Jayla Thompson
- Intern, Gateway Capital Partners; recent University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate
- Age: 22
Jayla Thompson, a Milwaukee native and University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate, discovered the power of business while aiming for a career in law.
According to her remarks to a feature story from the Wisconsin School of Business, Thompson is passionate about connection and inclusion.
“I like to call myself like the glue of the room,” Thompson told the school. “Any room I go into, I make the extra effort to make sure that everybody not only feels seen but heard and loved."
When she learned she could pursue these passions through business, she jumped at the opportunity, switching from a pursuit of law to business administration.
After making the academic switch, Thompson won first place in the 2020 gALPHA Social Justice program. The competition, hosted by gener8tor and the American Family Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, is designed to support entrepreneurially gifted students who want to affect change in the realm of social justice.
While at Madison, Thompson spearheaded an on-campus health and wellness brand, Shape with Jay. Using social media to mobilize, her goal was to provide one-on-one training, offer meal inspiration and partner with student organizations to bolster healthy lifestyles. Thompson emphasized the experience of Black women.
Thompson also pursued her passion for social justice as the ambassador for the Black Student Affinity Group at UW-Madison. Here, she fostered a community for Black business and pre-business students.
In 2022, the University of Wisconsin System awarded Thompson an Alliant Energy Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Achievement Award, which recognizes academic and community dedication among traditionally underrepresented groups in business and engineering. She was one of four recipients picked from UW-Madison and UW-Platteville student bodies.
After earning a degree in business administration and a certificate in Afro-American studies this past spring, Thompson accepted an internship with venture capital firm Gateway Capital Partners in Milwaukee.
Gateway Capital is especially interested in "investing in underestimated Milwaukee," and is committed to founders from a variety of backgrounds.
