Erica Lock builds programs and partnerships to launch and accelerate entrepreneurs. She manages the programs Blackstone Charitable Foundation, supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and connected communities. Before Blackstone, Erica worked at Echoing Green, the world’s leading leadership development accelerator for social entrepreneurs. There, she managed both external partnerships and internal processes to lay the groundwork for launching an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem strategy and operating plan. Prior to that role, Erica led the Echoing Green Fellowship Program, where she oversaw the team in managing the venture portfolios and producing large global conferences. Erica also worked at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability in the Bloomberg administration, MTV Networks, and various marketing, branding and advertising agencies in research, operations and business development roles. She has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS in Economics from Wharton. When Erica’s not working in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, she’s raising two little girls and sketching out (and optimizing) endless home improvement projects.

Specialties: start-ups, social entrepreneurship, leadership development, partnership building, operations, fundraising, marketing, communications, brand strategy.