About Us

Robert D. Jones

Robert Jones is a social investor focused on K-12 STEM enrichment within the greater NYC area. Through his Hand & Mind LLC, Robert has a decade of service to K-12 schools as well as to universities and community organizations that have programs for historically underrepresented K-12 students.

Robert got deeply involved in broadening the STEM talent pipeline soon after volunteering as a MIT Educational Counselor, where he works with the Office of Admissions to recruit the best and brightest students for MIT’s freshman class.

Hand & Mind provides coaching to FIRST Lego League (FLL) robotics teams (grades 4-8). FIRST is the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education.

Robert has coached the Bronx EFKs for 9 seasons. Major awards won by the team include: 2022 NYC Champions Award 3rd Place, out of 43 finalists; Semifinalist at 2022 Global Innovation Awards; 2021 NYC Innovation Project 1st Place.

Robert is a member of the HBS Alumni Angels of Greater New York, the largest angel investor group in NYC.

Prior to social investing, Robert has 25 years of broad functional experience in operations, finance, strategy, and research at organizations of all scale: Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Alcoa, Harvard University, B&H, and Rhythm & Spice (successful startup). https://youtu.be/i-T1ZtJdo38

Robert has a MBA from Harvard Business School, and B.Sc. Chemical Engineering from MIT.

Before migrating to Atlanta in 1979 and graduating from Avondale High School, Robert completed 4th Form at Campion College in Kingston, Jamaica.

Robert’s son was a member of the Bronx EFKs robotics team for 5 years and is currently a 12th grade student at the Denzel Washington School of the Arts in Mt. Vernon, NY .

Lesleyann V. Samuel

Lesleyann Samuel is well known to all in the Greater New York Jamaican Diaspora and in particular in the alumni community having served as the President of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc. (UJAA) from 2014 to 2022. During her short tenure, UJAA’s membership grew from 32 member organizations to over 60. A leader of vision and passion, she focused on developing the programs of the Union, enhancing Brand-UJAA, establishing UJAA as a stakeholder with various education organizations in Jamaica, including the National Education Inspectorate, enhancing the effectiveness of the member organizations, and collaborating with other alumni umbrella groups around the globe.

With over 30 years of leadership experience in several non-profit organizations, Lesleyann has been active in the alumnae association of her alma mater – Immaculate Conception High School, St. Andrew, Jamaica for several years and currently serves as the Assistant Treasurer of the New York Chapter. She was instrumental in the introduction of robotics as an extracurricular activity at Immaculate in 2012 which led to their involvement in the FIRST® Global Challenge competitions in Washington DC in 2017, Mexico City in 2018, Dubai in 2019 and Geneva in 2022. In March 2022, Lesleyann co-chaired the Jamaica Diaspora Education Taskforce 7th Advancement in Education Summit in partnership with Marymount Manhattan College and the Jamaica Teachers’ Association. The Summit brought 60 educators and administrators to New York City for a week of “virtual” tours, workshops, panel discussions and breakout “reflection” sessions.

Lesleyann has been employed in various leadership capacities in the telecommunications sector for the past 35+ years, and since 2001, has been an adjunct professor with University of Maryland Global Campus in the Business Management department. She currently teaches Organizational Leadership.

In recognition of her deep commitment to serving others and giving forward, Lesleyann has been the recipient of numerous awards over the years including the Consul General’s Heritage Award 2018 from the Consulate General of Jamaica New York, in recognition of “outstanding and dedicated service to the community.”

Lesleyann holds M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering – Technology Management from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

She is the proud mom to son, Nicholas who lives and works in southern California.

Nicola Williams

Nicola Williams is the President of Cambridge Carnival. She is the owner of The Williams Agency, an award-winning full-service marketing and business consulting firm established in1995, with a focus on sustainable food, culture, and the environment. Nicola has produced  a number of Boston’s premier annual food and cultural events, including the Boston Local Food Festival, Boston JerkFest, Vermont JerkFest, and a founder and organizer of Cambridge Carnival International. These events have been consistently ranked and recognized among Boston’s top 10 food events by Zagat, the Boston Globe, and the Boston Herald. Most recently Boston JerkFest was recognized by Boston Magazine as the Best of Boston Food Festival in 2022. 

Nicola has over 20 years of experience with expertise in marketing strategy, grassroots marketing, public relations, and business strategy. She is passionate about making a difference in the communities where her company does business. This commitment is demonstrated by her company’s values that include sustainability, diversity, localism, and respect for the people and for the environment. Nicola was recognized as a 2015 Cambridge Food Hero for her work with sustainable food and has been featured in local and national media, including Black Enterprise magazine, the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and the Boston Business Journal.  

Nicola currently serves on the board of directors of the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN), Community Art Center and Harvard Square Neighborhood Association, is President of Sustainable Food and Culture and Cambridge Carnival International, Inc., Treasurer of  Northwest American Marine Alliance and Corporator of Cambridge Savings Bank, Prior to The Williams Agency, Nicola served as a consultant for Cambridge Business Development, a non-profit agency whose mission was to assist businesses through start-up, development, and growth. Nicola was born in Kingston, Jamaica and has lived in Cambridge, MA for 30 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wells College and has completed graduate credits at Harvard University.