Ronia Stewart is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. She is a philanthropist and seasoned corporate leader with 25+ years of experience in the financial services, legal and non‑profit arenas. A committed management professional, she has dedicated her talents & skills through an equity lens to improving the social, emotional, educational & economic well-being of the citizens of greater Boston area & beyond.
As a well-sought after Strategist, Thought‑Leader, Global Networker, Moderator and Speaker, she is the Founding President & CEO of Garden of Eden & Associates, Inc., a privately funded 501(c)(3) non‑profit company that hosts networking events, conducts speaker series, seminars & workshops that provide leadership development & professional & employability skills training to individuals and strategic & operational planning to organizations.
Ronia has served as Speaker, Moderator and Facilitator for the Mayor’s Youth Council, UMass Boston College of Management, NBMBAA Boston Chapter, The Partnership, The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts Career Fair, Mothers for Justice & Equality (MJE), LogMeIn, and GBMCAA Young Men’s Leadership Conference.
Her nonprofit journey began as Director of Development at the Boston Higher Education Resource Center (HERC), a college-readiness program serving first-generation Latino students. There, she led a growing team in strengthening organizational development, public relations, marketing, and branding.
Stewart has also held leadership roles across Boston at Eastern Bank, Citizens Bank, Companion Health Services, and MFS Investment Management previously worked at The Law Office of Sanford A. Kowal and Morrison Mahoney.
She attended Clark Atlanta University as a Business Administration Major and earned an Undergraduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Northeastern University. In Fall 2023, she was invited to attend the prestigious Harvard Business School Upswell Forum. In 2025, she was named one of COLOR Magazine’s Most Influential Women.
She was an appointed member of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Relaunched Black Advisory Commission. She is Board Member Emeritus for Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, served as the Financial Services Committee Chair for Communities of Color and has served on many boards in the capacity of Chair, Co-Chair, President, Treasurer, Secretary, Director and Advisory Member. She has been featured or quoted in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Boston Business Journal, Bay State Banner, Dorchester Reporter, Worcester Telegram, WHDH TV 7 and Boston Praise Radio and No More Reasonable Doubt Podcast.
She is currently interstate between Boston and Charlotte, enjoys spending time with family & friends, reading and traveling. Her children, granddaughters and granddogs are an important part of her life.
