Caroline A Wanga

Caroline A. Wanga is currently the President & CEO of Essence Ventures. She joined as Chief Growth Officer in 2020 after a 15-year career at the Target Corporation, where she started as an intern and held a number of transformatioal leadership roles eventually serving as Target's Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Culture Officer. Prior to Target she spent almost a decade in youth and community development at several non-profit organizations in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.

She co-founded WangaWoman LLC. in 2020 whose mission is to "Democratize Authenticity," through discovery of purpose. A self-proclaimed cultural architect who refers to her personal style as armor, Caroline's "real-talk" delivery and unmitigated perspective make her a highly sought-after keynote speaker, equity strategist, thought leader, and community advisor/influencer.

Caroline serves on several corporate advisory boards and has received numerous awards, accolades, and honors including the National Action Network's "Keepers of The Dream" Award and two honorary doctorate degrees from her alma mater, Texas College and Dillard University. She is a Kenyan citizen and her greatest life's accomplishment is her daughter, Cadence.