YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF REMATRIATING ECONOMIES.
The REA is paid apprenticeship designed to provide a viable pathway beyond the conventional Western approach to explore and jumpstart a career in investment and financial management designed by and for Indigenous women. Through a rich learning experience, apprentices take part in teaching by industry experts, case studies, small group discussions, and practical exercises to develop the essential problem-solving and decision-making skills needed to craft an investment strategy.
Our Approach
Engage in weekly seminars/modules taught by industry experts to support fundamental financial education and other relevant topics such as how to conduct market research, investment analysis and due diligence, and the racist and colonial history of the Stock Market
Learn from a trauma-informed facilitator to understand the link between trauma and financial behavior, frameworks for psychological healing, and how to practice mindfulness exercises
Build networks and relationships with other apprentices through a cohort model that engages in community circles, convenings, and other relationship-building activities
Work 1:1 and in a group setting with a career coach to design a plan for a post-apprenticeship career journey
Self-determine a pathway to an existing fund or financial institution whether as an intern or entry-level position that is fully salaried
We define trauma-informed as an approach rooted in education on the neuroscience of trauma — collective, racialized, and personal trauma in a colonial-impact context.
Program Learning Journey
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Apprentices will be grounded with an introduction to venture capital, deal structure and selection, due diligence of term sheets and capitalization tables, and negotiating and contracting with limited partner/general partner.
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Apprentices will learn about accounting principles, financial statement analysis, interpretation of key financial metrics, and investment strategies.
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Apprentices will gain knowledge in impact investing 101 coursework, investing vehicles and impact investment, data analysis and data visualization, and technical system support.
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Apprentices will be guided through a history of ancestral Indigenous teachings of trade and commerce paired with psychoeducation on financial trauma and healing.
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Apprentices will prepare an investment memo to present to a mock investment committee as the capstone stone project.
It is imperative for Indigenous communities to create our own approach to financial dispossession in order to shift the current economic paradigm. To heal ourselves from this trauma, we must design systems authored by and for us.
Our History
October 2019
Vanessa Roanhorse and Jamie Gloshay attended SOCAP, the world’s largest social impact investing conference, seeding ideas to launch a new fund for and by Indigenous women. There they witnessed a lack of Indigenous women representation in this space and the continued exclusion of Indigenous women voices in decisions about investment in Indigenous communities.
July 2021
The Future Is Indigenous Women, is one of four national winners that received a $10 million dollar award from the Equality Can't Wait Challenge, funded by Melinda French Gates, Stacey Schusterman, and MacKenzie Scott. This is a collaborative initiative between Roanhorse Consulting, LLC, Native Women Lead, and New Mexico Community Capital, to build an Indigenous women-led capital and entrepreneurship ecosystem to increase economic agency and empowerment.
August 2021 to June 2022
Roanhorse Consulting, LLC began the research, design, and implementation strategy to launch a program aimed at getting more Indigenous women into investing. During this time we approved to launch an apprenticeship model instead of a fellowship. We worked with Richard Caraballo to create a custom logo and brand. By the end of the year, we named this effort the Rematriating Economies Apprenticeship.
July 2022 to May 2023
A national interest form was launched to identify the need and interest across Turtle Island from our Indigenous sisters. The REA team expanded to include Jacqueline Jennings to co-create the curriculum and as Investor in Residence, lead facilitator and coach, Cecily Engelhart and REA Project Manager, Melissa Begay. Roanhorse team increased to include Elyse Dempsey, and Justine Correa. Applications opened nationally, to find 10 women to join the first cohort.
June 2023 to November 2023
The REA launches a 5-month paid apprenticeship, named the First Wave cohort, to create an alternative waterway for Indigenous women to access leadership roles in investment to move capital to Indigenous and equity deserving communities. During the five months, we invited over 25 experts, including luminaries like Melissa Bradley, Lauren Grattan, Althea Wishloff and Stephanie Gutirrez, to name a few. We worked with coaches Cecily Engelhart, Stephanie Gutierrez, Diana Zuniga, Jaclyn Roessel and Jaime Gloshay. Finally, we are grateful for the Indigenous founders who shared their investment stories with us: Bobbie Racette, CEO of Virtual Gurus, Jeff Ward, CEO of Animiki, and Cindy Convery, Founder of PureWild Co.
December 2023
After completing 22 weeks and attending 44 sessions, REA graduated the first cohort of 10 Indigenous women representing seven Indigenous nations from eight states across Turtle Island. Each apprentice had to present to an investment committee a mock pitch as their final capstone presentation. Thanks to Zack Young, Eric Horvath, Jaime Gloshay, and Ana Ramos for their time for this process.
January 2024
Roanhorse Consulting, LLC is proud to be the new home for REA . We will continue to grow that seed for future cohorts of Indigenous Women and unlock the trillions to Indian Country.
The REA celebrates resources and partnerships that seeded a successful pilot, including funding through the Equality Can't Wait Challenge and work amongst co-conspirators, Roanhorse Consulting, LLC, New Mexico Community Capital and Native Women Lead as a part of The Future Is Indigenous Women.
