Nita Penn

Nita's early life was shaped by global exposure, performing arts, international studies, and a deep love for culture and language. She studied Latin in elementary school, Spanish in high school as an International Baccalaureate candidate, and later Korean as a military linguist. Her fascination with world politics, global systems, and human behavior began long before her formal education. It began in her mother's kitchen, in community centers, in libraries, and in the presence of powerful Black women who taught her how to think, create, and lead. Her military career sharpened these instincts. As a cryptologic linguist, she trained in Korean linguistics, human intelligence collection, negotiation, and interrogation methodologies. She served as a Battalion Career Counselor for the New York Army National Guard and a Warrant Officer Recruiter for the Georgia Army National Guard, reviewing officer candidate packets before they advanced to selection boards and federal training. She led soldiers as a squad leader and class leader, shaping teams in high-pressure learning and operational environments. Her academic and professional training expanded this foundation: - BA, Political Science & International Relations - MBA, International Business - Graduate Certificate in Disruptive Entrepreneurship & Innovation - Professional Certificate in Global Sustainable Transportation Management (Toulouse Business School) - UX Research (General Assembly) - Essentials of HR Management (Emory University, Continuing Education) Nita's civilian leadership is equally formidable. As the 2021 inaugural Director of the Women's Business Center for the Savannah Region, she built the center from 0 to 200+ clients in 14 months, serving women, BIPOC founders, and veteran entrepreneurs. She designed curriculum, facilitated workshops, prepared founders for access to capital, reviewed business plans, built strategic partnerships, recruited and chaired the board, hired consultants, and managed a blended funding structure approaching $3 million. She also served on the board of IVolunteer International, a global tech nonprofit, ultimately becoming Treasurer and contributing to the strategic guidance that led to the organization's successful acquisition in 2025. Creatively, Nita has been a published set designer, stylist, and producer, managing her former husbands awardwinning photography and videography studio. She curated submissions featured in Simply Buckhead Magazine, Potent Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, Afropunk, Atlanta Celebrates Photography, and exhibitions across Cuba, the Virgin Islands, and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Across every chapter of her life, military intelligence, global strategy, entrepreneurship, creative direction, and motherhood, Nita has been a builder of people, systems, and futures. She is a researcher and strategist who sees the whole human, the whole ecosystem, and the whole possibility.