Consulting with Purpose

At GTB Advisors we partner with forward-thinking organizations and institutions to create strategies around finance, ecosystem building, innovation, early-stage investing, and philanthropy that guide communities of color to the financial and social capital they need to grow successful businesses.

Over the last decade, we’ve worked with hundreds of small businesses and nonprofits to create inclusive spaces for women and people of color which:

Define existing and develop new pathways to resources in support of the fastest-growing demographic of startup business founders in the country.
Offer guidance around how to access and navigate networks necessary to grow
Advocate for, fund, and design initiatives that provide equitable access to opportunities to create a more prosperous and healthy future for communities of color.
Motivate, inspire and empower more Black women to imagine and pursue their own image of entrepreneurial success.

Get in Touch

About

About the
CEO and President

Gloria Ware

Gloria Ware is a super-connector who brings a love of community building and 30 years of business and non-profit funding experience. She has been a featured speaker or participant at several national conferences, including, Federal Reserve Policy Summit, The White House Convening on Inclusive Entrepreneurship, INBIA Conference, CEO for Cities, State Science and Technology Institute, Tech Inclusion, and the HBCU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit.

Gloria has most recently presented on the topics of inclusive programming for entrepreneurship centers and inclusive innovation districts for the 21st-century city and serves on the review committee for the Dayton MedTech Launch Fund. She is a proud National Technical Association Nsoroma Business awardee and in 2019, she was named in Crain’s Cleveland Women To Watch In Tech, received the Game Changer Award at the Diverse Women In Tech Summit, and Diversity Champion Award from the Akron Urban League. As a graduate of the Ohio State University, Gloria is a lifelong learner and recently received her certificate in Entrepreneurship Center Management from the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA). Gloria loves to garden and dabble in the arts. She is the mother of Michael Bussey, a Chicago-based entrepreneur, filmmaker, and award-winning cartographer.

Mission

GTB Advisors understands the ecosystem of business support services - which has historically been fraught with capacity, access and inclusivity challenges. We've taken on those challenges directly - by building a software solution that allows the entire ecosystem to interact at scale. Organizations that offer business support partner with GTB Advisors to provide capital access - financial, social and customer - to help business owners build the scalable and sustainable business of their dreams.

Vision

Our business growth platform will reduce barriers to wealth creation through equitable and responsible business ownership. In five years, over 5,000 business owners will be able to track their growth trajectory back to GTB Advisors. Through our relationships with foundations and community partners, we will have helped thousands of businesses access the funds and resources they needed, when they needed them - to help them transform their businesses, their lives and make a positive impact on the world.

Core Values

Collaboration
Trust
Respect
Positive Impact
Critical Thinking
Sustainability
Sankofa
Creativity
Fun

Meet the Team

Mercedes Lewandowski

Mercedes Lewandowski is a rising junior at The Ohio State University, majoring in Communication Technology with a minor in Consumer Economics and Policy. She has a professional background that includes internships in marketing, communications, and business development. Passionate about digital marketing, community involvement, and the transformative power of technology in communication, Mercedes is actively involved in several organizations, including HER Campus OSU, Ohio State Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and the OSU Black Student Association. She is eager to contribute to the GTB team this summer and looks forward to developing her skills in community engagement and marketing. In her free time, Mercedes enjoys running, volunteering, and writing.

Community Manager and Marketing Intern

Asjia
Chapin

Asjia Chapin, born and raised in Washington state, is heading into her second year at the University of Chicago. She is double majoring in Business Economics and Spanish, driven by her passion for social impact and business leadership. Asjia combines her love for finance, communications, and entrepreneurship to improve businesses and communities. Her commitment is shown through her participation in two teams under the Impact Scholars Institute, focusing on cultural awareness and student networking. Additionally, Asjia is part of the Trott Emerging Business Leaders cohort, promoting best practices in finance. Currently, she interns at SEE GOOD STRATEGY GROUP, creating blog content, analyzing email trends, and leading community outreach. Asjia is excited to partner contribute to GTB Advisor's impact this summer!

Economic Research and Communications Intern

David
Adewale

David Adewale grew up in Spokane, Washington, and recently graduated from the University of Chicago (BA ‘24) with a degree in Economics. Since childhood, David's intellectual curiosity has driven his obsession with problem-solving. Now, with broad interests in finance and business, he seeks to leverage his inquisitive nature to deliver high-quality results backed by data-driven insights. In his free time, David enjoys staying active by playing basketball and running.

Consulting with Purpose

About

About the CEO and President

Mission

Vision

Core Values

Collaboration

Trust

Respect

Positive Impact

Critical Thinking

Sustainability

Sankofa

Creativity

Fun