Emily Slade

Basic Info

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Role/Occupation: Head of Philanthropy at Inspired (starting Jan 20, 2026); previously COO for Keywell Foundation/Family Office
Contact: Twitter @em_slade, emilyslade.com
Met: The Stoa Worldviews class (Nov 2025) - reached out after Gary's testimony presentation
Relationship Status: Married (husband is Jewish, secular)

Current Role: Starting as Head of Philanthropy at Inspired (fundraising software platform) on January 20, 2026
Previous: COO for Keywell Foundation/Family Office (philanthropy strategy for successful entrepreneurs)
Valence: Co-founder and former COO of Valence, a venture-backed platform connecting Black professionals with opportunities and capital (incubated by Upfront Ventures)
Working Not Working: Former Global Head of Growth & Partnerships before Fiverr acquisition
Photography: Previously ran Emily Slade Photography (documentary, travel, lifestyle, sports)
Investing: Advised and invested in early-stage startups and production companies

Family Background: Father was strict Southern Baptist (unusual for Bay Area); mother was liberal hippie, biracial, dabbled in many religions (Buddhism, Judaism)
Faith Journey: Raised Christian (Southern Baptist), explored other traditions as adult, recently renewed commitment to Christianity after Israel trips
Current Exploration: Attending churches in LA, looking for Christian community in tech
Interests: Photography, bridging work, tech/philanthropy intersection, AI music creation (country music side project, pseudonymous)

Reality Israel Board Member: Facilitator for tech/VC trips to Israel; has been 3 times with the organization
Inspired Foundation: Will run foundation for "cultural reframing of philanthropy and giving for next gen wealth"
Listen First Coalition: Attended bridging conference with 120+ orgs; interested in political bridging work
Act 17 Collective: Aware of Trey Stevens' wife's nonprofit for Christians in Silicon Valley

transcript-id	date	one-line-summary
2026-01-08-gary-emily-slade-christians-in-tech-israel	2026-01-08	First call after Stoa testimony; deep faith alignment, Reality Israel nomination offer, discussed nascent Christians-in-tech space, spiritual warfare, AI disruption, and bridging work

Reality Israel Connection: Board member who can nominate Gary for Israel tech/VC delegation (Feb deadline)
LA Christian Tech Node: Potential co-creator of LA chapter for Christians in tech
Philanthropy Expertise: Deep knowledge of next-gen giving and foundation strategy
Bridging Networks: Connected to Listen First Coalition and 500+ bridging organizations
Media/Content: Pseudonymous AI music experiments, creative economy background

Gary Tan: Featured on Act 17 Collective homepage (she noticed)
Peter Thiel: Noticed his interest in Antichrist topics
Trey Stevens (Anduril CEO): Aware of his Christian faith and wife's nonprofit
Reality Israel: Deep network in tech/VC Israeli delegation community
Listen First Coalition: Bridging org network

Communication Style: Thoughtful, curious, faith-seeking; comfortable with vulnerability
Decision-Making: Values-driven over money-driven (noted by Gary)
Personality: Self-described "genuinely curious person" who struggles with over-commitment
Faith Posture: Returning to Christianity after period of exploration; interested in supernatural manifestations
Unusual Behavior: First time she's ever cold DM'd someone to connect

"I've never experienced anyone young and in tech giving a testimonial, especially in an environment like that with such a rational kind of framework."
"There's going to be this layer of people like us who are AI native... not afraid of it, embracing it. And we can communicate to everyone else who's going to be pretty freaked out."
On political polarization: "There must be a spiritual component here because they are too smart. It's too rational an issue to be able to navigate your way through it with some sensibility."
"I feel like my outreach wasn't even with a specific intent. It was just like, I feel like I should get to know you."

Bridger Identity: "Peer Sherpa" for people transitioning through change
Faith Evolution: Went from Baptist upbringing → exploration of Judaism after Israel → renewed Christian faith
Work as Worship: Resonated with Gary's view that creating the right thing is "a high form of worship"
Problem Awareness: Interested in sequencing how to introduce supernatural Christianity to secular audiences