Kilsys Payamps-Roure is the founding Executive Director of Braven-New York City where she serves as the chief executive officer of Braven’s multi-site region. She leads the region’s growth strategy, guides the team that oversees NYC Fellow outcomes, builds and stewards university, employer, and key stakeholder partnerships, and is responsible for ambitious revenue and brand goals. Under her leadership, Braven launched at Lehman College in January of 2020. To date, they have served over ~1000 students. Kilsys spearheaded a second partnership with The City College of New York which launched in January of 2023 and will serve 3,750 students over the next five years.

Prior to Braven, Kilsys was Chief of Staff to the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America. At NYCHA, she set organizational strategy and helped to lead the day-to- day operations of an agency serving over 600,000 residents with nearly 11,000 employees. Kilsys served as Operations Manager for Enterprise Community Partners overseeing administrative, facility, and IT related directives. While at Enterprise, she established an internship program that served as a pipeline for underrepresented students. Kilsys founded Kiki’s Corner, an online stationery and invitation company, to fill the void for image diversity for people of color. She began her career in the financial services industry serving in various finance and accounting leadership roles at Dean Witter, Bear Stearns, and Investment Technology Group.

Kilsys graduated with a B.B.A in Accounting from Hofstra University. She is a lifelong New Yorker who’s accent seemingly betrays her wherever she goes, proud daughter of Dominican immigrants, wife to the most awesome ride-or-die husband, and mom to two children who are her heartbeats.