Today’s Briefing

Leadership transitions and capital flows continue shaping Black business ecosystems across the United States and Africa.

In Houston, C. Gabriel Hayes has been appointed Chairman of the Business Advisory Council at Texas Southern University’s Jesse H. Jones School of Business, strengthening ties between corporate leadership and one of the nation’s leading HBCU business programs.

Across Africa, venture investment remains concentrated in financial technology and infrastructure platforms. Nigerian fintech Paystack secured a $200 million Series E extension, while companies such as Yoco, Flutterwave, and M-KOPA continue expanding services across payments, remittances, and energy access.

These developments highlight two parallel forces shaping Black enterprise today: leadership development within U.S. institutions and accelerating capital deployment across African markets.

Stories That Matter

United States

C. Gabriel Hayes Named Chairman of TSU Business Advisory Council

C. Gabriel Hayes has been appointed Chairman of the Business Advisory Council at the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University.

Hayes serves as Vice President and Sales Director at Voya Financial and brings more than 20 years of experience in asset management and institutional finance. In this role he will help strengthen corporate partnerships, alumni engagement, and career pathways for students within the program.

The appointment places a senior financial executive at a key advisory position within one of the nation’s leading historically Black business schools.

Source: Houston Style Magazine — March 5, 2026