Lucia Tejada
Dr. Tejada is a scientist turned business development executive and the first Hispanic female on record to receive a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia. Her doctoral work in the field of behavioral neuroendocrinology explored the underlying molecular basis of sexual dimorphisms in brain and behavior. Her post-doctoral work focused on the study of human decision making in the field of eating/food behavior. As a business development executive, she has fundraised over 8-figures, developed and launched multiple award-winning global initiatives, and diversified revenue generation by breaking organizations into new markets and expanding the number and type of funding agents. Guided by a strong entrepreneurial spirit she has successfully applied her background in social neuroscience to business development in different industries including non-profit organizations, government agencies and start-ups. She currently serves as Chief Development Officer of Phoenix Capital Management, an investment research firm located in Charlottesville, VA. She is also the Founder of Capital-Up, a consulting firm serving c-level executives of start-ups and mid-market organizations. Outside of science and business, Lucia is a trained pastry chef and overall enthusiast of the culinary arts for which she recently launched an online pastry shop serving the Greater Charlottesville Area. In her free time you can find her playing in her kitchen, doing crossfit with her husband or on a local track running after her little boy.