Mark Watson

Mark Watson is a nationally recognized investment strategist, systems thinker, and leader who is helping reimagine how capital can strengthen communities, expand
opportunity, and build long-term resilience.
As Co-Founder and President of Potlikker Capital, Mark is helping redefine the role of capital by
aligning relationships, knowledge, opportunity, and investment around historically overlooked
agricultural producers, food entrepreneurs, and rural communities. His philosophy that capital
should strengthen the conditions that allow people and communities to thrive has positioned
Potlikker Capital as a leading voice in reparative investment, regenerative finance, and
community resilience.
With more than four decades of experience across commercial banking, institutional investment management, philanthropy, and mission-driven finance, Mark has dedicated his career to connecting financial innovation with community impact. His leadership includes founding a socially responsible investment advisory firm, contributing to the development of the Boston Impact Initiative Fund, serving as former Managing Director and Senior Investment Strategist for the Fair Food Fund, where he helped redesign the Michigan Good Food Fund, and advising organizations working at the intersection of finance, food systems, and equity.
A sought-after speaker and advisor, Mark is widely respected for challenging conventional
thinking about investment and encouraging leaders to build ecosystems of opportunity rather than transactions. His work continues to influence national conversations about community wealth-building, regenerative economies, and the future of resilient food systems.
Mark earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.