Dana L. Wilson (’23 Executive MBA)
2026 Diversity Leadership Award
Dana L. Wilson is the Founder and CEO of CHIP (Changing How Individuals Prosper), an award-winning fintech marketplace redefining how individuals, entrepreneurs, and communities access financial guidance. Through CHIP, Dana has built a platform and ecosystem that centers equity, transparency, and trust—making it easier for people to find, engage, and build long-term relationships with vetted financial professionals, particularly those historically underrepresented in the industry.
With more than 15 years of experience spanning major financial institutions and independent advisory firms, Dana brings deep expertise in strategic leadership, client advocacy, and inclusive innovation. Her work sits at the intersection of finance, technology, and culture—challenging traditional models that have long excluded communities of color from coordinated, high-quality financial support. Under her leadership, CHIP continues to grow into a platform advancing financial literacy, professional access, and generational wealth-building.
Dana’s impact has been widely recognized across the financial services and fintech industries. She has been named a “See It, Be It” Role Model by Investment News, a “One to Watch in Fintech” by Money20/20, and a recipient of multiple ThinkAdvisor awards for thought leadership and diversity. She was a 2023 Investment News Women to Watch finalist and the 2025 recipient of the Lola M. Parker Outstanding Woman of the Year Award. Dana has also been honored with a Trailblazer Award from Black Women in Media for her contributions to equity driven leadership and representation.
A proud graduate of North Carolina Central University (BBA, Marketing) and Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business (MBA, Strategic Leadership & Innovation), Dana credits her academic experiences with shaping her approach to purpose-driven leadership and systems-level change. Her professional background includes roles at SunTrust, Merrill Lynch, and State Farm, as well as launching and leading her own advisory practice. Most recently, she advised clients at Manhattan Wealth Management in New York City, helping individuals and families align financial strategy with long-term life goals.
Beyond her work as an executive and advisor, Dana is a sought-after speaker, educator, and startup mentor. She has served as a Startup Coach for Apps Without Code, supporting emerging founders with business strategy, marketing, and growth execution. As host of The Equity Blueprint Podcast, she continues to shift the narrative around money—amplifying honest conversations about wealth, identity, access, and power.
At the core of Dana’s work is a commitment to ensuring that financial knowledge, opportunity, and visibility are not privileges, but expectations. Through her leadership, she is helping to build a more inclusive financial future—one where individuals are empowered to prosper with dignity, agency, and informed choice.
Outside of work, Dana is a marathoner, lifelong reader, proud pet parent, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., whose leadership is grounded in service, discipline, and community.