iHeart Radio: CEO’s You Should Know - Delali Dzirasa, Founder & CEO of Fearless
Delali Dzirasa is the CEO and founder of Fearless, an impact-focused digital services integrator building software with a soul, while creating the conditions for organizations and their people to thrive. Fearless works with some of the biggest agencies in the federal government – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Small Business Administration (SBA), General Services Administration (GSA), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Security Agency (NSA), and the U.S. Airforce – and with major private enterprises including the NFL, Exelon and Deloitte.
He’s also the founder and Lead Coach of the Hutch digital services incubator, which aims to nurture, empower, and connect underrepresented entrepreneurs who are working toward the public good. There are currently 28 companies in the Hutch portfolio.
And he’s the CEO and founder of Fearless Sports, an apparel company with a mission to ignite, equip, and uniform the impactful.
In 2023, he was appointed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore as Vice Chair of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. That same year he was appointed Chair of Baltimore Mayor Scott’s Business Roundtable.
Delali led the creation of the Fearless Impact Fund in partnership with Oak View Group and CFG Bank Arena. The Fearless Fund is the first-of-its-kind community fund to serve BIPOC businesses (Black, Indigenous, and People of color) and BIPOC workforce initiatives within greater Baltimore, providing technical assistance and entrepreneurial coaching, scholarships for training and workforce development programs, and fellowship opportunities.
Delali’s committed to creating a soulful world where action breeds impact, and he’s been named as one of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurs of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region, the Daily Record’s Most Admired CEOs, in the Baltimore Business Journal’s (BBJ) Power 10 list, and in the Black Business Review’s 40 under 40 list. He chaired the inaugural DevOpsDays Baltimore, as well as Hack Baltimore, and is a founding member of the governing board of the Digital Services Coalition.
Delali’s passion and entrepreneurial spirit started at a young age. As a kid, he used to knock on doors and offer to cut grass, mow lawns, wash cars, or walk dogs. He then went on to graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with a B.S. in Computer Engineering. Delali has nearly two decades of experience leading agile software teams and programs, and he strives to make a difference in technology and in his surrounding community. He’s passionate about increasing the rate of city youth heading into STEM fields and works closely with city nonprofits to provide funding and mentorship programs in city schools, as well as other education initiatives. In 2019, Delali testified to the US Senate Small Business committee on behalf of the National HUBZone Council for the Small Business Reauthorization Act. He was also awarded the National HUBZone Corporate Citizen of the Year in 2020.
Delali currently lives in Baltimore City with his wife, Dr. Letitia Dzirasa (Baltimore City's Deputy Mayor for Equity, Health and Human Services), and two sons, Dominic and Jaden. When he isn’t busy running Fearless’ family of brands, he enjoys working out and hanging out with friends and loved ones.
Awards
Delali’s awards
Baltimore Sun’s 25 Black Marylanders to Watch, 2024
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region, 2021
BBJ Power 10 List, 2021
Daily Record Most Admired CEO, 2020
HUBZone Council National Corporate Citizen of the Year, 2020
BBJ Tech 10 Awards, 2019
Black Business Review 40 under 40, 2019
BBJ National List of Influential 100 Young Executives, 2018
BBJ 40 under 40, 2017
UMBC Outstanding Young Alumni of the Year, 2011
