Jania Massey, SBU Founder and Executive Director

Jania’s passion for creating programs and systems to advance connections within the community began very early.

After moving to Charlotte at the age 6, her mother instilled the principles of giving back and community impact in Jania. As a high school student, in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system, Jania became a participant of Johnson C Smith University’s Upward Bound program, a program that provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. It was this program that first exposed Jania to the possibility of opportunity and the concept of social capital.

Jania went on to get her Bachelors in Science from Winston Salem University. Even with her many accolades, Jania’s lack of social capital became apparent when she began to transition from Corporate America to the very different world of Non-Profit Organizations. Her hard work, dedication, and integrity were evident in the work Jania did in the community, but something was missing. Her network and therefore her impact was limited. Realizing that the key part of social capital, a strong network, was the limiting factor in creating the kind of impact she envisioned, the solution became clear. People needed to be prepared for opportunity by first providing them with an understanding of what social capital is, what it can do for you, and how to develop your network! This realization along with her passion for community impact was the foundation for Stiletto Boss University.

To learn more about Jania’s professional career, click here.