Session:

Investing with Intention

Eric Woods (B’91)

coo, mUSEUM OF fINE aRTS, bOSTON

bOARD mEMBER, gEORGETOWN aNGEL iNVESTOR nETWORK

Eric Woods is the Chief Operating Officer at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He is responsible for optimizing operational strategy to foster comprehensive performance growth across the institution, ensuring that the Museum optimizes its assets and meets revenue targets​. Eric’s portfolio includes all operational aspects of the MFA including business development, government and legal affairs, visitor and security functions, retail and food services, human resources, information technology and facilities management.

Prior to joining the MFA, Eric served as the Associate Dean for Administration and Finance at Northeastern University, Khoury College of Computer Science, overseeing all financial, operational, and grant administration aspects for a college.  Previously, Eric founded Paladin Ventures, LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to identifying and assisting entrepreneurs and emerging businesses in need of strategic planning, business development, operational expertise, marketing & brand management and investment capital across a variety of disciplines.  Select highlights:

  • He helped steward NuAmerica Agency, a multi-cultural marketing and advertising firm, to five-fold growth in the business. 

  • As COO of UPTOWN Magazine, the first upscale lifestyle magazine directed towards African Americans, Eric was instrumental in the development of the business into a nationally distributed publication and securing investment capital.

  • Always looking for ‘what’s next’, Eric co-founded Harlem Vintage and Nectar Wine Bar, Harlem’s first upscale retail wine shop and wind bar; and was co-founder of Bitty Foods, America’s first protein enriched baked goods company powered by insect protein.  

Eric began his career in financial services, first at JP Morgan and then at Goldman Sachs. 

Eric is a graduate of Georgetown University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business.  He serves on Georgetown University’s Board of Regents, is a co-founder of the Georgetown University Black Alumni Council, is a founding board member of Georgetown Angel Investment Network and sits on the board of Winchester A Better Chance.