A few days ago, the London-based Courtney Jordan Foundation(CJF) made official the appointment of Kristen Picot as head of their special programs in the US. CJF, which Billionaire Entrepreneur Courtney Jordan started more than a decade ago, has for the last six years been focusing its efforts in Southeast Asia and Western Africa.
CJF, much like its primary benefactor Neyius, Inc. (formerly Venture Beyond Capital) in the past year, has undergone massive changes. Neyius, Inc. was formed after the exit from many of Jordan’s companies and investments across the globe. And CJF, which has helped the advancement of entrepreneurship in the developing world, has since been directed to reignite its presence in the states.
Which has led to the ushering in of Kristen Picot.
“With our restructure and the shift from Venture Beyond Capital to Neyius, so has the need for changes to the company’s foundation. Though our commitment will not change to the developing world, we will be reestablishing programming in the US. This was a major mandate from Mr. Jordan.” says Dr. Mackenzie Robinson, [Who has been the Executive Vice President of Philanthropy and Corporate Citizenship for the company for more than six years.] She is known throughout the organization as The Giver in Chief.
On the addition of Kristen. She adds, “With our HQ remaining in the UK, we have begun an intensive look at talent across the United States to pick qualified candidates for the positions that are open. Finding the right people is so important as the work we do affects more than just a bottom line; it has the ability to change lives.
Kristen was handpicked by Mr. Jordan”, Mac goes on to say. “He told us there is no other he would trust with stewarding the foundations return to America.”
If Mac is the Giver-in-Chief, then Kristen Picot is the Catalyst-at-Large.
Kristen has been placed in charge of a multimillion-dollar budget that has her leading the expansion of CJF’s StartUP initiative in the US. Starting with Siler City, NC., a rural and growing area located inside Chatham County [named for the Earl of Chatham]. That has begun to attract a handful of influential developers and blue-chip companies like Epic Games.
“The impending rapid growth of the area will lead to more people being left behind.” So says longtime Neyius employee and President of CJGRPINC Foundation, Inc. [CJF US Operating Name] Stephen Dennis. Kristen, in her role, will help to build the communities she serves with viable programming that will have a lasting positive generational effect.
Kristen has been in her role as VP and ED of StartUP Siler since December ’21 and already has made the addition of a STEM program.
Kristen, a mathematician – holding multiple degrees, including a Masters in Math and Physiology, said she was surprised by the number of girls who would say they weren’t good at math and science. Which has led her to launch a program designed to inspire young girls’ interest in STEM from a young age and encourage teenage girls’ confidence in the field.
This is all In addition to making sure opportunities for seed funding are made available to local entrepreneurs. If that wasn’t enough, Kristen was voted unanimously by the executive committee of Prosperity North Carolina – an American super PAC, which has in its war chest over $6MM in contributions from Neyius and various members of the Neyius C Suite. to serve as its Chairwoman.
