About Miles Edwards

Miles is a CPA and A’Lelia Bundles Community Scholar at Columbia University who’s spent the past decade working with his clients to help explain complex accounting and tax jargon into actionable strategy. He believes good accounting starts with a good conversation. Off the clock, Miles spends his free time practicing calligraphy, working on his tennis forehand, and practicing German to maintain his fluency attained during his year abroad in high school.

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About DeEtte Chatterton Jones

DeEtte Chatterton Jones believes there’s no limit to what big thinking fueled by honesty and empathy can achieve. For nearly 17 years, she’s helped nonprofits, campaigns, companies, and individuals strategically accelerate their growth, turning bold ideas into quantifiable successes.

As a development professional on Capitol Hill, DeEtte raised millions of dollars, created and oversaw a donor recognition department, and led community outreach programs across the country. She also served as a state campaign finance director for a two-time presidential candidate, managing high-stakes fundraising with clarity and purpose.

Driven by a passion for authentic, integrity-based relationships and communications, DeEtte founded Graystone Strategies, a firm where genuine connections fuel meaningful growth. She’s assembled a talented team of experts in communications, operations, public relations, and design, who work together to remove growth barriers and create clear, sustainable paths for success.

DeEtte’s interest in the intersection of philanthropy, individuals, and corporations began during her undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, where she published research at BledCom, an international PR conference, on the positive bottom-line implications of corporate philanthropic ventures.

In addition to her professional work, DeEtte has served on non-profit boards and led volunteer initiatives supporting humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, channeling resources, time, and strategic guidance to communities in crisis.

She finds her greatest joy in raising her three children alongside her husband and best friend in Northern California, where they remain deeply involved in their community through church service and volunteer leadership.

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About Victoria Galan-Muros

Dr Victoria Galan-Muros is an expert on higher education policy, management, engagement and innovation. As a leading policy analyst, researcher and advisor working in the interface between universities, business and policymakers in 40+ countries, Victoria has co-authored 120+ technical reports and 70+ academic publications. She has teaching and research experience in 15 universities of four continents, has designed and facilitated executive training internationally, advised ministers, rectors and CEOs and participated as invited/keynote speaker and panelist in 170+ events.

Currently Director of Research and Analysis at the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education, Dr Galan-Muros co-founded and led Innovative Futures Institute, was research director at the Global Institute on Innovation Districts (New York), policy analyst at the OECD (Paris), senior associate consultant at Technopolis Group (London), consultant for the European Commission (Brussels) and policy director at the University-Industry Innovation Network (Amsterdam), among other positions.

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About Taya Paige

Taya Paige brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the meeting, incentive, and recognition industry, with expertise spanning sales, marketing, operations, and entrepreneurship. She is known for developing innovative global engagement strategies, including experiential events, customer loyalty programs, channel partner initiatives, and employee engagement solutions that meet the evolving needs of today’s workplace.

Having lived in Saudi Arabia and attended The American School In Switzerland (TASIS) during high school, Taya gained a unique global perspective early in life, sparking her passion for building relationships across borders through education and business. This global outlook has been instrumental in her work, where she has built a vast international network, fostering collaboration and delivering impactful results for a wide range of clients.

Taya currently serves on the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Community Advisory Board, MPI Medical & Healthcare Professionals Council, and is a guest Advisory Council Member for Women in Electronics.

Taya received her degree in business and hospitality from Ithaca College and resides in Laguna Niguel, California.

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About Prof. Dr. Ger Graus

Professor Graus is a renowned figure in the field of education – once described as “Jean-Jacques Rousseau meets Willy Wonka” (Alex Beard). He was the first Global Director of Education at KidZania and the founding CEO of the Children’s University. In 2019, Ger was invited to become a Visiting Professor at the National Research University in Moscow, Russia. He is also a Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, United Kingdom and is a frequent keynote speaker at some of the world’s leading education conferences.

In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours List Ger was made an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children, and 2018 he received the Global Education Leadership Award at the World Education Congress, India. In 2022, he was granted the award of Iconic Leader Creating A Better World For All by the Women Economic Forum (WEF) and the following year, Ger was made a Companion of the Harry Volker Genootschap in The Netherlands.

For further information please visit www.gergraus.com.

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About Mary Quazzo

Mary Quazzo is based in San Francisco, where she has practiced law for more than three decades. Her professional focus is on corporate transactional and governance matters. She serves as a strategic advisor to a global engineering, construction and project management company. Prior to her current role, Mary served as an executive officer, corporate secretary and chief corporate legal counsel for the company. She has substantial experience managing strategic and operational issues, audit and finance, risk management and corporate governance matters. Mary has served on the boards of directors for many non-profit organizations that have focused on education, health and well-being, and service to communities. She believes strongly in Global Impact Initiative’s mission to strive for a more educated, skilled, and interconnected world, giving people the tools and knowledge to achieve their potential.

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About Mary Carbajal

Mary Carbajal is a global seasoned executive and entrepreneur with over two decades of real-world experience, working and living across six continents, building deep business and cultural prowess. She is an innovative technologist and visionary change agent driving the convergence of technology and human experience across some of the world’s largest multinationals, such as Shell Oil, Microsoft, T-Systems International, and Avnet, Inc.

Mary has a passion for developing trusted customer, partner, and employee relationships, while helping some of the world’s leading institutions leverage technology to drive innovation, adopt sustainable and accessible business models, and digitally transform.

She has built and led global teams engineering, developing, and delivering large scale deployments of software systems and solutions from design to operations, across all layers of the IT landscape. Mary’s studies at MIT in Blockchain, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, expanded her first principle thinking, leading her to tackling one of the world’s toughest challenges around data today; accessing, sharing, and viewing our health information securely, anywhere, anytime, by bridging human biometrics with critical medical information, resulting in sovereign identity and democratization of healthcare data.

Mary is on a mission to level the playing field when it comes to identity, equity, and literacy, worldwide, designing and delivering solutions which arms every individual with a Digital ID that is secure, trusted, and self-sovereign, safely connecting our personal data to our unique biometric prints.

She holds multiple board seats and serves as a mentor and advisor to both individuals and organizations globally. Mary is regularly called upon to speak at international conferences, as well as corporates and universities, discussing technology, diversity, digital inclusion, and the power of inclusive leadership. She is a global philanthropist and active community volunteer for non-profit organizations and takes great joy in helping women and children find their voice, own their story, and lean into the vision they wish to create.

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About Aarti Tandon

Aarti Tandon is a seasoned lawyer, human rights activist, film producer, and event producer who has been developing strategic partnerships at the intersection of entertainment + technology + justice for two decades. She is most well-known for having secured a rare Presidential Commutation at just 33 years old.

She is the CEO of Smart City Expo USA where she convenes presidents, global mayors, government officials, CEOs, NGOs, and leading innovators on harnessing AI, big data, blockchain, and the $1.6 trillion global smart city marketplace to build smart, equitable, and sustainable 21st century cities.

“Cities cannot be ‘smart’ if we have homelessness, hunger, and poverty or if cities cannot access decent transportation, housing, healthcare, security, broadband, education, energy, clean air and water, or build generational wealth. We must use frontier technologies to prepare cities for tomorrow while addressing urgent issues of today,” says Aarti.

Aarti began her career as an information technology lawyer and then a decade in media and entertainment representing Grammy-nominated artists, filmmakers, magazine publishers, and more. She worked with India’s leading events company, Wizcraft, and oversaw the tours of the world’s most famous Bollywood stars. She has organized high-level delegations for the U.S. State Department in advance of the 2014 World Cup, consulted for Derek Jeter’s The Players’ Tribune, and worked on will.i.am’s sustainable joint venture with Coca-Cola, EKOCYCLE. Aarti facilitated the City of Columbia, SC giving Jay-Z a key to the city, and José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen feeding the most vulnerable in Augusta, GA during the pandemic.

Aarti served as Interim Executive Director of the Blue Sphere Foundation (an ocean conservation NGO) and as a content producer for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's 2018 Goalkeepers event featuring President Macron and other heads of state. She was selected to participate in the 2019 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, served as a Senior Advisor for Black Media Strategic Engagement to the Bloomberg 2020 campaign, as Sponsorship Director of Juneteenth Unityfest, and as an advisor for the World Economic Forum’s inaugural Urban Transformation Summit in Detroit. She is a Climate Advisor to the Clinton Global Initiative and most recently served as Head of Strategic Partnerships for will.i.am’s AI platform, fyi.ai.

An early steward of criminal justice reform, Aarti helped successfully petition President George W. Bush to grant, in 2008, the early release of her client who was serving a 14-year federal prison sentence for a first-time non-violent drug offense – it was one of only 11 Commutations granted during President Bush’s eight years in office.

Her continued efforts to reduce mass incarceration include having worked with the wrongfully convicted at the Deskovic Foundation and formerly incarcerated women at Project Liberation.

As a feature documentary filmmaker, her credits include: Producer, ”Catching the Sun”, a film on solar energy’s ability to address income inequality featuring Van Jones and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio (Netflix, 2016); Co-Executive Producer, “The Uncondemned”, a film on the historic Akayesu case and first ever conviction of rape as a crime of war supported by Global Citizen with music by Aloe Blacc and Maya Jupiter, and; Co-Producer, “Survivors Guide to Prison”, executive produced by Susan Sarandon, Gina Belafonte, Adrian Grenier, and others committed to criminal justice issues.

Aarti is a graduate of Emory University (B.A., International Studies; Certificat, Sorbonne Université) and the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law (J.D.) where she served as Editor-in Chief of the Moot Court Honor Society and received the Jacob Burns Medal of Honor. Aarti is a member of the International Advisory Council of APCO Worldwide, and a member of the third class of the Civil Society Fellowship (a partnership between the Anti-Defamation League and the Aspen Institute) and the Aspen Global Leaders Network. Aarti lives in New York City with her husband, Joseph.

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About Samuel Montana

Trilingual strategy, intelligence, investigations, and risk management professional with over 30 years of expansive experience and expertise in the public and private sectors. Twenty-five years (and a day) with the United States Government, serving in federal law enforcement, the intelligence community, and as an accredited U.S. Diplomat. With a unique diplomatic ability to foster genuine relationships and forge critical ‘bridges’, Samuel is proudly and firmly established with a broad global network of invaluable resources, contacts and influential friends.

Vast global experience with numerous official government assignments domestically and internationally. Proudly serving in operational capacities, short-term and long-term, in fourteen countries throughout the Americas, the Balkans, Central Europe and Oceania; including a Headquarters Transnational Crime and Public Safety Division, National Program Manager assignment in Washington, D.C., and an Office of International Affairs Diplomatic Corps appointment in South America serving as an accredited U.S. Diplomatic Attaché to Brazil and Bolivia. Additionally, in post public service as a consultant and advisor, Samuel proudly serves as an officially designated partner - U.S. State Department “All America’s“ national initiative; and has successfully worked on, or is currently actively working on, projects for clients in the Americas, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, South-Central Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and North Africa.

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About Gabrielle Engle

Gabrielle Engle is the accomplished Executive Director of Mosaic CCDA. Armed with a Master of Practical Theology from Indiana Wesleyan University, she co-founded Emerge Innovation Hub, providing crucial technical support to underserved entrepreneurs in Southwest Michigan. As the board President of Zoy! Outdoor Adventures, Gabrielle passionately works towards ensuring equitable access to nature. Her commitment extends to the United Way’s Advocacy and Policy Committee, where she forges connections between local relationships and statewide policy. Gabrielle's dedication to community development spills into her free time, where she cultivates a community garden and placemaking initiative called the Table.

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About Roshni Patel

Roshni is a dedicated Experience Designer and Facilitator at EY wavespace. With a background in accountancy and consultative roles, she applies her skills to create transformative experiences that foster creativity and collaboration. Her approach emphasizes human-centered design, ensuring that customers' needs are at the forefront. By leveraging design thinking and collaboration methodologies, she assists her customers in navigating their unique challenges and creating innovative, future-forward solutions.

Roshni holds a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy and a Master's degree in Taxation from Mississippi State University.

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About Roshmi Dalal

Roshmi Dalal is an ICF Executive Coach (ACC) and CPA who is passionate about helping rising leaders strengthen their mental resilience and self-command, while stepping into their full potential. With years of experience in high-stress, corporate roles, she has successfully helped people overcome an array of challenges, including their inner critic, imposter phenomenon, burn out, conflict avoidance, procrastination, major career/life transitions, and more. Roshmi's coaching methodology includes extensive positive and emotional intelligence training, a strengths-based approach, resilience and accountability tools and mindfulness mastery, which all empower her clients towards achieving their goals and desired outcomes.

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About Cameron Adil

Cameron leads Gii's refugee stabilization and integration efforts. Learn more about Cameron here.

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About Prianka Advani

As a Senior CX Executive, my experience spans across the financial services and healthcare industries. My forte is to solve complex consumer pain points & deliver delightful experiences using modern tech stacks. I am at my best when I can leverage my vibrant & passionate leadership style to inspire design thinkers to be bold and empower cross functional product teams to execute roadmaps that yield positive business outcomes. My motto is to continue to grow as an inclusive and equitable people leader so I often sponsor DEI resource groups & participate in leadership forums to challenge status quo.

My career accolades include but are not limited to:

Omnichannel Product , Service & CX journey NPS excellence including Digital/Mobile/Voice/ Chat/ Bot channels
Customer intimacy, engagement and incremental PTI, ROE & profitability from existing engaged customers
Brand loyalty with lifetime value & customer retention / share of wallet
Human centered design prediction and analysis of behavior, product purchase and usage

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About Michael Ciccolone

Michael is a corporate tax attorney in Austin, Texas. His practice allows him to work closely with clients and advise them through every stage in the lifecycle of their businesses, starting from development of the corporate structure and capitalization through mergers, acquisitions, and sales of their companies. Michael works with businesses of all sizes operating throughout a diverse cross section of industries, including middle market companies, nonprofits, start-ups, etc. He also helps clients implement growth and expansion operations by creating effective business and tax planning strategies designed to help their companies grow in an intelligent and sustainable way. Lastly, he helps secure registration rights to protect his clients’ intellectual property, maintain their IP portfolios, and monetize their IP through structured licensing and sales arrangements.

Michael graduated from Boston University School of Law with an LL.M. in Taxation and a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law in Houston. Before practicing law, he was enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served as an explosive detection dog handler. Outside of work, he enjoys playing guitar, traveling with his son, checking out new restaurants and coffee shops, and visiting the local market with his dogs Gus and Jax.

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About Stefanie Grasty

Stefanie has over 25 years of leadership experience holding a number of risk management, compliance, and operations roles with companies of all sizes - from small, privately held start-ups to global F500 companies. She became connected to the cause by responding to a message posted by a refugee on social media, and from there, she was hooked and connected to the cause. Stefanie holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Seton Hall University, and is a passionate believer that social mobility is the direct result of education. She is proud to be a Global Ambassador with Gii, as she believes “the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” - Gandhi

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About Vivian Chen

Vivian Chen is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of California and a Deal Advisory & Strategy professional at KPMG. At work, she mainly helps clients with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and supports KPMG's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Outside of work, she can be found reading, soaking in the sun in San Francisco, or testing out new bread recipes.

Vivian graduated with Bachelor's of Science degrees in Finance and Accounting from Arizona State University.

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About Alan Greenberg

Previously Director Apple Education EMEA, then Apple AsiaPAC & China. Led the team who built Education Podcasting, iTunes U Europe, China and AsiaPAC. Working contributions across multiple technology engagements, domain expertise, digital, mobile, brand, scale-up, international BD, and VC: Trust Architect Digest.AI conversational AI. Head of Strategic Partnerships Entelechy Academy character and workplace skills. Director Spooler.fm. Senior External Advisor, McKinsey & Co. Health and Education technologies. Senior Advisor Verum Capital Switzerland, Blockchain Services. Hold a series of Chair, Director, Advisory and Consultancy positions to a portfolio of education, healthcare technology, blockchain and digital businesses worldwide; London, Zurich, Dubai, Mumbai, Beijing, and New York.

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About Meenal Patwardhan

Meenal Patwardhan is a Vice President in AbbVie’s Pharmacovigilance and Patient Safety (PPS) department. She leads the Medical Safety Review (MSR); Safety Data Sciences (SDS); and Medical Safety Evaluation (Neuroscience, Eye Care, and Specialty Medicine Therapeutic Areas)

Since joining Abbott/AbbVie in 2007, Meenal has established herself as a leader focusing on Patient Safety through her passionate and creative problem-solving, and innovation. Prior to joining Abbott/AbbVie, Meenal was an Associate Professor and co-Director of the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) at Duke University Medical Center. While at Duke she focused on, and lead the EPC in oncology, neurological diseases, and chronic diseases. Meenal also developed and taught a course in Evidence-based Medicine and Decision-making in the Department of Medicine.

Dr. Patwardhan has successfully combined her clinical medicine, epidemiology, statics, and evidence-based medicine leadership from Duke with the principles of drug safety at AbbVie to produce high-functioning teams of physicians and other medical professionals.

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About Tonia Graff

Tonia became acquainted with refugee support services in 2021 when the first Afghan families began arriving in central Texas. This quickly developed into broader volunteer collaboration with Austin agencies, with special focus on Education access.

As Refugee Youth Mentoring Program Director, she wants to create connections between Austinites and Afghan youth. Local mentors are the bridge that connects our young clients to the many educational and job-training opportunities available to them in Austin and surrounding areas.

Tonia graduated from UT Austin Moody College of Communication. In her words, "watching kids grow in understanding and skills is pure joy, I'm so fortunate to play a small role in their lives and see how far they can go with a little guidance, support and encouragement." Contact Tonia Graff

About Tatyana Mikayil

Tatyana Mikayil is serial entrepreneur and C-Suite Leader, supporting companies and organizations to act with purpose, communicate with impact and connect the right stakeholders locally and globally for better results. She is advocate of Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability, girls and women empowerment, innovative education, STEAM, lifetime learning. Her extensive background covers executive leadership, strategic communications, reputation, sustainability, innovation and crisis management in corporate, private and public sectors environments. Tatyana is the mentor in various leadership programs and privately supporting personal and professional growth at all levels.

Ms Mikayil is the Founder of “Azerbaijan Business Women», organization which gathers under its umbrella female business owners and top level executives.

Having more than 20 years of professional experience, Tatyana was graduated first from The Azerbaijan University of Construction and Architecture holding a master’s degree in engineering and then from the London Institute of Public Relations.

In 2009 she has established advisory firm which rapidly grew from just public relations consultancy to 360 degrees of brand reputation management and currently is a leading agency in the local and international market of consulting services, covering local and international markets entries, business development, stakeholder relationships and basically. She was representing Weber Shandwick and Ketchum in Azerbaijan market being an exclusive affiliate for them.

Tatyana is the frequent speaker at the various international happenings as well as the author and facilitator of the number of impactful events and programs. Tatyana is awarded with the State Award “Tereggi” (Progress) by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. She has also received an International Women Entrepreneurship Challenge Award from IWEC as well as numerous international recognitions.

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About Kelly Sieger

An experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry for over 15 years, Kelly has mastered the career path of academia and career planning. Throughout her academic career, Kelly has successfully attained six degrees from undergraduate associate programs to multiple graduate masters' programs. Skilled in Advocacy, Program Development, Management, Collaborative Problem Solving, Fundraising, Grant Management, DEI Training and Mentorship, and Public Speaking, Kelly has been working to obtain her Ph.D. in Criminal and Social Justice with Walden University. She has spent the last 15 years working in nonprofit programs throughout the county and has been able to create multi-disciplinary programs throughout multiple states in the U.S. Through this time; she developed programs in and out of prison and correctional facilities to help create a safe and collaborative space for previously incarcerated youth and adults to reintegrate into the community. While her heart for service continued to grow through volunteer work, dissertations, research papers, global travels, and leadership on multiple executive boards for various NGOs; Kelly believes that the aforementioned is incredibly important information about her, she also enjoys sharing about her personal life and goals.

In her spare time Kelly enjoys traveling the world with her husband, Andrew. In the last few years, Kelly has done most of her traveling, and creating of global leadership probams and educations programs. With a collective count of over 18 countries, Kelly attempts to spend her time away from traveling, speaking with others about traveling as well. Over the last two years, Kelly has been a member of multiple travel programs, creating platforms to help first time passport holders obtain their passport, and travel abroad, working with immigrants for dual citizenship and travel grants for those that have needed to flee their home country and are looking for reunification with family members in another country. While Kelly is not traveling the world, or helping others do it, she is spending time at home with her husband and their two dogs.

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About Terri Register

Terri is the Vice President of Operations for Young Professionals in International Affairs (YPIA). YPIA is a non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. that brings together globally-minded citizens in a neutral space to engage in international affairs.

Terri has served in the U.S. nonprofit sector for 14 years and has coordinated initiatives in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Oceania.

She has scaled programs through Capacity Building, Program Development, Grants Management, Strategic Partnerships, and Impact Evaluation. She has experience collaborating with Community Organizations, Universities, U.S. Federal Departments, Social Enterprises, Corporations, and Foundations.

Her passion is serving grassroots organizations and social enterprises that have a heart for all communities. She is a native North Carolinian with a passion for learning languages, painting canvases, and traveling the globe.

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About Jennifer Carter

Jennifer Carter is an executive leader with extensive experience managing strategy and operations in non-profit, philanthropic, social impact, and corporate social responsibility roles. With over 15 years of leadership experience, Jennifer is skilled in aligning strategies and operations with company mission, vision, and goals. With a passion for social work, Jennifer obtained both a BSW and MSW from Western Michigan University. In 2003, Jennifer joined Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan as a case manager. Following, she was quickly promoted through progressively responsible roles and began serving as the Director of Human Services Projects and Grants in 2007.

In 2013, Jennifer was tapped to serve as the Mission Services Director of Goodwill Industries of West Michigan, charged with building community relationships, expanding company mission, and implementing mission-focused programs. During this time, Jennifer was additionally selected as a member of Goodwill’s Executive Development Program and completed a 16-month training program to assume executive-level leadership roles within the company and field.

Shortly after, Jennifer was recruited as the Senior Director of Workforce Development at Goodwill Southeast Georgia. In this role, Jennifer managed a team of over 25 employees, charged with leading change across the company during the organization’s restructure. During this time, Jennifer ensured success during the company’s transformation, meanwhile increasing the organization’s capacity to serve the community by 35% and billable hours by 80%.

Most recently, Jennifer has served as the Chief Mission Officer of Goodwill Central Texas, the largest organization in Texas and 13 th largest program nationwide. As a member of the senior leadership team, Jennifer manages a team of over 125 direct and indirect reports within a $10M division. In this role, Jennifer is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to meet organizational goals and create a strong, lasting community impact.

In this role, Jennifer has most notably led efforts to secure $5M COVID relief funding for the Texas workforce. Moreover, Jennifer has championed efforts to build new programs, including an initiative designed to impact the basic needs, mental health, and career advancement of employees which created a 20% improvement in 90-day retention.

Throughout her career, Jennifer has been recognized as a champion of employee development and retention. She is highly involved in leading internal workforce development programming and has implemented initiatives throughout her career to increase employee satisfaction and retention. Jennifer carries these interests outside of her professional experience as well. As the Owner & Founder of Flashlight Thinking, Jennifer leads a management consulting firm providing executive coaching and group training. Jennifer is a Certified Professional Coach and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, skills which she draws upon in her consulting business. A trusted advisor and strategist, Jennifer additionally serves as a Board Member for Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area and Austin Clubhouse. Jennifer has additionally served in the Chair role for the Austin Travis County Reentry Roundtable

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About Anne Lieberman

Anne is a retired financial advisor and asset manager who built her own company and groomed it for acquisition, making it possible for her to retire early. Since then, she has had two “mini-careers” as an executive coach and as a Certified Lefkoe Method Facilitator (TLM). TLM rapidly eliminates patterns of behavior that limit us—things like procrastination, fear of public speaking, and worrying too much about what others think. After those two mini-careers, she retired completely and has been volunteering with 10,000 Degrees, an organization dedicated to getting underserved kids to and through college.

Anne has an MBA in Industrial Engineering from UC Berkeley. She has written two books—one on marketing and one on personal finance—and she’s been a columnist twice, writing about entrepreneurship and about investing.

She was introduced to Gii by Board Member Kimberly Weichel and was immediately inspired by its mission and the means it uses to achieve it. Having come from a background of poverty and having transcended that poverty via education, she is dedicated to supporting organizations that educate those who need it most.

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About Annie Hardy

As a creative innovator, strategic researcher, futurist, and bridge builder, Annie Hardy’s expertise ranges from product strategy and marketing to innovation and research, for companies in multiple industries. Today, as the Senior Visioneer at Cisco, Annie is establishing a practice that pulls empathy and the customer voice into conversations around corporate innovation. She seeks to democratize enterprise innovation, to represent that diversity of thought in the rooms where engineers build new things, and to cultivate an innovation dialect in her team.

Previously, she was the Founder and Principal of zeet insights, a strategic market and design research firm which explored the hidden needs of humans through qualitative and quantitative research.

The human-centered focus Annie has today actually began with her first job out of college – as a Community Health Worker in a Medicaid Managed Care company. She helped low-income American and immigrant families in Texas, conducting home visits with pregnant mothers, connecting them to the healthcare and resource they needed, and supporting local social service organizations. This experience fundamentally shaped her perspective and inspired within her a passion for the people-centered practices she cultivates today in her company and her community.

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About Erin-Michael Gill

Erin-Michael Gill is the Founder and Managing Director of Genaesis and is an appointed White House advisor, serving as the elected chairman of a congressionally mandated advisory committee on international trade.

Mr. Gill has served as an appointee in the Obama administration on the industry trade advisory committee on Intellectual Property Rights, providing trade policy advice to the President of the United States through the US Trade Rep and US Secretary of Commerce. He was re-appointed in the Trump administration and elected Chairman of the Committee, and most recently appointed to a third, four-year term in the Biden administration where he was again, re-elected as Chairman.

Mr. Gill has advocated for improved economic infrastructure at the United Nations and has provided detailed policy guidance to three Administrations on high-priority trade agreements including TPP, USMCA, and the “Stage One” trade agreement with Japan. His insights have been featured in outlets including Bloomberg Television, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Forbes.

Mr. Gill was previously CEO of a big data analytics company supporting the US intelligence community and has a diverse, innovation-focused background. His work as an intellectual property subject matter expert supported Vector Capital’s $242M stake in Technicolor as well as Scotiabank’s $1.1B valuation increase of Blackberry. He has led the strategic review of pharmaceutical product candidates for a compounding pharmacy spin-out, as well as the development of nano-fiber allergen barrier products at DuPont. Erin-Michael earned bachelor’s degrees in astronomy and physics from Benedictine College and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management with a teaching assistantship for the graduate course "Topics in US-China Relations.

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About Mac McClelland

Dr. T. B. (Mac) McClelland, Jr., has extensive experience in and with political, social, and military affairs in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (AEMEA). He retired from the United States Marine Corps and has long advised the U.S. military, U.S. Department of State and consular officials, and foreign government and military officials on regional affairs. He has led complex multicultural international organizations with P&L responsibilities across the globe. He currently leads a consulting firm dealing with business and strategy development, marketing, and government relations in AEMEA. He is a professor at Hult International Business School, New York University Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi School of Management. He has been featured on CNBC and in The Wall Street Journal on several occasions, and has been an expert witness before the U.S. Congress on issues affecting Americans and American companies abroad. Mac published his first novel, Desert Wind, in 2021, nominated for the 2022 William E. Colby Military Writers’ Award, and published the sequel, Distal Watchman, in 2022.

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About Azra Syed

Azra is a Leadership and Wellbeing Coach, Mentor, and Trainer. She brings with her more than fifteen years’ experience in adult learning and working with individuals from diverse and multicultural backgrounds. She has a passion for helping leaders develop a human-focused vision for the growth and success of their organization. She has a specific interest in helping people cope with disruptions and transitions in their personal and professional lives, and manage the impact it has on their relationships.

She is deeply committed to uplifting the lives of women, especially those belonging to the immigrant and minority communities, and helping them to integrate and thrive in their new environment.

Azra has a certification in Leadership Coaching for Organizational Wellbeing from George Mason University (GMU), VA, and a Master of Science degree in Organization Development and Knowledge Management, also from GMU, VA. She has a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Karachi University, Pakistan.

Her other interests include art, music, and writing, and often incorporates these skills in her coaching sessions to enhance the experience. She is fluent in English, Urdu, and Punjabi.

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About Bob Ewigleben

Multifaceted leadership experience in higher education and intelligence. Doctorate of Education in Community College Leadership.

Higher Education

Thirteen years in higher education, nine as Director of International Development and three as Director of Assessment. Extensive international experience developing and executing education programs and projects with partners in Europe, East and Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Europe. Proficient in assessment and accreditation practices. Outstanding critical thinking and communication skills. Effectively use my multidimensional and multicultural experience to better understand people, develop rapport and build trust with a wide range of audiences.

Intelligence

Ten plus years as a naval intelligence officer serving in demanding, fast paced operational and administrative assignments in Washington, DC, Norfolk, VA and overseas. Outstanding analytical acumen. Led a combined US/Korean 24-hour watch team responsible for timely all source monitoring, analysis, production, and dissemination of intelligence on North Korean geopolitical and military activities. Firm grasp of current global dynamics and issues backed by ten years living and working overseas.

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About Duleep Deosthale

A roll-up your sleeves, result oriented, experienced education administrator, an outstanding teacher and an innovative Ed-tech entrepreneur focused on creating opportunities in international education and learning and providing access to education globally.

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About Dr. Nasrine Shah Abushakra

Dr. Nasrine Shah Abushakra is a fourth-generation cross-cultural leader with a passion for finding the commonalities that unite us. In her time between the United States and the Middle East, she has gained perspective on the fundamentals of respectful social interaction and focuses that insight into the online world. Her gift for finding actionable solutions to complex issues is why her intermediary skills are sought after by diplomats on both sides of the globe and now the Internet.

A true global citizen, Nasrine has frequently traveled between her two often conflicting worlds of the U.S. and the Middle East, to serve as a visionary liaison. She has gained perspective on the fundamentals of respectful social interaction and focuses that insight to both the virtual world and the real world—Her gift for finding actionable solutions to complex issues is why her intermediary skills are sought after by diplomats on both sides of the globe and now the Internet, and has met with leaders such as President Clinton, Prime Minister Siniora of Lebanon, and HRH and Vice President of the UAE, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She also serves on numerous committees dedicated to such causes as reviewing scholarly publications, family business elements, and global understanding. She has served as the editor for Haute Living, where she launched their Dubai outpost and continued her passion for writing.

Nasrine holds a Master of Science in Information Systems and a Ph.D. in Technology and Education held a professorship at the University of Michigan and served as the Director of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Orientation Program at the U.S. Department of State. She has had her research presented at the MIT LINC Project, World Bank, and the U.S. Department of Education. She is also the Happy Post Project, Ambassador to the Middle East, and represented the project at TEDxDubai in November 2011.

In 2017, Nasrine started her journey at Harvard Medical School’s esteemed program, mentored by Dr. Herbert Benson, where she earned her meditation certificate and has successfully intertwined yoga in early education in the Middle East. She will be launching her third book, during the summer of 2018.

Nasrine lives between Dubai and Washington D.C. with her husband of more than a decade and their child. A woman with many interests, when not working she can be found whipping up a gourmet meal with fresh, organic ingredients, from her garden or spinning old-school hip-hop tunes, hosting an elegant party for dignitaries, artists, (11-year-old’s) from around the world.

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About Bina Mathews

Speaker, Communications Consultant, Executive Master NLP Coach, Trainer

For more than 20 years, Bina has worked in and with senior levels in business. She specialises in strategy, impactful communication, employee engagement, team building, goal setting and action planning. She combines this with NLP and Stakeholder Centered Coaching to produce successful outcomes that are measurable and repeatable.

Bina has been involved in training, coaching and consulting for years, with the intention of dramatically increasing profit, productivity, and the performance of people. Prior to starting her own Consultancy, she has worked in the corporate, creative and media sectors, heading the Internal Comms & PR departments at du and working closely with the C-suite. She is also an approved NLP trainer.

Bina is a trained leader working in the field of Accelerated Goal Realization, helping people identify and achieve their dreams. She is a master trainer for Leadership Communication, Business Communication & Writing, Communication for Sales teams, Power Packed Presentation Skills & Public Speaking and Building the Dream Team, to name a few. Bina was formerly Head of Internal Communications at du, prior to which she Headed the PR team overseeing the Telco’s launch PR and brand building. She has also headed teams in International PR Agencies and freelanced for leading dailies in the UAE.

As a Soft Skills Trainer Bina trains teams in Leadership Skills; Management Communication; Corporate & Business Communication; Time Management; Goal setting; Aligning team’s goals with the business goals for maximum productivity; Building more effective teams; Change Management and Effective Communication.

Currently, in addition to her Management Consultancy, she is also Adjunct Faculty at Manipal University, where she teaches MA students PR, Corporate Communication, Media Management and Policy, Media Writing and Global Communication.

Mentor and trainer: Advisory Council Member of evolvin’ women, a social enterprise that helps organisations in the UAE achieve a greater level of diversity and inclusion through socially responsible initiatives. Mentoring and training mentors, as well as mentees from Africa. Key note speaker & Panelist on leadership, corporate & internal communication at Arabian Business Forum, ATD MENA HR Conference, MEPRA forums, Manipal University and Zayed University etc.

Moderator and Facilitator for:

The Ambassador Series - 6 part online series featuring Diplomatic Ambassadors from various countries, organised by AlHambra US Chamber, Professors without Borders UK and CL Educate, India
The Immigrant Promise – series featuring successful immigrants who have contributed to the growth, development and economy of the USA, organised by AlHambra US Chamber
PowerBytes, a series of interviews with captains of industry from around the Middle East including Osman Sultan ex CEO du, Rana Nawas award winning Podcaster, Prof Nadia AlHasani Dean of College of Fashion and Design, Sharjah University, Dave Crane Media personality and many more.

Leadership team member of ellevate Dubai, the local chapter of an International Women’s platform.

Academically, Bina holds an M.A. in English Literature & B.A in Journalism, Women Studies and English Literature, Diploma in Advertising and Certificates in Corporate Communication (George Washington University) and Leadership (Institute of Leadership & Management, London).

Professionally, Bina is a Certified Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) & Certified Master NLP Coach. She is also a Certified Transformational Hypnotherapist, a powerful intervention that has provided a new, efficient way to accomplish accelerated behavioral change. Bina is certified with & by the International Coaching Federation, The Association for NLP Professionals and the International Hypnosis Association.

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About Vidya Chinoy

I am a qualified and certified Spanish and English teacher working for Berlitz Corporation as an online language instructor. As the spouse of a diplomat I have lived in eight different countries. My travels have brought me in touch with opportunities both in my career and in my aspiration to contribute to social causes. I have taught Spanish and English at various international schools. I have worked on various charity causes especially in China and India as part of the Diplomatic Spouses associations. Some of our projects included providing assistance to orphans, children with special needs and empowering girls from deprived backgrounds to become independent business owners.

My experience overseas has allowed me to understand, appreciate and value the human experience and the challenges faced by people in today’s globalized world. Deep down I am a passionate educator eager to work towards bringing the right opportunities to young people all over the world. I am so happy and grateful to be p

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About Dr. Ghaleb

Founder-The KEYSS Project
Head of Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystem, Aramco Entrepreneurship Center (Wa’ed)

Dr. Sarah Ghaleb is a social innovator that has been leading training, social science research/evaluation, and entrepreneurship development initiatives for over a decade. Her achievements include a Master Trainer level through a grant of the U.S. Department of State, Director of Quality Assurance and Evaluation on a multimillion-dollar grant through the U.S. Department of Education, and a pioneer in introducing Saudi to the concept of social entrepreneurship. She co-founded one of the first social enterprises in the Kingdom to address the pressing social and environmental needs in Saudi Arabia. Now, she leads her second social initiative, the KEYSS Project, to provide a foundation for Saudi youth to prepare for academic and success that begins with knowing their passion and purpose.

She is currently the Head of Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystem at the Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center (Wa’ed) and in this role provides Saudi entrepreneurs opportunities for business incubation, mentorship, training, and venture building. As a social innovator, she has contributed the first Virtual Business Incubation and first corporate-level Venture Builder in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Sarah’s academic work focused on piloting initiatives with effective data monitoring, tracking and statistical evaluation. She has a doctorate from George Washington University, and a Master’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree from George Mason University.

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About Peter Cleaves

Peter Cleaves has held executive positions in international development, project management, financial investments, and higher education for thirty years. His expertise in the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe stems from 25 years of foreign residence with management responsibilities. With deep experience in a range of organizations, his specialties include monitoring & evaluation, strategic planning, institutional growth, non-profit organizations, research promotion, private equity and banking, education, and corporate social responsibility. He has conducted consultancies in the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Africa, as well as the United States. He has held senior positions concentrating on the Middle East at the Emirates Foundation, in Latin America at the Ford Foundation, AVINA Foundation, the University of Texas, and the First National Bank of Chicago. Possessing a doctorate in Political Science, he has authored or co-authored six books, numerous academic and press articles, and many consulting reports. He conducts business in fluent English, Spanish, French and proficient Portuguese. Cleaves founded DRG International in 1993 to advise multilaterals, government agencies, foundations, nonprofits, universities, and businesses. With understanding of the motivations, cultures, and vocabulary of each for mutual cooperation, he leads teams to develop and improve their international activities and achieve their goals.

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About Serena

Board Secretary

Serena is a content creator, program manager, and activist, and is currently a Regional Outreach Representative for EDCare based in Colorado Springs. Serena is an alumna of American University where she studied International Studies with a focus on Peace and Latin American studies. She has experience as a Program Associate at a global nonprofit, a Communications Coordinator for the International Youth Peace Forum., and an Associate for Caroline Sarah Ventures where she developed a diverse marketing strategy and assisted in all aspects of the start-up. In 2017, Serena founded a peer-education group about body image and self-esteem called REbeL at American University where she developed many of her project management and leadership skills. Serena is driven and passionate about helping people, no matter where those people are located or what they are struggling with. Find out more about her at serenanangia.com

About Jamie

Jamie brings an in-depth knowledge of both litigation and negotiation strategy to her work as AHCV’s Chief Legal Officer. Equally comfortable in the courtroom or the boardroom, Jamie has over a decade of legal experience as a trial and appellate lawyer. She began her career as a law clerk for United States District Judge Sam Sparks in the Western District of Texas, and went on to try cases, first at an AmLaw 100 firm and later as a solo attorney and in a litigation boutique setting. In addition to this litigation experience, Jamie also spent valuable time as in-house counsel for a Fortune 100 company, focusing on the negotiation of multi-million dollar commercial agreements. Jamie prioritizes collaborative problem solving and strategic communication.

Some of Jamie’s past litigation matters involving health care providers include:

court challenges to ultra vires state regulations affecting medical providers,
managed care reimbursement disputes,
contract disputes over operational issues affecting hospitals (e.g., physician recruitment, campus construction, challenges to hospital policies and procedures),
antitrust suit involving “passing off” of medical devices,
physician partnership dissolutions, and
managed care bid contests

Some of Jamie’s past negotiations involving the life sciences sector include:

Negotiation of quality assurance agreements and commercial terms with international pharmaceutical companies;
Negotiation of OEM manufacturing terms with medical device manufacturers; and
Negotiation of confidentiality agreements relating to joint development of pharmaceutical manufacturing technology;

Jamie is active in the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association and provides pro bono representation to asylum seekers through Casa Marianella.

About Nadeem

Board Treasurer

Nadeem Poonawala is currently a partner at HD CPA, a technologically driven CPA firm based in Austin, TX. He is working towards transforming the client experience by utilizing technology to provide a more consultative engagement and improved communications. He holds an undergraduate degree in Finance and spent 6 years working in the banking and energy fields prior to pursuing his MBA at Indiana University. Post MBA, Nadeem held a variety of management roles with AT&T, from Construction & Engineering to Enterprise Sales. He is passionate about technology and utilizing it to further education in every way, shape, and form. Technology is the future, the future is now, leverage technology to help others be the best they can be!

About Cameron

Cameron is the Chief of Party for USAID Pre-Service Teacher Education in Jordan.

He works with the Government of Jordan and the university sector to increase the quantity and improve the quality of school teachers countrywide through policy reform, data, building capacity, and improving the public perception of teaching in society.

Previously, Cameron was MENA Director for Nottingham Trent University working with governments to close skills gaps and spent several years reforming the higher education sector of the Kingdom of Bahrain. First, as Head of Strategy at the Ministry of Higher Education, then as Director of Strategy for the University of Bahrain. In the UK, Cameron was responsible for delivering such programs as the Respect Action Plan, the youth action plan, young apprenticeships, family intervention program, review of diversity in the curriculum, and review of child poverty while at the Department for Education and Skills.

Cameron was also an advisor to the Ministry of Higher Education for Egypt, supporting the improvement of over 40 Universities in Partnership with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank.

Cameron is a board member of BETT MEA and Digifest 2021.

About Hanan

Hanan Malkawi is currently a Professor at Yarmouk University-Jordan’s Department of Biological Sciences and a Member of the Board at the Arab Science and Technology Foundation. She previously served as the VP for Research & International Relations at Yarmouk University, and she was formerly the VP of Scientific Engagement at the Royal Scientific Society-Jordan. She is an active member of the biology research community in Jordan, and previously served as the European Commission’s Higher Education Reform Expert (HEREs), for Jordan. Professor Malkawi has received numerous awards for outstanding leadership in her field and has over 70 published papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

About Ida

Ida Beerhalter co-heads IOME, a private investment partnership of women principals from the Gulf region with its head office in Riyadh, KSA.

Additionally, Mrs. Beerhalter also serves as Ambassador, Member of the Board, Trustee, Committee Member, Advisor, and Expert to various for-profit and not-for-profit organizations around the globe -- amongst others: United Nations’ University for Peace (UPEACE), Costa Rica, Auma Obama Foundation Sauti Kuu, Kenya & Germany, USA, Green Sands Equity, USA, Jim Button Foundation, Germany, First Light Trust, UK, Aescuvest, Europe- specialized in a wide range of issues including, social business, entrepreneurship, impact investment, education, leadership, economic development, mental health, gender inclusiveness, women & minority empowerment, investments in emerging and growth markets, and wealth management, financial literary, family governance and succession planning. As Investor she also manages her own investment portfolio. Mrs. Beerhalter was awarded with the TIAW World of Difference Award in 2015.

About Kimberly

Kimberly Weichel is a social entrepreneur, catalyst, and nonprofit leader who has worked on the forefront of building bridges between cultures and peoples for over 25 years. She is a gender specialist who is a passionate advocate and champion for women’s advancement, empowerment, and leadership. As CEO of Peace x Peace, an international women’s peace building and leadership organization, she supported and mentored their global network of women peace builders in over a hundred countries.

Kimberly recently appeared on the podcast Let's Talk Peace! to talk about "The Meaning of Peacebuilding, What Makes Women Great Leaders, and Uncovering New Possibilities.

Listen here

About Jacob

Jacob is a Career Advisor with Telamon Corporation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in public policy in May 2019, and enjoys reading, cooking, and discussing media with friends.

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About Caitlin

Caitlin is a passionate storyteller, business owner, and student of inspiring communities that continue to shape her. She owns The Good Word, Co., a full-service communications business which specializes in helping nonprofits with their creative writing and grant writing needs. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur in 2021, Caitlin spent five years working for various nonprofits in California and Arizona.

During her tenure at the Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs, she witnessed youth from disadvantaged communities rise from intense poverty. She then had the opportunity to meet and share the stories of kids and teens who took part in the mentorship programs through the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. Her final in-house position was with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she saw firsthand the resilience, healing, and hope that can only be found in a place as life- changing and life-saving as a children’s hospital.

Inspired by what she saw and experienced during her time with these philanthropic organizations, she built The Good Word, Co. She is proud to have a career that allows her to serve and support multiple communities at once.

In 2017, Caitlin earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Her awareness of and desire to serve vulnerable communities derives directly from the content of her studies. She learned about the complexities in societies all over the world and how those complexities often lead to gaps in resources for certain groups. She has translated that awareness to an impressive career in which she uses her talents for the benefit of others.

Caitlin believes in the good things and good people this world offers. Hence, she named her business The Good Word, Co! More importantly, she wants others to have the chance to believe in themselves, as well. When asked about her personal mission she shares, “telling the life-changing stories of one person, one conversation or one opportunity at a time is the best way I know how to contribute to us all seeing the goodness in the world.”

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About Elena

Elena is a marketing professional with more than eight years of experience overseeing high-impact projects working with international brands such as Orange Telecom, Finn Church Aid, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) across multiple sectors, including telecommunication, tourism, entrepreneurship, and education.

She has a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Jordan and a Certificate in Digital Marketing from the EC-Council. Her experience includes technical and supervisory roles related to marketing and media functions, strategic planning and implementation, branding, stakeholder relations, partnership development, capacity building for local communities, refugees, governmental and sector-specific entities, as well as public relations and event planning.

Working with nonprofit organizations and development agencies over the years, she successfully managed a multimillion-dollar portfolio of projects and grants with direct impact in improving the livelihood of Jordanians and Syrian refugees. In her free time, Elena likes gardening, crafting, and swimming.

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About Mela

Mela is passionate about building community, sharing knowledge, and connecting with people around the world. She has spent many years developing content and editing educational materials, academic journals, and more. With a master's degree in International Education from New York University, she is focused now on helping those who are studying in an international setting to achieve their goals.

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About Kate

Kate is currently studying for her Master's degree in Global Policy through the Erasmus Mundus program, where she studies at the Central European University in Vienna, Austria, and the Institut Barcelona d´Estudis Internacionals in Spain. She has supported Gii's work and operations for years, and is deeply passionate about promoting opportunities for refugees and marginalized groups. When not working with Gii or researching for her thesis, Kate enjoys exploring Vienna and practicing her German and Spanish.

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About Adrianna

After finishing grad school, Adrianna found Global Impact Initiative which inspired her passion for nonprofit work. She is currently helping Gii coordinate resettlement efforts among Afghan refugees and would eventually like to obtain a full-time career as a researcher for an education-based nonprofit. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, hiking, cooking and baking, and cats.

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About Avery

Avery began developing websites in High School, and quickly developed a niche helping non-profits and small mental health practices establish a digital presence. Since then, he has developed dozens of websites for clients across the country, as well as interned full-time at a number of web-focused companies.

Avery recently graduated the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Computer Science and Public Affairs. He is currently working in Seattle as a Software Engineer for Google's Chrome OS team. He is particularly passionate about driving economic and social change through the power of technology and engineering. He began working for the Alhambra-U.S. Chamber in 2020 and, after a successful website overhaul, began working on the Global Impact Initiative's website as well.

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About Shawn

Shawn Smith is a distinguished leader whose expertise in operational management and strategic planning has profoundly impacted the global nonprofit sector. Currently serving as Vice President / Chief Operating Officer at Global Impact Initiative, Shawn has been instrumental since July 2020 in the development of Gii’s programming and oversight of all areas of operations. Notably, Shawn directly oversees programming in collaboration with the U.S. State Department, addressing professional nonprofit skills readiness, and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion for college students in Saudi Arabia. These programs are integral to the advancement of Saudi Vision 2030 and the UN Social Development Goals, reaching students across the Kingdom and neighboring countries. Shawn also directly oversees Gii's refugee support programs and staff, ensuring compliance with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement policies and federal regulations.

Parallel to his role at Global Impact Initiative, Shawn also serves as the Director of Strategic Planning for the Alhambra US Chamber, where he has been since October 2020. In this capacity, he liaises with foreign ministries of education to streamline regulatory processes for international students and manages strategic initiatives across the organization's business lines.

Prior to these roles, Shawn provided exceptional service as an Employee Relations Specialist at Landry's Inc., where he supported over 125 business units, spread across North America, with employee relations and strategic DEIB initiatives. His tenure as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs saw him conduct EEO counseling and resolve allegations of discrimination within the agency. Before this, he honed his skills in law enforcement as a Probation and Parole Officer II and Serious Risk Group Intelligence Officer for the State of North Carolina, where he managed offender cases and rehabilitation efforts.

As a leader within the education nonprofit sector, he places great value in continual learning. After aiding in the founding of Gii, he returned to school and obtained his Juris Doctor at the Appalachian School of Law, where he graduated valedictorian. His educational background is complemented by a Master's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Louisiana State University - Shreveport, and dual bachelor's degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Pfeiffer University, graduating with honors.

An educator at heart, Shawn has shared his knowledge as a Teaching Assistant at the Appalachian School of Law and as an instructor for several courses designed to equip students with the skills necessary for the professional environment, with a particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia's nonprofit sector. His mentoring extends to his work at the law school and within Global Impact Initiative, where he provides guidance and support to students navigating the complexities of their academic and professional journeys.

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Anjum Malik: Visionary Leader and Advocate for Global Education and Economic Empowerment

Anjum Malik, the Executive Director of the Global Impact Initiative (GII), expertly oversees Gii's day-to-day operations while maintaining a strategic vision for the organization. Her leadership extends beyond GII, as she is also the Managing Partner of the Alhambra US Chamber, an NGO dedicated to promoting global educational opportunities, and Co-founder of the HOFT Institute, a multifaceted corporation serving the international education market.

With decades of experience in international education, educational consulting, business development, entrepreneurial management, and public speaking, Anjum has built a vast global network. Her exceptional ability to leverage these connections has driven impactful change. She has collaborated with numerous U.S. and international agencies in strategic planning, partnerships, market development, negotiation, and management, showcasing her impressive track record.

Anjum’s profound belief in the transformative power of education is evident throughout her career. She has significantly contributed to the academic, linguistic, and professional development of international students, scholars, and administrators. The organizations she has founded and led have enhanced the global competence of over 190,000 students and hundreds of professionals from more than 60 countries. She is dedicated to empowering at-risk communities and women, fostering their increased participation in the workforce.

A lifelong learner, Anjum continually seeks innovative tools to enhance teaching, learning, and access to international education. Her commitment to driving transformation and growth through education is reflected in her dedication to staying current and continuously updating her leadership approach.

Anjum’s tireless efforts have earned her numerous accolades. She has been invited to speak at the United Nations twice, was appointed "Honorary Ambassador" to the Polish Network of Women’s Entrepreneurship by the 2015 European Congress, and secured membership for the Alhambra US Chamber in President Obama’s "Partners for a New Beginning Initiative." She also serves as Entrepreneur in Residence and Associate to the Future Learning Lab in Norway, State President (Texas) for the Association of Business Women in Commerce and Industry (ABWCI), and has been a featured speaker at conferences and symposia worldwide.

Most recently, in the fall of 2023, Anjum was recognized as one of 100 Women "Rising Beyond the Ceiling," a finalist for the Exceptional Woman of Peace Award by the Culture of Peace Initiative, a nominee for the CNN Hero award, and named an "Extraordinary Woman" by the Austin American-Statesman.

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About Irena

Irena was born in Elbasan, Albania - a communist country that was closed off to the world. From a very early age, she became interested in other languages and countries. She studied English and Italian for several years prior to immigrating to Athens, Greece. Her family and her were later granted asylum in Chicago, Illinois. Learning to overcome many challenges in a brand new country and studying while working full time helped Irena become a very resilient person. She strongly identifies with all people that have left their home countries in order to make a better life for themselves and their children. She has worked in the not-for-profit world where she helped others utilize resources in order to have a more secure future.

Irena received a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish from DePaul University in Chicago. She also obtained a Master’s in International Relations from DePaul. Irena studied abroad and started teaching English and Spanish in Europe. Having learned several languages has broadened her horizons to different cultures, and has allowed her to view the world through a different perspective. Irena's travels, studies, and work experiences have helped her learn about other cultures and traditions. For the past 20 years, she has worked in private, public, and international schools and organizations focusing on helping people. Irena can be found around the Austin area spending time outdoors with her family. She loves learning new languages, teaching, reading and listening to international music. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives.

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About Lilac

Prof. Lilac A. Al-Safadi is a widely experienced visionary and results-oriented leader with over 25 years of academic and business leadership experience. Currently serving as the CEO of IKONIC Educational Holding Co., she is dedicated to advancing technology and digital education. As a full professor in AI and data science, Prof. Al-Safadi has published over 50 research papers and is passionate about leveraging emerging technologies to create meaningful economic and societal impact. Her extensive experience spans diverse sectors, including healthcare, education, technology, culture, and commerce, working with government, semi-government, and multinational organizations. Prof. Al-Safadi is a committed adviser with a strong focus on achieving Saudi Vision 2030. As a thought leader and speaker, she shares insights and innovative strategies that inspire change and drive progress across various sectors. Her previous roles include serving as the President of Saudi Electronic University, making her the first Saudi woman to lead a coeducational university in the Kingdom. She was also the Vice President of National Technology at Microsoft Arabia, where she drove digital transformation initiatives across various Saudi industries. Additionally, she served as an Advisor for the Governor of the Small & Medium Enterprises Authority, implementing strategies aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. Prof. Al-Safadi has significant experience in strategic roles at the Job Creation and Employment Commission, TakaMoL Business Services, and as an Executive Director in several technology firms. She is actively engaged in numerous board and advisory roles. Her commitment to advancing education and technology has earned her several awards.