SPEAKERS
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
Former UN Under-Secretary General and High Representative
Former UN Under-Secretary General and High Representative
Ambassador Chowdhury has devoted many years as an inspirational champion for sustainable peace and development and ardently advancing the cause of the global movement for the culture of peace that has energized civil society all over the world.
As a career diplomat, Permanent Representative to United Nations, President of the UN Security Council, President of UNICEF Board, UN Under- Secretary-General, and recipient of the U Thant Peace Award, UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Culture of Peace, Spirit of the UN Award and University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor’s Medal for Global Leadership for Peace, Ambassador Chowdhury has a wealth of experience in the critical issues of our time - peace, sustainable development, and human rights.
Ambassador Chowdhury’s legacy and leadership in advancing the best interest of the global community are boldly imprinted in his pioneering initiative in March 2000 as the President of the Security Council that achieved the political and conceptual breakthrough leading to the adoption of the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which for the first time recognized the role and contribution of women in the area of peace and security. He is currently a member of the UN High-Level Advisory Group on the Global Study for 15-year review of the implementation of UNSCR 1325.
Equally pioneering are his initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 for adoption of the landmark Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and in 1998 for the proclamation of the “International Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)”.
He served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York from 1996 to 2001 and as the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, responsible for the most vulnerable countries of the world from 2002 to 2007.
Ambassador Chowdhury is a member of the Advisory Council of IMPACT Leadership 21 and is the first recipient of the IMPACT’s Global Summit Frederick Douglass Award Honoring Men Who Are Champions For Women's Advancement in October 2013.
He is the Honorary Chair of the International Day of Peace NGO Committee at the UN, New York and Chairman of the Global Forum on Human Settlements, both since 2008. He has been a part of the 12-member Wisdom Council of the Summer of Peace for the years 2012-2015, a world-wide participatory initiative to advance the Culture of Peace.
He is the founding Co-Chair of the International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization (IESCO). Dr. Chowdhury has structured curricula and taught courses on “The Culture of Peace” at the Soka University of America and the City University of New York. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall University of the United States.
As a career diplomat, Permanent Representative to United Nations, President of the UN Security Council, President of UNICEF Board, UN Under- Secretary-General, and recipient of the U Thant Peace Award, UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Culture of Peace, Spirit of the UN Award and University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor’s Medal for Global Leadership for Peace, Ambassador Chowdhury has a wealth of experience in the critical issues of our time - peace, sustainable development, and human rights.
Ambassador Chowdhury’s legacy and leadership in advancing the best interest of the global community are boldly imprinted in his pioneering initiative in March 2000 as the President of the Security Council that achieved the political and conceptual breakthrough leading to the adoption of the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which for the first time recognized the role and contribution of women in the area of peace and security. He is currently a member of the UN High-Level Advisory Group on the Global Study for 15-year review of the implementation of UNSCR 1325.
Equally pioneering are his initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 for adoption of the landmark Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and in 1998 for the proclamation of the “International Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)”.
He served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York from 1996 to 2001 and as the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, responsible for the most vulnerable countries of the world from 2002 to 2007.
Ambassador Chowdhury is a member of the Advisory Council of IMPACT Leadership 21 and is the first recipient of the IMPACT’s Global Summit Frederick Douglass Award Honoring Men Who Are Champions For Women's Advancement in October 2013.
He is the Honorary Chair of the International Day of Peace NGO Committee at the UN, New York and Chairman of the Global Forum on Human Settlements, both since 2008. He has been a part of the 12-member Wisdom Council of the Summer of Peace for the years 2012-2015, a world-wide participatory initiative to advance the Culture of Peace.
He is the founding Co-Chair of the International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization (IESCO). Dr. Chowdhury has structured curricula and taught courses on “The Culture of Peace” at the Soka University of America and the City University of New York. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall University of the United States.
Ambassador Edita Hrda
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
Ambassador Edita Hrda is the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Hrda held many positions in the Czech Republic’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which she joined in 1992. Until assuming her post in New York in 2011, she was Director-General of the Minister’s Section. Prior to that, she was Director-General of the Economic and Cultural Section, Director of the American Department, Director of Multilateral Economic Affairs and Director of Central Europe Department.
From 1999 to 2003, she was her country’s Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay.
In the years 1996 to 1998 she was Chief negotiator of the Czech-German post- World War II indemnification, in 2006 and 2007 member of Supervisory Boards of the Export Bank, and Czech Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation.
She studied trade (1982-1986) and management and informatics (1985-1989) at the University of Economics in Prague, completed post-graduate studies in International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy in Madrid (1992).
Mrs. Hrda is proficient in German, Spanish, English, Russian and French.
From 1999 to 2003, she was her country’s Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay.
In the years 1996 to 1998 she was Chief negotiator of the Czech-German post- World War II indemnification, in 2006 and 2007 member of Supervisory Boards of the Export Bank, and Czech Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation.
She studied trade (1982-1986) and management and informatics (1985-1989) at the University of Economics in Prague, completed post-graduate studies in International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy in Madrid (1992).
Mrs. Hrda is proficient in German, Spanish, English, Russian and French.
Ambassador Elizabeth Flores Flake
Permanent Representative Permanent Mission of Honduras to the United Nations
Permanent Representative Permanent Mission of Honduras to the United Nations
The Permanent Representative of Honduras to the United Nations(Spanish: Representante Permanente de Honduras ante las Naciones Unidas) is the Chief of Mission of the delegation of Honduras, and highest permanent representative of the Government of Honduras to the United Nations.
The official duty of the Honduran Permanent Representative, currently Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake, is to represent the interests of Honduras during all plenary meetings of the General Assembly in the absence of a senior officer (such as the Minister of Foreign Relations (Honduras) or thePresident of Honduras). Flake is also the first woman to be appointed as the Permanent Representative of the Honduran Mission, before the United Nations. Ms. Flores has served as Vice-President of the National Congress of Honduras since 2006 and presides over sessions over national issues.
Ms. Flores is also a leading figure in her country’s politics, advocating causes ranging from constitutional reforms, health and environmental initiatives and energy conservation to issues of ethics, transparency and human rights. She has spearheaded numerous social projects, including some directed towards the needy in the poverty-stricken areas of Honduras’ capital, Tegucigalpa, and invested in micro-financing programmes for women in small businesses. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication from the University of Loyola in New Orleans, in 1997. She also obtained a law degree from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras in 2009.
Flake is also the daughter of former Honduran President Carlos Roberto Flores (1998-2002), and was born on December 6 1973. She has two children.
The official duty of the Honduran Permanent Representative, currently Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake, is to represent the interests of Honduras during all plenary meetings of the General Assembly in the absence of a senior officer (such as the Minister of Foreign Relations (Honduras) or thePresident of Honduras). Flake is also the first woman to be appointed as the Permanent Representative of the Honduran Mission, before the United Nations. Ms. Flores has served as Vice-President of the National Congress of Honduras since 2006 and presides over sessions over national issues.
Ms. Flores is also a leading figure in her country’s politics, advocating causes ranging from constitutional reforms, health and environmental initiatives and energy conservation to issues of ethics, transparency and human rights. She has spearheaded numerous social projects, including some directed towards the needy in the poverty-stricken areas of Honduras’ capital, Tegucigalpa, and invested in micro-financing programmes for women in small businesses. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication from the University of Loyola in New Orleans, in 1997. She also obtained a law degree from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras in 2009.
Flake is also the daughter of former Honduran President Carlos Roberto Flores (1998-2002), and was born on December 6 1973. She has two children.
Amir Dossal
Chairman, Global Partnerships Forum
Chairman, Global Partnerships Forum
Amir Dossal is Founder and Chairman of the Global Partnerships Forum, a non-profit working to address economic and social challenges through partnerships, which he established in 2010. The GPF serves as a knowledge platform, providing changemakers with the tools to build innovative partnerships.
Amir is Co-Founder of the Pearl Initiative, a CEO-led program, promoting transparency and accountability in the Middle East. In 2013, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Sustainable Oceans Alliance, a global initiative to focus the need for healthy oceans in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is Co-Founder of the Ocean Sanctuary Alliance. Amir is also Commissioner of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development. In May 2014, President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. appointed Amir as his Special Representative of Palau for Global Partnerships. In January 2015, Amir was appointed Special Adviser to the United Nations Global Compact, for Strategic Relationships. From 2010 to 2014, he served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union for Global Partnerships.
He is a 25-year veteran of the United Nations, and was the UN’s Chief Liaison for Partnerships. As Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships, he managed the $1 billion gift by media mogul Ted Turner; and forged strategic alliances to address the Millennium Development Goals.
In 2005, Amir was asked to establish and manage the UN Democracy Fund, whose core mission was to strengthen institutions around the world, and enhance democratic governance in new restored democracies. In 2006, he was asked by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to set-up the Peacebuilding Support Office at the United Nations, to assist post-conflict countries in bridging the gap between peace, security and economic development. Over the years, Amir has worked on a number of peace, security and human rights-related activities and humanitarian programmes across the globe. These efforts threaded together the leadership role of international organizations, multilateral and bilateral institutions, linking them with non-state actors, with a view to encouraging innovative collaboration. This included supporting concrete projects such as women’s empowerment, the role of parliament and media in democracy, the innovative use of technology in economic and social development programmes, etc. From 1993 to 1997, Amir served as the Chief of Finance Management in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, where he oversaw finances for 24 peacekeeping operations worldwide (annual budget of $3 billion). During his tenure, he set-up a sophisticated military asset management system, to increase transparency and accountability.
Amir Dossal works globally across all sectors, including Education, Environment, Finance, Health, Media, Technology, as well as Peace, Security and Human Rights. Over the years, he has built numerous alliances between governments, multilateral agencies, business groups, foundations and civil society, including the Arab Foundations Forum, BCIU, Chambers of Commerce, CECP, Commonwealth Business Council, European Foundation Centre, Foreign Policy Association, IDP Foundation, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, Jewish Children’s Museum, NEPAD, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, United Nations Associations, USCIB, US Department of State, World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists.
When spearheading the UN's engagement with industry, Amir developed working relationships with leading companies, including BASF, BT, Cisco, Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, Ericsson, Google, GSK, HSBC, Microsoft, Nestle, Novartis, Pfizer, DSM, Standard Chartered Bank, Vodafone, and Walmart. Amir has championed partnerships with high-profile personalities on humanitarian causes, including The Countess Sondes, Cherie Blair, Geena Davis, Francine LeFrak, Petra Němcová, Julia Ormond, the late Joan Rivers, Russell Simmons, June Sarpong, Inge Solheim, Joss Stone, Christy Turlington Burns, Ali Velshi, among others.
Amir has worked with sustained commitment toward an overarching vision of uniting public and private energies for social progress. By nature a social innovator, his work is an endeavor to bond the power of the private sector, government, and civil society; in order that together, they may better serve the greater good.
In December 2010, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, appointed Amir Dossal as Ambassador for Peace and Sport. In October 2010, he received the Humanitarian Award from the UN Association of New York, for his accomplishments in Partnerships to End Poverty and World Hunger. In February 2011, Amir was appointed Special Envoy to the World Youth Peace Summit.
Amir is a UK Chartered Accountant (FCA) and a PricewaterhouseCoopers London alum. He has lived and worked in Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, and North America. Amir regularly undertakes speaking engagements and frequently serves as a moderator for high-level panels for the UN system and other international organizations, engaging Heads of States and Ministers.
He also serves on the board of several non-profits, including CITYarts, Global Social Compliance Programme, and the Humpty Dumpty Institute. Amir is also a Patron of the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists (WCMP), a founding member of the DSM Sustainability Advisory Board, Strategic Advisor to the DNA Summit, and Advisor to Ideapod, a new social media platform for ideas.
Amir is married to Tas, and they have one son, Zecki.
Amir is Co-Founder of the Pearl Initiative, a CEO-led program, promoting transparency and accountability in the Middle East. In 2013, he was appointed Co-Chair of the Sustainable Oceans Alliance, a global initiative to focus the need for healthy oceans in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is Co-Founder of the Ocean Sanctuary Alliance. Amir is also Commissioner of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development. In May 2014, President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. appointed Amir as his Special Representative of Palau for Global Partnerships. In January 2015, Amir was appointed Special Adviser to the United Nations Global Compact, for Strategic Relationships. From 2010 to 2014, he served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union for Global Partnerships.
He is a 25-year veteran of the United Nations, and was the UN’s Chief Liaison for Partnerships. As Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships, he managed the $1 billion gift by media mogul Ted Turner; and forged strategic alliances to address the Millennium Development Goals.
In 2005, Amir was asked to establish and manage the UN Democracy Fund, whose core mission was to strengthen institutions around the world, and enhance democratic governance in new restored democracies. In 2006, he was asked by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to set-up the Peacebuilding Support Office at the United Nations, to assist post-conflict countries in bridging the gap between peace, security and economic development. Over the years, Amir has worked on a number of peace, security and human rights-related activities and humanitarian programmes across the globe. These efforts threaded together the leadership role of international organizations, multilateral and bilateral institutions, linking them with non-state actors, with a view to encouraging innovative collaboration. This included supporting concrete projects such as women’s empowerment, the role of parliament and media in democracy, the innovative use of technology in economic and social development programmes, etc. From 1993 to 1997, Amir served as the Chief of Finance Management in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, where he oversaw finances for 24 peacekeeping operations worldwide (annual budget of $3 billion). During his tenure, he set-up a sophisticated military asset management system, to increase transparency and accountability.
Amir Dossal works globally across all sectors, including Education, Environment, Finance, Health, Media, Technology, as well as Peace, Security and Human Rights. Over the years, he has built numerous alliances between governments, multilateral agencies, business groups, foundations and civil society, including the Arab Foundations Forum, BCIU, Chambers of Commerce, CECP, Commonwealth Business Council, European Foundation Centre, Foreign Policy Association, IDP Foundation, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, Jewish Children’s Museum, NEPAD, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, United Nations Associations, USCIB, US Department of State, World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists.
When spearheading the UN's engagement with industry, Amir developed working relationships with leading companies, including BASF, BT, Cisco, Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, Ericsson, Google, GSK, HSBC, Microsoft, Nestle, Novartis, Pfizer, DSM, Standard Chartered Bank, Vodafone, and Walmart. Amir has championed partnerships with high-profile personalities on humanitarian causes, including The Countess Sondes, Cherie Blair, Geena Davis, Francine LeFrak, Petra Němcová, Julia Ormond, the late Joan Rivers, Russell Simmons, June Sarpong, Inge Solheim, Joss Stone, Christy Turlington Burns, Ali Velshi, among others.
Amir has worked with sustained commitment toward an overarching vision of uniting public and private energies for social progress. By nature a social innovator, his work is an endeavor to bond the power of the private sector, government, and civil society; in order that together, they may better serve the greater good.
In December 2010, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, appointed Amir Dossal as Ambassador for Peace and Sport. In October 2010, he received the Humanitarian Award from the UN Association of New York, for his accomplishments in Partnerships to End Poverty and World Hunger. In February 2011, Amir was appointed Special Envoy to the World Youth Peace Summit.
Amir is a UK Chartered Accountant (FCA) and a PricewaterhouseCoopers London alum. He has lived and worked in Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, and North America. Amir regularly undertakes speaking engagements and frequently serves as a moderator for high-level panels for the UN system and other international organizations, engaging Heads of States and Ministers.
He also serves on the board of several non-profits, including CITYarts, Global Social Compliance Programme, and the Humpty Dumpty Institute. Amir is also a Patron of the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists (WCMP), a founding member of the DSM Sustainability Advisory Board, Strategic Advisor to the DNA Summit, and Advisor to Ideapod, a new social media platform for ideas.
Amir is married to Tas, and they have one son, Zecki.
Denise Evans
VP Market Development, IBM
VP Market Development, IBM
Denise Evans is Vice President, Market Development for the IBM Corporation. In this capacity, she leads an organization responsible for developing IBM’s strategy for and marketing to Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and women owned businesses and IBM Suppliers inNorth America. Her focus also includes the strategy for and marketing to women owned, led and influenced businesses, globally.
Denise previously served globally as Director of e-Relationship Marketing for ibm.com, Director of Customer Loyalty for IBM Sales & Distribution and Director of e-business for IBM Enterprise Systems Group. Denise has served in numerous global leadership and executive positions in IBM marketing and sales for 35+ years. Her marketing experience includes customer and e-relationship marketing, customer loyalty, eBusiness on demand-now Smarter Planet, diversity marketing and social media marketing.
Denise was named a Sequoyah Fellow by the American Indian Engineering and Science Society in 2006. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Native American Chamber of Commerce, the Women Presidents’ Organization, the Center for Women’s Business Research where she also serves as the Treasurer, the X Coalition, the International Planning Committee for the Global Summit of Women, and the advisory board of The S.O.L.V.E. Group, LLC. Denise is active in her community where she serves on the National Advisory Council of the Center for Excellence in Education and is a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts. She is a mentor to many in marketing and sales.
Denise earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Economics from Brown University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Denise previously served globally as Director of e-Relationship Marketing for ibm.com, Director of Customer Loyalty for IBM Sales & Distribution and Director of e-business for IBM Enterprise Systems Group. Denise has served in numerous global leadership and executive positions in IBM marketing and sales for 35+ years. Her marketing experience includes customer and e-relationship marketing, customer loyalty, eBusiness on demand-now Smarter Planet, diversity marketing and social media marketing.
Denise was named a Sequoyah Fellow by the American Indian Engineering and Science Society in 2006. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Native American Chamber of Commerce, the Women Presidents’ Organization, the Center for Women’s Business Research where she also serves as the Treasurer, the X Coalition, the International Planning Committee for the Global Summit of Women, and the advisory board of The S.O.L.V.E. Group, LLC. Denise is active in her community where she serves on the National Advisory Council of the Center for Excellence in Education and is a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts. She is a mentor to many in marketing and sales.
Denise earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Economics from Brown University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Michael Drexler
Senior Director and Head of Investor Industries, World Economic Forum
Senior Director and Head of Investor Industries, World Economic Forum
Michael is based in New York, where he oversees the community of institutional and private investors. He joined the Forum after nine years at Barclays, where he most recently was Managing Director and Global Head of Strategy, Commercial/Investment Banking and Wealth Management. At Barclays, he also held positions in Principal Investments and Finance as well as Chief of Staff to the Chairman. He joined Barclays Capital in 2002 from McKinsey & Company. Prior to that, Drexler was an academic researcher at Stanford University. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Oxford and an M.Sc. in Electronic Engineering from the Technical University at Munich.
Barri Rafferty
CEO, Ketchum North America
CEO, Ketchum North America
In her current role, Barri Friedman Rafferty leads Ketchum’s nine offices in North America as well as Ketchum Digital and Ketchum Sports and Entertainment (KSE).
In addition, she oversees the complementary businesses, Access Communications and Harrison & Shriftman. She is also part of the eight-member Worldwide Executive Committee, which focuses on guiding the strategy, client service and performance of the agency.
During her tenure at Ketchum, Rafferty has held several different roles to support the agency’s overall business goals, including overseeing the global brand marketing practice and running the New York, Atlanta and Dallas offices. She also oversaw specialty units such as digital, entertainment, sports, and multicultural.
Rafferty has a legacy of client service and continues to advise many of the agency’s largest clients, including Gillette, P&G, Frito-Lay, Weight Watchers, Ikea, Chase and Mattel. As a counselor, she specializes in integrated marketing, brand reputation and corporate reputation and has helped countless clients with award-winning campaigns, including “Tostitos Fiesta Bowl” for Frito Lay, Kodak’s Inkjet Launch and Maxwell House’s “Build a Home America”.
Outside of Ketchum, Rafferty participates in a number of groups, such as the sustainability taskforce for the World Economic Forum and is a member of Arthur W. Page Society Page Up program. Barri also sits on the board of StepUp, an organization with the mission of empowering girls from under-resourced communities to become confident, college-bound, and career focused. She is also active in the Public Relations Society of America New York Chapter and is a former chapter president. In 2012, she received the President’s Award for her many contributions. In addition, she is a Capstone advisor and former adjunct professor in the Master’s program in public relations at New York University, as well as an advisory member of the Branding and Integrated Communications program for the City College of New York.
Rafferty has a passion for developing up-and-coming talent, and is particularly interested in the topic of women’s leadership. She is a member of the governing body of OmniWomen, Omnicom’s Leading Women’s Network, for which she holds quarterly panel discussions featuring prominent women within the marketing and communications industry who share their own experiences and offer advice to women.
Prior to Ketchum, Rafferty had a senior role at Lippe Taylor, where she worked on such prestigious brands as Maybelline, Matrix, Escada Beaute and J.F. Lazartigue. She also worked at Slim-Fast Foods Company, Burson-Marsteller and Cone Communications. She received a master’s degree in corporate communications from Boston University and an undergraduate degree in communications from Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University.
In addition, she oversees the complementary businesses, Access Communications and Harrison & Shriftman. She is also part of the eight-member Worldwide Executive Committee, which focuses on guiding the strategy, client service and performance of the agency.
During her tenure at Ketchum, Rafferty has held several different roles to support the agency’s overall business goals, including overseeing the global brand marketing practice and running the New York, Atlanta and Dallas offices. She also oversaw specialty units such as digital, entertainment, sports, and multicultural.
Rafferty has a legacy of client service and continues to advise many of the agency’s largest clients, including Gillette, P&G, Frito-Lay, Weight Watchers, Ikea, Chase and Mattel. As a counselor, she specializes in integrated marketing, brand reputation and corporate reputation and has helped countless clients with award-winning campaigns, including “Tostitos Fiesta Bowl” for Frito Lay, Kodak’s Inkjet Launch and Maxwell House’s “Build a Home America”.
Outside of Ketchum, Rafferty participates in a number of groups, such as the sustainability taskforce for the World Economic Forum and is a member of Arthur W. Page Society Page Up program. Barri also sits on the board of StepUp, an organization with the mission of empowering girls from under-resourced communities to become confident, college-bound, and career focused. She is also active in the Public Relations Society of America New York Chapter and is a former chapter president. In 2012, she received the President’s Award for her many contributions. In addition, she is a Capstone advisor and former adjunct professor in the Master’s program in public relations at New York University, as well as an advisory member of the Branding and Integrated Communications program for the City College of New York.
Rafferty has a passion for developing up-and-coming talent, and is particularly interested in the topic of women’s leadership. She is a member of the governing body of OmniWomen, Omnicom’s Leading Women’s Network, for which she holds quarterly panel discussions featuring prominent women within the marketing and communications industry who share their own experiences and offer advice to women.
Prior to Ketchum, Rafferty had a senior role at Lippe Taylor, where she worked on such prestigious brands as Maybelline, Matrix, Escada Beaute and J.F. Lazartigue. She also worked at Slim-Fast Foods Company, Burson-Marsteller and Cone Communications. She received a master’s degree in corporate communications from Boston University and an undergraduate degree in communications from Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University.
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin
Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund
Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin is a global leader of public health, women’s empowerment and young people, particularly focused on promoting human rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as population and development. Since his appointment as UNFPA Executive Director, effective 2011, he has spearheaded efforts by the international community to advance the milestone consensus of the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo in 1994.
As he moves into his second term in 2015, Dr. Osotimehin has introduced new reforms that have increased the effectiveness and efficiency of UNFPA and outlined a more robust vision for improving the lives of women, adolescents and youth around the world. His leadership and advocacy with governments and other key stakeholders will continue to focus on youth and voluntary family planning. He is also steering UNFPA’s humanitarian action and efforts around eliminating gender-based violence and other harmful practices.
Dr. Osotimehin believes that humility is the key to engaging people and facilitating change. "Humility to engage with the other person of the other community in such a way that they know that you respect them," he says. Cultural sensitivity and understanding are vital.
Dr. Osotimehin’s professional background is in health and medicine. In addition, he has extensive knowledge of the global and national frameworks and processes that are critical to the Fund’s work. He has previously served as Nigeria’s Minister for Health, and also as the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian National Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS, which coordinates all HIV/AIDS work in the country.
The Executive Director currently serves on various advisory boards and committees, including the Family Planning 2020 Reference Group and the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Population Dynamics.
Dr. Osotimehin completed his medical studies at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1972 and received a doctorate in medicine from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 1979. He was appointed Professor at the University of Ibadan in 1980 and headed the Department of Clinical Pathology before being elected Provost of the College of Medicine in 1990. He has served as chair and member of several academic and health organizations, including as Chair of the National Action Committee on AIDS, between 2002 and 2007.
Dr. Osotimehin received the Nigerian national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, in December 2005. Dr. Osotimehin is married and has five children.
As he moves into his second term in 2015, Dr. Osotimehin has introduced new reforms that have increased the effectiveness and efficiency of UNFPA and outlined a more robust vision for improving the lives of women, adolescents and youth around the world. His leadership and advocacy with governments and other key stakeholders will continue to focus on youth and voluntary family planning. He is also steering UNFPA’s humanitarian action and efforts around eliminating gender-based violence and other harmful practices.
Dr. Osotimehin believes that humility is the key to engaging people and facilitating change. "Humility to engage with the other person of the other community in such a way that they know that you respect them," he says. Cultural sensitivity and understanding are vital.
Dr. Osotimehin’s professional background is in health and medicine. In addition, he has extensive knowledge of the global and national frameworks and processes that are critical to the Fund’s work. He has previously served as Nigeria’s Minister for Health, and also as the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian National Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS, which coordinates all HIV/AIDS work in the country.
The Executive Director currently serves on various advisory boards and committees, including the Family Planning 2020 Reference Group and the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Population Dynamics.
Dr. Osotimehin completed his medical studies at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1972 and received a doctorate in medicine from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 1979. He was appointed Professor at the University of Ibadan in 1980 and headed the Department of Clinical Pathology before being elected Provost of the College of Medicine in 1990. He has served as chair and member of several academic and health organizations, including as Chair of the National Action Committee on AIDS, between 2002 and 2007.
Dr. Osotimehin received the Nigerian national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, in December 2005. Dr. Osotimehin is married and has five children.
Professor Linda Scott
DP World Chair for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Said Business School, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Founder, Double X Economy
DP World Chair for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Said Business School, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Founder, Double X Economy
Linda Scott is DP World Chair for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Linda is best known for her creation of the concept of the Double X Economy – a perspective which describes the global economy of women in both the developed and developing world, and the roles of women not only as consumers, but as investors, donors and workers. She writes a blog called The Double X Economy, as well as blogging for Forbes and Bloomberg, Businessweek on gender issues.
The Double X Economy concept was featured by a special Financial Times video series called, “Thinking Big” in January 2014. Professor Scott was also a finalist for the Thinkers 50 “Breakthrough Thinker” award for this same work in 2012. Many other world press vehicles, fromThe Economist to BBC, have covered Professor Scott’s research.
Linda is founder of Power Shift, the Oxford Forum for Women in the World Economy. This select forum brings together 200 leaders from across sectors to think and build partnerships around empowering women economically.
Professor Scott curates the programme each year. In 2014, the theme was Women and Finance and in 2013, the theme was Women and Entrepreneurship. Professor Scott is on the External Advisory Council to the Walmart Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative. She is also a Senior Advisor Fellow of the MasterCard Center for Financial Inclusion. Linda also serves on the Access to Markets subcommittee of theInternational Business Women's Leadership Council of the US State Department. She is also currently leading a global initiative to put women’s financial inclusion on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—the #DoubleXPetition.
Linda is invited to speak at many different venues and to many groups. In July 2014, she was a keynote speaker at the global conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In the fall, she has been invited to speak at the International Finance Corporation and USAID.
The Double X Economy concept was featured by a special Financial Times video series called, “Thinking Big” in January 2014. Professor Scott was also a finalist for the Thinkers 50 “Breakthrough Thinker” award for this same work in 2012. Many other world press vehicles, fromThe Economist to BBC, have covered Professor Scott’s research.
Linda is founder of Power Shift, the Oxford Forum for Women in the World Economy. This select forum brings together 200 leaders from across sectors to think and build partnerships around empowering women economically.
Professor Scott curates the programme each year. In 2014, the theme was Women and Finance and in 2013, the theme was Women and Entrepreneurship. Professor Scott is on the External Advisory Council to the Walmart Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative. She is also a Senior Advisor Fellow of the MasterCard Center for Financial Inclusion. Linda also serves on the Access to Markets subcommittee of theInternational Business Women's Leadership Council of the US State Department. She is also currently leading a global initiative to put women’s financial inclusion on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—the #DoubleXPetition.
Linda is invited to speak at many different venues and to many groups. In July 2014, she was a keynote speaker at the global conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In the fall, she has been invited to speak at the International Finance Corporation and USAID.
Jeanne Sullivan
StarVest Partners, ASTIA, Harvard Kennedy School, ePROVSTUDIO
StarVest Partners, ASTIA, Harvard Kennedy School, ePROVSTUDIO
Jeanne has more than 20 years of private equity experience and has spent 28 years in the technology sector encompassing both extensive operating and investing experience with technology companies. Over the past 20 years as a founding principal of StarVest and previously with Olivetti Ventures, Ms. Sullivan has served on the boards of multiple private and two public companies and has extensive experience creating “go to market” plans for expansion stage companies. Her expertise also includes strategy, an understanding of the technology landscape and industry trends. From 1981 to 1990, Ms. Sullivan was with AT&T, serving in a variety of product management and business-to-business marketing roles, and was the Product Director for a Bell Laboratories internal venture business unit. The product, a high-end parallel processor with graphics and scientific imaging libraries. Her prior experience in marketing and advertising with Bozell Worldwide (1971–1978) gave Ms. Sullivan the business foundation for creating and developing marketing programs and plans for many businesses.
She was part of the founding group for the New York New Media Association Angel Investors Program, one of the first Angel groups in NYC and this is the predecessor to the current New York Angels. She is active with the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit New York City-based organization that lobbies for environmental reform, and established the New York area Environmental Entrepreneurs group comprised of business and technology leaders.
Jeanne serves on the board of the New York Venture Capital Association (NYVCA) and has a passion for supporting and mentoring rising stars as entrepreneurs and investors and is a member of the Astia Board of Trustees. Astia is a global not for profit committed to the success of women high-growth entrepreneurs. She is also active with Springboard, Women in Mobile (WIM), Womensphere, The Pipeline Fund, Golden Seeds and Women 2.0. Jeanne is also a newly appointed member of the Leadership Council of the College of Media for University of Illinois. She was recently cited by Forbes magazine as one of the "Women Changing the World" in her role as an influencer grooming the next generation of female VCs. Jeanne is a sought-after industry speaker on the subject of investing in and building technology companies and has served as an adjunct professor of marketing at the graduate level. Jeanne holds a BS from the University of Illinois and a JD from Creighton University School of Law.
She was part of the founding group for the New York New Media Association Angel Investors Program, one of the first Angel groups in NYC and this is the predecessor to the current New York Angels. She is active with the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit New York City-based organization that lobbies for environmental reform, and established the New York area Environmental Entrepreneurs group comprised of business and technology leaders.
Jeanne serves on the board of the New York Venture Capital Association (NYVCA) and has a passion for supporting and mentoring rising stars as entrepreneurs and investors and is a member of the Astia Board of Trustees. Astia is a global not for profit committed to the success of women high-growth entrepreneurs. She is also active with Springboard, Women in Mobile (WIM), Womensphere, The Pipeline Fund, Golden Seeds and Women 2.0. Jeanne is also a newly appointed member of the Leadership Council of the College of Media for University of Illinois. She was recently cited by Forbes magazine as one of the "Women Changing the World" in her role as an influencer grooming the next generation of female VCs. Jeanne is a sought-after industry speaker on the subject of investing in and building technology companies and has served as an adjunct professor of marketing at the graduate level. Jeanne holds a BS from the University of Illinois and a JD from Creighton University School of Law.
Naila Chowdhury
Chairman, TeleConsult Group, formerly Grameen lead on Village Phone Project
Chairman, TeleConsult Group, formerly Grameen lead on Village Phone Project
Naila Chowdhury is a leading management professional from Bangladesh. She has served in a UN agency as well as several multinationals, locally and globally (Norway, Thailand, Ukraine, Malaysia, and Pakistan). She has closely worked with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus for more than 15 years. Her core focus now is women’s health and economic empowerment through modern information and communications technologies. She is also an Advisor for Ashoka Support Network Members. She is an active Mentor for Youth and Women in constructive entrepreneurship, information communication technology (ICT), global networking and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). She is presently one of the Founding Women Members of F4D in New York, USA and Board Director of Athgo International, USA. She has been involved in developing teams and providing technology driven entrepreneurial platforms for young people globally and powering individuals by creating opportunities to self-organize and succeed with minimal resources and options. Her career began with UNICEF-Bangladesh, and then UK-based Marie Stopes Clinic, promoting the education in reproductive hygiene & AIDS awareness among vulnerable women and adolescents. She joined GrameenPhone in 1998 and was part of its growth into the largest mobile operator in Bangladesh. She had special responsibility as head of GrameenPhone’s Village Phone Project, supporting the grassroots women of remote villages as they extended telecom to the population. This project allowed her to work closely with Professor Yunus; it won many prestigious awards. After several years abroad working for the leading Norwegian wireless company Telenor, she returned to Bangladesh to establish and run Grameen Solutions, the IT arm of Professor Yunus’ Grameen family of enterprises. She has also worked as an Advisor for Aktel -Axiata Bangladesh during it’s revamp and relaunch. She did her Masters Degree in Marketing from Dhaka University. She also has a Senior Executive Business Management Diploma from Singapore National University and an Executive MBA Diploma from the Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden.
Jeff Hoffman
Global Entrepreneur & Speaker, GEW, GIST, ColorJar, Priceline
Global Entrepreneur & Speaker, GEW, GIST, ColorJar, Priceline
Jeff Hoffman is a successful entrepreneur and motivational speaker. In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, he has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and he has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known companies, including Priceline.com. uBid.com, CTI, ColorJar, and more.
Today Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. He supports entrepreneurs and small businesses on a worldwide basis, serving on the global advisory boards of Global Entrepreneurship Week (supporting entrepreneurship in over 130 countries), the US State Department’s GIST program (Global Innovation through Science and Technology, working in 49 emerging nations), the APEC Startup Initiative (the Asia Pacific Economic Council’s 21-member nation association), and many others. He supports the White House, the State Department, USAID, and similar organizations internationally on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.
Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 50 countries. He speaks on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership, and is currently writing a book on how to scale a business, which will be published worldwide in the summer of 2014. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis.
Jeff is a featured business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more.
Jeff received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the national CEO council for his contributions to the field of entrepreneurship, as well as receiving the 2012 Champion of Entrepreneurship Award from JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Rising Tide Capital.
Outside of the world of technology, Jeff has produced movies in Hollywood, has produced musical events including concerts, tours, and charity events with such artists as Elton John, Britney Spears, NSYNC, and others, and serves on numerous charity and non-profit boards.
Today Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. He supports entrepreneurs and small businesses on a worldwide basis, serving on the global advisory boards of Global Entrepreneurship Week (supporting entrepreneurship in over 130 countries), the US State Department’s GIST program (Global Innovation through Science and Technology, working in 49 emerging nations), the APEC Startup Initiative (the Asia Pacific Economic Council’s 21-member nation association), and many others. He supports the White House, the State Department, USAID, and similar organizations internationally on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.
Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 50 countries. He speaks on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership, and is currently writing a book on how to scale a business, which will be published worldwide in the summer of 2014. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis.
Jeff is a featured business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more.
Jeff received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the national CEO council for his contributions to the field of entrepreneurship, as well as receiving the 2012 Champion of Entrepreneurship Award from JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Rising Tide Capital.
Outside of the world of technology, Jeff has produced movies in Hollywood, has produced musical events including concerts, tours, and charity events with such artists as Elton John, Britney Spears, NSYNC, and others, and serves on numerous charity and non-profit boards.
Tereza Nemessanyi
Entrepreneur In Residence (EIR), Microsoft
Entrepreneur In Residence (EIR), Microsoft
Tereza leads Microsoft’s presence with Startups in the East, a newly-created role to help high-growth startups go further and faster by leveraging the best of Microsoft. A seasoned media and technology executive and entrepreneur, Tereza’s breadth and depth of experience across high-growth startups and the world’s largest enterprises is truly unique. Companies she has worked with, at senior levels, include PwC, IBM, The Walt Disney Company, Unilever, Symphony IRI, Interpublic Group, and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB). As Founder/CEO of web startup Honestly Now, she was named one of Forbes “Ten Female Entrepreneurs to Watch”. She also was first employee to launch the first commercial television network in post-Communist Europe, which was the most successful station launch of all time (IPO 1995: CETV). Tereza is a sought-after speaker (TED, SXSW, Lean Startup Conference, Harvard Club), and has blogged for Huffington Post and Reuters. She earned a dual MBA/MA at The Wharton School and Lauder Institute. Tereza is passionate about creating the future for girls in tech, and forging new models for sustainable work and innovation. She lives in New York with her husband and two daughters, who love technology at least as much as she does.
My Luu
Program Director, Global Innovation, Solutions and Policy, IBM Accessibility
Program Director, Global Innovation, Solutions and Policy, IBM Accessibility
My Luu is Program Director of Global Innovation, Solutions and Policy for the IBM Accessibility, which provides solutions to address the needs of those with disabilities, low literacy, and/or cognitive challenges as well as those in the aging population.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Luu was a Market Development Executive leading emerging markets for IBM’s Global Women Initiative, which helps women business owners gain access to affordable technology to launch and grow their business. Concurrently, Ms. Luu led the strategy for IBM’s Base of the Pyramid Initiative, which leveraged technological innovations to address the needs of the 4 billion people who each earn less than $5 a day.
Before joining IBM in 1999, Ms. Luu was a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan covering foreign affairs, economic development, and ethnic conflict, and before that, a public relations manager at Motorola.
In the community, Ms. Luu is President of the Yale Alumni Association of New York, which organizes and/or co-sponsors 80+ programs a year, of which more than 40 provide public service or address social justice.
A Chinese-American born in Vietnam, Ms. Luu lived for 13 months at a refugee camp in Malaysia before immigrating to the U.S. in 1980. Ms. Luu has completed 8 marathons – one each in Alaska, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand and Tanzania -- and has registered for a marathon in Antarctica as part of her goal to complete a marathon on all 7 continents. She holds an M.B.A. from Cornell University and a B.A. from Yale College. Ms. Luu has lived, worked, and/or traveled in more than 45 countries and speaks Chinese (Cantonese), Spanish and Russian.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Luu was a Market Development Executive leading emerging markets for IBM’s Global Women Initiative, which helps women business owners gain access to affordable technology to launch and grow their business. Concurrently, Ms. Luu led the strategy for IBM’s Base of the Pyramid Initiative, which leveraged technological innovations to address the needs of the 4 billion people who each earn less than $5 a day.
Before joining IBM in 1999, Ms. Luu was a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan covering foreign affairs, economic development, and ethnic conflict, and before that, a public relations manager at Motorola.
In the community, Ms. Luu is President of the Yale Alumni Association of New York, which organizes and/or co-sponsors 80+ programs a year, of which more than 40 provide public service or address social justice.
A Chinese-American born in Vietnam, Ms. Luu lived for 13 months at a refugee camp in Malaysia before immigrating to the U.S. in 1980. Ms. Luu has completed 8 marathons – one each in Alaska, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand and Tanzania -- and has registered for a marathon in Antarctica as part of her goal to complete a marathon on all 7 continents. She holds an M.B.A. from Cornell University and a B.A. from Yale College. Ms. Luu has lived, worked, and/or traveled in more than 45 countries and speaks Chinese (Cantonese), Spanish and Russian.
Craig Hatkoff
Co-Founder, Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards (TDIA) & Tribeca Film Festival
Co-Founder, Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards (TDIA) & Tribeca Film Festival
Craig Hatkoff is co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival. He, along with Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro, created the festival immediately following the events of September 11th to help revitalize lower Manhattan. Craig also serves as Chairman of Turtle Pond Publications LLC, a private entertainment and media based company in New York, which has published several best-selling children’s books among them the popular Owen & Mzee series, which he authored with daughter Isabella, and Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World – which he penned with Isabella and daughter, Juliana.
Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship (Scholastic 2006) and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship(Scholastic 2007) have appeared simultaneously on the New York Times best-seller list. There are more than 600,000 copies of the award winning Owen & Mzee books in print in 15 different languages including Swahili and Braille. Scholastic, Turtle Pond Publications, and Zoo Berlin recently announced the United States release of Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captured The World.
In addition to his current business activities, Craig is involved in a number of charitable and civic endeavors, which include serving as Director of the Tribeca Film Institute, on the board of directors of the New York University’s Child Study Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is also a supporter of the National Theater Workshop of the Handicapped. In 2002, Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed him as one of the three Trustees of the New York City School Construction Authority, a position he held for four years. The agency is responsible for building all of New York City’s public schools.
Craig graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colgate University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He later received his MBA from Columbia University and is a founder of the Columbia Business School’s Real Estate and Capital Markets course. He was an adjunct professor at the school for five years. Since 2004 he has served as Director of Capital Trust, Inc., and the Taubman Companies which are both public companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Craig is an avid guitarist and has written a rock opera based on the life of Galileo. He lives in New York City with his wife Jane Rosenthal and their two daughters.
Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship (Scholastic 2006) and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship(Scholastic 2007) have appeared simultaneously on the New York Times best-seller list. There are more than 600,000 copies of the award winning Owen & Mzee books in print in 15 different languages including Swahili and Braille. Scholastic, Turtle Pond Publications, and Zoo Berlin recently announced the United States release of Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captured The World.
In addition to his current business activities, Craig is involved in a number of charitable and civic endeavors, which include serving as Director of the Tribeca Film Institute, on the board of directors of the New York University’s Child Study Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is also a supporter of the National Theater Workshop of the Handicapped. In 2002, Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed him as one of the three Trustees of the New York City School Construction Authority, a position he held for four years. The agency is responsible for building all of New York City’s public schools.
Craig graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colgate University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He later received his MBA from Columbia University and is a founder of the Columbia Business School’s Real Estate and Capital Markets course. He was an adjunct professor at the school for five years. Since 2004 he has served as Director of Capital Trust, Inc., and the Taubman Companies which are both public companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Craig is an avid guitarist and has written a rock opera based on the life of Galileo. He lives in New York City with his wife Jane Rosenthal and their two daughters.
Leslie Grossman
Chair, VISTAGE Private Advisory Boards for CEOs, Executives & Business Owners
Chair, VISTAGE Private Advisory Boards for CEOs, Executives & Business Owners
Leslie is a leadership and business/career development expert, and advocate for women leaders. Grossman created and co-founded Women’s Leadership Exchange, a national organization that produced more than 100 conferences and events, with a mission of creating more women leaders in the world by building leadership, relationship building and business skills. Previously, she led an integrated marketing agency, Communications/Marketing Action, whose clients included many national brands in the fashion, entertainment and business worlds.
She is author of Link Out: How to Turn Your Network into a Chain of Lasting Connectors (Wiley, 2013), and Sellsation: How Companies Can Capture Today’s Hottest Market: Women Business Owners and Executives (WPE Press, 2005). Recently Grossman toured Japan on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, speaking to women about the opportunities of entrepreneurship, and was rated as “one of the best speakers of the year.” Her workshops and keynotes on entrepreneurship and leadership integrate her philosophy of achieving success by creating life-long connections, building one’s personal brand and developing leadership skills.
Grossman is past president and founding international chair of the National Association of Women Business Owners, has served on many boards, including her present role on the board of Unleashed, a nonprofit that transforms middle school girls into leaders and social change agents, and vice chair of IMPACT's Global Advisory Council. She been a professional speaker and trainer for over 12 years, speaking and leading workshops at associations, universities like Cornell, NYU and University of Maryland, and corporations, like JP Morgan Chase, MetLife, IBM, Aetna and Northwestern Mutual.
She is author of Link Out: How to Turn Your Network into a Chain of Lasting Connectors (Wiley, 2013), and Sellsation: How Companies Can Capture Today’s Hottest Market: Women Business Owners and Executives (WPE Press, 2005). Recently Grossman toured Japan on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, speaking to women about the opportunities of entrepreneurship, and was rated as “one of the best speakers of the year.” Her workshops and keynotes on entrepreneurship and leadership integrate her philosophy of achieving success by creating life-long connections, building one’s personal brand and developing leadership skills.
Grossman is past president and founding international chair of the National Association of Women Business Owners, has served on many boards, including her present role on the board of Unleashed, a nonprofit that transforms middle school girls into leaders and social change agents, and vice chair of IMPACT's Global Advisory Council. She been a professional speaker and trainer for over 12 years, speaking and leading workshops at associations, universities like Cornell, NYU and University of Maryland, and corporations, like JP Morgan Chase, MetLife, IBM, Aetna and Northwestern Mutual.
Constance J. Peak
CFO, Chief Strategist Co-Founder, IMPACT Leadership 21™
Co-Founder, Maverick Vision International Advisors
CFO, Chief Strategist Co-Founder, IMPACT Leadership 21™
Co-Founder, Maverick Vision International Advisors
Constance is a public speaker, businesswoman and serial entrepreneur and also the Chair of the Global Advisory Council of IMPACT Leadership 21. She is active at the United Nations as the Director of Program Development and Support, United Nations Headquarters, New York City, of an international non-governmental organization (NGO), Foundation for the Support of the United Nations (FSUN-UNO), and Observer in General Consultative Status with United Nations ECOSOC. She serves on the Advisory Board of Unleashed NY, which empowers girls through puppy rescue.
Constance is a Master Certified Coach Trainer (MCCT) and has extensive experience internationally in corporate communications training, English proficiency training, personality development training, and professional presentation. She is sought after for her expertise in coaching business owners and executives of multi-national companies on strategic positioning for positive growth, and personal branding through Perceptual and Behavioral Development. Constance teaches an independent course at Columbia University School of International Public Affairs (SIPA) on Gender Attunement and Tenacity as part of the IMPACT Framework.
Constance is passionate about rights to education, women’s economic and socio-political empowerment, philanthropy, diversity and inclusion and LGBT equality. She is a strong advocate of environmentally sustainable practices and encourages support for social entrepreneurship. Constance is the creator of FSUN-UNO women’s initiative, the Special Women’s Economic Empowerment Training for Success (SWEET Success), to increase the presence of female entrepreneurs, currently in development with a consortium of entrepreneurs from across the globe. She is the founder of MVI Sustainable Technologies, focusing on water conservation, efficient cookstoves/heating designs, and sustainable initiative consulting.
She is Vice President of BioCleaner Inc., a green tech company that does water treatment worldwide. Constance speaks regularly on perceptual influences and transitional thinking as The Tune-Up Coach and writes about them in her popular blog, MoreLemonsPlease.com, inspiring her listeners and readers to make life altering changes.
Constance is a Master Certified Coach Trainer (MCCT) and has extensive experience internationally in corporate communications training, English proficiency training, personality development training, and professional presentation. She is sought after for her expertise in coaching business owners and executives of multi-national companies on strategic positioning for positive growth, and personal branding through Perceptual and Behavioral Development. Constance teaches an independent course at Columbia University School of International Public Affairs (SIPA) on Gender Attunement and Tenacity as part of the IMPACT Framework.
Constance is passionate about rights to education, women’s economic and socio-political empowerment, philanthropy, diversity and inclusion and LGBT equality. She is a strong advocate of environmentally sustainable practices and encourages support for social entrepreneurship. Constance is the creator of FSUN-UNO women’s initiative, the Special Women’s Economic Empowerment Training for Success (SWEET Success), to increase the presence of female entrepreneurs, currently in development with a consortium of entrepreneurs from across the globe. She is the founder of MVI Sustainable Technologies, focusing on water conservation, efficient cookstoves/heating designs, and sustainable initiative consulting.
She is Vice President of BioCleaner Inc., a green tech company that does water treatment worldwide. Constance speaks regularly on perceptual influences and transitional thinking as The Tune-Up Coach and writes about them in her popular blog, MoreLemonsPlease.com, inspiring her listeners and readers to make life altering changes.
Elizabeth Isele
Founder and President, Senior Entrepreneurship Works
Founder and President, Senior Entrepreneurship Works
Recognized globally - from the hallowed halls of Congress, the domes of Istanbul, the golden spires of Oxford University, and the cockpit of a vintage biplane - as a pioneering senior entrepreneurship expert, Elizabeth is leading the transformation of the culture of aging and retirement. She has created a comprehensive system designed to unleash the potential of seniors age 50+ to create and drive economic markets and generate social and environmental impact. Her passion (grounded in data and metrics) is contagious as she strives to eliminate the prevailing gloom and doom scenario that describes this huge demographic wave as a "silver tsunami" and replace it with the image of a "silver lining," yielding golden dividends.
Since January 2012, she has become the go-to person for all things regarding senior entrepreneurship (programs, policy, capitalization and research) for the White House, the US Congress, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI-America), the EU Commission on Entrepreneurship, the Federal Reserve, the CDFI Fund, the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the World Health Organization's (WHO) Age Friendly Cities initiative, Ashoka, and AARP, among many others.
Co-designer and key witness at the first ever US Senate Hearing on Senior Entrepreneurship in February, 2014, Elizabeth also designed with the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) the first "50+ Entrepreneurs: New Engines for a New Economy Summit" in Washington, DC, 2012. She also helped design and lead the first ever Senior Entrepreneurship Summit in Puerto Rico in May 2014.
Elizabeth is a sought after speaker at major national and international government, philanthropic, academic, economic and positive aging convenings - in person and online through webinars such as the one she created for the Federal Reserve. Often quoted in publications such as the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, PBS, NPR and Bloomberg Newsweek, Elizabeth also writes on 50+ entrepreneurship for Forbes.com, PBS Next Avenue.org and on her blog at SavvySeniorsWork.com.
As a serial senior social entrepreneur, Elizabeth has dedicated her life to making social change happen: helping individuals find their voices and celebrate their cultures; creating innovative programs for those living at the edges of society so that they could become more self-reliant and active participants in their communities; and building innovative cross-sector collaborations to maximize social impact. She continually researches new, solution-based strategies, purposefully networking innovators, ideas, and values to generate new strategies for creating system change and social capital. Elizabeth believes we need to identify better ways for the social, policy, academic and private sectors to leverage each other's knowledge and build upon each other's success to increase our collective ability to positively impact the world.
Since January 2012, she has become the go-to person for all things regarding senior entrepreneurship (programs, policy, capitalization and research) for the White House, the US Congress, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI-America), the EU Commission on Entrepreneurship, the Federal Reserve, the CDFI Fund, the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the World Health Organization's (WHO) Age Friendly Cities initiative, Ashoka, and AARP, among many others.
Co-designer and key witness at the first ever US Senate Hearing on Senior Entrepreneurship in February, 2014, Elizabeth also designed with the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) the first "50+ Entrepreneurs: New Engines for a New Economy Summit" in Washington, DC, 2012. She also helped design and lead the first ever Senior Entrepreneurship Summit in Puerto Rico in May 2014.
Elizabeth is a sought after speaker at major national and international government, philanthropic, academic, economic and positive aging convenings - in person and online through webinars such as the one she created for the Federal Reserve. Often quoted in publications such as the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, PBS, NPR and Bloomberg Newsweek, Elizabeth also writes on 50+ entrepreneurship for Forbes.com, PBS Next Avenue.org and on her blog at SavvySeniorsWork.com.
As a serial senior social entrepreneur, Elizabeth has dedicated her life to making social change happen: helping individuals find their voices and celebrate their cultures; creating innovative programs for those living at the edges of society so that they could become more self-reliant and active participants in their communities; and building innovative cross-sector collaborations to maximize social impact. She continually researches new, solution-based strategies, purposefully networking innovators, ideas, and values to generate new strategies for creating system change and social capital. Elizabeth believes we need to identify better ways for the social, policy, academic and private sectors to leverage each other's knowledge and build upon each other's success to increase our collective ability to positively impact the world.
Ahmad Alhendawi
UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth
UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth
Born in 1984 in Jordan, Mr. Alhendawi holds a Master’s degree in Advanced European and International relations, a diploma as “Policy Officer in European and International Organizations” from the Institut Européen in Nice, and a Bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from the Al-Balqa Applied University in Jordan.
Professional Career
Mr. Alhendawi is a youth advocate at the national, regional and international levels. He was a co-founder for Youth for Democracy Network at the Jordanian Commission for Democratic Culture which he headed. Internationally, he is a co-founder of the International Youth Council, based in New York.
He previously worked as a Team Leader for the World Bank funded programme to the League of Arab States on Institutional Development to Strengthen Arab Policy and Participation. Prior to this, he served as the Youth Policy Advisor in the League of Arab States in Cairo and as an officer in the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Youth and Sports Ministers Council. Past experience also includes serving as a Team Leader for the National Youth Policy Project in Iraq, a Youth Programme Associate at the Iraq office of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and as an Emergency Programme Officer at the non-governmental organization Save the Children. As a regional consultant, he has also supported the Danish Youth Council’s projects in the Middle East and North Africa.
Professional Career
Mr. Alhendawi is a youth advocate at the national, regional and international levels. He was a co-founder for Youth for Democracy Network at the Jordanian Commission for Democratic Culture which he headed. Internationally, he is a co-founder of the International Youth Council, based in New York.
He previously worked as a Team Leader for the World Bank funded programme to the League of Arab States on Institutional Development to Strengthen Arab Policy and Participation. Prior to this, he served as the Youth Policy Advisor in the League of Arab States in Cairo and as an officer in the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Youth and Sports Ministers Council. Past experience also includes serving as a Team Leader for the National Youth Policy Project in Iraq, a Youth Programme Associate at the Iraq office of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and as an Emergency Programme Officer at the non-governmental organization Save the Children. As a regional consultant, he has also supported the Danish Youth Council’s projects in the Middle East and North Africa.
Marcia Dyson
Political Strategist, Social Activist & Writer
Political Strategist, Social Activist & Writer
A powerful reverend, astute businesswoman, and unrelenting social activist, Marcia L. Dyson has dedicated her life, ministry, and career to fighting gender inequality and oppression as well as economic and political inequity at the local, national, and international levels. She is one of America's most respected civil-social activists and is the president and CEO of M and M Dyson, LLC, an international consultant enterprise in matters of business development, marketing, political strategies, and social engagement.
A champion of women's rights around the globe for more than three decades, she is the founder and CEO of Women's Global Initiative, a for-profit organization that works to enhance the lives of women by increasing their wealth, education, and civil participation. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright selected her to be on the Women's Global Summit Leadership Board and Zainab Al-Suwaij, the president of the American Islamic Congress, invited her to join her in Cairo, Egypt, to work with Egyptian women on creating a modern narrative for Muslim women. Dyson co-hosted the First Ladies Global Summit in 2012 and is a member of the Middle East Peace Civic Forum - the goal of which is to create a civic participation and conversation between Israeli and Palestinians. She is also an annual participant at the Black Entertainment Television (BET)'s Leading Women Defined Summit.
Committed to helping rebuild Haiti, Dyson has worked as consultant to the Clinton Foundation on behalf of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC) and as a volunteer with Partners in Health and Partners in Education. She is a board member of We Advance, an organization founded byMaria Bello and Alison Thompson that challenges domestic violence and other social injustices toward women in Haiti, as well as a member of Femmes en Démocratie, which aims to empower Haitian women to seek political participation.
Her Royal Highness Basmah bint Saud bin Abdel Aziz selected Dyson to be one of the Global United Lanterns, whose mission is to "push back the darkness and ignorance that prevents us from solving humanity's gravest problems." Dyson was also named the first chaplain for the Coalition of Hope Foundation, a nonprofit, charitable organization that provides global humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief support through a ship that sails around the globe.
Dyson was a contributor to Essence magazine and currently contributes to New Deal 2.0, The Grio, The Root, and The Huffington Post and has been a political commentator on MSNBC's Martin Bashir Show.
A spirited and stirring public speaker, Marcia Dyson has carried out a ministry of healing to wounded women, neglected children, and suffering men throughout America and around the globe. Her spiritual wisdom and insight has been shared in historic lecterns across America, on lecture stages at many of the nation's outstanding universities, and on the pages of some of our country's most provocative magazines and books.
A champion of women's rights around the globe for more than three decades, she is the founder and CEO of Women's Global Initiative, a for-profit organization that works to enhance the lives of women by increasing their wealth, education, and civil participation. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright selected her to be on the Women's Global Summit Leadership Board and Zainab Al-Suwaij, the president of the American Islamic Congress, invited her to join her in Cairo, Egypt, to work with Egyptian women on creating a modern narrative for Muslim women. Dyson co-hosted the First Ladies Global Summit in 2012 and is a member of the Middle East Peace Civic Forum - the goal of which is to create a civic participation and conversation between Israeli and Palestinians. She is also an annual participant at the Black Entertainment Television (BET)'s Leading Women Defined Summit.
Committed to helping rebuild Haiti, Dyson has worked as consultant to the Clinton Foundation on behalf of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC) and as a volunteer with Partners in Health and Partners in Education. She is a board member of We Advance, an organization founded byMaria Bello and Alison Thompson that challenges domestic violence and other social injustices toward women in Haiti, as well as a member of Femmes en Démocratie, which aims to empower Haitian women to seek political participation.
Her Royal Highness Basmah bint Saud bin Abdel Aziz selected Dyson to be one of the Global United Lanterns, whose mission is to "push back the darkness and ignorance that prevents us from solving humanity's gravest problems." Dyson was also named the first chaplain for the Coalition of Hope Foundation, a nonprofit, charitable organization that provides global humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief support through a ship that sails around the globe.
Dyson was a contributor to Essence magazine and currently contributes to New Deal 2.0, The Grio, The Root, and The Huffington Post and has been a political commentator on MSNBC's Martin Bashir Show.
A spirited and stirring public speaker, Marcia Dyson has carried out a ministry of healing to wounded women, neglected children, and suffering men throughout America and around the globe. Her spiritual wisdom and insight has been shared in historic lecterns across America, on lecture stages at many of the nation's outstanding universities, and on the pages of some of our country's most provocative magazines and books.
Julie Anixter
Chief Learning Officer, Relevents, Innovation Excellence
Chief Learning Officer, Relevents, Innovation Excellence
Julie Anixter is Chief Innovation Officer, Maga Design Group, a visual information mapping firm that helps organizations visualize simplified, actionable worldviews of their strategies, innovation pipelines, and change initiatives.
Julie is a frequent speaker and workshop leader on:
She has served a wide range of clients, working closely with architects, designers and employee teams, including the U.S. Military, Procter & Gamble, Glaxo Smith Kline, AT&T, Raytheon, Fidelity, First American Data Systems, Equity Office Properties, and Anixter Inc.
She is contributing author to books including The Big Moo with Seth Godin, The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching with Phil Harkin, and Beyond Branding with Nicholas Ind. She also worked with business guru Tom Peters -- where she played the role of "Official Muse."
Julie is a frequent speaker and workshop leader on:
- Remarkable Innovation - A Balcony View
- Building Organizational Capacity for innovation
- How Teams Create Game-Changing innovation
She has served a wide range of clients, working closely with architects, designers and employee teams, including the U.S. Military, Procter & Gamble, Glaxo Smith Kline, AT&T, Raytheon, Fidelity, First American Data Systems, Equity Office Properties, and Anixter Inc.
She is contributing author to books including The Big Moo with Seth Godin, The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching with Phil Harkin, and Beyond Branding with Nicholas Ind. She also worked with business guru Tom Peters -- where she played the role of "Official Muse."
Rabbi Irwin Kula
President of the CLAL the National Jewish Center
Co-founder and Editor In Chief of TheWisdomDaily.com.
President of the CLAL the National Jewish Center
Co-founder and Editor In Chief of TheWisdomDaily.com.
Rabbi Irwin Kula is the president of the CLAL the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership and Co-founder and Editor In Chief of TheWisdomDaily.com.
An internationally sought–after speaker, Rabbi Irwin Kula has inspired people worldwide using Jewish wisdom to live with a greater sense of purpose and virtue, hope and love. An engaged and thoughtful trader in the global marketplace of ideas, he led a Passover Seder in Bhutan; consulted with government officials in Rwanda; helped build cultural and interfaith bridges in Qatar; and met with leaders as diverse as the Dalai Lama and Queen Noor to discuss compassionate leadership in the 21st century. Across the U.S., he works with religious, business and community leaders, corporate and family foundations, and religious and philanthropic institutions to promote ethical leadership and institutional change.
For all this and more, Rabbi Kula received the 2008 Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award for his work "toward equality, liberty and a truly inter–religious community." Fast Company magazine and Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (PBS) both named him one of the leaders shaping the American spiritual landscape, and he has been listed in Newsweek for many years as one of America's "Most Influential Rabbis." He is the author of several books including the award winning Yearnings Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life. A sought after media commentator on culture, politics, and spirituality he hosted the public television special, "The Hidden Wisdom of Our Yearnings” and wrote and was featured in the documentary film Time for a New God (2004).
An internationally sought–after speaker, Rabbi Irwin Kula has inspired people worldwide using Jewish wisdom to live with a greater sense of purpose and virtue, hope and love. An engaged and thoughtful trader in the global marketplace of ideas, he led a Passover Seder in Bhutan; consulted with government officials in Rwanda; helped build cultural and interfaith bridges in Qatar; and met with leaders as diverse as the Dalai Lama and Queen Noor to discuss compassionate leadership in the 21st century. Across the U.S., he works with religious, business and community leaders, corporate and family foundations, and religious and philanthropic institutions to promote ethical leadership and institutional change.
For all this and more, Rabbi Kula received the 2008 Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award for his work "toward equality, liberty and a truly inter–religious community." Fast Company magazine and Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (PBS) both named him one of the leaders shaping the American spiritual landscape, and he has been listed in Newsweek for many years as one of America's "Most Influential Rabbis." He is the author of several books including the award winning Yearnings Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life. A sought after media commentator on culture, politics, and spirituality he hosted the public television special, "The Hidden Wisdom of Our Yearnings” and wrote and was featured in the documentary film Time for a New God (2004).
Twyla Garrett
Founder Investment Management Entertainment Inc. and Garrett Entertainment Co.
Founder Investment Management Entertainment Inc. and Garrett Entertainment Co.
Twyla Garrett has a diverse business, technology, and restaurant and lounge management background spanning nearly 18 years. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, very early on in her career, Twyla ran a home-based small event planning and catering business in 1995-1998. She opened her first of three clubs, Club Escape, in 2003. Club Escape is a summer time nightclub and restaurant, located in Richmond, that provides at-risk teens an opportunity to learn the restaurant business. Within the next few years, she opened Mocha Fusion Coffee Lounge in 2008, and 2020 Martini Café in 2008; both restaurants in Cleveland, Ohio. She sold those venture and moved 2020 Martini Café in Lounge to Richmond, Virginia.
She is a serial entrepreneur with diverse business lines. She is a self taught chef, dynamic speaker, and a steward of her community. Twyla also has a government/technology background, and after graduating from Ursuline College with a degree in business administration, she worked as an accountant for DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Service). During this same time, she had her own accounting business called Premier Tax and Accounting Service, where she provided bookkeeping and accounting services for her clients. After leaving SPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare Center) in1999, where she was a foreign military sales case closure manager, she started Investment Management Enterprise (IME) in 2000, a consulting business that provides quality service to help clients streamline their processes and embrace competitive advantages. IME specializes in program management, business process engineering, system integration, customization, web-enablement of legacy applications, enterprise-scale database design and development, solution-focused web/software development, and IT and ERP consulting and staffing services.
Twyla is responsible for all management and administration, operation, financial, and marketing and sales activities of the corporation and all related divisions. She is the sole founder of IME in December of 2000 and GEC (Garrett Entertainment Co.) in 2007, and the founder of T&R Transportation (Ft. Washington, Maryland); which is a provider of reliable, regional, inter-regional and nationwide LTL and TL service to customers large and small across an integrated, single North American network of LTL and TL operating locations. Ms. Garrett has over 20 years of experience in program management, management consulting, design, development, test, and deployment of large scale technology strategies and systems for the Department of Defense, US Navy, and State Government. Ms. Garrett’s other key qualifications include experience leading information systems, operations and administrative teams through all phases of largescale technology rollout including cost analysis, planning, vendor selection, acquisition, testing, implementation and closure. Dr. Garrett holds a Masters in Organizational Management and pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration. Her education provides the tools necessary to manage complex projects, understand policy issues and their implications, develop abstract concepts, design and conduct research and evaluation and present findings in clear and well-written reports. Currently, Twyla lives in Richmond, Virginia, and Fort Washington, Maryland, where she enjoys sports, live music, and exploring the journey of simplifying her life and her career.
She is a serial entrepreneur with diverse business lines. She is a self taught chef, dynamic speaker, and a steward of her community. Twyla also has a government/technology background, and after graduating from Ursuline College with a degree in business administration, she worked as an accountant for DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Service). During this same time, she had her own accounting business called Premier Tax and Accounting Service, where she provided bookkeeping and accounting services for her clients. After leaving SPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare Center) in1999, where she was a foreign military sales case closure manager, she started Investment Management Enterprise (IME) in 2000, a consulting business that provides quality service to help clients streamline their processes and embrace competitive advantages. IME specializes in program management, business process engineering, system integration, customization, web-enablement of legacy applications, enterprise-scale database design and development, solution-focused web/software development, and IT and ERP consulting and staffing services.
Twyla is responsible for all management and administration, operation, financial, and marketing and sales activities of the corporation and all related divisions. She is the sole founder of IME in December of 2000 and GEC (Garrett Entertainment Co.) in 2007, and the founder of T&R Transportation (Ft. Washington, Maryland); which is a provider of reliable, regional, inter-regional and nationwide LTL and TL service to customers large and small across an integrated, single North American network of LTL and TL operating locations. Ms. Garrett has over 20 years of experience in program management, management consulting, design, development, test, and deployment of large scale technology strategies and systems for the Department of Defense, US Navy, and State Government. Ms. Garrett’s other key qualifications include experience leading information systems, operations and administrative teams through all phases of largescale technology rollout including cost analysis, planning, vendor selection, acquisition, testing, implementation and closure. Dr. Garrett holds a Masters in Organizational Management and pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration. Her education provides the tools necessary to manage complex projects, understand policy issues and their implications, develop abstract concepts, design and conduct research and evaluation and present findings in clear and well-written reports. Currently, Twyla lives in Richmond, Virginia, and Fort Washington, Maryland, where she enjoys sports, live music, and exploring the journey of simplifying her life and her career.
Sevi Simavi
CEO Cherie Blair Foundation
CEO Cherie Blair Foundation
Sevi Simavi is the Chief Executive Officer of Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. In this capacity, Sevi oversees Foundation's strategy, impact and programme delivery, with a reach to 70 countries around the globe.
With over twelve years of global public policy and financial sector development experience gained in over 50 countries across the globe through work at the World Bank Group and the private sector, Sevi's expertise includes business and financial regulation, institution and capacity building, women’s entrepreneurship and results measurement. She has advised governments, central banks and non-governmental institutions in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Middle East on investment climate reform, access to finance for SMEs and women’s economic empowerment. She initiated and rolled out innovative programs and functions from ground up. She has published extensively on women’s economic empowerment, access to finance and business enabling environment.
With over twelve years of global public policy and financial sector development experience gained in over 50 countries across the globe through work at the World Bank Group and the private sector, Sevi's expertise includes business and financial regulation, institution and capacity building, women’s entrepreneurship and results measurement. She has advised governments, central banks and non-governmental institutions in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Middle East on investment climate reform, access to finance for SMEs and women’s economic empowerment. She initiated and rolled out innovative programs and functions from ground up. She has published extensively on women’s economic empowerment, access to finance and business enabling environment.
Vincent Molinari
CEO Gate Global Impact
CEO Gate Global Impact
Vince Molinari has been recognized by Forbes as one of the “Top 10 Most Influential People in Crowdfunding.”
The consummate visionary and serial entrepreneur, Vince has always been a driving force in creating new market infrastructure bringing efficiency, transparency and liquidity to the unstructured global alternative asset markets.
Vince’s vision of opening the private market for investment can spearhead economic growth and job creation, leading him to be on of the early voices and champions of the recently passed JOBS Act.
Vince’s most recent start-up is GATE Global Impact whose mission is based on a core belief that actionable knowledge drives investments, and that technology can close the gap between traditional and emerging alternative markets. GGI is fast becoming the leading electronic marketplace platform that is helping the world’s leading organizations tale impact investing to the next level. GGI enables investors to identify and transact in securities, which provide sustainable social and environmental benefits in addition to a financial return by bringing efficiency, transparency and liquidity to historically fragmented processes. GGI partners include the UN, OPIC, Microsoft, Yunus Social Business, Prudential and other leading financial and technology organizations.
Vince is an active speaker on issues related to capital markets and early-stage companies, and regularly speaks at events around the world. He has been invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises, and regularly consults with both members of Congress and regulatory agencies on these issues.
Vince is a founding board member of the Crowdfund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates (CFIRA), a self-regulating association that works with governmental and quasi-governmental entities to help establish crowdfunding industry standards and best practices. He is also a co-founder of the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA), a leading trade organization for the Crowdfund industry and sits on the board of CF50 a global think tank of 50 of the leading minds from academia, policy and industry.
Vince is also the founder of Global Access Holdings LLC, a financial media and analytics company, which identified a global trend line of illiquid securities and the potential market need for alternative asset trading platforms. Prior to Global Access Holdings, he was chairman and CEO of Burlington Capital Markets LLC, a financial services company specializing in institutional execution services and investment banking activities. In addition, he co-founded Inculab, a technology business incubator.
Vince began his career at Lehman Brothers Inc., and has held senior positions at Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. and Ridgewood Capital Funding, LLC.
He has been featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Lang and O’Leary Exchange” and been quoted and published in a wide range of business media including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg News, Advance Trading and Securities Technology Monitor.
The consummate visionary and serial entrepreneur, Vince has always been a driving force in creating new market infrastructure bringing efficiency, transparency and liquidity to the unstructured global alternative asset markets.
Vince’s vision of opening the private market for investment can spearhead economic growth and job creation, leading him to be on of the early voices and champions of the recently passed JOBS Act.
Vince’s most recent start-up is GATE Global Impact whose mission is based on a core belief that actionable knowledge drives investments, and that technology can close the gap between traditional and emerging alternative markets. GGI is fast becoming the leading electronic marketplace platform that is helping the world’s leading organizations tale impact investing to the next level. GGI enables investors to identify and transact in securities, which provide sustainable social and environmental benefits in addition to a financial return by bringing efficiency, transparency and liquidity to historically fragmented processes. GGI partners include the UN, OPIC, Microsoft, Yunus Social Business, Prudential and other leading financial and technology organizations.
Vince is an active speaker on issues related to capital markets and early-stage companies, and regularly speaks at events around the world. He has been invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises, and regularly consults with both members of Congress and regulatory agencies on these issues.
Vince is a founding board member of the Crowdfund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates (CFIRA), a self-regulating association that works with governmental and quasi-governmental entities to help establish crowdfunding industry standards and best practices. He is also a co-founder of the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA), a leading trade organization for the Crowdfund industry and sits on the board of CF50 a global think tank of 50 of the leading minds from academia, policy and industry.
Vince is also the founder of Global Access Holdings LLC, a financial media and analytics company, which identified a global trend line of illiquid securities and the potential market need for alternative asset trading platforms. Prior to Global Access Holdings, he was chairman and CEO of Burlington Capital Markets LLC, a financial services company specializing in institutional execution services and investment banking activities. In addition, he co-founded Inculab, a technology business incubator.
Vince began his career at Lehman Brothers Inc., and has held senior positions at Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. and Ridgewood Capital Funding, LLC.
He has been featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Lang and O’Leary Exchange” and been quoted and published in a wide range of business media including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg News, Advance Trading and Securities Technology Monitor.
Anna Falth
Empower Women UN Women
Empower Women UN Women
Anna Fälth is the Manager of UN Women’sEmpowerWomen.org. She initiated consultations for this global online platform in February 2013, and brought it to its global launch during the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly on 23 September 2013. Anna has over seventeen years working on women’s economic empowerment issues. She started in the refugee and immigration service in Sweden, and then joined the United Nations system in 1998. She has since then held economic advisor positions in UNCTAD, UNDP, UN-DESA and now in UN Women.
Anna holds a Master’s of Science in Economics from Lund University, Sweden, and a European Masters in Law and Economics from Hamburg University, Germany.
Anna holds a Master’s of Science in Economics from Lund University, Sweden, and a European Masters in Law and Economics from Hamburg University, Germany.
Tatyana Kanzaveli
CEO and Founder at Open Health Network
Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship
CEO and Founder at Open Health Network
Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship
Tatyana Kanzaveli has gone from a programmer to senior executive at Big 5 to founder and CEO of a startup company along her 20 year career,recognized as a thought leader, mentor for her ability to guide Fortune 500 and startup companies through business challenges.
She’s worked for major companies like Price water house Coopers and Fujitsu and startups in the early days of the Web.
Tatyana has personally helped companies jump from 0 to millions in revenue even during the toughest economic times. She opened new verticals and markets, with expertise in Europe and US.
Today she is the founder and CEO of Open Health Network, the startup in a Big Data/Healthcare space. She is a mentor at 500Startups and Richard Branson Entrepreneurs Centre and serves on boards for private companies. She also is licensee and organizer of highly notable TEDxBayArea conferences, she is a frequent speaker at US and International conferences on innovation, entrepreneurship , and marketing.
Tatyana has been featured in the White House blog.
Tatyana was USSR chess champion, played in the same team with Gary Kasparov, she loves to cook and kayak.
She’s worked for major companies like Price water house Coopers and Fujitsu and startups in the early days of the Web.
Tatyana has personally helped companies jump from 0 to millions in revenue even during the toughest economic times. She opened new verticals and markets, with expertise in Europe and US.
Today she is the founder and CEO of Open Health Network, the startup in a Big Data/Healthcare space. She is a mentor at 500Startups and Richard Branson Entrepreneurs Centre and serves on boards for private companies. She also is licensee and organizer of highly notable TEDxBayArea conferences, she is a frequent speaker at US and International conferences on innovation, entrepreneurship , and marketing.
Tatyana has been featured in the White House blog.
Tatyana was USSR chess champion, played in the same team with Gary Kasparov, she loves to cook and kayak.
Amy Tucker
Co-founder & Chief Impact Officer
BetterWorld Wireless
Technology Advisor via the Technology Partner Network
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
@amyetucker
Co-founder & Chief Impact Officer
BetterWorld Wireless
Technology Advisor via the Technology Partner Network
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
@amyetucker
A social entrepreneur and innovator, Amy Tucker serves as Chief Impact Officer for BetterWorld Wireless, a U.S.-based, company applying mobile to end poverty. Tucker also serves as a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations Technology Advisor via the Technology Partner Network. With a creative technology career spanning over 20 years, Tucker’s passion is creating solutions that further global sustainability. Tucker specializes in emerging technologies, holds a patent in game design, and was recently recognized as a Spark technology leader by the Global Fund for Women. Previously, Tucker helped establish and grow one of the earliest interactive agencies, Fusion Interactive. While there, she architected T-Mobile's mobile content program and also spearheaded robust B2B and B2C projects, including Microsoft's first consumer eCommerce engine, and Nintendo's Pokémon website. In 2005, she created and later sold Xeko (“zeeko”) an omni-channel children's game designed to teach STEM skills, raise awareness for endangered animals, and fund global conservation. Prior to co-founding BetterWorld, she collaborated with Telecom for Good and the U.S. Dept. of Commerce to launch a workforce development initiative based in the U.S. Virgin Islands, leveraging the Internet to connect local residents with worldwide job opportunities and jump start Silicon Island. An avid snowboarder, SCUBA diver, and nature enthusiast, Tucker is a Colorado native and now resides in San Francisco, California, with her life partner, Matt, and their four city chickens.
About BetterWorld Wireless
BetterWorld Wireless is leveraging the power of people and mobile to build a thriving business that ends cycles of poverty and connects people in meaningful ways. Through public and private partnerships, BetterWorld serves communities at our below the poverty line, with the goal of connecting economically disadvantaged people with life-changing services, education, and opportunities. In addition, through Phone for Phone, retail customers—U.S. customers above the line—fuel the impact by sponsoring mobile device and service donations. Website: BetterWorldWireless.com Twitter: @phone4phone
About BetterWorld Wireless
BetterWorld Wireless is leveraging the power of people and mobile to build a thriving business that ends cycles of poverty and connects people in meaningful ways. Through public and private partnerships, BetterWorld serves communities at our below the poverty line, with the goal of connecting economically disadvantaged people with life-changing services, education, and opportunities. In addition, through Phone for Phone, retail customers—U.S. customers above the line—fuel the impact by sponsoring mobile device and service donations. Website: BetterWorldWireless.com Twitter: @phone4phone
Brandon Frank
Intellectual Property and International Trade Counsel
Intellectual Property and International Trade Counsel
Brandon Frank handles intellectual property and entertainment law. He has assisted many people in the entertainment, technology, education, and intellectual property industries. He counsels and represents entrepreneurs, business executives, creators, innovators, songwriters, filmmakers, recording artists, publishers, managers, entertainment companies, producers, media and e-commerce operators, Internet-based companies, and intellectual property owners and users.
Over the past 10 years, Brandon has served as counsel and advisor to individuals and companies in the areas of business development, operations and expansion, intellectual property protection and exploitation, marketing and promotions, digital media, technology development and management, branding and sponsorship, entertainment industry contracts, licensing intellectual property rights, talent/artist development, and entertainment property production and distribution.
Prior to practicing law, Brandon worked in the public sector, holding positions with the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce; a former Congressman handling matters in the areas of commerce, technology, education and homeland security; Legislative Editor with the Louisiana Senate; Law Clerk to a Chief Judge in Louisiana state court; and the Louisiana Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Mr. Frank earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property & International Trade from the American University Washington College of Law; a Juris Doctorate (JD) from the Southern University Law Center; and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University.
Brandon's speaking engagements include presentations on intellectual property, entertainment, technology, and computer crimes. In his free time, Brandon enjoys travel, the great outdoors, sports, and time with family and friends.
Over the past 10 years, Brandon has served as counsel and advisor to individuals and companies in the areas of business development, operations and expansion, intellectual property protection and exploitation, marketing and promotions, digital media, technology development and management, branding and sponsorship, entertainment industry contracts, licensing intellectual property rights, talent/artist development, and entertainment property production and distribution.
Prior to practicing law, Brandon worked in the public sector, holding positions with the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce; a former Congressman handling matters in the areas of commerce, technology, education and homeland security; Legislative Editor with the Louisiana Senate; Law Clerk to a Chief Judge in Louisiana state court; and the Louisiana Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Mr. Frank earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property & International Trade from the American University Washington College of Law; a Juris Doctorate (JD) from the Southern University Law Center; and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University.
Brandon's speaking engagements include presentations on intellectual property, entertainment, technology, and computer crimes. In his free time, Brandon enjoys travel, the great outdoors, sports, and time with family and friends.
Donnetta Campbell
"Earned Influence Personal Brand and Corporate Digital Strategist"
Donnetta Campbell is a SocialMedia & PR expert for the "digital influencer" age. She understands the value of personal networks, content marketing, and how people can build strong personal/professional platforms, especially as it applies to expanding the digital influence of high-level executives and thought-leaders (think C-Suite, NGO directors, top academics). Donnetta is a consummate go-to trusted advisor on big ideas to senior big thinkers. Better yet, her approach to influencer marketing is iterative, so it grows deeper and stronger with her every new accomplishment.
After a 20+ year Public Relations global agency career, with a focus in the HealthCare and Corporate Leadership Track working in top tier firms. Campbell is a consummate “connector” specializing in "earned influence personal brand" building & corporate digital platforms through her unique model of #SocialPR. Today's leaders must be connected--connected to consumers, clients, colleagues, media -with social touchpoints across all mobile & social platforms. Campbell designs “shareable moments” in creative social communities. Since 2010, she has been building curated approaches, and is well ahead of the industry's shift into "thought leadership." She leads ecosystems of thoughtful leaders who are invested in each other to raise their engagement capabilities. Her orchestrated real time events that are harnessed in twitter campaigns (of any topic/category) now generating 100 to 300 million impressions.
Across all verticals and meduims, personal heritage and corporate social brands need influencers and consumers tied to advocacy. Her models are built on gamification & "next gen" affinity marketing digitally bouncing social good driven empowerment campaigns. This creates consumers that engage 10x more often, creating opportunities for dynamic leaders to find high profile "moments in time," leading to relevant followers.
Donnetta Campbell is a SocialMedia & PR expert for the "digital influencer" age. She understands the value of personal networks, content marketing, and how people can build strong personal/professional platforms, especially as it applies to expanding the digital influence of high-level executives and thought-leaders (think C-Suite, NGO directors, top academics). Donnetta is a consummate go-to trusted advisor on big ideas to senior big thinkers. Better yet, her approach to influencer marketing is iterative, so it grows deeper and stronger with her every new accomplishment.
After a 20+ year Public Relations global agency career, with a focus in the HealthCare and Corporate Leadership Track working in top tier firms. Campbell is a consummate “connector” specializing in "earned influence personal brand" building & corporate digital platforms through her unique model of #SocialPR. Today's leaders must be connected--connected to consumers, clients, colleagues, media -with social touchpoints across all mobile & social platforms. Campbell designs “shareable moments” in creative social communities. Since 2010, she has been building curated approaches, and is well ahead of the industry's shift into "thought leadership." She leads ecosystems of thoughtful leaders who are invested in each other to raise their engagement capabilities. Her orchestrated real time events that are harnessed in twitter campaigns (of any topic/category) now generating 100 to 300 million impressions.
Across all verticals and meduims, personal heritage and corporate social brands need influencers and consumers tied to advocacy. Her models are built on gamification & "next gen" affinity marketing digitally bouncing social good driven empowerment campaigns. This creates consumers that engage 10x more often, creating opportunities for dynamic leaders to find high profile "moments in time," leading to relevant followers.
Joshua Machiz
Director of Corp Communications and Social Media, NASDAQ OMX
Director of Corp Communications and Social Media, NASDAQ OMX
Josh Machiz is the Director of Corporate Communications and Social Media at NASDAQ OMX and is responsible for managing all of the NASDAQ social properties, experiential marketing and social media activations at NASDAQ MarketSite. In this role, Mr. Machiz is responsible for the IPO day social experiences and social advertising for new and established NASDAQ companies.
Previously, Mr. Machiz was the Chief Business Officer for Frucher LLC, a consulting firm performing duties for NASDAQ OMX and the State of New York. Josh joined NASDAQ OMX in 2013, and has 7+ years of marketing and consulting experience. In addition to this experience, he serves as a board member of TEDxTimesSquare, as a board member he curates speakers, manages public relations activities and manages the social media properties for this premiere TEDx conference.
Josh holds an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from McGill University and an MBA in Finance & Marketing from Fordham University.
Previously, Mr. Machiz was the Chief Business Officer for Frucher LLC, a consulting firm performing duties for NASDAQ OMX and the State of New York. Josh joined NASDAQ OMX in 2013, and has 7+ years of marketing and consulting experience. In addition to this experience, he serves as a board member of TEDxTimesSquare, as a board member he curates speakers, manages public relations activities and manages the social media properties for this premiere TEDx conference.
Josh holds an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from McGill University and an MBA in Finance & Marketing from Fordham University.
Chi Yvonne Leina
Journalist, Crusader to End Breast Ironing, Digital Change Agent
Journalist, Crusader to End Breast Ironing, Digital Change Agent
Chi Yvonne Leina is a pioneering journalist from Cameroon now based in Brooklyn, New York. She focuses on problems faced by women and young girls whose voices go unheard in traditional media. Her reports are featured on the Global Press Institute, World Pulse and The Media Project. With seven years of experience in journalism, she spent four years as a news presenter and reporter for Equinoxe Television, a leading private TV station in Cameroon. Her writing on the traditional practice of breast ironing has unveiled the story to a large international audience and launched a platform for change. Leina has braved police intimidation and brutalization in Cameroon to become a voice of the voiceless. Despite being jailed and operating in a country with hostile policies towards free speech, Leina founded GENDER DANGER where women could receive training on how to become citizen journalists and raise their voices for their communities. She has also served as editor of the environmental magazine Cameroon Birdline.
Jalak Jobanputra
Founder, FuturePerfect Ventures
Founder, FuturePerfect Ventures
Jalak Jobanputra is Founding Partner of FuturePerfect Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund in NYC. Before founding Future\Perfect Ventures, Jobanputra was the Director of Mobile Investments at Omidyar Network, a philanthrocapitalist fund started by Pierre Omidyar, co-founder of eBay. While there, she created a mobile investment strategy, invested in an East African mobile tech incubator, invested in the fastest growing Indian mobile classified ad site, and closed Omidyar’s largest for profit investment ($5M) to date in Latin America, a wireless company that creates credit profiles on unbanked middle income consumers using mobile data. She has 20 years experience in venture capital, impact investing, media and technology. She was previously Senior Vice President at the New York City Investment Fund (NYCIF), a private economic development fund, where she managed the fund’s technology and digital media venture investments. While there, Jobanputra spearheaded the formation NYCSeed in 2008, a seed fund dedicated to funding early stage tech entrepreneurs in NYC, in response to a market gap in seed funding at the time. She was also on the selection committee and served as a mentor and speaker for NYCSeedStart, NYC’s first summer accelerator program, and helped launch the FinTech Innovation Lab, which has since been replicated in London. Jobanputra worked closely with the Bloomberg administration and NYCEDC to implement initiatives to help diversify the NYC economy through NYC’s growing tech/digital sectors and served on Governor Paterson’s Small Business Taskforce. Her portfolio at NYCIF included outside.in(acquired by AOL), Thumbplay (acquired by Clear Channel), Schoolnet (acquired by Pearson) and TXVia (acquired by Google), in addition a debt instrument to Grameen America, and seed investments in Magnetic, Ticketfly, Enterproid and SeatGeek.
Prior to NYCIF, she was a Principal at New Venture Partners, a $300 million early stage venture fund that commercialized technology out of corporate labs. At NVP, she founded and served as interim CEO of Real Time Content (spun out of British Telecom) in 2005, a personalized video ad platform, and was a Director of Procelerate Technologies, a SaaS workflow management tool for the aerospace industry. She also incubated a range of other technologies, including speech recognition/NLP, 3D displays, video surveillance, 4G wireless broadband and music recommendation software. From 1999-2003, Jobanputra was at Intel Capital in Silicon Valley, where she invested in enterprise software, internet and digital media startups, including Demantra (sold to Oracle), Extricity (sold to Peregrine), Viacore (sold to IBM), R Systems (IPO), Financial Engines (IPO), Yodlee and Zinio. In 1997 in NYC, in the early days of Silicon Alley, she launched and managed product development for online financial information startup Horsesmouth. She began her career in media, telecom and tech investment banking at Lehman Brothers and Broadview in NYC and London.
Jobanputra is also active in supporting education reform and social entrepreneurship and served as a Trustee of Achievement First Bushwick Charter Schools (Brooklyn) and sits on the Executive Committee of the Social Investment Council of Echoing Green. She is on the Board of Directors for the Center for an Urban Future, Advisory Board of Loreal’s Women in Digital Initiative, and Access to Capital Subcommittee member of the US Secretary of State Women’s Leadership Council.
Jobanputra serves on the NYC Downtown Alliance “LM” Leadership Committee, announced by Mayor Bloomberg on Sept. 12, 2013, and recently joined the Advisory Board of The Daily News Innovation Lab. She served as a 2010 Mentor for the Unreasonable Institute in Boulder, a summer accelerator for social entrepreneurs worldwide. In 2003, she took a yearlong sabbatical from VC to consult on replication strategy for Gates Foundation funded charter schools, including the Big Picture Company. Jobanputra spent four months setting up microfinance programs and training women entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania after receiving her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in 1999. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Communications from the Annenberg School and a BSE in Finance from the Wharton School.
In 2013, Jobanputra was selected as a “40 Woman to Watch Over 40”. Jobanputra was selected as an Outstanding 50 Asian American in Business in 2010 by the Asian American Development Center. In November 2012 she participated in an Aspen Institute delegation to Amman, Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II, Mideast entrepreneurs and investors. She was selected as a US State Department Delegate to Indonesia in the summer of 2011, where she met with entrepreneurs, angel investors and business leaders to promote tech entrepreneurship. Jobanputra is a Techstars NYC Mentor, Member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) and Advisory Board Member of Astia NYC, and is a frequent speaker and judge at entrepreneur and venture conferences, including Mobile World Congress, CTIA, TechCrunch Disrupt, Bloomberg, Internet Week and Social Media Week. She is a regular contributor on BloombergTV and has been interviewed by MarketPlace Radio, Forbes, SeekingAlpha and other national publications. Jobanputra has been asked to speak on entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems by the Obama White House and throughout the US and is currently playing a leadership role in the tech community to help pass the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill. She can be found at @jalak or on her blog www.thebarefootvc.com (recently named a top 10 investor blog.)
Prior to NYCIF, she was a Principal at New Venture Partners, a $300 million early stage venture fund that commercialized technology out of corporate labs. At NVP, she founded and served as interim CEO of Real Time Content (spun out of British Telecom) in 2005, a personalized video ad platform, and was a Director of Procelerate Technologies, a SaaS workflow management tool for the aerospace industry. She also incubated a range of other technologies, including speech recognition/NLP, 3D displays, video surveillance, 4G wireless broadband and music recommendation software. From 1999-2003, Jobanputra was at Intel Capital in Silicon Valley, where she invested in enterprise software, internet and digital media startups, including Demantra (sold to Oracle), Extricity (sold to Peregrine), Viacore (sold to IBM), R Systems (IPO), Financial Engines (IPO), Yodlee and Zinio. In 1997 in NYC, in the early days of Silicon Alley, she launched and managed product development for online financial information startup Horsesmouth. She began her career in media, telecom and tech investment banking at Lehman Brothers and Broadview in NYC and London.
Jobanputra is also active in supporting education reform and social entrepreneurship and served as a Trustee of Achievement First Bushwick Charter Schools (Brooklyn) and sits on the Executive Committee of the Social Investment Council of Echoing Green. She is on the Board of Directors for the Center for an Urban Future, Advisory Board of Loreal’s Women in Digital Initiative, and Access to Capital Subcommittee member of the US Secretary of State Women’s Leadership Council.
Jobanputra serves on the NYC Downtown Alliance “LM” Leadership Committee, announced by Mayor Bloomberg on Sept. 12, 2013, and recently joined the Advisory Board of The Daily News Innovation Lab. She served as a 2010 Mentor for the Unreasonable Institute in Boulder, a summer accelerator for social entrepreneurs worldwide. In 2003, she took a yearlong sabbatical from VC to consult on replication strategy for Gates Foundation funded charter schools, including the Big Picture Company. Jobanputra spent four months setting up microfinance programs and training women entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania after receiving her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in 1999. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Communications from the Annenberg School and a BSE in Finance from the Wharton School.
In 2013, Jobanputra was selected as a “40 Woman to Watch Over 40”. Jobanputra was selected as an Outstanding 50 Asian American in Business in 2010 by the Asian American Development Center. In November 2012 she participated in an Aspen Institute delegation to Amman, Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II, Mideast entrepreneurs and investors. She was selected as a US State Department Delegate to Indonesia in the summer of 2011, where she met with entrepreneurs, angel investors and business leaders to promote tech entrepreneurship. Jobanputra is a Techstars NYC Mentor, Member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) and Advisory Board Member of Astia NYC, and is a frequent speaker and judge at entrepreneur and venture conferences, including Mobile World Congress, CTIA, TechCrunch Disrupt, Bloomberg, Internet Week and Social Media Week. She is a regular contributor on BloombergTV and has been interviewed by MarketPlace Radio, Forbes, SeekingAlpha and other national publications. Jobanputra has been asked to speak on entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems by the Obama White House and throughout the US and is currently playing a leadership role in the tech community to help pass the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill. She can be found at @jalak or on her blog www.thebarefootvc.com (recently named a top 10 investor blog.)
Prof. Iva Ritschelova
President of the Czech Statistical Office
President of the Czech Statistical Office
Born:
July 16, 1964 Varnsdorf, Czech Republic
Education, scientific and scientific-pedagogical degrees:
2012 prof. degree - Technical University of Liberec
2000 doc. degree - University of Economics in Prague
1993 CSc. - University of Economics in Prague
1986 Ing. - Technical University of Liberec (former Technical University of Mechanical and Textile Engineering)
Professional education abroad:
1996 Statistical Office of the European Communities - Creation of European System for the Collection of Economic Information of the Environment (SERIEE), Luxembourg
1992–1998 Short-term study visits focused on environmental statistics in France, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany
1991 Environmental management, UNEP, Finland
Professional experience:
since 2010 on July 27, 2010 appointed by the President of the Czech Republic as President of the Czech Statistical Office with effect from September 1, 2010
from 2007 J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Rector
2001–2007 J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Vice-rector on Science and International Relations
1998–2001 UN Food and Agricultural Organization, Statistics Division, Rome, Italy - regional officer for Europe, countries of the former Soviet Union, China and Mongolia
1993–1998 Czech Statistical Office, Division Ústí nad Labem, Head of Environmental Statistics Department
1989–1992 Environmental Institute Ústí nad Labem - scientific and research worker
1988–1988 Social-Economic Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Ústí nad Labem
Work experience abroad:
2001–2008 Lecture visits abroad in France, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Poland, Canada, and Slovakia
2002 UN Mission - Food security programme in CIS countries, UN FAO consultant (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan)
2001 UN Mission - Tirana, Albania (Environmental Impact Assessment of the Kosovo Crisis in Albania)
1998–2001 UN Food and Agricultural Organization, Statistics Division, Rome, Italy - regional officer for Europe, countries of the former Soviet Union, China and Mongolia
Iva Ritschelová is a member of many advisory bodies of ministries, scientific and art boards, and graduation councils of domestic universities and colleges and is a member of number of international professional forums. She is an author of more than twenty domestic and foreign monographs, several tenths of scientific and professional papers, textbooks and research studies.
July 16, 1964 Varnsdorf, Czech Republic
Education, scientific and scientific-pedagogical degrees:
2012 prof. degree - Technical University of Liberec
2000 doc. degree - University of Economics in Prague
1993 CSc. - University of Economics in Prague
1986 Ing. - Technical University of Liberec (former Technical University of Mechanical and Textile Engineering)
Professional education abroad:
1996 Statistical Office of the European Communities - Creation of European System for the Collection of Economic Information of the Environment (SERIEE), Luxembourg
1992–1998 Short-term study visits focused on environmental statistics in France, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany
1991 Environmental management, UNEP, Finland
Professional experience:
since 2010 on July 27, 2010 appointed by the President of the Czech Republic as President of the Czech Statistical Office with effect from September 1, 2010
from 2007 J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Rector
2001–2007 J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Vice-rector on Science and International Relations
1998–2001 UN Food and Agricultural Organization, Statistics Division, Rome, Italy - regional officer for Europe, countries of the former Soviet Union, China and Mongolia
1993–1998 Czech Statistical Office, Division Ústí nad Labem, Head of Environmental Statistics Department
1989–1992 Environmental Institute Ústí nad Labem - scientific and research worker
1988–1988 Social-Economic Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Ústí nad Labem
Work experience abroad:
2001–2008 Lecture visits abroad in France, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Poland, Canada, and Slovakia
2002 UN Mission - Food security programme in CIS countries, UN FAO consultant (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan)
2001 UN Mission - Tirana, Albania (Environmental Impact Assessment of the Kosovo Crisis in Albania)
1998–2001 UN Food and Agricultural Organization, Statistics Division, Rome, Italy - regional officer for Europe, countries of the former Soviet Union, China and Mongolia
Iva Ritschelová is a member of many advisory bodies of ministries, scientific and art boards, and graduation councils of domestic universities and colleges and is a member of number of international professional forums. She is an author of more than twenty domestic and foreign monographs, several tenths of scientific and professional papers, textbooks and research studies.
Kelly Le Brock
Activist, Model, Actress
Activist, Model, Actress
Kelly Le Brock, an iconic star of the '80s, was beloved on a global scale not only for her role in the films Weird Science(1985) and Woman in Red(1984), but also for her unforgettable spreads in Vogue magazine and famous “Don't hate me because I'm beautiful” line from Pantene commercials. Though for a time Kelly escaped the spotlight to find a healthier lifestyle and raise her family away from the strains of fame, she has now returned with a different agenda, to fight for a more equitable and healthy society. Kelly is activating her peers and fans overcome gender based violence and partake in healthier foods choices and lifestyles.
Kelly most recently lent her support to the The UN Trust campaign to end violence against women “SayNO UNiTE to End Violence” with Carolyn Hardy. The Secretary-General’s campaign began on the 25th of November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and was prolonged for a 16 day stretch of community activism through the “ORANGE your neighborhood” campaign. On the 25th of every month the UN has invited its supporters such as Kelly to remind their communities to end violence against women and girls around the world.
Kelly has also used her fame for creating a healthier society through food and lifestyle habits. Her prominence and influence in social media circles has lead her to create a platform known as “Kelly's Kitchen” which incorporates a free mobile app, foodtweeks, to help her followers make better decisions everyday. As an ambassador to the app she spurred fans, followers and foodies to download it and take part in the campaigns surrounding the movement and app. By taking part in Twitter Chats about food and nutrition (over 100 million impressions in one Twitter Chat) and encouraging fellow film industry partners to step up at the Boston Film Festival during September's “Hunger Action Month,” Kelly has amplified success across events and online platforms for her causes.
On the international side of participation, Kelly was a voice in Northern Ireland's campaign to tackle growing weight problems through the Public Health Agency in 2013 which has helped to grow her considerable influence with foodies and activists alike.
Kelly works with causes that she personally identifies with to bring an encouraging human voice that is recognizable on a global scale. She spurs her followers and fans to action while encouraging others in positions of authority to step forward and lead. Read more here about Kelly's transformation from the silver screen to the ranch hand.
Kelly most recently lent her support to the The UN Trust campaign to end violence against women “SayNO UNiTE to End Violence” with Carolyn Hardy. The Secretary-General’s campaign began on the 25th of November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and was prolonged for a 16 day stretch of community activism through the “ORANGE your neighborhood” campaign. On the 25th of every month the UN has invited its supporters such as Kelly to remind their communities to end violence against women and girls around the world.
Kelly has also used her fame for creating a healthier society through food and lifestyle habits. Her prominence and influence in social media circles has lead her to create a platform known as “Kelly's Kitchen” which incorporates a free mobile app, foodtweeks, to help her followers make better decisions everyday. As an ambassador to the app she spurred fans, followers and foodies to download it and take part in the campaigns surrounding the movement and app. By taking part in Twitter Chats about food and nutrition (over 100 million impressions in one Twitter Chat) and encouraging fellow film industry partners to step up at the Boston Film Festival during September's “Hunger Action Month,” Kelly has amplified success across events and online platforms for her causes.
On the international side of participation, Kelly was a voice in Northern Ireland's campaign to tackle growing weight problems through the Public Health Agency in 2013 which has helped to grow her considerable influence with foodies and activists alike.
Kelly works with causes that she personally identifies with to bring an encouraging human voice that is recognizable on a global scale. She spurs her followers and fans to action while encouraging others in positions of authority to step forward and lead. Read more here about Kelly's transformation from the silver screen to the ranch hand.
Alan Perlstein
CEO, Miraculex
CEO, Miraculex
Alan is an award winning serial biotech entrepreneur and is currently CEO of MiraculeX, an early stage company developing the first healthy consumer sweeteners. He has had 10 years of experience working in both academia and industry on medical devices & protein engineering. Alan graduated from NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering with a dual M.S in biotechnology and entrepreneurship. He is an Alum of NYU Launchpad, Elab NYC and Harlem biospace.
Maksim Tsvetovat, PhD
Founder and CTO of Open Health Network
Founder and CTO of Open Health Network
Dr. Maksim Tsvetovat has received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University, and has taught Data Science and Analysis at George Mason University for seven years. During his time at GMU, he has run several large-scale research projects funded by NSF, DARPA and ONR in data science, data mining and simulation modeling. He co-founded OpenHealth to build a new generation of healthcare applications — ones that empower the patient, while helping build solid research with patient-reported outcomes and Big Data analytics
Thomas James
Makerbot
Makerbot
Tom James is Vice President of Business Development at MakerBot, where he oversees strategic partnerships. Since joining MakerBot in early 2013, Tom and his team have launched relationships with a diverse set of leading companies, from reselling partnerships with Microsoft Retail Stores, The Home Depot and Dell to pioneering licensing deals with Martha Stewart, Sesame Street, Sanrio and Uglydoll to software co-development collaborations with Microsoft Windows and The Foundry, to name just a few.
Janet C. Salazar
CEO and Founder, IMPACT Leadership 21™
Creator, Conversations with Men™
CEO and Founder, IMPACT Leadership 21™
Creator, Conversations with Men™
Janet C. Salazar, the CEO and Founder of IMPACT Leadership 21™, also serves as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations at Foundation for the Support of the United Nations (FSUN). Janet is also the President and Co-Founder of Maverick Vision International Advisors (MVI Advisors), a New York–based global firm of experts providing highly specialized consulting on multicultural leadership development, strategies and business platforms.
A Leadership Architect for Emerging Global Leaders (EGL), Janet's expertise is assisting leaders in creating authentic, profound, long lasting impact in their organizations and personal lives. She is a confidential advisor and sounding board to top senior and emerging women executives and leaders across the globe. As a Certified Executive and Master Coach Trainer, she trains senior executives maximize their abilities to coach and unleash the potential of emerging leaders.
Janet is the creator of the innovative dialogue series, Conversations With Men™, an executive forum with the mission of engaging men in leadership roles to accelerate women's leadership at the top, and achieving gender equality. Janet also created Conversations With Men™ One on One: Navigating Gender Dialogue in a Woman's World, an intensive executive coaching platform where she advises and trains male leaders on how to effectively handle gender-related challenges in the business environment, and thrive in today's increasingly diverse workplace. She is currently working on her first book around the Conversations With Men™ platform.
Janet holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Baguio, Philippines, graduating with Honors. She also attended Saint Louis University-Philippines, where she pursued Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications. She is on hiatus from the final stage of her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
A Leadership Architect for Emerging Global Leaders (EGL), Janet's expertise is assisting leaders in creating authentic, profound, long lasting impact in their organizations and personal lives. She is a confidential advisor and sounding board to top senior and emerging women executives and leaders across the globe. As a Certified Executive and Master Coach Trainer, she trains senior executives maximize their abilities to coach and unleash the potential of emerging leaders.
Janet is the creator of the innovative dialogue series, Conversations With Men™, an executive forum with the mission of engaging men in leadership roles to accelerate women's leadership at the top, and achieving gender equality. Janet also created Conversations With Men™ One on One: Navigating Gender Dialogue in a Woman's World, an intensive executive coaching platform where she advises and trains male leaders on how to effectively handle gender-related challenges in the business environment, and thrive in today's increasingly diverse workplace. She is currently working on her first book around the Conversations With Men™ platform.
Janet holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Baguio, Philippines, graduating with Honors. She also attended Saint Louis University-Philippines, where she pursued Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications. She is on hiatus from the final stage of her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
