Marlissa works to bring abundance and liberation to Black and brown communities – those who most often hold the answers to creating a better society for all but often lack the resources and connections to make it happen.

Innovation, bold creativity, and system optimization are core tenets of Marlissa’s approach, driven by her innate ability to process quickly, relate authentically, and simplify what appears complex. She has enjoyed 15 years of successful collaborations in both the nonprofit and private sectors, including a niche in corporate engagement and major gift fundraising.

Marlissa enjoyed 20+ years in classical music as a lyric coloratura soprano prior to forming English Hudson Consulting with Lynn English, and credits those years on stage with the transferable skills required for her current focus. Recognized as an international concert performer, Marlissa was selected twice to perform at Carnegie Hall and has collaborated with such esteemed organizations as the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Pops Orchestra, National Philharmonic, Vocal Essence, and the 92nd Street Y. Marlissa graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in music and sociology and received her Master of Music from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

A proud mama, Marlissa has one son at Brown University who is working to end aging through neuroscience and longevity research. She is also a member of Pipeline Angels, an organization dedicated to changing the face of angel investing.