“Welcome. Descendants of Hope takes an inspirational journey into the lives of First-Generation Immigrant Americanswho have reached heights their ancestors could never have imagined.”
“Welcome. Descendants of Hope takes an inspirational journey into the lives of First-Generation Immigrant Americanswho have reached heights their ancestors could never have imagined.”
OUR FOUNDER'S STORY
Daphne Leroy.
“For me, the launch of Descendants of Hope is an opportunity to pay homage to my parents who are my greatest inspiration. By emigrating from Haiti to New York City in the turbulent 1960's, their American dream became my American reality. I am a Descendant of Hope.”
Daphne Leroy launched the platform “Descendants of Hope” to create an inclusive community of belonging that exists as a meaningful source of multi-cultural pride and amplifies how diverse ancestry contributes to the colorful fabric of society.
Named one of the most influential executives in the media industry, Daphne is a purpose-driven advisor and senior executive with extensive experience helping leaders and organizations strengthen visibility, stakeholder engagement, and influence for some of the world’s most iconic media brands and notable social impact institutions. Daphne’s career spans marketing, communications, strategy, and social impact at Paramount Global, Viacom, MTV, Time Inc., National Association for Multi Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), The Paley Center for Media, and The Ad Council.
As the eldest daughter of a proud Haitian immigrant family, Daphne has personal insight into the identity intersectionality of a “first-generation nation.” Her professional background is rooted in governance, mentorship, service, and philanthropic leadership. Whether advising organizations, mentoring emerging leaders, or serving on the Board of the Fiver Children’s Foundation, Daphne is deeply committed to community impact alongside business excellence.
She is also Co-Founder and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Haitian Roundtable, a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2008 for professionals committed to civic engagement in the U.S. and strategic initiatives, partnerships, and programs. Daphne serves as Executive Producer of the Haitian Roundtable’s “My Haitian-American Journey” video series that features prominent change-makers in the U.S.
A native New Yorker, Daphne serves on the Marketing Advisory Board for the Department of Marketing and International Business at the Zicklin School of Business at her alma mater, Baruch College. In 2023, she was honored with the prestigious Alumni Changemaker Award for her leadership, innovation, and excellence. Daphne holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing Management from Baruch College.
Daphne is a member of Chief, a private network for senior executive women to maximize leadership impact, and an executive member of She Runs It, a nonprofit that paves the way for more women to lead in media, marketing, and tech. She completed the Executive Leadership Development Program sponsored by the National Association of Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) at the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management and the Executive Management Program sponsored by the Cable Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) at Harvard Business School.
Daphne’s work and impact have been recognized by the American Marketing Association of New York, Cynopsis Media as a Top Woman in Media in the Innovators and Disruptors category, and Cablefax Magazine as one of the industry’s Most Influential Executives for five consecutive years. In 2026, Carib Biz Network named Daphne among Caribbean American women shaping business, culture, and innovation.
“Representation matters. Ancestry matters. Empowering future generations matters. It’s more important now than ever to elevate the voices of diverse communities and their lasting contributions in shaping culture and society.”
