Dr. Rachel Naadu Laryea holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, summa cum laude, in Social and Cultural Analysis from New York University (NYU), earned in 2016.She pursued graduate studies at Yale University, where she completed a dual Ph.D. in African American Studies and Sociocultural Anthropology in 2022. Her doctoral research focused on ethnographic studies of Black participation in capitalist economies, exploring community formation, subversion, and the impacts of capitalistic processes within Black populations.
Dr. Laryea began her professional career in finance on Wall Street. After graduating from NYU, she worked as an analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co. in the Corporate Services & Real Estate Division, specifically within the firm's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) group.This role involved analyzing and implementing ESG strategies for the firm.
Following her time at Goldman Sachs, she transitioned to academia while maintaining ties to finance. During her doctoral studies at Yale, she served as a graduate student researcher and contributed to departmental initiatives in Anthropology and African American Studies.
Post-Ph.D., Dr. Laryea joined JPMorgan Chase & Co., initially as a racial equity investment strategist, where she worked on strategies to advance racial equity through investments.
As of 2025–2026, she holds the position of Asset Wealth Management researcher at JPMorgan Chase, focusing on wealth management research and strategies. In this role, she co-leads the African Alliance, an internal network comprising over 750 professionals aimed at fostering connections and initiatives related to African heritage and professional development within the firm.cadcce
In academia, she has held adjunct professor appointments at NYU Stern School of Business, teaching courses related to business, ethics, and social impact. Her work bridges finance and anthropology, often examining how Black individuals and communities engage with and redefine capitalist systems.
Entrepreneurship
Dr. Laryea is the founder and owner of Kelewele, a Brooklyn, New York-based food service business established around 2020–2022. The company specializes in vegan, plantain-based treats, drawing from her Ghanaian heritage to create ethical, plant-based products.9a8fba This venture exemplifies her interest in ethical entrepreneurship, using business as a tool for cultural preservation and social good.c7a8ee
Publications
Dr. Laryea is an accomplished author and contributor to scholarly and public discourse. Her debut book, Black Capitalists: A Blueprint for What Is Possible, was published in 2025 by Penguin RandomHouse. The book combines personal memoir, anthropological research, and historical analysis to explore how Black visionaries worldwide are reimagining capitalism to benefit Black communities and society at large. It challenges exploitative capitalism and proposes ethical alternatives, based on her fieldwork in locations like Wall Street and Lagos.
She has also contributed articles to publications such as Inside Higher Ed, where in August 2025, she wrote about her experiences as a Black anthropologist and using anthropological tools to redefine narratives around Black capitalism.Her scholarly work includes ethnographic research on Black capitalists in the trans-Atlantic financial industry.
Awards and Recognitions
Recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Fellowship Award for her ethnographic research.
Honorable mention from the Ford Foundation for her research contributions.
Recognized as a thought leader in race, money, ethical entrepreneurship, and social good by organizations like AALBC (African American Literature Book Club) and featured in media for her innovative perspectives on Black capitalism.
Speaking Engagements and Media Appearances
Dr. Laryea is a sought-after speaker on topics like Black capitalism, ethical finance, and social equity. Notable engagements include:
Appearance on the "School's Over Now What?" podcast in 2025, discussing Black capitalism as a path to empowerment.
Event at the Pratt Library in 2025 promoting Black Capitalists.Yale Tsai CITY talk in October 2025 on redefining Black capitalism.
Recently on Starr FM and GHOne TV, where she discussed her dual Ghanaian-American identity and experiences with citizenship.
Featured in international outlets like Zambia Daily Nation (February 2026) on reframing capitalism for Black thriving.
Courtesy call on the Ga Mantse and President of the GaDangme Council in December 2025, focusing on Black wealth creation and community empowerment in Ghana.
She has also been active on platforms like LinkedIn, sharing insights on capitalism, resilience, and strategic thinking for Black communities.
Affiliations and Other Professional Details
Affiliated with Yale University's departments of Anthropology and African American Studies as an alumna and former doctoral student.
Member of professional networks focused on Black economics and finance, including her role in JPMorgan's African Alliance.
Her work emphasizes using capitalism proactively for social good, challenging myths of exploitation, and highlighting Black agency in economic systems. Dr. Laryea maintains a personal website at rachellaryea.com for more on her work. She is based in Brooklyn, New York, but has been increasingly active in Ghana, leveraging her Ghanaian-American heritage (her mother immigrated from Ghana).
Awards and Honors
Recipient of the National Science Foundation Research Fellowship award for her ethnographic research.
Received an honorable mention from the Ford Foundation for her research on Black participation in capitalist economies.
Awarded the Ghana UK-Based Achievement (GUBA) award, recognizing her contributions as a Ghanaian diaspora professional in academia, finance, and entrepreneurship.
Publications
Authored the book Black Capitalists: A Blueprint for What Is Possible (Penguin Random House), which explores how race shapes participation in capitalism, introduces the theory of Black Capitalism, and profiles Black capitalists who balance profit with social good while addressing systemic inequalities. The book draws from her personal narrative as the child of a Ghanaian immigrant single mother, her Wall Street experience, anthropological research, and economic analysis. It challenges traditional views of capitalism and proposes ways to build wealth ethically for community advancement. She has promoted the book through events, including an upcoming European book tour announced in early 2026, with a scheduled dinner discussion in Amsterdam on March 21, 2026.
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