About AISHA

I was raised by my grandparents, who fled the Jim Crow South during the Great Migration in search of freedom and opportunity. Their journey taught me that politics is always personal—and that power is built, not granted.

That legacy is why I’ve spent the last 25 years building political and economic power for underserved, under-represented, and undercapitalized communities. I’ve fought and won campaigns from the front lines of the most consequential social movements of our time, and I’ve helped clients—from housing coalitions to clean energy companies—design policies, programs, and partnerships that center people, community wealth, and social impact.

Today, I lead a consulting practice focused on public affairs, community economic development, and stakeholder engagement. Through my firm Community Asset Management, and my work with Phoenix Strategies, I help mission-aligned institutions, governments, and companies build civic infrastructure and strategic relationships to drive equitable growth.

My experience includes serving as a Resident Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, shaping national policy during the Obama administration as a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and leading high-profile institutions including the National Institute for Reproductive Health, the LGBTQ Victory Fund, and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. At Victory Fund, I made history as the first woman and person of color to serve as President & CEO, overseeing a $5M turnaround and helping elect hundreds of LGBTQ leaders to every level of office.

I also utilize media as a strategic tool to analyze politics, economic policy, and cultural power—and to inform, activate, and shift public narrative. I also am a regular voice on CNN, MSNBC, and Bloomberg News, and my podcast, AMplified, highlights the impact of public policy on the New American Majority that powers our culture and economy.

I am proud to serve as a trustee of The Century Foundation—a progressive, independent think tank—and as chair of the Mayor’s Strategic Economic Development Advisory Council in my hometown. I hold both a B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park—where I majored in psychology, entrepreneurship and marketing. Go Terps!