Malobi Achike Owner of DEI Directive

Steven Lewis • March 11, 2019

Woman with braids smiles while talking to another woman in front of a brick wall.

In 2020, Malobi Achike was in a demanding corporate position that required a lot of travel. She was ready for a change, but she was unsure of what her next step should be.

When the pandemic hit, travel stopped and work-from-home started. Balancing two children and remote work expedited her decision – Malobi put in her two weeks’ notice.

And then, the news about George Floyd broke. “I was in this two-week window, so my schedule wasn’t as heavily booked as it normally would be. I was actually really able to be present and absorb the news.”

The Tuesday following Floyd’s murder was Blackout Tuesday – a viral effort to pause business and publicly stand up to racism and inequality, with many businesses posting a black tile to their social media feeds.

“The Tuesday after was really the day that was very pivotal for me,” Malobi explained that it was good to see the support, but she knew the Blackout Tuesday effort would not result in any real impact.

She wondered, “What happens when we lift that veil? If I look at your organization, what are the dynamics? What are the conditions? What are the policies? What are the practices? Are those practices fair to the same group that you are publicly supporting through this black tile?”

That was the impetus for starting DEI Directive.

DEI Directive is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion technology firm. This B2B SaaS application is designed to help people who have been mandated with improving the DEI health of their organizations to make data-informed decisions that result in real impact.

Most organizations look at gender, race, and ethnic breakdown, but there is so much other rich information that can help leaders understand the DEI culture of their organization. DEI Directive helps diversity officers collect, standardize, and connect all of that information on their platform.

“[Diversity officers] are typically given this huge mandate and they typically don’t have a tool – technology or data insights – to be able to manage that process. In fact, only about 35% of organizations track DEI data, and most of the people who are doing it are doing it manually.”

Malobi likened the process to go to the doctor. Only when the problem is properly diagnosed can you start treating it.

When DEI data is accessible it makes it possible to holistically assess the status quo at the organization and to specifically diagnose what the issues are. Equipped with an understanding of what’s happening internally, companies can devise a targeted strategy that has a chance of working in the long run.

The NC IDEA grant funding awarded to DEI Directive will be used for software expansion and development that will enable the company to grow and have a greater impact.

To learn more about how DEI Directive can help your organization improve diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit www.deidirective.com or connect via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/dei-directive.

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Founder Stories & Startup Wins — The Boost Pad

The Boost Pad | April Spotlight: From Momentum to Milestones

By Mark Babaran • April 28, 2026

What happens when The Boost Pad, a Charlotte-based nonprofit, joins forces with two remarkable interns from different universities across our region? Something powerful begins to take shape. Fresh ideas meet meaningful purpose. Innovation meets impact. And everyone involved grows in the process. That’s exactly what we’ve experienced with Colette Dwyer (Davidson College) and Nevyn Brown (UNC Charlotte) —two emerging leaders whose work is already translating into real-world results. 🚀 Founder Win: Nevyn Brown | FundU Execution creates opportunities—and Nevyn is a clear example of that in action. Nevyn recently secured 1st place at UNC Charlotte’s 49-Minute Pitch Competition, earning $8,000 in funding for his startup, FundU. FundU is a mobile platform that enables nonprofits to raise money by partnering with local businesses—transforming everyday purchases into a scalable fundraising engine. At the same time, it helps small businesses generate consistent customer demand. What made FundU stand out wasn’t just the idea—it was the clarity behind it: A clearly defined problem across two markets A solution that creates value for both nonprofits and businesses Early traction with pilot partnerships A model designed to scale across campuses and cities Beyond his venture, Nevyn contributes to The Boost Pad through marketing, social media, and technical strategy—bringing a data-driven and execution-focused mindset to everything he builds. With a launch planned for late May, FundU is already moving from concept to real-world impact. 🌱 Founder Win: Colette Dwyer Impact isn’t only built through ventures—it’s also built through research, communication, and the ability to translate ideas into meaningful action. Colette, a student of Biology and Hispanic Studies at Davidson College, recently presented her original research at the Association of Southeastern Biology Research Conference—an experience that sharpened both her scientific thinking and her ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity. Her work focused on prairie restoration practices and their application to sustainability. Through a year of independent research, she established baseline findings that contribute to future environmental studies and sustainable interventions. By tracking emerging trends and presenting them to the Davidson Biology Department and conference judges, Colette demonstrated both analytical depth and clarity in storytelling. Her work was recognized with the Best Poster Presentation Award , a testament to both the quality of her research and her ability to translate technical insights into compelling narratives. At The Boost Pad, Colette has extended these same strengths into storytelling and collaboration—contributing to newsletter and blog creation while helping build an alumni network alongside Nevyn Brown. Her ability to connect research, communication, and community-building reflects the kind of multidimensional leadership we aim to cultivate. 🔑 Where Mindset Becomes Action These moments reflect something deeper than individual wins. They represent the shift we focus on every day at The Boost Pad: From ideas → execution From learning → application From vision → measurable progress This is where entrepreneurs stop asking “What should I build?” …and start proving “Here’s what I’m building—and why it matters.” ⚡ Building What’s Next From expanding partnerships to developing new talent, everything we’re doing is centered on one goal: Creating real pathways for entrepreneurs to build, grow, and succeed. What we’ve seen with Colette and Nevyn is exactly what The Boost Pad is built for. Bringing together talent, opportunity, and real-world execution to create meaningful outcomes—for founders and for the communities they serve. And if this is only the beginning, we’re excited to see what they build next. The Boost Pad Team Building entrepreneurs. Strengthening communities.