WOCSTAR

TEAM

Gayle Jennings-O'Byrne

CEO | Wocstar Capital, Co-Founder & General Partner | Wocstar Fund

Gayle Jennings-O'Byrne is CEO of Wocstar Capital and Co-Founder & General Partner of the Wocstar Fund, an early-stage venture fund that invests in the future of consumption and innovation using a female strategy by investing in women of color tech entrepreneurs (“Wocstars”).

Jennings-O'Byrne was named one of "10 Women Changing the Landscape of Leadership'' by the New York Times, March 2021, one of the top Black venture capitalists, Business Insider, February 2024, and one of the top “10 Women of Influence” by Venture Capital Journal, July 2022. She is an instructor at Wocstar Academy and co-founder of the Ally Capital Collab, an initiative aimed at tackling systemic underinvestment in women of color fund managers.

Jennings-O'Byrne has over 30+ years of Wall Street, technology, philanthropy, training, and professional speaking experience. She is a former mergers and acquisitions banker at JPMorgan. She led the capital and planning effort for the Cinema High School, the first public high school of its kind. She began her career at Sun Microsystems.

She is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business, the University of Michigan, and an attendee of the National University of Singapore and the City of London Polytechnic.

Jennings-O'Byrne is the former President of The Nantucket Project Academy and a former board member of Women.NYC, NYC Economic Development Corporation, and current board member of BE.NYC (Black Entrepreneurs), NYC Department of Small Business Services. She is a 2022 recipient of the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2021 Tri-Delta Woman of Achievement Award.

Associate Producer of "Thoughts of a Colored Man" a Broadway play (October 2021) and investor in “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf” (April 2022) which was nominated for seven Tony Awards®.

Speaker at Milken Institute, Heartland Summit, Aspen Ideas Festival, 5th Element/Nobel Peace Prize Forum, United Nations, Bermuda Women Entrepreneurship Summit, Fast Company, Social Venture Circle, Opal Conferences, SOCAP, Gratitude Railroad, Black Women Talk Tech, and Women of Color and Capital Conference.

Victoria Bert

Chief Content Officer & Creative Director | Wocstar Media, EVP Marketing & Communications | Wocstar Capital

Victoria Bert brings to Wocstar a rich tapestry of experience as a seasoned media professional and journalist. For more than 30 years, her career has gracefully navigated the realms of storytelling and production. Her leadership and visionary approach have left an indelible mark across many prominent networks, and production companies including CBS, CBS Interactive, Food Network, BBC Productions, Paramount Television, 20th Century Fox, Comedy Central, and King World.

Bert's portfolio is further distinguished by her role in developing and producing high-profile projects, alongside her adeptness in ghost scripting and script doctoring, showcasing her multifaceted talent and deep commitment to enriching the media landscape.

Graduating from St. John’s University, she frequently visits her Alma mater to mentor students and speak on panels.

Now at Wocstar, Victoria Bert brings her unparalleled expertise as Chief Content Officer, Wocstar Media and Executive VP of Marketing & Communications, Wocstar Capital. In these dual roles, she is responsible for steering the company's creative direction, amplifying stories that resonate, and shaping the Wocstar brand narrative across multiple platforms.

Her contributions extend beyond the control room into social advocacy, where she serves on the board of the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter. Her dedication to tackling issues like food insecurity and homelessness reflects her deep commitment to societal betterment, aligning with Wocstar's ethos of impactful storytelling.

As a member of influential organizations, including the Producers Guild of America, NYWIFT, Women in Media, and the National Association of Black Journalists, Bert is not just a voice in the industry; she is a force for change, driving Wocstar's mission to empower underrepresented voices and bring diverse, powerful narratives to a global audience.

Bert resides with Oliver, her dog, in Hell’s Kitchen, steps from Times Square and blocks away from all the Broadway shows and movies she could ever see!

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Colleen Bataille

Director of Partnerships & Programs | Wocstar

Colleen Bataille serves as the Partnerships & Programs Director for Wocstar Capital and the Wocstar Fund, where she spearheads strategic initiatives to empower entrepreneurs.

At the helm of the Wocstar Academy, she orchestrates a nationwide entrepreneurial training program with a focus on capital raising and storytelling. Her role encompasses program management, fostering participant engagement, coordinating guest speakers and student office hours, as well as facilitating networking opportunities. Bataille is instrumental in enhancing brand visibility and fostering connections within the venture capital ecosystem through dynamic campaigns, media outreach, and social engagement efforts. Bataille is on the founding team of the Ally Capital Collab, an initiative created by women of color fund managers to address systemic capital-raising challenges.

Leveraging her extensive 20-year background, she brings a wealth of expertise in marketing, communications, events, and project management. Her professional journey spans collaborations with government entities, educational institutions, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and corporations. Bataille has excelled in diverse roles including director of sales and marketing, event designer, and operations manager, overseeing a spectrum of projects from product launches to fundraising galas and networking events. Renowned for her commitment to exemplary customer service, Bataille nurtures enduring relationships with clients and suppliers while optimizing operational costs.

Recent clients include Women.NYC, NYC Small Business Services | WE NYC, New York City Economic Development Corporation, and the Ghetto Film School.

Bataille holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a certificate in meeting planning from the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Planners.