Rising Tide Capital hires Dr. Joynicole Martinez as their new CEO.

In an exclusive interview, BLACK ENTERPRISE sat down with Dr. Joynicole Martinez, the newly appointed CEO of Rising Tide Capital. We discussed her vision for the company under her leadership, as well as her past experiences that have prepared her for this role.

Rising Tide Capital is a national nonprofit organization that aims to promote entrepreneurship and economic resilience through business ownership. With over 11,000 entrepreneurs empowered through their programs and services, Rising Tide Capital has made a significant impact in underserved communities nationwide. When asked about her previous roles and achievements, Dr.

Martinez shared that her career has always been centered around service, healing, and advancing public health in mission-driven organizations. With over 25 years of experience as an epidemiologist and nonprofit leader, she has honed her skills in fundraising, strategy, and operations in various sectors such as healthcare, housing, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and economic mobility. These experiences have taught her how to balance vision with execution, a skill that she now applies as the CEO of Rising Tide Capital to drive strategic growth and foster inclusive entrepreneurship.

Dr. Martinez's journey with Rising Tide Capital began as a consultant, then she became the Chief Advancement and Innovation Officer, and most recently served as the President. In these roles, she led major funding proposals, built key partnerships, and helped develop a scalable model for entrepreneurship support.

Witnessing the positive impact of Rising Tide Capital on entrepreneurs and communities inspired her to guide the organization through its next phase of growth and ensure its mission thrives. When asked about her vision for the future of Rising Tide Capital, Dr. Martinez shared her goal of making RTC the most trusted and effective entrepreneurship support organization for under-resourced communities in the nation.

While anchored in New Jersey, she plans to expand through a network of national partners and deepen their core offerings, including comprehensive curricula, individualized coaching, access to capital, and a strong alumni community. She also plans to invest in data, technology, and curriculum innovation to personalize learning and quickly respond to entrepreneurs' needs. In today's rapidly evolving business environment, risk management is crucial.

Dr. Martinez emphasized the importance of responsible leadership, which involves balancing risk and opportunity. At RTC, they take programmatic and innovation risks to expand their impact but remain conservative and transparent with financial risk.

To achieve this balance, she relies on deep listening, scenario planning, and clear decision thresholds. Before any major initiative, they model financial and impact scenarios and define minimum requirements to ensure success. As the new CEO of Rising Tide Capital, Dr.

Martinez plans to foster a culture that prioritizes psychological safety. She believes that their unique culture is anchored in their core values and an intentional rhythm of business, including regular reflection and self-care days. She also models vulnerability and transparency, creates space for dissenting views, and prioritizes cross-team collaboration and learning from mistakes.

Their recognition systems celebrate experimentation and learning, and their FeedForward planning approach encourages bold, creative thinking. Managing organizational change, balancing growth with financial sustainability, and navigating a shifting philanthropic landscape are some of the challenges that Dr. Martinez anticipates facing in her new role.

However, she is prepared to address these challenges through transparent planning, intentional change management, and open communication with the team, board, and partners. With careful preparation and a strong foundation, she is confident that they can overcome these challenges together. When asked about her best advice for someone considering leadership at this level, Dr.

Martinez shared three valuable lessons she has learned throughout her career. First, she emphasized the importance of being clear about your "why," as personal mission sustains you through challenges. Second, she encouraged building a feedback ecosystem with people who tell you the truth.

And finally, she advised holding paradoxes, such as being visionary yet pragmatic, urgent yet patient, and data-driven yet human. She believes that leadership is a practice, not a title, and effectiveness is measured by the trust you build and the outcomes you deliver, not the perfection of your plans.