After 20 years in a successful career at a Fortune 50 financial institution, Roberta Shields chose to redirect her talents and skills to help her son, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, develop his growing empire. As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Roberta wears many hats. Among her most cherished roles are being a proud grandmother to three granddaughters and president of The Ludacris Foundation.
Established in 2001, The Ludacris Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support grassroots organizations that work to help youth live their dreams. Roberta and the Ludacris Foundation work effectively with community leaders, politicians and school administrators to effect change on local, state and national levels. She has also formed strategic partnerships with corporations and organizations to better serve communities at large.
In addition to leading the Ludacris Foundation, Roberta has served on several profit/non-profit boards, directing millions of dollars into urban communities and programs that uplift youth. Over the years, the programs and support of the Foundation have impacted countless lives, with thousands of hours invested in hands-on service to youth and families.
Born in Springfield, Illinois, Roberta learned many valuable lessons from her parents, including the importance of an education. Roberta holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Illinois.
Throughout the vast majority of her life, Roberta has focused on developing, motivating, and effectively engaging people to live their dreams. Roberta believes, “You visualize it, you’ll realize it,” a creed that has proven to be a model of success for Roberta and her son, Ludacris.