Wilson Lester is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Partners in Equity (PIE). PIE is a private equity investment company focusing on business purpose real estate. Noting that transferable assets are the most sustainable pathway to generational wealth, PIE’s strategy focuses on underinvested communities with a higher index of tenancy versus ownership, offering an opportunity for more businesses to own where they operate. Wilson’s leadership extends beyond traditional investment strategies. He is the visionary behind Piedmont Business Capital, a pioneering North Carolina-based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), which has strategically deployed millions in impact capital to uplift Black-owned businesses across the state.
As the Co-Founder of the ACCESS Center for Equity and Success, he plays a crucial regional role in empowering minority business enterprises to access public and private contract opportunities, thereby advancing economic inclusion. His commitment to transformative philanthropy is evident through his roles as Treasurer and Investment Committee member at the Cone Health Foundation and his board positions at the Triad Advisory Council for Truist Bank and Greensboro College. His involvement with various boards dedicated to health and economic development, including past contributions to the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs Advocacy Committee, underscores his dedication to shaping policies that benefit Black businesses and foster resilient communities, highlighting his unwavering commitment to economic inclusion.
Believing that generational wealth starts with educating family, Wilson created Nocho Park Redevelopment, an infill residential development company, to introduce his family to a living-learning lab that provides affordable housing in the community while building long-term assets.
Wilson earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Greensboro College and his Master of Science in Management, Strategy, and Leadership from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University.