeedUpAfrica, a startup bootcamp convening the top 100 African entrepreneurs with investors and mentors, and UC Berkeley’s Multicultural Community Center Art Gallery. Across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, her expertise and vision continue to shape and inspire meaningful change across industries.

Lajuanda attended the University of California, Berkeley to study African American Studies and Advertising, and later earned her MBA from IE Business School and Brown University. Her insightful thought leadership has merited recognition, leading to features in prominent publications such as appearing on the cover of Forbes Austria Magazine, and she has delivered keynote speeches at renowned organizations and events worldwide.

When not at the helm of an organization, Lajuanda operates a boutique strategy consultancy helping startup and established businesses refine organizational visions, optimize operations, and build innovative products. Lajuanda previously served on the Board of Trustees for Leadership High School in San Francisco and currently advises early-stage entrepreneurs. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, jamming to live music, and exploring the nation’s capital with her husband and dog.