Alfred Ward

About Alfred Ward

My goal in life is to change the world.I know—that sounds crazy. But with the support of God, my team, and the people who believe in us, I know we will do it.None of us can do it alone. But together, we can do anything.When I was a kid, my mom told me: “No dream is too big. You can do anything you want in this world if you just put your mind to it.” Maybe it was naïve, but I believed her. I looked around and saw brilliant people struggling—people with just as much talent as anyone else, but without access to opportunity. That’s when I made a promise: If I could change anything, I’d change the systems that hold people back. I’d help people. I’d change the world.That promise became my mission.Today, I’m living it as the Founder and CEO of BLYNK, a venture-backed tech company building a “LinkedIn for Underemployed Talent.” Under my leadership, BLYNK is bridging the gap between employers and underrepresented communities by connecting diverse talent with high-paying jobs. Our goal is to build a society where not only do we all have legal equality—but economic equality too.Diverse Talent + High Paying Jobs = BLYNKThere’s no shortage of opportunity—only a shortage of access.My journey started early. At 17, I launched my first startup. I later graduated with honors from UNC Chapel Hill’s Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship, ranked #4 in the U.S, and I was named Entrepreneur of the Year.At UNC, I interned at NC IDEA, North Carolina’s top entrepreneurial funder, where I helped launch the Black Entrepreneurship Council (BEC)—a $1M+ initiative to grow Black wealth through business. I also worked under the founder of NC IDEA Labs, one of the state’s leading startup accelerators.I designed and taught the Young Founders Institute at UNC, a youth entrepreneurship summer program that helped 50+ students go from idea to revenue in weeks—totaling in youth earnings.After graduation, I turned down offers from Goldman Sachs’ Urban Investment Group and Venture For America to fully dedicate myself to building BLYNK. Since then, I’ve completed three of Baltimore’s top startup accelerators: Conscious Venture Lab, Baltipreneurs @ Loyola, and Innovation Works’ Boost Program.But beyond all that, I remain committed to one thing: empowering the next generation of leaders. Whether through career readiness or entrepreneurship, I want young people—especially those underestimated or overlooked—to see themselves as powerful, brilliant, and capable of building wealth that lasts generations.Because I still believe what my mother told me:No dream is too big.

Experience

1. Founder & Chief Executive Officer

   Blynk

   Sep 2023 — Present · Baltimore, MD, US

   BLYNK is the Equal Opportunity Ecosystem and our goal is to connect people to career opportunities in the BLYNK of an eye.BLYNK is a VC-backed startup in Baltimore, Maryland. BLYNK is the first-ever Guided Career-Building Platform. More than just a job board or networking site, BLYNK serves as a personal talent agent—walking young people step-by-step through the process of discovering, preparing for, and launching into fulfilling careers. From career mapping and resume building to interview prep and mentor connections, BLYNK helps users move with clarity and confidence toward high-quality, high-paying opportunities. We don’t just connect talent to companies—we help youth get hired, thrive, and grow.

Education

• Guilford Technical Community College

  Associate of Science - AS

  2016 — 2018

• UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

  Bachelor's degree, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  Bachelor of Science: RECiPE Major, Minor in Entrepreneurship

  2018 — 2021