Shawn Rochester

Shawn D. Rochester is a financial literacy expert, author, entrepreneur, and economic development advocate whose work focuses on racial equity and personal finance. Rochester is CEO of Good Steward LLC, a financial education and advisory company, and the founder of the Institute of Intra Diaspora Economic Advancement (IDEA Institute), a think tank that facilitates commerce among Black business communities in the United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. He holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with a concentration in accounting and finance, and a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Rochester.

Rochester is known as the author of "The Black Tax: The Cost of Being Black in America," a data-driven account of the systemic financial costs Black Americans have endured since the early 1600s. In the book, Rochester examines how the Black Tax—the financial cost of conscious and unconscious anti-Black discrimination—creates a significant financial burden on Black American households, reducing their ability to build generational wealth. He also explores the ongoing and historical costs of discrimination, providing context for why Black Americans own only about 2 percent of American wealth. Rochester introduced the PHD economic framework—Purchase, Hire, and Deposit—to promote job creation, business expansion, and capital access within Black communities. His second book, "CPR for the SOuL: How to Give Yourself a 20% Raise, Eliminate Your Debt and Leave an Inheritance for Your Children's Children," extends his mission into personal financial empowerment.

Before becoming a full-time author and advocate, Rochester worked in corporate finance and global strategy. He held roles at IBM Corporation in Corporate Development, Finance & Planning, and Treasury, and participated in IBM's Emerging Business Opportunities program, which was featured in both a Harvard Business School case study and a Stanford Business School research paper. In this capacity, he contributed to identifying, funding, and monitoring businesses that generated $10 billion in revenue. Rochester also served as president, chief executive officer, and chairman of Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisitions Inc. (MEOA), the first majority Black Special Purpose Acquisition Company to trade on NASDAQ, which raised $126.5 million in its initial public offering.

Rochester is a speaker and economic development advocate who has advised Fortune 100 C-suite executives and presented before state legislatures, county executives, and the United Nations on inclusive and equitable economic strategies using his PHD framework. He has also presented at Talks at Google. Rochester has received citations from the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council for his work in economic development, has been featured as a Black History Maker by Amazon Corporation, and is a recipient of the Difference Maker Award for leadership in economic development from the Urban League of Greater Kansas City. His commitment to economic development led to his selection by the International Human Rights Commission Relief Fund Trust as one of the Top 100 Human Rights Defenders for his efforts to educate on the financial cost of discrimination against members of the African Diaspora in America. Through his writing, speaking, and organizational work, Rochester contributes to the national conversation on racial wealth equity and Black economic empowerment.