Welcome to our new Economic Drivers series, in which we profile the incredible members of our business and civic community helping shape a more prosperous Illinois for all. This month’s series features exclusively Black leaders in honor of Black History Month, starting with P33 Chief Growth and Marketing Officer Tifair Hamed, who has lived and worked in Illinois for 20+ years.
What inspired your career path and industry involvement?
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and am now raising my family here, which gives my work a deep sense of purpose. After spending years building and scaling brands for leading companies, I became increasingly interested in how those same growth, storytelling, and partnership principles could be applied to a region. That shift led me to P33, where, as chief growth officer, I work at the intersection of technology, talent, and community to help position Chicago and Illinois as global leaders in innovation. Partnering closely with the Illinois EDC extends that impact, aligning economic development, investment, and narrative so that innovation translates into real opportunity across neighborhoods and for the next generation.
As a Black leader in your field, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
As a Black leader, I’ve had to be intentional about ensuring my voice and perspective are fully understood and valued. That experience has pushed me to lead with clarity, preparation, and results, and to build strong, trust-based relationships across sectors. In today’s environment, I’ve learned how important it is to show up confidently, communicate with precision, and stay anchored in purpose. Those experiences have ultimately strengthened my leadership, sharpened my ability to navigate complex spaces, and reinforced my commitment to creating pathways so others don’t have to work as hard to be seen and heard.
Can you share a key moment in your career that shaped who you are today?
A defining moment in my career was joining P33. It marked a shift from building within individual organizations to helping shape an ecosystem. What drew me in was the opportunity to work at the intersection of technology, policy, business, and community, to help position Chicago and Illinois for long-term growth while ensuring that progress is inclusive and place-based. It challenged me to think bigger, move slower where it mattered, and stay focused on outcomes that last beyond any single initiative or moment. Being part of P33 sharpened my perspective on leadership. It reinforced the importance of conviction, choosing work that aligns with your values, and patience, knowing that meaningful impact often comes from sustained collaboration over time. That decision fundamentally changed how I think about leadership, investment, and the responsibility that comes with both.
Who are (or have been) some of your mentors, role models, or inspirations?
One of the most defining forces in my career has been mentorship. At different moments, leaders such as Cheryl Jackson, Pepper Miller, Diane Primo, [Illinois EDC Board Member] Brad Henderson, Tom Burrell, [Illinois EDC President and CEO] Christy George, and many others, have shaped how I think, lead, and show up as a senior leader in the city. Their guidance helped me see leadership not just as a role, but as a responsibility: to be rigorous, generous, values-driven, and community-minded. Those relationships gave me confidence when I needed it, perspective when I was navigating complexity, and a clear example of how to lead with both excellence and purpose.
Additionally, my earliest inspiration is my great-grandmother, who came to Illinois from Mississippi during the Great Migration to build a new life. She worked as a maid for years, but her pride never wavered. She and her family eventually purchased their own home and raised the next generation with dignity, resilience, and belief in what was possible. I carry that legacy with me every day. I’m also deeply grateful for my sister, who passed in 2021 from COVID and guided me into adulthood as we were both first-generation college students, and the leaders in my ecosystem who continue to support and challenge me. I’m proud to do this work every day alongside leadership at every level, including our governor and mayor, because it connects where I come from to what I’m building next.
What does success look like to you—professionally and/or personally?
Success looks like giving back: investing time, capital, and care in people and places that helped shape you, and paying forward the opportunities that made your own growth possible.
How does being in Illinois contribute to your success as a Black leader (if it does)?
Illinois gives me the ability to lead at the intersection of technology, policy, and community—not in silos. As a Black leader, that matters. This is a place where emerging technologies like quantum, climate tech, and advanced computing are still being shaped, which means there’s real opportunity to influence who benefits and how growth happens. I’m not just participating in the tech economy here—I’m helping define it in a way that’s inclusive, durable, and globally competitive.
What do you love most about living and working in Illinois?
I love that Illinois lets you work on world-class technology challenges while staying grounded in real people and real communities. You can be in rooms talking about frontier technologies one moment and focused on talent pathways, workforce access, and neighborhood impact the next. That balance keeps the work honest. It reminds you that innovation only matters if it translates into opportunity—and Illinois understands that connection.
What makes Illinois a strong place for Black business leaders?
Illinois offers something rare: proximity to power and permission to build. There’s a growing recognition that Black business leaders are essential to the future of the state’s tech economy—not adjacent to it. Strong networks across corporate, civic, academic, and entrepreneurial spaces make it possible to collaborate quickly, test ideas, and scale impact. That ecosystem creates space for Black leaders not just to succeed individually, but to shape industries and systems.
What policies, programs, or networks in Illinois have supported your professional growth or your organization’s mission?
Illinois has leaned into public-private partnerships that support emerging technologies while prioritizing workforce and inclusion—from investments in quantum and climate innovation to programs focused on talent development and place-based growth. Just as important are the networks: leaders across sectors who understand that tech leadership isn’t only about innovation—it’s about stewardship. Those relationships have made it possible for organizations like P33 to focus on building long-term ecosystems, not one-off wins.
How do you or your organization support your local community or underrepresented groups?
At P33, our focus is on exposure, access, and pathways to technology-driven opportunity. Through TechRise, we support founders with capital, coaching, and visibility. Through Xchange, we’ve created a place-based innovation and workforce hub on the South Side that connects people to applied technology and career pathways. And through TechChicago Week, we open the tech ecosystem to the entire city—creating entry points for learning, connection, and participation. Supporting community means making technology visible, tangible, and accessible so growth is shared.
Are there any initiatives or organizations in Illinois that you’re proud to support?
I’m proud of the ecosystem we’re building through TechRise, Xchange, and TechChicago Week, because together they create a pipeline for inclusive growth. TechRise supports founders as they build and scale. Xchange anchors innovation and workforce development in community. TechChicago Week amplifies opportunity by bringing global conversations about technology, careers, and leadership into neighborhoods across Chicago. Each initiative reinforces the idea that Illinois’ tech leadership should create opportunity at every level.
What inspires you to continue to affect change in your world?
My children—who are 6 and 9—inspire me every day. They remind me that the work we do now is about the world they will inherit. I want them to grow up in a future where opportunity isn’t limited by access or exposure, and where technology is something they can participate in, not just observe. Helping build a tech ecosystem that creates pathways, possibility, and growth for all is part of making the world better for them—and for the generations that follow.
What does Black History Month mean to you personally?
Black History Month is a moment to reflect on the history that brought us here, while feeling energized by the extraordinary talent shaping what comes next.
What would you say to a young Black professional considering launching or relocating their career to Illinois?
For a young Black professional, Illinois offers a rare mix: real access to decision-makers, not just proximity to them; diverse industries, from tech and quantum to finance, climate, healthcare, and creative fields; communities and networks where Black excellence isn’t siloed, but interconnected; and a city that lets you build a full life, not just a résumé. This is a place where you can lead early, shape industries, and still stay rooted in culture, family, and community—where your voice can matter in rooms that are still being formed.
Favorite Illinois historical figure:
Michelle Obama
Favorite book of all time:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Best business advice you’ve ever given (or received):
Know that you belong in every room and at every table.
