Natalie Madeira Cofield
President & Chief Executive Officer, Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO)
Natalie Madeira Cofield is an award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, and economic activist dedicated to empowering small businesses and underserved communities. As the President & CEO of AEO, she leads national initiatives to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping founders start, stabilize, and scale their businesses. Recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the most powerful women in business, Natalie holds an M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with honors from Howard University and Baruch College. She also earned a Certificate of Management Excellence from Harvard Business School and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Shaw University in 2023.