We are proud to announce the appointment of Hot Bread Kitchen’s new board chair, Diana Taylor, Vice Chair of Solera.
Ms. Taylor has provided visionary leadership to some of the highest impact nonprofits, many which focus on financial empowerment for women. In her time as chair of Accion, a micro lending nonprofit, Ms. Taylor played a key role in global expansion and promoting its profit-making approach to work. “Diana has tremendous business acumen and experience in scaling impact nonprofits, which makes her the perfect chair for Hot Bread Kitchen right now,” says Jessamyn Rodriguez, Hot Bread Kitchen’s founder.
Ms. Taylor was first introduced to Hot Bread Kitchen when she was the chair of the board at New York Women’s Foundation, who has supported Hot Bread Kitchen from nearly the start. Ms. Taylor presented the Clinton Global Citizen award to a then very pregnant Jessamyn. “After two children, a cookbook, 100 women trained, and the launch of national sales, Hot Bread Kitchen is ready for a leader like Diana,” Jessamyn says.
Ms. Taylor has a deep investment in New York as well. Her extensive government service experience includes tenure as New York State superintendent of banks and chair of the New York State Banking Board. “Hot Bread Kitchen is changing the lives of women and enterprises in New York City,” Ms. Taylor said. “I am excited to bring my background in the public and private sectors to this social enterprise, to grow their impact and help more women richly contribute to the economic security of their families.”
Diana succeeds the previous board chair, angel investor Joanne Wilson. “I couldn’t think of any other person who would be more perfect for the job,” Joanne says of Diana. “I feel insanely proud of what has been accomplished over the past five years and am excited about the future because Jessamyn and Diana are a powerful combination.”
