Jelani Odlum leverages strategic, creative philanthropy and trust-based partnerships to advance solutions for ocean–climate resilience, plastic pollution, and circularity. Jelani’s work reflects a deep commitment to philanthropy’s role in promoting triple bottom line outcomes and driving systems change through collaboration and inclusive innovation.
Prior to joining Builders Vision, she led a national intellectual property and entrepreneurship education program at the Michelson 20MM Foundation. Previously, she managed commercialization accelerator programs at the nonprofit Larta Institute, working with science and technology entrepreneurs funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She began her career at Singapore’s Los Angeles–based trade and investment office, where she consulted on U.S. market entry and business development for Singaporean companies across industries.
Jelani earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in natural resources stewardship from Colorado State University. In her free time, you can often find her organizing a whiskey tasting or out on a hike with her husband and their dog, Rye.