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The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster
leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute
has campuses in Aspen, Colorado, and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also maintains offices in New
York City and has an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
The Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) is a worldwide community of successful, high-integrity, entrepreneurial
leaders, called Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows. Because of their demonstrated leadership accomplishments
and abilities, these Fellows have been selected to be part of one of 13 regional or sector-specific Fellowships around the
world. These Fellowships are modeled after the Aspen Institute’s flagship values-based leadership program, the Henry
Crown Fellowship Program, launched in 1997.
Fellows enter their program having demonstrated a great deal of personal success. They leave it inspired to make a
greater mark on their communities and the world; to move, as we say, “from success to significance.” In between, they
are provided with a forum for deep introspection, probing dialogue, and interactive problem-solving.
The Aspen Global Leadership Network is designed to spur Fellows to stretch themselves — to take their leadership to
greater heights and broaden their impact to include society at large. The Network connects Fellows through events like
the Aspen Action Forum so that they can learn from, collaborate with, and support one another.
The Aspen Global Leadership Network includes more than 2,100 Fellows from 49 countries — and is growing.
Fellows are using their businesses and their positions to create new ventures and jobs, fight rare genetic diseases,
improve employability, provide healthy meals to schoolchildren, promote environmental sustainability, reduce infant
mortality, raise classroom engagement, stop ethnic violence, keep kids out of gangs, battle corruption, and much more.
Active Programs Include:
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Africa Leadership Initiative — East Africa
Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa
Africa Leadership Initiative — West Africa
Catto Fellowship Program
Central America Leadership Initiative
China Fellowship Program
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Health Innovators Fellowship
India Leadership Initiative
Liberty Fellowship
Middle East Leadership Initiative
Pahara–Aspen Education Fellowship
Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership
Plans for the immediate future include the Finance Leaders Fellowship launching its inaugural class in 2016.
Past Programs Include:
■ Africa Leadership Initiative — Mozambique
■ Aspen Teacher-Leaders Program
■ Nigeria Leadership Initiative — Senior Fellows Program
Welcome to the 2015 Aspen Action Forum!
Our theme this year is collaborative leadership: Making leadership a team sport rather than a
solo endeavor by embracing diversity, sharing and collaboration.
Many of us first think of “partnering” and of “co-creating” when we hear the word “collaboration”.
Collaborative leadership includes these, to be sure. And we will explore both. But it’s also much more.
Collaborative leadership can transcend time and generations. On whose shoulders do you stand in your
position today? How good are you at recognizing them? Who will you lift up?
Collaborative leadership can transcend gender, race and class. Who are your peers who may be struggling
to overcome biases and other obstacles that stifle their leadership potential? Who are the “others” in our
societies who work behind the scenes, providing the most basic services and infrastructure that permit you
to thrive? Who might you be leaving behind?
Gathered at this year’s Aspen Action Forum are over 300 entrepreneurial leaders from nearly
every corner of the world.
These are your partners, your co-creators ... your team.
Challenge your thinking with them in the seminars.
Learn from them in the topical dialogues.
Help them in the Action Workshops.
Inspire yourself and others to do more by creating an Action Pledge.
But, while you’re at it, don’t forget that you’re in Aspen: Breathe deep. Exhale. Laugh. Dance.
Enjoy!
Lynda Resnick
#AspenAction
Peter Reiling
July 28 – 31, 2015
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1Welcome
I NTRO D U C TIO N
4Sponsors
8
Confidentiality Agreement
10
Event Information
14
Collaborative Leadership
22
TAB 1 AC TIO N
26
Understanding Our Impact
30
Supporting Action: The John P. McNulty Prize
38
Supporting Action: Braddock Scholars
40
TAB 2 THE PROGRAM:
SCHEDULE
Make an Action Pledge
Supporting Action: Paul Hastings’ Pledge
to Strengthen Your Action Pledge 44
Your Experience
46
The Agenda
TAB 3 TH E P ROG R AM :
54
S E M I NARS
About the Moderator Corps
58 About the Action Workshops
TAB 4 TH E P ROG R AM :
WO R KS H O P S
61
About the Skills Workshops
64
About the Interactive Roundtable Topics
TAB 5 TH E P ROG R AM :
65
Wednesday, July 29 Sessions
I NTE R AC TIVE
RO U N DTAB LE
70
Thursday, July 30 Sessions
TO PI C S
75
Friday, July 31 Sessions
82
Deep Dive Dialogue: Gender & Leadership
83
Deep Dive Dialogue: U.S. Education
TAB 6 TH E P ROG R AM :
84
Reception and Interview for
FE ATU R E D S E S S IO N S
“Guns in the Hands of Artists” Exhibit
86
Film & Discussion “An American Ascent”
#AspenAction
TAB 7 PARTI CI PANT
B IOG R APH I E S
90
Participant Overview
92
All Participants with Agenda Roles
July 28 – 31, 2015
3
SPONSORS
major funding provided by the
RESNICK FAMILY
FOUNDATION
ABOUT LYNDA RESNICK
Lynda Resnick is vice chair and co-owner, along with her husband Stewart Resnick, of The Wonderful Company.
This privately held, Los Angeles-based multi-billion dollar global company is dedicated to harvesting health and
happiness around the world through its iconic brands, bringing consumers everywhere the freshest, highest quality
pistachios, almonds, citrus and pomegranates; bottling the finest water and wines; and creating colorful floral
arrangements that truly touch the heart.
From the orchard to family dinner tables, The Wonderful Company’s vertically integrated business model ensures
the highest standard of quality, integrity and consumer satisfaction across all its brands. As a result, every year,
nearly half of all American households purchase The Wonderful Company’s products, which is a reflection of the
husband-and-wife team’s deep commitment to inspiring healthier choices by growing wholesome foods that nourish
naturally. This long-standing commitment is evident in their market share, with Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful
Halos, POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, Teleflora and JUSTIN Wine all ranking #1 in their respective categories.
Mrs. Resnick runs worldwide marketing and product development for The Wonderful Company and all of its brands,
and she is renowned as the creative spirit behind such innovative and inspiring campaigns as Teleflora’s successful
“Flowers in a Gift”; for making POM Wonderful, the antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice, a national sensation; and
for producing the iconic Wonderful Pistachios commercials. She also authored the best-selling book on marketing,
Rubies in the Orchard.
In 2015, she ranked #11 among Forbes’ inaugural Top 50 Most Successful Self-Made Women in America, and in 2012,
she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by New York’s prestigious Bard College.
Central to Mrs. Resnick’s successful approach is “doing well by doing good,” a core value that places tremendous
importance on corporate social responsibility. Under her personal supervision, The Wonderful Company continues
its rich heritage of giving back, especially in the communities in which its employees live and work, specifically
California’s Central Valley and the island nation of Fiji. Through the generosity of the Resnicks and The Wonderful
Company, an average of $40 million or more is contributed annually, which is largely directed toward ongoing
community development efforts; a new comprehensive employee health and wellness program, featuring two fully
staffed health clinics; and robust educational initiatives ranging from scholarships, school grants, two preschools,
art programs and summer schools to the acclaimed Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep program and Wonderful
College Prep Academy, a Central Valley charter school established by the Resnicks in 2009. To date, the couple’s
varied educational programs have already enriched the lives of more than 60,000 Central Valley youth.
Mrs. Resnick’s extensive philanthropic interests and activities extend beyond The Wonderful Company, including her
role as a major donor to and board of trustees vice chair of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; an executive
board member of The Aspen Institute’s board of trustees; a member of the Milken Foundation executive board; and
a board member emeritus for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, among others.
Mrs. Resnick is a proud parent of five and grandparent of four, and she calls Beverly Hills and Aspen home.
4
ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
ABOUT STEWART RESNICK
Stewart Resnick is chairman and president of The Wonderful Company (formerly Roll Global). This privately
held, Los Angeles-based $4 billion global company is dedicated to harvesting, processing and marketing healthy
products through its iconic brands.
From the orchard to family dinner tables, The Wonderful Company’s vertically integrated business model ensures
the highest standard of excellence, integrity and consumer satisfaction. As a result, every year, nearly half of all
American households purchase The Wonderful Company’s products, and this long-standing commitment to quality
is evident in their market share, with Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, Teleflora
and JUSTIN Wine all ranking #1 in their respective categories.
Central to the Resnick’s approach is “doing well by doing good,” a core value that places tremendous importance
on corporate social responsibility. Across the company’s business operations, Mr. Resnick has made significant
investments in sustainability research and advanced irrigation technologies, on extensive solar installations at four
primary facilities, and in the utilization of fuel cells to generate 35% of required electricity without combustion or
air pollution. Additionally, The Resnick Sustainability Institute at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
provides a path to sustainability by focusing on the innovative science and engineering research required to develop
groundbreaking technologies and solutions to global energy and climate challenges.
The Wonderful Company continues its rich heritage of giving back, especially in the communities in which its
employees live and work. Through the generosity of the Resnicks and The Wonderful Company, an average of
$40 million or more is contributed annually, which is largely directed toward localized community development
efforts; a new comprehensive employee health and wellness program; and robust educational initiatives ranging
from scholarships and school grants to the acclaimed Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep program and Wonderful
College Prep Academy, a California Central Valley charter school established by the Resnicks in 2009.
Mr. Resnick’s extensive philanthropic interests and activities extend beyond The Wonderful Company. He sits on
the Board of Trustees for Caltech, the J. Paul Getty Trust, Bard College and Conservation International. Among the
Resnicks other generous contributions are the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at the UCLA
School of Medicine, the Resnick Program for Food Law & Policy at the UCLA School of Law, and The Lynda and
Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Mr. Resnick graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration from UCLA and earned his Juris Doctor
from UCLA School of Law. He is a proud parent of five and grandparent of four, and he calls Beverly Hills and
Aspen home.
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
5
SPONSORS
MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE RESNICK FAMILY FOUNDATION
ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP
PROVIDED BY
David M. Rubenstein
Accenture
The Skoll Foundation
Care.com and WomenUp
The Ferro Family Foundation
Sabrina and Antonio Gracias
Michael Klein and Joany Fabry
The John P. and Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation
Paul Hastings LLP
Margot and Tom Pritzker
Gillian and Robert Steel
The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation
Liberty Fellowship
The Ithaka Foundation
The Rodel Foundations
6
ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
We would like to thank the Leadership Committee of the Aspen Institute Board of Trustees for their
unwavering support. Our continued thanks to Margot Pritzker and Bill Mayer for their leadership and
tireless commitment to the Scholars & Scholarships Campaign.
Margot Pritzker, Chair
Jacqueline Novogratz, Vice Chair
Paul Anderson
Keith Berwick
William D. Budinger
Andrea Cunningham
Sol Echeverria
Mickey Edwards
Patrick Gross
Arjun Gupta
Hayne Hipp
Michael Klein
William E. Mayer
Bonnie McCloskey
Anne Welsh McNulty
Chadia El Meouchi Naoum
Diane Morris
Karlheinz Muhr
Marc B. Nathanson
Peter Reiling
Isaac Shongwe
Alice Young
Special thanks to the countless staff of the Aspen Institute who contribute to making the Aspen Action
Forum possible and to the staff of the Aspen Global Leadership Network for their year-round support.
Our appreciation goes to the dozens of volunteers who help deliver such an excellent experience to all
participants of the Action Forum.
We would be remiss not to recognize our Aspen Global Leadership Network partners, without whom
none of this would be possible.
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
7
CONFIDENTIALITY
DID I HEAR SOMETHING SAID
IN CONFIDENCE?
8
ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
Over the next four days, you will participate in a full range of intimate dialogues ranging
from seminars to interactive roundtables to workshops.
All of these dialogues are meant to be opportunities for you to learn from your peers in a
safe space, free from judgment and in absolute confidentiality.
We ask that these norms be respected by all in attendance. Ideas surfaced may surely be
used. But neither the identity nor the affiliation of participants sharing personal opinions
should be shared unless explicitly agreed.
WHAT IS SAID IN THE SEMINAR ROOM MUST STAY IN THE SEMINAR ROOM.
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
9
EVENT INFORMATION
HAVE A QUESTION?
Ask one of our volunteers in the red short-sleeve shirts or any staff person wearing a red name badge.
THE HUB
THE TENT IN THE MARBLE GARDEN
The Hub is designed for you to network and recharge.
The Hub offers:
■■ A Network Genius Bar staffed by members of the
Aspen Global Leadership Network team to help
you make connections with leaders at the
Aspen Action Forum.
■■ A complimentary espresso bar and lounge
area to reconnect with friends and meet Action
Forum participants.
■■ A complimentary oxygen bar to fend off
symptoms of altitude sickness.
■■ A community board to post everything from
Breakfast Workshops to ride-sharing between
Aspen and Denver.
■■ Charging stations for your mobile devices.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS AND
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Oxygen levels are lower in Aspen due to the high altitude. That,
coupled with the dry climate, can contribute to the symptoms
of altitude sickness — nausea, insomnia, shortness of breath,
headache, accelerated pulse, or nasal congestion. You can
prepare yourself by staying well-hydrated, avoiding alcoholic
beverages, keeping physical exertion to a minimum, and taking
in additional oxygen available at the Oxygen Bar in The Hub. An
emergency medical responder is also available during the event.
Please contact the nearest staff person for assistance.
In case of an emergency, call 911.
MOBILE TOOLS
Visit www.AspenActionForum.org to access:
■■ your personalized agenda
■■ biographies for all leaders at the Aspen Action Forum
■■ daily event updates
TRAVEL ASSISTANCE
Our travel partner, Ski.com, will have agents available on-site for
any travel assistance you require. Visit the Ski.com agents in
The Doerr-Hosier Building lobby during these hours: ■■ July 29 from 12:15pm - 2:00pm
■■ July 30 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm
■■ July 31 from 8:30am - 3:00pm
10 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
TRANSPORTATION AROUND ASPEN
Action Forum shuttles will run on a continuous loop to and from the Aspen Institute resort in the mornings
and evenings from July 27 – 31, stopping at the Limelight Hotel, Sky Hotel, St. Regis Hotel, across the street
from Rubey Park bus terminal, The Little Nell bus stop, The Hotel Jerome, The Hotel Aspen/Molly Gibson,
and The Annabelle Inn.
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11
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TAB 1
ACTION
FEATURED COLLABORATIONS
ASPEN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK
COLLABORATIVE
LEADERSHIP
At this summer’s Aspen Action Forum, we celebrate collaborative leadership. The pages that
follow feature a few of the ways Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows have already
teamed up to expand their impact by embracing diversity, sharing, and collaboration.
These stories are just the beginning!
14 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
15
B CORPORATIONS:
USING BUSINESS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD
GOAL: Making business not just best in the world, but best for the world.
CONNECTION: When he began the Henry Crown Fellowship Program, Jay Coen Gilbert
was at an inflection point. Having recently sold his basketball apparel company, he was
thinking about his next venture. Jay’s goal was to amplify the voice of the socially and
environmentally-responsible business sector. To do this, he teamed up with friends and fellow
Henry Crown Fellows Andrew Kassoy and Bart Houlahan. Together, Jay, Andrew and Bart
began building a global movement of entrepreneurs using the power of business to solve
social and environmental problems through a new organization called B Lab. B Lab advances
the legal infrastructure of benefit corporations (B Corps) and helps global businesses attract
the customers, talent, and capital they need to scale. In addition to its origins as an Aspen
Global Leadership Network Project, B Lab has benefitted from the direct involvement of
more than 30 Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows.
COLLABORATION: Now nine years after its founding, B Lab has built systems to support,
reward, legitimize, and measure the values of businesses that uphold the highest ethical,
social, and environmental standards. In essence, supporting the development of a new kind
of business—business for good. They have also successfully lobbied for benefit corporation
legislation, which gives leaders legal protection to pursue a higher purpose than profit, in 26
states. Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows played key roles in the successful passage
of legislation in two critical states—South Carolina and Delaware.
Last year, as the result of the work of five Fellows, Delaware became the 19th state to enact
legislation for benefit corporations. As home to one million businesses, including 50 percent
of all publicly traded companies, Delaware is a critically important state for businesses
seeking access to capital markets. Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice and Henry Crown
Fellow Leo Strine Jr. and Delaware Governor and Henry Crown Fellow Jack Markell lobbied
for the legislation, and ultimately, Markell signed it into law.
IMPACT: To date, there are 1,304 B Corps located in 41 countries across 121 industries. More
than 15 Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows head companies that are B corporations,
including some of their founding members and high-visibility companies like Method and
Warby Parker.
SOME OF THE B CORPORATIONS LED BY ASPEN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK FELLOWS:
16 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
FEATURED COLLABORATIONS
FIGHTING MALNUTRITION:
FROM INDIA TO GUATEMALA
GOAL: Halting malnutrition in Guatemala.
CONNECTION: In January 2012, Central American Leadership Initiative Fellow Juan Carlos Paiz touched down
bleary eyed after 40 hours of travel from Guatemala City to Kerala, India. He was looking forward to spending
time with Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows from ten
8.4 BILLION IN DOLLARS different countries during his Leading in an Era of Globalization
IN CAPITAL RAISED FOR seminar. What he didn’t expect was to have a breakthrough on a
challenge that had plagued him for years: malnutrition. Meeting
MALNUTRITION AND Manoj Kumar, an India Leadership Initiative Fellow and the CEO of
Naandi Foundation, provided the spark. Juan Carlos explains,
INFRASTRUCTURE the
“My connection with Manoj helped me see the issue from a
PROJECTS different perspective and try new strategies.”
COLLABORATION: Juan Carlos returned to Guatemala inspired by Manoj’s work on malnutrition in India. He
explains, “When I met Manoj, I had followed malnutrition and poverty in Guatemala for 14 years. I felt I had
tried everything. For this complex issue, I needed international best practices and resources to scale solutions
to the level of the problem.” In particular, Juan Carlos focused on the need to look for more public-private
partnerships. Manoj introduced him to his contacts at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN),
who backed a summit of the 100 top NGOs in Guatemala working on malnutrition along with USAID. Juan
Carlos then led the effort to qualify Guatemala for Millennium Challenge Corporation challenge grants. He also
broadened his focus to raise funds for key infrastructure projects to improve the business climate in Guatemala
and grow the economy.
IMPACT: As a result of new connections from Manoj and his renewed commitment to this work, Juan Carlos
raised more than $8.4 billion to stem malnutrition and improve infrastructure in Guatemala.
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
17
DEEP BONDS
AND COMMON GROUND
GOAL: To expand the Port of Charleston while protecting the Cooper River Corridor.
CONNECTION: Last year, the expansion of the Panama Canal prompted authorities around the world to explore
dredging their ports to accommodate larger ships. The Port of Charleston, South Carolina was no exception to
this trend. While the Port is a key economic driver for the state, the Cooper River on which it sits is a critical
corridor for regional plants and wildlife. So, when the issue of dredging the port was raised, many people
in South Carolina were bracing for a fight between the Port
and environmental advocates; until Liberty Fellows Elizabeth
Hagood and Barbara Melvin stepped in. “The tacit code of
I knew I could reach out to
the Liberty Fellowship is maintaining trust with other Fellows.
Elizabeth to discuss
That’s where we began,” explains Elizabeth, who is executive
our options because
director of the Lowcountry Open Land Trust. She and Barbara,
the senior vice president of the South Carolina State Ports
we shared the
Authority, are senior leaders in organizations that often find
Liberty Fellowship bond.
themselves at odds.
“
I thought we could
do something that had
never been done before.
COLLABORATION: Despite an underlying adversarial history
and ongoing litigation on other projects, Barbara and Elizabeth
got to work leading the discussions. First, they identified
shared goals: timely permitting of the Harbor Deepening
— BARBARA MELVIN
Project and addressing the environmental impact on the area.
“To measure success, we had short-term and long-term goals.
In the short term, the permitting process will not be drawn out
with litigation. Looking at it long term, we have worked together to solve a major problem and now have a
proactive, collaborative model with outcomes that propel South Carolina forward,” explains Elizabeth. Blan
Holman, a Liberty Fellow and the Senior Attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center also played an
important role in building consensus within the environmental community.
”
On January 5, following several months of discussion
led by Elizabeth and Barbara, the South Carolina Ports
Authority, the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, the Coastal
Conservation League, and the Southern Environmental
Law Center announced their joint agreement for the
Post-45 Harbor Deepening Project that includes a $5
million contribution by the Ports Authority to land
conservation along the Cooper River Corridor. The
agreement allows for the timely progression of the
Harbor Deepening Project while adding a new and
significant partner to ongoing conservation efforts
along this crucial corridor: the Port.
IMPACT: Across South Carolina, 260,000 jobs are
tied to the Port of Charleston, which has an annual
economic impact of $45 billion to the state.
18 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
FEATURED COLLABORATIONS
FUELING SOUTH AFRICA’S
SCHOOLCHILDREN
GOAL: To enhance the performance of South Africa’s children through improving
the delivery of the school nutrition program.
CONNECTION: Gathered at the Spier Hotel in Stellenbosch, South Africa, for their second Africa Leadership
Initiative seminar, The Aspen Seminar, members of the Seriti Class took a break from Aristotle for a morning
tea. Bongi Kunene was gathered with her classmates, lamenting the poor logistics and infrastructure of school
food programs in South African public schools. Charles
Luyckx, who was then the director of Nando’s United
IN PROVINCES FUEL TRUST
Kingdom, realized this was a challenge upon which he
WORKS, THERE HAS BEEN
could bring his experience with food logistics and supply
chains to bear. Charles explains, “It was over a cup of tea
A 42% INCREASE IN ON-TIME
during a break at an Africa Leadership Initiative seminar
that a Fellow mentioned a need they had observed in
MEAL DELIVERY OVER THE
a rural province of South Africa, and almost in passing
PAST FOUR YEARS.
challenged me to do something about it. Little did they
know how seriously I would take the challenge!”
COLLABORATION: Working with several other Fellows in the government, Charles launched FUEL Trust and
brought another South Africa Fellow — one of his top executives at Nando’s, Gary Campbell — to run it full time.
President Mandela initiated the South African School Feeding
Program in 1994 to combat malnutrition and spur learners to
excel, but logistical challenges often prevent the program from
consistently delivering this service. By putting a system in place
that monitors and reports on food-delivery performance and
allows officials to respond to problems that would prevent
perfect delivery, FUEL bridges this gap, ensuring that needy
students receive daily nutritious meals on time.
IMPACT: FUEL is working with seven of the nine South
African provinces to deliver meals to nine million students on
a daily basis.
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
19
GLASSWING INTERNATIONAL:
TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES
THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM
GOAL: Creating a culture of volunteerism in Central America.
CONNECTION: When he began the Central America Leadership Initiative (CALI) and was asked to take on a
Fellowship Project, Salvadorian real estate developer Diego de Sola was troubled by the lack of structured
opportunities for volunteers to give back to their communities. To address this challenge, Diego created
Glasswing International. Founded in 2008, Glasswing promotes strategic social investment through the creation
of “action networks” among businesses, foundations,
governmental, and nonprofit organizations, all with the
aim of encouraging broader societal participation in
improving quality of life.
GLASSWING PROJECTS
HAVE BENEFITTED
500,000 PEOPLE
IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
COLLABORATION: Today Glasswing International is
a thriving volunteering initiative that leverages the
resources of individuals, communities, and companies
to create cross-sector partnerships with community projects. As Diego explains, “The network has proven
so valuable. Each time we are looking to open a new country and/or project office our first phone calls go to
CALI Fellows.” In addition to creating a regional hub for volunteers, Glasswing has seeded several other CALI
projects with their network of volunteers, such as:
■■ The Glee Project, funded by Central
America Leadership Initiative Fellow
Claudia Cruz, creates music and
performance clubs in public schools
as a way to foster self-esteem, team
values, and life skills among youth.
Glasswing International’s network
of after-school programs provided
critical networks with schools and
local volunteers to scale the program
throughout El Salvador, Guatemala,
and Honduras.
■■ Debate Club, was launched by Henry
Crown Fellow Fabricio Altamirano.
Concerned about the lack of political
discourse in El Salvador, Fabricio
created debate clubs to engage university students in discussions about current affairs and values. The
program consists of a series of seminars designed to introduce students to the ideals of democracy,
followed by live debates.
■■ A network of Girls Clubs aimed at building social and financial assets for girls in living in vulnerable
conditions was launched by the members of the Ninth Class of Central America Leadership Initiative
Fellows. After launching in early 2015, more than 120 girls are participating.
IMPACT: Glasswing currently works in four Central American countries and has mobilized over 62,000
volunteers, revitalized over 300 public schools, and has trained over 7,000 health professionals and first
responders.
20 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
FEATURED COLLABORATIONS
TEAM4TECH:
MATCHING SILICON VALLEY VOLUNTEERS
TO EDUCATION PROJECTS
GOAL: Connecting Silicon Valley professionals to projects focused on
improving the quality of education around the world.
CONNECTION: Through her project, Team 4Tech, Henry Crown Fellow Lila Ibrahim is working to improve
the quality of education in developing countries by connecting technology professionals and solutions with
innovative local non-profit organizations.
COLLABORATION: In her first
foray into scaling her project,
Lila leveraged the Aspen Global
Leadership Network in East Africa to
great effect. More than ten Kenyan
Fellows stepped up to help Lila with
her launch, including Stella Kilonzo,
who organized a closing dinner
and arranged for the attendance
of several key regional companies,
and Henry Crown Fellow Ann Mei
Chang, who invited U.S. Embassy
representatives. “
From our first pilot in Kenya through today,
Team4Tech has exceeded my expectations.
Much of this is due to having such incredible
supporters and partnerships. Early support from
Africa Leadership Initiative Fellows was
invaluable in getting us where we are today.
— LILA IBRAHIM
”
In 2014, Team4Tech kicked off their
work in India and South Africa, once again drawing upon the Aspen Global Leadership network for local support
and connections. This year, again with the help of Central American Fellows, they are planning an expansion to
Costa Rica. As Julie Clugage, Executive Director of Team4Tech explains, “These Aspen Fellows have helped us
connect with local partners and get a better understanding of the local education and technology contexts.”
IMPACT: Over the past two years, 110 Team4Tech volunteers from tech companies including Box, Facebook,
Google, Computer Sciences Corporation, Coursera, Intel, Intuit, and VMware participated in seven projects in
Vietnam, India, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, and Cambodia, benefitting over 10,000 students and teachers.
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
21
ACTION
MAKE AN
ACTION PLEDGE
Action Pledges are public commitments to focus on new or
existing efforts that will address societal challenges.
Over 600 Action Pledges have been made since 2013. You can make your Action Pledge
on the Action Wall located near the Anderson Park. Tweet about your Action Pledge
using #AspenAction.
Here are a few tips to make your Action Pledge:
1. Draw inspiration from other participants
Review the Action Pledges already up on the Action Wall.
2. Find your sweet spot
Find your sweet spot, the intersection of your passions, talents, and your
community’s needs.
what you're
passionate
about
YOUR
PLEDGE
what you
have to
offer
22 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
what your
community
needs
www.AspenActionForum.org
3. Consider expanding on an existing project
Many successful pledges are extensions of a Leadership Project or
other existing initiatives.
4. Make your pledge specific and measurable
Use the formula below to make your Action Pledge.
WHAT you will accomplish for
#AspenAction
HOW of
WHOM in/at WHERE by WHEN
MANY
July 28 – 31, 2015
23
ACTION
2015
ACTION PLEDGES
Here are a few examples from this year:
■■ I will provide education and support to 200 teen mothers in the red-light district of
Panama City by 2020.
GISELA PORRAS, CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
■■ I will scale my work by launching Equip Foundation to improve financial literacy
of one million Tanzanians by 2020.
DAVE KAHWA, AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — EAST AFRICA
■■ I will launch a startup accelerator for entrepreneurs in South Carolina which will
create ten high tech companies by the end of 2016.
JASON PREMO, LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
■■ By 2018, I will train and empower 80 civil servants to drive tangible new policy
initiatives that transform the lives of citizens.
EMILE CUBEISY, MIDDLE EAST LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
■■ I will lead Room to Read as it reaches 10 million children across the
developing world with the lifelong gifts of education and literacy by 2015.
JOHN WOOD. HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
■■ I will make Pocketbuddy, a mobile application that provides
personalized counseling, available to 50,000 United States veterans by 2016.
ALICE RAY, PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
■■ I will scale my advocacy efforts with the Indian Government to bring equality to
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens.
PALLAV PATANKAR, INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
■■ I will train 85,000 farmers in northern Uganda in agricultural and
financial skills in 2016.
BRUCE ROBERTSON, AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
24 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
Watch Action Pledge update videos throughout the year at
www.AspenActionForum.org/videos
■■ I will expand RunOurCity, a Hong Kong-based social enterprise that builds youth
confidence and stamina throughout China in 2016.
LEONG CHEUNG, CHINA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
■■ I will provide unique, economical storage solutions in more than 70 countries
across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States.
ANDREI CARNU, ASPEN INSTITUTE ROMANIA
■■ I will motivate 200 Ugandan teenage girls to pursue STEM careers through
week-long science camps by 2020.
PATRICIA MUSOKE, AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — EAST AFRICA
■■ I will create one million new opportunities for young Americans to engage
in a year of national service over the next 10 years.
MACKENZIE MORITZ, THE FRANKLIN PROJECT, THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
■■ I will ignite the spark of leadership and strengthen values and self-esteem in 1,000
students by creating glee clubs in Central American schools by 2016.
CLAUDIA CRUZ, CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
■■ I will create a healthier, more constructive and more sustainable connection
between the fashion world and the real world.
PAULINE BROWN, HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
■■ I will create 15,000 new, high quality seats in faith-based and other private schools
serving low and middle income students in the United States by 2020.
ROBERT BIRDSELL, PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
25
UN D E R STAND ING
O UR I M PAC T
BACKGROUND
The original intent of the project component of our leadership programs was to provide an opportunity
for Fellows to take what they were learning in the seminar room and put it into practice in their lives and
communities. The projects were designed to challenge the Fellows as they developed as leaders and to
harness their entrepreneurial energy, talents, and resources to make a real difference in the world.
Nearly two decades since the start of the Henry Crown Fellowship Program, and thanks to the funding
of Larry Hite, our team, lead by Stace Lindsay, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Aspen Global
Leadership Network, launched a comprehensive review of how Fellows move from thought to action.
Below is a summary of his findings.
THE STUDY, BY THE NUMBERS
1,000 PROJECTS REVIEWED | 175 FELLOWS INTERVIEWED
32 FOCUS GROUPS CONVENED | 114 CITIES IN 8 COUNTRIES VISITED
Dear Action Forum Participants,
Over the past 18 years, members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network have undertaken more than 1,000
projects around the globe. During the course of the Aspen Action Forum, you will have a chance to see the
impressive work being done by some of these Fellows, including those being recognized as John P. McNulty
Prize laureates.
While the work done to date is very impressive, in late 2013 the leadership team of this network felt we
would benefit from a comprehensive review of the project component of the Fellowship — one designed
to identify ways we could improve it. With the generous support of Larry Hite, in 2014 we began just that.
The review has given us the opportunity to take a fresh look at our projects and to meet with Fellows from
all over the world to discuss their experiences. Our primary goal in this work has been to discover the key
drivers of project success and to identify what our team could do to increase the odds that all Fellows’
projects would have an impact on the world commensurate with the leadership they embody. Or, in Larry’s
words, to ensure that “we are placing the right bets” to have the impact we know
we are capable of.
In total, over 175 Fellows participated in-person in 32 focus group meetings spread across 14 cities in 8
countries. We were able to visit with Fellows throughout the United States, Central America, India, South
Africa, and the Middle East. We also connected with Fellows via an online survey that had 150 participants
(16% of all the Fellows who had undertaken a project). This effort has enabled us to see more clearly what is
26 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
SUPPORTING ACTION
working and what needs to be improved with the project component of our Fellowships. And it has inspired
us. The work Fellows are doing around the world — not just through their projects but, of course, through
the very way they are leading in their organizations, their communities and even in their families — gives us
great hope and inspiration, and brings to mind the words of Margaret Mead:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
It is in this spirit we would like to share with you a few conclusions from the work done to date.
KEY OBSERVATIONS
1. Fellows who have created successful projects share some common traits:
■■ They were able to overcome uncertainty. In other words, they got started. Fellows were able to
commit to a specific initiative and overcome their fears. They moved from a cautious “someone
should” to an “I will” in spite of their uncertainty.
■■ They were grounded in reality. They did their homework. They developed a deep understanding
of the challenge they were facing and a genuine empathy for those they were trying to help.
■■ They were thoughtful in their design. They invested time and energy in understanding how to
design their work in a way that would be more likely to succeed where others have failed.
■■ The stakes were personally meaningful for them. They felt a deep level of personal commitment
to their project- so deep that walking away was simply not an option. We saw this in three primary
areas:
■ ■ RELATIONSHIPS: Fellows who had close personal relationships with people affected by
illness, disease or special needs of some sort.
■ ■ CAPITAL: Fellows who felt so strongly that they committed significant capital to launch
their project.
■ ■ REPUTATION: Fellows who put their reputations on the line by launching projects with
a high degree of visibility.
>
Fellows from the Middle East Leadership Initiative discuss their projects in Jerusalem.
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
27
■■ They aligned their passion, purpose and resources. They identified a clear personal passion and
a deeper sense of purpose about why their undertaking mattered. And equally important, they
were able to align the resources they had or had access to (skills, relationships, capital, company
resources) to focus on the challenge or opportunity they saw.
■■ They created leverage for themselves. They realized they could not do it alone. They found a
partner, built a team or leveraged a business or professional platform to give scale to their limited
time and resources.
■■ They were resilient. They adjusted their plans, rethought their strategy, were persistent in looking
for the needed resources, and were patient as the pieces came together.
2. There is tremendous opportunity for us to work together to achieve
even more significant impact.
The work of 85% of our Fellows falls into 8 broad areas (see Figure 1). This overlap creates tremendous
opportunity for us to find ways to work together across the globe on the critical challenges we face
- but only if we find more meaningful ways to do so. There is much that the Aspen Global Leadership
Network team will do to make this happen, but consistent with the theme at this year’s Action Forum,
collaborative leadership, we’d encourage you to spend time while you’re in Aspen to discover ways you
and your peers can support one another.
5%
FIGURE 1: PERCENT OF PROJECTS BY BROAD AREA
4%
8%
10%
34%
11%
14%
14%
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
■
EDUCATION
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HEALTH
LEADERSHIP & VALUE
ENVIRONMENT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ARTS & CLUTURE
3. Our impact extends much further than the “leadership projects” undertaken
during our formal fellowship experiences.
The work we are doing around the world – inspired by our Fellowship experiences – is impressive. But
our collective undertakings do not fit neatly into the category of projects. Many are much bigger than
projects. A better word is venture. A venture is defined as a risky or daring undertaking or journey. This
definition captures more accurately the work we are doing – during and after our formal fellowship
period. Going forward, we will be referring to leadership ventures instead of projects.
“A VENTURE is defined as
a risky or daring undertaking or journey.”
28 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
SUPPORTING ACTION
LOOKING AHEAD
Among the key initiatives for the Aspen Global Leadership Network team emerging from this work are:
■■ Enhancing the Fellowship experience. Given what we have learned about what it takes to create
a successful leadership venture in the Fellowship, we are rethinking the design of the seminars
themselves. Our goal will be to create more time and space for Fellows to reflect in a more
structured way on what it means for them to move “from thought to action.” And specifically, what
type of venture they are best suited to undertake in light of their passions, their networks, their
platforms and what truly motivates them. We are also looking for new readings that will provoke
more discussion about how we, as individual leaders, are best able to bring about the change we
wish to see in our communities and the world.
■■ Fostering more collaboration. Not all
of us are born entrepreneurs. But we
each have unique gifts or talents to
contribute. There is a big opportunity to
connect current Fellows and alumni with
each other and the issues of most concern to
all of us. Not just gatherings like this Action
Forum, but a much more robust “matching”
capability, where we can identify needs
and opportunities for Fellows to both give
support to others and to receive it.
Indian girls in class with materials provided through
the work of India Leadership Initiative Fellow
Manoj Kumar.
■■ Investing to support our Fellows. We are
currently making significant investments in
more people, better systems and improved processes to support our Fellows and their ventures.
Our goals are to:
■■ more effectively connect Fellows with others who share their interests, including
possibly creating an "action bank" where Fellows can find successful ideas to
replicate or join others who are doing relevant work.
■■ develop new ways to continue supporting Fellows and their work after the initial
Fellowship experience ends.
■ ■ share materials, including information and tools online, that can help Fellows
design and implement more successful ventures.
■■ establish partnerships with leading advisory firms and other organizations to help
in the design and implementation of leadership ventures.
■■ improve the accuracy of the information we have on ventures globally.
As we gather for this year’s Aspen Action Forum, we hope you will find opportunities to connect with other
Fellows and explore ways in which, you, too, might increase the odds that the work you are doing will have
the impact you aspire to create.
Warm regards,
Stace Lindsay
Director, Strategic Initiatives for the Aspen Global Leadership Network
Henry Crown Fellowship Program, Class of 2002
Senior Moderator
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
29
SUPPORTING ACTION
THE
JOHN P. McNULTY
PRIZE
“The remarkable accomplishments of these individuals
and their organizations are a call to action to private
sector leaders to step up, and to bring their leadership
abilities, business acumen and resources to tackle the
world’s most difficult problems.”
—ANNE WELSH MCNULTY
The John P. McNulty Prize celebrates the visionary leadership
of the Aspen Global Leadership Fellows.
The winner of this annual $100,000 prize will be selected by an international jury
that includes Madeleine Albright, Brizio Biondi-Morra, and Olara Otunnu.
Laureates will receive $10,000 each.
The Prize was created in honor of John P. McNulty to recognize his leadership,
his creativity, his energy, and the spark he carried to ignite that in others.
30 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
Bulungula Incubator, South Africa
Réjane Woodroffe, Winner
Africa Leadership Initiative, South Africa
Hope Credit Union, United States
William Bynum, Winner
Henry Crown Fellowship
Youth Local Councils, Palestine
Lana Abu Hijleh, Laureate
Middle East Leadership Initiative
Aspire, India
Amit Bhatia, Winner
India Leadership Initiative
Global Genes, United States
John Crowley, Laureate
Henry Crown Fellowship
Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, Nigeria
Maryam Uwais, Laureate
Nigeria Leadership Initiative
Proyecto País, El Salvador
Arturo Sagrera, Laureate
Central America Leadership Initiative
SUPPORTING ACTION
BRADDOCK
SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Made possible thanks to the generosity of Aspen Institute trustee, Rick Braddock, the Braddock Scholars
Program exists to support entrepreneurs ambitiously working to scale their impact. The program — only
available to members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network — is designed to support selected scholars
in four high leverage ways:
1. Top-level mentorship: direct monthly access to an experienced business leader who will act
as a thought partner and sounding board on your key scale issues
2. Peer learning: engage with and learn from the experience and perspective of the full
Braddock Scholars network – all selected entrepreneurs and the mentor group –
during facilitated “scale workshops”
3. Capital: a grant to fund discretionary professional development and other
key initiatives of the scholars’ choosing
4. Leverage the Institute’s platform: partner with Aspen Institute staff to convene
and connect, and promote your work
The second application round will open in fall 2015. For any questions, please contact the Braddock Scholars
Program Manager, Eric Lavin, at Eric.Lavin@aspeninstitute.org.
THE 2015 INAUGURAL CLASS OF 8 BRADDOCK SCHOLARS INCLUDE:
JOSHUA BAER
CAPITAL FACTORY
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Capital Factory is Austin’s entrepreneurial center of gravity, providing aspiring technology startups the space,
community, mentor network, and access to funding they need to grow their business.
AIMÉE EUBANKS DAVIS
BEYOND Z
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Beyond Z is a career accelerator program aimed at cultivating improved education to workforce pipelines. The
program provides college students with the skills, experience, coaching, and networking they need to jumpstart
their careers and thrive in the workplace. With a special emphasis on disadvantaged and underrepresented students, Beyond Z offers professional development courses that bring together a cohort of students wanting to
hone their leadership capabilities and launch successful careers.
38 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
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JAY COEN GILBERT
B LAB
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
B Lab is a nonprofit organization working to redefine success in business. The organization certifies companies “B
Corps” based on rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency,
hoping to encourage businesses not to be the best in the world, but best for the world. To date, there are 1,304 B
Corps located in 41 countries across 121 industries.
BRENT JENKS
FISH FOREVER
Catto Fellowship Program
The Fish Forever global initiative works to combat the critical threats posed by overfishing through empowering
thousands of the world’s poorest, most marginalized coastal communities to steward their own sustainable and
productive fisheries. Fish Forever works with a diverse set of partners to help build the capacity of small-scale
fisheries, and empowers communities to manage a critical common-pool natural resource, marine life.
JORDAN KASSALOW
VISIONSPRING
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
VisionSpring helps students and the working poor in developing countries significantly enhance their productivity
and income by delivering affordable eyeglasses. Through working with networks of local community members
and partner organizations, VisionSpring has sold over 1,000,000 pairs of much-needed eyeglasses to people
who otherwise would not be able to access them, giving people the tools they need to attain their academic and
financial potential.
SHEILA MARCELO
CARE.COM
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Care.com connects families to caregivers, giving them easy access to people who can help them take care of their
kids, elders, pets, and homes.
ROB PRICE
EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Edible Arrangements operates 1,200 franchised stores, which provide same day hand-delivery of floral and fruit
arrangements across the US and select international sites.
ERIC WESTENDORF
LEARNZILLION
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
LearnZillion is an innovative educational company dedicated to helping teachers create powerful learning experiences for their students. LearnZillion.com provides educators with Math and English resources developed and
practiced by exceptional teachers. Using the power of the web, LearnZillion supports teachers in leveraging their
pedagogical content knowledge and in developing effective curricula to reach students’ needs.
For information on the complete 2015 Braddock Scholars class and more
about the program, please visit: as.pn/braddockscholars
#AspenAction
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39
SUPPORTING ACTION
THE
PAUL HASTINGS
ACTION PLEDGE
Collaborative leadership makes a difference. Not only does it generate great ideas, it also enables entrepreneurs
to use innovative thinking and hard work to create meaningful change.
As a leading international law firm, Paul Hastings LLC is committed to helping organizations and people
navigate new paths to growth. They collaborate with some of the world’s most successful and creative leaders
— both directly as clients and through their pro bono program.
It is because of this commitment that we are delighted to announce their pledge of 200 hours of free legal
advice to selected Aspen Action Forum participants to help with important legal issues they are facing related
to their Action Pledge or fellowship project. Paul Hastings wants to play its part by helping these enterprises
succeed and grow so that they can continue to fulfil their commitment to making a positive difference in the
world.
For the selected participants, Paul Hastings pledges to offer up to 20 hours of tailored legal support and advice.
For some projects, if additional support is requested there may be an opportunity to become a beneficiary of
the firm’s wider pro bono program at their discretion.
CRITERIA
YOU ARE:
■■ A participant in the 2015 Aspen Action Forum
AND:
■■ Tackling a clearly identifiable non-political social challenge, especially in the areas of: gender
empowerment; equality; education; environmental sustainability; poverty; health (Note: This list is
not exhaustive and only indicates some of the firm’s areas of interest. We will consider additional
innovative projects not included in the list above.)
■■ Have a demonstrable social impact
■■ Have a viable or scalable organization strategy
■■ Have a track record of positive performance to date
HOW DO I APPLY?
Applications will be accepted until August 7, 2015. Apply at: www.aspenactionforum.org/paulhastings.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Final decisions about selected ventures will be made within a month of the deadline. Paul Hastings will not
accept projects in contradiction to the firm’s core values and principles. The firm reserves the right to seek
additional information before selecting pro bono clients.
LOCATIONS
Paul Hastings cannot provide local advice where local regulations prohibit international law firms from
practicing law in that country.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Phil Javellana (Phil.Javellana@aspeninst.org).
40 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
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July 28 – 31, 2015
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TAB 2
THE PROGRAM: SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE
YOUR PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE
THE ACTION FORUM EXPERIENCE IS TAILORED TO EACH PARTICIPANT
You can find your personal agenda on the backside of your badge. Your agenda is also available
online and is compatible with mobile phones and tablets.
PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME FOR ACTION FORUM DIALOGUES
The vast majority of your experience at the Aspen Action Forum will be spent in dialogue formats.
Some sessions require no advance preparation, while others do. Remember to follow your personal
agenda as topics and preparation will vary.
■■ Seminars: There are four rotations of Seminar sessions — one each day. Each Seminar session
has two to three readings. To get the most out of these dialogues and to actively participate,
you should read each packet at least once. The Seminar Moderators will refer to these readings
throughout the session. Only hardcopies of the readings will be allowed in the seminar rooms.
Please do not use a tablet.
Learn more in Tab 3 of the program book.
■■ Workshops: There are two workshop formats: (1) Action Workshops to review and support
challenges leaders face and (2) Skill Workshops to strengthen your leadership expertise.
■■ Action Workshops use a protocol developed by the Young Presidents’
Organization (YPO) to focus and guide the consultation. Each Action
Workshop presenter has prepared a one-page summary explaining their
leadership challenge. Read these one-page summaries before you arrive. These
summaries are available in your online agenda and at the registration table in
the Doerr-Hosier Center lobby.
Learn more in Tab 4 of the program book.
44 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
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■■ Skill Workshops are designed for you to strengthen your leadership expertise
and will follow a new format this year. The format is simple: Fellows with expert
experience on the topic will open with 20 minutes of remarks and advice
followed by 70 minutes of Q&A to ensure you get feedback specific to the
challenges you’re facing.
Learn more in Tab 4 of the program book.
■■ Roundtable Topics There are three rotations of Roundtable Topics on the
mornings of July 29, 30 and 31. No preparation is needed except for your
forethought on each of the three topics you will attend. Three Lead Discussants
have been pre-selected to kick-start the conversation, and then the full group
will be incorporated into the dialogue by the Moderator.
Learn more in Tab 5 of the program book.
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46 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
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48 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
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50 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
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TAB 3
THE PROGRAM: SEMINARS
SEMINARS
ABOUT THE
ASPEN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK
MODERATOR CORPS
We’ve identified four key ingredients to the success of any Aspen Global Leadership seminar. We need to
have the right entrepreneurial participants, the right thought-provoking curriculum, and the right inspiring
meeting space — but without the right session moderators, all is for naught.
In the beginning, in 1997, there were three: Keith
Berwick, Skip Battle, and Ben Dunlap. As this effort
grew beyond the Henry Crown Fellowship it became
quickly apparent that our “thin blue line” could not
hold. And so, with the generous support of people like
Paul and Mary Anderson and Anne Welsh McNulty,
we began a systematic process to build a global
moderator corps that would be as accomplished,
compelling, and challenging as our “Founding Three”
and as diverse as the Fellows around the seminar table
— whether that table is in Shanghai, Arusha, Managua,
Kerala, or Aspen. We feel great about what we have
built. And we aren’t done. No one gets rich moderating for the Aspen Institute. But we know our Fellows are
enriched by their dedication and generosity of spirit.
This year, 30 moderators are participating at the Aspen Action Forum and are listed on the following pages.
We’re incredibly grateful to each. We simply could not offer the Action Forum without them.
SENIOR MODERATORS
SKIP BATTLE
KEITH BERWICK
STACE LINDSAY
WATANAN PETERSIK
Board Member for Netflix,
LinkedIn, OpenTable,
Workday, and Expedia Inc.,
United States
Director of Strategic
Initiatives for the Aspen
Global Leadership Network,
Aspen Institute,
United States
54 Senior Fellow of the Aspen
Institute & Former Executive
Director, Henry Crown
Fellowship Program,
United States
DAVID LANGSTAFF
Former President, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer,
TASC, United States
Senior Advisor, TPG Capital,
Singapore
ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
MODERATORS
JAMES ABRAHAM
DIEGO DE SOLA
JOHN DEASY
ORODE DOHERTY
CHADIA
EL MEOUCHI NAOUM
GOVINDRAJ ETHIRAJ
ARJUN GUPTA
TONYA HINCH
JENNIE JOHNSON
OMOBOLA JOHNSON
MANOJ KUMAR
LEIGHTON LORD
MARIAM LUYOMBO
RANJI NAGASWAMI
DELE OLOJEDE
TSAKANI RATSELA
JOANNA REES
BRUCE ROBERTSON
RAMEZ SHEHADI
JOHN SIMPKINS
HEATHER SONN
HARRY STRACHAN
CHRIS VARELAS
HILDEGARD VASQUEZ
Founder & Director,
SolarArise, India
Chief Executive Officer,
Bolivar Investments,
El Salvador
Country Director, Africare
Nigeria, Nigeria
Chief Believer, TeleSoft
Partners, United States
Chair, UN Commission on
Science and Technology for
Development, Nigeria
Director, Taibah Group Inc.,
Canada
Deputy Auditor-General,
Office of the Auditor-General
of South Africa, South Africa
Executive Vice President
& Managing Director, Booz
Allen Hamilton,
United Arab Emirates
Managing Partner,
Mesoamerica Investments,
Costa Rica
Superintendent in Residence,
The Broad Center,
United States
Founder, IndiaSpend, India
Managing Partner, Badri and
Salim El Meouchi Law Firm,
Lebanon
Managing Director, Henry
Crown Fellowship Program,
Aspen Institute,
United States
Chief Executive Officer,
Naandi Foundation, India
Senior Advisor, Corsair
Capital, United States
Managing Director, Soda
Rock Partners LLC & Senior
Partner, The B Team,
United States
Deputy General Counsel,
White House Office of
Management and Budget,
United States
Founding Partner &
Chief Investment Officer,
Riverwood Capital,
United States
Executive Director, Liberty
Fellowship, United States
Managing Director, Nexsen/
NP Strategy, United States
Publisher, Timbuktu Media,
South Africa
Founder & Chief Executive
Officer, Gulu Agricultural
Development Company Ltd.,
South Africa
Managing Director, Gamiro
Investment Holdings,
South Africa
Head Architect, Hache Uve,
Panama
JESSIE
WOOLLEY-WILSON
Chief Executive Officer
& President, DreamBox
Learning, United States
Biographies for all our moderators are available in Tab 7 of the program book.
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55
TAB 4
THE PROGRAM: WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOPS
There are two workshop formats: Action Workshops to review and support challenges leaders face and
Skill Workshops to strengthen your leadership expertise. Two rotations of workshops take place during
the Action Forum on July 28 and July 30.
Due to space constraints, please only go to the workshop you signed up for during registration.
That topic is listed on your personal agenda on the backside of your badge and online.
ABOUT
THE ACTION WORKSHOPS
About the Action Workshops Action Workshops use a protocol developed by the Young
Presidents’ Organization (YPO) to focus and guide the consultation. To help you prepare, each
Action Workshop presenter has developed a one-page summary explaining their leadership
challenge. Read these one-page summaries before you arrive. These summaries are available in
your online agenda and at the registration table in the Doerr-Hosier Center lobby.
Action Workshops use the following 90-minute workshop format:
STEP 1. INTRODUCE PROTOCOL, IDENTIFY ROLES, AND REVIEW NORMS (5 MINUTES)
The moderator introduces him/herself, describes the protocol and norms, and introduces
the presenter.
STEP 2. PRESENTER GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM (10 MINUTES)
The presenter introduces him/herself, gives a brief overview of the problem, describes the
context, and frames a specific question for the consultancy group to consider. The problemframing and the quality of the presenter’s reflections on the issue being discussed are the key
features of this protocol.
STEP 3. CONSULTANCY GROUP ASKS CLARIFYING QUESTIONS (5 MINUTES)
The consultancy group asks clarifying questions of the presenter. These should be questions that
have factual responses and can be answered with a yes or no, or a phrase or two. The presenter
responds briefly to each question.
STEP 4. CONSULTANCY GROUP ASKS PROBING QUESTIONS (10 MINUTES)
The consultancy group asks probing questions of the presenter: open-ended, thought-provoking
questions intended to help the presenter clarify and expand his/her thinking around the
question and challenge. The presenter responds, but the group does not discuss the answers.
The moderator ends this section by asking the presenter to restate the question.
58 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
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STEP 5. GROUP CONSULTS AND PRESENTER LISTENS (25 MINUTES)
The group discusses the issues presented and brainstorms solutions based on questions such
as: What did we think about the questions and issues presented? What did we hear? What
has the presenter not considered? What are the gaps or issues that have not been examined?
What challenges need to be resolved in order to address the larger issue? What are potential
solutions? What are other organizations doing to address this issue? What are some examples
of best practices? What are our recommendations for addressing this challenge? The
conversation should include both “warm” and “cool” feedback and specific recommendations
to address the challenge. The presenter does not speak during this discussion, but instead listens
and takes notes.
STEP 6. PRESENTER RESPONDS AND CONSULTANCY GROUP LISTENS (10 MINUTES)
The presenter describes what he/she heard and what resonated, as well as his/her reactions to
the proposed solutions and potential next steps.
STEP 7. MODERATOR LEADS A SHARED CONVERSATION (20 MINUTES)
The moderator leads an open conversation about the issue. Team members can summarize
responses to what the presenter said, identify a common understanding of the problem, and
establish a timeline for the presenter to implement some of the suggested strategies. The
presenter can respond to questions about whether the solutions presented will work in his/her
particular context and what changes should be made to facilitate successful implementation.
STEP 8. MODERATOR LEADS A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON PROCESS (5 MINUTES)
The moderator asks the group to reflect on the process: What did the team learn? What worked
and what didn’t work with the session and the protocol?
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WORKSHOPS
THE 2015
ACTION WORKSHOPS
Challenges being presented this year include:
■■ Maintaining Quality While Scaling Up Run Our City
■■ Overcoming Structural Complexities of Launching EmancipAction in India
■■ Growing a Nigerian Performance Company Dedicated to Empowering Women
■■ Scaling and Managing Global Accountability Accelerator
■■ Creating a Leadership Culture and Financial Sustainability at Pakistani Educational Institute
■■ Scaling Rising Stars Mentoring Program
■■ Addressing Societal Needs through Service-Year Project
■■ Globalizing Support Program for Young Children
■■ Scaling Up ‘Transition to Life’ Program in Panama
■■ Creating a Business Model to Spread a Proven Family Program
■■ Identifying Partners to Promote Patient-Centered Care
■■ Artists & the Good Society
■■ Collaborating Effectively with Partners to Promote the HarborGood Marketplace
■■ The Finance Leaders Fellowship: One Year Later and Ready to Launch
60 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
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ABOUT
THE SKILL WORKSHOPS
Skill Workshops are designed to help you strengthen your leadership expertise.
The format is simple: the presenting Fellow, the Skills Coach, will open with up to 20
minutes of remarks and advice followed by 70 minutes of Q&A so you get feedback
specific to the challenges you’re facing.
The 2015 Skill Workshops include:
■■ Building Culture
■■ Communication: How to Make your Message Clear and Concise
■■ Design Thinking
■■ Exponential Fundraising
■■ Intrapreneurship: Leading Change from Within
■■ Managing Agreement: Avoiding Groupthink and Dumb Decisions
■■ Practicing Collaborative Leadership
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TAB 5
THE PROGRAM: INTERACTIVE ROUNDTABLE TOPICS
ABOUT THE
INTERACTIVE ROUNDTABLE
TOPICS
Crowd-sourced throughout the year, Interactive Roundtable
discussions are created for participants, by participants.
These dialogues are different from typical “panel” discussions. Featured individuals, called
“Lead Discussants,” are there to set the stage for a full dialogue involving 15-20 participants.
Each Lead Discussant has no more than 5 minutes to speak on the topic at hand, leaving a
full hour for a wide ranging, highly interactive, moderated dialogue.
Due to space constraints, please only to go to the topic you signed up for during registration.
That topic is listed on your personal agenda located on the backside of your badge and online.
R O T A T I O N
1
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
9:00AM - 10:30AM
Amnesty Now: The Fellowship Project I Never Started… Take Two
DOERR-HOSIER CENTER: CATTO ROOM
As part of the Aspen experience, Fellows are asked to launch a leadership project. Some projects never make it off the ground. That’s OK!
What are you passionate about now? How are you choosing to make a difference in your community? How are you helping to build
the Good Society?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
ADRIANNA MA
AMITAV VIRMANI
AMJAD TADROS
MODERATOR STACE LINDSAY
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Aspen Global
Leadership Network, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Managing Partner, BF Global, Fremont Group
UNITED STATES
Middle East Leadership Initiative
Middle East Producer, CBS News
JORDAN
India Leadership Initiative
Chief Executive Officer, The Education Alliance
INDIA
Biographies of all listed participants in Tab 7.
Biographies of everyone at the Action Forum available at www.AspenActionForum.org.
#AspenAction
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65
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 1: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Building the Good Society: Breaking through Ceilings
KOCH BUILDING: LAUDER ROOM
What ceilings have you broken through? How have you led progress in an unequal system? How do you help others break through?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE
CHHAVI RAJAWAT
KELI LEE
MODERATOR ERIC MOTLEY
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Vice President, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
National Political Director,
Martin O’Malley Presidential Campaign
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Executive Vice President, Disney ABC
Television Group
UNITED STATES
India Leadership Initiative
Elected Head, Village Council of Soda
INDIA
Building the Good Society: Race in the Time of Ferguson
KOCH BUILDING: BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON ROOM
Inequality in the United States is perhaps most apparent in the racial divides that still exist in our society. How do we lead change in the
polarized state of race in America? What can leaders in the United States learn about race from other countries around the world?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
SCOTT BUSH
LISETTE NIEVES
DONNA BYRD
MAYA ROCKEYMOORE
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Managing Director, JPMorgan
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Publisher, The Root
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Partner, Lingo Ventures
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
President & Chief Executive Officer, Center for
Global Policy Solutions
UNITED STATES
MODERATOR ANAND GIRIDHARADAS
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Columnist, New York Times
UNITED STATES
Climate Impact Investing: Can New Business Solutions Clean Up
the Global Economy?
THE BUCKMINSTER FULLER DOME
There is growing evidence that policymakers have a critical role to play in scaling up investment in technology necessary to tackle global
economic challenges such as climate change. How does this role differ in China, India and Panama? How can different private and public
entities be coordinated and engaged to help? How is private capital being mobilized and wealth created in the new low-carbon
global economy?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
MIREI HERAS
BRUNO BERTHON
TAO ZHANG
MODERATOR JAMES ABRAHAM
India Leadership Initiative
Founder & Director, SolarArise
INDIA
Central America Leadership Initiative
Minister of Environment, Government of Panama
PANAMA
China Fellowship Program
Founder & Managing Director, Dao Ventures
CHINA
66 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
Sponsor of the 2015 Aspen Action Forum
Global Managing Director, Accenture Strategy
UNITED STATES
www.AspenActionForum.org
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 1: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Collaborating across the Great Divide: Working with “the Other”
BOETTCHER BUILDING: HUDSON ROOM
How have you worked with “the Other”? How did you break through barriers to act together on a common goal? What did you learn? What do
you know now that you wish you knew then? How do we raise the bar of discourse and collaboration in our societies?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
SHANE MASSEY
VINCENT SHEHEEN
BONGIWE NJOBE
MODERATOR HILDEGARD VASQUEZ
Central America Leadership Initiative
Head Architect, Hache Uve
PANAMA
Liberty Fellowship
State Senator, South Carolina
UNITED STATES
Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa
Executive Director, ZA NAC Consulting
SOUTH AFRICA
Liberty Fellowship
Senator, South Carolina State Senate
UNITED STATES
Creativity in Business: Using Imagination to Reshape Business
RESNICK-MALEK HEALTH CENTER
Imagination can disrupt entire industries. How do you foster a creative work environment for your employees? How do imagination and the
creative process fit into your leadership toolbox?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
RYAN MCMANUS
ROB PRICE
KIM POLESE
MODERATOR TAMSIN SMITH
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
President & Founder, Slipstream Strategy
UNITED STATES
2015 Action Forum Participant
Director, Accenture
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Chairman, ClearStreet
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
President, Edible Arrangements
UNITED STATES
Developing Leaders: Strengthening our Workforce
PAEPCKE BUILDING: PAEPCKE GALLERY
The business case has been established that a diverse workforce is best. However, many of our boards and senior level positions still lack
gender, racial and sexual orientation diversity. Are people within your organization being overlooked because they don’t fit the traditional
definition of leadership in the workplace? What organizations embrace diversity in their leadership and do it well? What is their approach?
How can it be replicated?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
LEIGHANNE LEVENSALER
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Senior Vice President, Products, Workday
UNITED STATES
SCOTT MORGAN
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Education
Pioneers
UNITED STATES
MODERATOR SHEILA MARCELO
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Founder, Chairwoman & Chief Executive Officer,
Care.com
UNITED STATES
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I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 1: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Education and Communities: Rural Education
KRESGE BUILDING: HINES ROOM
In 2010/2011, over half of all U.S. school districts and one-third of public schools were in rural areas, yet there are persistent challenges with
delivering quality education to rural students. What are the greatest needs in rural education today? Who is doing the best at meeting those
needs? Are there international models of education that rural communities in the United States and elsewhere could learn from?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
TRACY EPP
MARIO SACASA
JOANN GAMA
MODERATOR JESSIE WOOLLEY-WILSON
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Chief Executive Officer & President, DreamBox
Learning
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Chief Academic Officer, Achievement First
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Co-Founder, President and Superintendent, IDEA
PublicSchools
UNITED STATES
Central America Leadership Initiative
Executive Director, Future of Nicaragua
Foundation
NICARAGUA
Leadership Lessons: Disrupting from Within
PAEPCKE BUILDING: PAEPCKE LIBRARY
How do you lead significant change – and survive – from within an organization? When have you done this successfully, and when have you
had to pack a box and leave?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
LATOYA CANTRELL
STEPHEN MULLENNIX
JUAN CARLOS PAIZ
MODERATOR JOHN DEASY
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Superintendent in Residence, The Broad Center
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
City Councilwoman, New Orleans City Council
UNITED STATES
Central America Leadership Initiative
Presidential Commissioner, Government of
Guatemala
GUATEMALA
2015 Action Forum Participant
Senior Vice President, Operations, SolarReserve
UNITED STATES
Our Bodies: The Role of Fitness and Success
KOCH BUILDING: STRANAHAN ROOM
Taking on new leadership roles is often at the sacrifice of our physical well-being. How has your leadership impacted your body? How does
exercise and physical strength influence your ability to lead?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
FABRICIO ALTAMIRANO
CATHERINE TEMPLETON
AMI DROR
MODERATOR JENNIE JOHNSON
AGLN Moderator Corp
Executive Director, Liberty Fellowship
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Chief Executive Officer, Altamirano Publishing
EL SALVADOR
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Zaitoun
Ventures
ISRAEL
68 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
Liberty Fellowship
President, Brawley Templeton, LLC
UNITED STATES
www.AspenActionForum.org
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 1: WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Our Families: Supporting High-Performing Spouses
MEADOWS RECEPTION CENTER: BERNHARD ROOM
Our leadership endeavors are often supported by equally successful partners. How do you and your spouse support one another in your
respective leadership pursuits? How hard is it? What tips do you have for others trying to balance their responsibilities?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
BO HOPKINS
LISA SKEETE TATUM
HUI HUANG
MODERATOR TONYA HINCH
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Managing Director, Henry Crown Fellowship
Program, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
2015 Action Forum Participant
Lecturer, Yale University
UNITED STATES
China Fellowship Program
Board Director, Renren Inc.
TAIWAN
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, LandIt
UNITED STATES
Rethinking Schools: Preparing for Higher Education and Beyond
DOERR-HOSIER CENTER: KAUFMAN ROOM
What will college and life look like for students in elementary school now? What are the skills that students will need to succeed in college
beyond the basics of reading and writing? How should K-12 schools and colleges be adapting to prepare their students more effectively now?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
JOSEPH CASTRO
RAVI GUPTA
AIMÉE EUBANKS DAVIS
LOUISE LANGHEIER
Resnick Leadership Fellow
President, California State University, Fresno
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Founder, Beyond Z
UNITED STATES
2015 Action Forum Participant
Chief Executive Officer, RePublic Schools
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Chief Executive Officer, Peer Health Exchange
UNITED STATES
MODERATOR BETSY FLEMING
Liberty Fellowship
President, Converse College
UNITED STATES
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
69
R O T A T I O N
2
THURSDAY, JULY 30
9:30AM - 11:00AM
Building the Good Society: Generational Wealth
PAEPCKE BUILDING: PAEPCKE GALLERY
We work hard to give our children opportunities we may not have grown up with. Providing too much, though, can insulate our kids from
reality. What do you plan to pass on to the next generation in your family? How much is enough? How does our estate planning impact the
broader issue of social inequality?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
CHRISTY ORRIS
SAMEER WALIA
JEANNETTE PAI-ESPINOSA
MODERATOR MARGOT PRITZKER
Trustee of the Aspen Institute
President & Founder, WomenOnCall.org
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Managing Director, Peak to Peak Holdings
UNITED STATES
2015 Action Forum Participant
President, National Crittenton Foundation
UNITED STATES
70 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
India Leadership Initiative
Managing Director, The Smart Cube
INDIA
www.AspenActionForum.org
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 2: THURSDAY, JULY 30 9:30AM - 11:00AM
Can the United States Learn Anything from China?
KOCH BUILDING: STRANAHAN ROOM
Proponents of the United States decry China’s record on human rights, the environment, and more. But can the United States learn anything
from China?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
CALVIN CHIN
ALI MUFURUKI
SEAN HINTON
TAO ZHANG
China Fellowship Program
Chief Executive Officer, Transist Impact Labs
CHINA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
CEO of the Soros Economic Development Fund &
Director of the Economic Advancement Program
at the Open Society Foundations
CHINA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Chairman, Infotech Investment Group Ltd
TANZANIA
China Fellowship Program
Founder & Managing Director, Dao Ventures
CHINA
MODERATOR RANJI NAGASWAMI
Senior Advisor, Corsair Capital
UNITED STATES
Collaborative Leadership: Building a Movement
RESNICK-MALEK HEALTH CENTER
What are the steps to building a popular cause-based movement? What tools are available to leaders? What are the pitfalls to avoid?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
KRISTEN GRIMM
HASINA KHARBHIH
ANDREW KASSOY
MODERATOR GOVINDRAJ ETHIRAJ
India Leadership Initiative
Founder, IndiaSpend
INDIA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
President, Spitfire Strategies
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Co-Founder, B-Lab
UNITED STATES
India Leadership Initiative
Managing Director, Impulse NGO Network
INDIA
Collaborative Leadership: Deconstructing Effective Teams
THE BUCKMINSTER FULLER DOME
Collaborative endeavors in business, politics and civil society have accomplished many of the greatest achievements in history. What can we
learn from the leaders of companies like Netflix or Google about how they built a collaborative culture? From those behind the anti-apartheid
movement in South Africa or the demonstrations to overthrow President Mubarak in Tahrir Square? From the education reform movement in
the U.S.? Who are the best examples of leaders who have collaborated successfully? How about those who failed? What are the common traits
of highly collaborative teams? Where do you see opportunities for Fellows attending the Aspen Action Forum to collaborate successfully?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
JEHANE NOUJAIM
SHAMINA SINGH
MIGUEL FABREGA
MODERATOR CHRIS VARELAS
AGLN Moderator Corp
Partner, Riverwood Capital
UNITED STATES
Middle East Leadership Initiative
Filmmaker, Noujaim Films
EGYPT
Central America Leadership Initiative
Creative Director, NEO & Diablo Rosso
PANAMA
#AspenAction
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Executive Director, MasterCard Center for
Inclusive Growth
UNITED STATES
July 28 – 31, 2015
71
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 2: THURSDAY, JULY 30 9:30AM - 11:00AM
Developing Leaders: The Pipeline Starts at Home
PAEPCKE BUILDING: PAEPCKE LIBRARY
How effective or ineffective are we developing good men and women leaders? Does the responsibility lie with our educational system or with
family and community? How do we raise a new generation of values-based leaders? At home, what are you teaching your children about
gender roles? Are you practicing what you preach?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
RASHI TALWAR BHATIA
MAGNUS MCHUNGUZI
EMILE CUBEISY
MODERATOR ARTURO CONDO
Central America Leadership Initiative
Professor, INCAE Business School
COSTA RICA
India Leadership Initiative
Portfolio Manager, Ashmore Investment Advisors
INDIA
Middle East Leadership Initiative
Managing Partner, Silicon Badia
JORDAN
Africa Leadership Initiative — East Africa
Managing Director & Vice President,
Ericsson South Afirca
SOUTH AFRICA
Education and Communities: Parent Engagement
MEADOWS RECEPTION CENTER: BERNHARD ROOM
Most children spend the majority of their waking hours outside of school, and parental involvement is a key success factor to student
achievement. However, many schools are not engaging parents effectively in their children’s education. What is the right level of engagement
between parents and schools? What are the barriers to more effective collaboration between the two? What innovative models exist that are
paving the way to great partnerships with parents?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
BEN AUSTIN
TOMEKA HART
SHARHONDA BOSSIER
MODERATOR TRACY EPP
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Chief Academic Officer, Achievement First
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Policy & Advocacy Director, Students Matter
UNITED STATES
2015 Action Forum Participant
Vice President, Advocacy & Engagement,
Education Cities
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Vice President of Programs, Southern Education
Foundation
UNITED STATES
Leading from the Zone: Adrenaline in Leadership
DOERR-HOSIER CENTER: CATTO ROOM
Soldiers, artists, and professional athletes have to get into “the zone” for maximum performance. What can we learn from these leaders?
How do you get into and lead from the zone?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
MICHELLE BROOKE-MARCINIAK
REBECCA TAICHMAN
BRANDON HILLIARD
MODERATOR BILL MAYER
Trustee of The Aspen Institute, Sponsor of the
2015 Aspen Action Forum
Partner, Park Avenue Equity Partners
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Co-Founder & Co-Chief Executive Officer,
SHEEX, Inc.
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
MBA Candidate, The University of Chicago Booth
School of Business
UNITED STATES
72 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Theater Director
UNITED STATES
www.AspenActionForum.org
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 2: THURSDAY, JULY 30 9:30AM - 11:00AM
Our Families: How I Responded When My Family Member
.
KOCH BUILDING: BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON ROOM
Across generations, our family members continue to surprise us. This ranges from their decision to marry or divorce, their health, their
finances, their sexuality, their career paths, etc. How did you respond when your parents, siblings, or children told you
. How did you
handle this revelation? What did you learn about yourself in this moment? Did their revelation challenge your values?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
JUAN CARLOS HASBUN
BEA WRAY
JANET ECHELMAN
MODERATOR KEITH BERWICK
Senior Moderator
Senior Fellow, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Central America Leadership Initiative
Pastor, Iglesia Kemuel
EL SALVADOR
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Sculptor, Studio Echelman
UNITED STATES
Liberty Fellowship
Executive Director, The Creative Coast
UNITED STATES
Powering Up: Mobilizing the Next Generation in Environmental Leadership
KOCH BUILDING: LAUDER ROOM
Young people seem the most focused — and have the most to lose if we fail — to develop innovative solutions to renewable energy sources,
cleaner manufacturing technologies, and sustainable agriculture. How can the next generation of leaders be mobilized to convert their passion
into real action? Are there great examples of how this has been done? What were the keys to their success?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
SHELLEY BILLIK
JIANYU ZHANG
BRETT JENKS
MODERATOR ARJUN GUPTA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Trustee of the Aspen Institute
Chief Believer, TeleSoft Partners
UNITED STATES
Catto Fellowship Program
Chief Strategy Officer, EcoBiz
UNITED STATES
Catto Fellowship Program
President & Chief Executive Officer, Rare
UNITED STATES
China Fellowship Program
Managing Director, Environmental Defense Fund
CHINA
Rethinking Schools: Personalization & Mastery
KRESGE BUILDING: HINES ROOM
As adults, we know that we each have different learning styles, paces, and affinities. However, in most K-12 schools we expect students to
learn the same way, as the other 20-plus students in their classroom. And we measure schooling progress largely by “seat time” rather than by
mastery. How can we achieve a personalized learning experience for students that still engenders community within schools? If we retool our
schools around mastery rather than seat time, how would we re-organize time, resources, space, roles, and indicators of progress? What values
tensions might arise from such a rethink?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
BRYAN HASSEL
DIANE TAVENNER
TOM ROONEY
MODERATOR KRISTE DRAGON
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Citizens of
the World Charter Schools
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Co-Director, Public Impact
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Superintendent, Lindsay Unified School District
UNITED STATES
#AspenAction
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Chief Executive Officer, Summit Public Schools
UNITED STATES
July 28 – 31, 2015
73
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 2: THURSDAY, JULY 30 9:30AM - 11:00AM
Second Acts: Changing My Trajectory
DOERR-HOSIER CENTER: KAUFMAN ROOM
We rarely stay on the same path. How did you change your trajectory at work or in your personal life? What prompted this course change?
How did you make the decision? How do you find time for introspection to make a thoughtful next move?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
JOHN CIANCUTTI
OMOBOLA JOHNSON
HUI HUANG
MODERATOR LUANNE RUNGE
Liberty Fellowship
Associate Executive Director, LIberty Fellowship
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Chief Product Officer, Coursera, Inc
UNITED STATES
China Fellowship Program
Board Director, Renren Inc.
TAIWAN
74 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
Africa Leadership Initiative — West Africa
Chair, UN Commission on Science and Technology
for Development, The United Nations
NIGERIA
www.AspenActionForum.org
R O T A T I O N
3
FRIDAY,
JULY
31
9:00AM - 10:30AM
A World Adrift? The State of Spirituality in the World
DOERR-HOSIER CENTER: CATTO ROOM
As many societies become more secular, are we at the precipice of losing common values? How do we create community without a common
form of spirituality and religion? What values do you see changing? Have your own values shifted?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
JOSH GREER
ALAN STOREY
BASHIR MUNDI
MODERATOR ELAINE PAGELS
Trustee of the Aspen Institute
Professor of Religion, Princeton University
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Director, Roxbury and Lexington LLC
UNITED STATES
Africa Leadership Initiative - West Africa
Assistant Director, Islamic Education Trust/Da’wah
Institute of Nigeria
NIGERIA
#AspenAction
Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa
Methodist Minister, Methodist Church of
South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA
July 28 – 31, 2015
75
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 3: FRIDAY, JULY 31 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Building the Good Society: It All Starts with My Family
RESNICK-MALEK HEALTH CENTER
What are the values you cherish most as a family? How do you instill values in your children? How do you reinforce these values? What
challenges have you faced in this regard?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
DI-ANN EISNOR
JACOB NER-DAVID
FAITH POLKEY
MODERATOR ORODE DOHERTY
Africa Leadership Initiative — West Africa
Country Director, Africare Nigeria
NIGERIA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Head of Growth, Waze/Google
UNITED STATES
Liberty Fellowship
Chief of Pediatrics, BJHCHS, Inc.
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company
ISRAEL
Collaborative Leadership: Leave No One Behind
KRESGE BUILDING: HINES ROOM
Where can we act together to fix inequality in our societies? Where can our efforts have the best return on investment? How do we make room
at the table for others? What are you already doing?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
PALLAV PATANKAR
RICKY YU
SAM RAMIREZ
MODERATOR JOHN SIMPKINS
Liberty Fellowship
Deputy General Counsel, White House Office of
Management and Budget
UNITED STATES
India Leadership Initiative
Director-Programs, The Humsafar Trust
INDIA
Resnick Leadership Fellow
Board of Directors, Paramount Academy
UNITED STATES
China Fellowship Program
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Light Be (Social
Realty)
HONG KONG
Developing Leaders: Redefining Leadership
THE BUCKMINSTER FULLER DOME
Many of the ways we measure a leader’s ability and success are based on traditionally male measures or characteristics. As more women
achieve positions of power and influence, how can we redefine what it means to be a successful leader? How do men and women in leadership
perceive power - both theirs and that of other men and women? Does your perception of a leader vary based on their gender? How do you
define your leadership?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
OMOBOLA JOHNSON
KARL WESTVIG
LISA SKEETE TATUM
MODERATOR JESSIE WOOLLEY-WILSON
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Chief Executive Officer & President,
DreamBox Learning
UNITED STATES
Africa Leadership Initiative — West Africa
Minister of Communications and Technology,
Government of Nigeria
NIGERIA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, LandIt
UNITED STATES
76 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa
Chief Executive Officer, AFB Group
SOUTH AFRICA
www.AspenActionForum.org
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 3: FRIDAY, JULY 31 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Education and Communities: Real Community Partnerships
MEADOWS RECEPTION CENTER: BERNHARD ROOM
Historically, schools have been one of the key engines that support the development of communities, providing both increased opportunities
for students and jobs for adults. However, in recent years the role of the school has narrowed, and tensions have arisen between these two
main outcomes. How can we re-envision the school as a center of the community? What would be required for schools to truly anchor
community-development efforts? Where are there examples of what’s working?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
KIRA ORANGE-JONES
ANA PONCE
OLIS SIMMONS
MODERATOR JEAN-CLAUDE BRIZARD
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
President, UpSpring Education Group, LLC
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Executive Director, Teach For America Greater
New Orleans
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
President & Chief Executive Officer, Youth
UpRising
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Chief Executive Officer, Camino Nuevo
Charter Academy
UNITED STATES
Edward Snowden: Hero or Heel?
DOERR-HOSIER CENTER: KAUFMAN ROOM
Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor for his release of confidential United States data? Did he ultimately make the world better
or more dangerous?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
ROMAN MACAYA
BRANDON HILLIARD
KWAKU SAKYI-ADDO
MODERATOR MIKE KLEIN
Trustee of the Aspen Institute
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Sunlight
Foundation
UNITED STATES
Central America Leadership Initiative
Ambassador to the United States, The Republic of
Costa Rica
UNITED STATES
Africa Leadership Initiative — Ghana
Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of
Telecommunications
GHANA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
MBA Candidate, The University of Chicago Booth
School of Business
UNITED STATES
Leadership Lessons: Collaborating across Cultures
PAEPCKE BUILDING: PAEPCKE GALLERY
How do you lead effectively across cultures? What has worked? What pitfalls have you encountered? What advice would you offer to someone
considering a cross-cultural leadership role?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
PATRICK AWUAH
LAURA ENTWISTLE
JOE DANIELS
MODERATOR PAULINE BROWN
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Chairman, LVMH, Inc.
UNITED STATES
Africa Leadership Initiative — Ghana
Founder & President,
Ashesi University Foundation
GHANA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
President & Chief Executive Officer,
9/11 Memorial & Museum
UNITED STATES
#AspenAction
2015 Action Forum Participant
Founder & CEO, EmancipAction
SINGAPORE
July 28 – 31, 2015
77
I N T E R A C T I V E R O U N D TA B L E T O P I C S
ROTATION 3: FRIDAY, JULY 31 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Leading in Crisis
KOCH BUILDING: LAUDER ROOM
What have you learned about leading through crisis? Were you able to lead people through the turmoil? What worked well? What didn’t?
What are your guiding values to navigate through the storms you face?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
BROOKS ENTWISTLE
CARLO VIVIANI
KRISTIN PALMER GISLESON
MODERATOR SKIP BATTLE
Senior Moderator, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Trustee of the Aspen Institute
Partner & Group CEO, Everstone Capital
SINGAPORE
Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership
Founder & President, The Gisleson Group
UNITED STATES
Catto Fellowship Program
Senior Economist for Greece,
European Commission
BELGIUM
Preparing Kids to Be World Aware
PAEPCKE BUILDING: PAEPCKE LIBRARY
How can we create a generation that is more aware and empathetic of other people halfway around the world? How do we educate children to
consider the good of the whole?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
LANA ABU-HIJLEH
TIFFANY SHLAIN
MEHRDAD BAGHAI
MODERATOR RAJIV VINNAKOTA
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Co-Founder & Managing Director,
The Seed Foundation
UNITED STATES
Middle East Leadership Initiative
Country Director, Global Communities
PALESTINE
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Managing Director, Alchemy Growth Partners
AUSTRALIA
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Filmmaker & Director, The Moxie Institute
Film Studio
UNITED STATES
Pursuing the Good Life: How Do You Create a Happier Life?
KOCH BUILDING: BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON ROOM
Why do we resist doing what will make us happy? In order to be happy, what should we do that we’re not doing now? What should
we stop doing?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
STACEY HADASH MCDONELL
AMIT BHATIA
ALEXANDRA KISSLING
CO-MODERATOR KEITH BERWICK
Senior Moderator
Senior Fellow, The Aspen Institute
Trustee of the Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Henry Crown Fellowship Program
Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
UNITED STATES
Central America Leadership Initiative
President, Vital Voices Costa Rica
COSTA RICA
India Leadership Initiative
Chief Executive Officer, Impact Investors Council
INDIA
CO-MODERATOR HEATHER SONN
Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa
Managing Director, Gamiro Investment Group
SOUTH AFRICA
78 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
Rethinking Schools: What is the Purpose of Schooling?
KOCH BUILDING: STRANAHAN ROOM
What should the role of a school be in teaching future citizens about their responsibilities in a democracy? What should the role of a school be
in creating a workforce with the skills needed for success in the workplace? What are the implications and tensions of these dual roles?
LEAD DISCUSSANTS
JIM BALFANZ
CHRIS PLUTTE
KRISTE DRAGON
MODERATOR KAYA HENDERSON
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Chancellor, DC Public Schools
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
President, City Year, Inc.
UNITED STATES
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Citizens of
the World Charter Schools
UNITED STATES
#AspenAction
Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
Co-Founder, Global Nomads Group
UNITED STATES
July 28 – 31, 2015
79
TAB 6
THE PROGRAM: FEATURED SESSIONS
81
July 28 – 31, 2015
#AspenAction
THE
DEEP DIVE
DIALOGUES
Past participants asked for more space at the Aspen Action Forum to host two
important dialogues focused on Gender & Leadership and U.S. Education. This year,
we’re excited to offer this optional, day-long programming on Monday, July 27, to those
who signed up during registration.
DEEP DIVE: GENDER & LEADERSHIP
This Deep Dive workshop will focus on the changing roles that gender and diversity play in our
leadership at work, at home, and in society.
■■ AT WORK: Do we really believe that diversity in the workplace matters? Do men and
women experience the workplace differently? Do men and women act differently as
leaders? Why are so few women at the top? What can we do to make the workplace
a truly inclusive environment? What are we already doing or not doing?
■■ AT HOME: How do our traditional or modern views on gender roles play out in our
own homes? What assumptions are yet to be challenged? How do we interact with
our partners/spouses? Who supports who? How good are we at this? How do such
gender dynamics in the home impact our work and ability to lead? What are we
teaching our children about gender roles? Are we practicing what we preach?
■■ IN SOCIETY: How can men and women work together to create a more equal
society? What needs to change? What can we do to lead this change?
This workshop will be a day of real Aspen dialogue. While we intend to start the conversation
with the themes and questions above, we want to see where the conversation naturally goes.
This Deep Dive will include moderated discussions and networking opportunities, as well as
tangible tools for leadership at work, at home and in our communities.
This workshop is sponsored by Care.com and WomenUp.
Thank you to the members of this steering committee
who helped to shape the structure and content of this dialogue.
82 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
DEEP DIVE: U.S. EDUCATION
K-12 public education in the United States is at an inflection point, putting pressure on “reform” to shift
from one historical and generational cycle to the next. This transition makes more visible and may even
exacerbate underlying tensions between different or competing values and mindsets in the process. To move
forward most productively, we need to explicitly identify and respect these competing views, and attempt
to "synthesize" the best of both sides’ expectations and approaches to create a movement that is broader,
stronger, more ambitious and more sustainable.
In this facilitated Deep Dive workshop, participants will explore:
■■ How have public school reform tactics shifted in response to different values priorities and historical
contexts? How might our strategies need to shift as we look toward preparing students not just for
today's world, but for the world of the future?
■■ Who are the stakeholders currently engaged in public education reform efforts, and whose voices
need to be added or amplified? When we seek to better engage and empower “community” in this
work, how should we prioritize among the sometimes competing communities of parents, political
leaders, teachers, and students?
■■ How can the different — and often in tension — priorities and values within communities and among
stakeholders be bridged to create a sustainable path forward?
■■ What kinds of leaders and leadership do we need to turn this inflection point into a significant
opportunity? What kinds of challenges do we need to address to prevent this inflection point from just
being a wild pendulum swing?
This workshop is developed in collaboration with The Pahara Institute.
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
83
FEATURED ART INSTALLATION
GUNS
IN THE HANDS OF ARTISTS
MONDAY, JULY 27
5:00 PM: Gallery Reception & Tours
6:00 PM: Suzanne Malveaux Interviews Jonathan Ferrara
THE PAEPCKE BUILDING
For the past two years, it has been my distinct pleasure and honor to attend the Aspen
Action Forum with you.
As I am sure it has for many of you, my time at the Action Forum has inspired me to think
on a higher level and act with intention as I pursue my passion: using art as a catalyst
for social change. For the past three years I have dedicated myself to a project that
encompasses this passion and that I hope is affecting social change.
“Guns In The Hands of Artists” is a community-based social art project that takes guns off
the streets and transforms them into works of art. By creating a collaboration between
the New Orleans Police Department, city government, and the arts community, I sought
to take the conversation out of the highly polarized political context and bring it into the
realm of art. My goal is to stimulate new ways of thinking about guns and gun violence in
our culture, fostering a dialogue through the lens of art.
After a successful debut at my gallery in New Orleans last year, I am pleased to announce
that “Guns In The Hands of Artists” will travel to The Aspen Institute this summer. The
ultimate goal of bringing the project to Aspen is to share this with people like you who
have the ability to continue the conversation in your own community. Judging from the
public response in New Orleans and folks like Peter Reiling and Walter Isaacson who have
viewed the show, I know you will be moved by these works of art.
The first step in addressing issues that collectively face us is engaging in dialogue that
transforms how we think and leads to action. I am honored to be able to present this
project to my fellow Action Forum participants.
Creatively,
Jonathan Ferrara
84 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
Experience the full gallery on our website.
Courtesy of Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans
FILM & DISCUSSION
AN AMERICAN ASCENT
MONDAY, JULY 27
7:00 PM: Suzanne Malveaux will interview Stephen DeBerry
immediately after the film
(70 minutes)
THE PAEPCKE BUILDING: PAEPCKE AUDITORIUM
An American Ascent is a feature documentary
about the first African American expedition to
tackle North America’s highest peak, Denali.
In only a few decades the United States will become a majority-minority nation, as people
of color will outnumber the white majority for the first time ever. Yet, a staggering number
of these people do not consider the outdoors as a place for them. In June 2013, nine
African Americans set out to build a legacy and become role models for inner city kids
and people of color all over America to encourage them to get outside. They did so by
taking on the grueling, 20,320 foot peak of the continent’s biggest mountain.
86 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
Stephen DeBerry, Henry Crown Fellowship Program and 2015 Aspen Action Forum Participant
TAB 7
PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
89
2015 PARTICIPANT OVERVIEW
330
ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERS
2015 A C T I O N P L E D G E S B Y I M P A C T A R E A
(WORK IN PROGRESS – MORE ACTION PLEDGES COLLECTED ON THE ACTION WALL THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.)
59 BUILDING COMMUNITIES
29 EDUCATION
15 JOB TRAINING
49%
12 HEALTH
M A L E
7 ENVIRONMENT
51%
FEMALE
J O B
51% BUSINESS
S E C T O R S
45%
NON-PROFIT &
EDUCATION
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
JAMES ABRAHAM
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Founder & Director, SolarArise
INDIA
James Abraham is founder and director of SolarArise, which will own and operate one of the largest portfolios
of solar-power plants in India. He was previously the managing director of SunBorne Energy, which focuses on
making solar energy as low cost as other sources of power in India. James and the team led the development of
solar policy in India and launched the largest public-private partnership in solar R&D with the Ministry of New
and Renewable Energy. James is currently a member of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Renewable Energy
Council, the US-India Track 2 Dialogue on Climate Change, and serves on several boards. Prior to SunBorne, James
was a senior partner at The Boston Consulting Group in India. He started his career with BCG in Toronto, before
moving to India in 1998 and founding BCG’s New Delhi office. James has a degree in electrical engineering from
the University of Waterloo, an MBA (Baker Scholar) from the Wharton School, and an MA (international relations)
from the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies. He is a Fellow of the third class of the India
Leadership Initiative and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
LANA ABU-HIJLEH
MIDDLE EAST LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Country Director, Global Communities
PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Lana Abu-Hijleh is a Palestinian development expert working for the past 23 years with international agencies in
Palestine and the region. She served as the deputy resident representative of the UNDP Programme of Assistance
to the Palestinian People for over 17 years. She started with CHF International, a not- for-profit international
development organization, in 2003. Lana holds an advanced degree in civil and environmental engineering from
the University of Iowa, USA. She is also a recognized civic leader actively involved in several Palestinian and international cultural, development, professional, and business organizations, including El-Funoun Palestinian Dance
Troupe, Riwaq Palestinian Center for Architectural Conservation, Bisan Center for Research and Development,
the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Palestine Chapter, and the Palestinian Business Women Forum. Lana
is married to Nasser Abdul Hadi and has three daughters: Zeina, Yasmeen, and Nadia. She is a John P. McNulty
Prize Laureate, Fellow of the inaugural class of the Middle East Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
QURATUL AIN BAKHTEARI
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Founding Director, Institute for Development Studies and Practice
PAKISTAN
Quratul Ain Bakhteari is founding director for Institute for Development Studies and Practice. She grew up in a
refugee camp on the outskirts of Karachi after the creation of Pakistan in 1947. She earned a bachelor’s degree
and worked providing basic health care and education to refugees coming from Bangladesh. Later, she earned a
master’s degree and Ph.D. and established 2,000 government girls’ primary schools in rural Balochistan, resulting
in the enrollment of 200,000 girls — a record in Pakistan’s history. Frustrated with a lack of efficacy in internationally sponsored development projects, she developed the blueprint for Institute for Development Studies and
Practices (IDSP) and launched it in 1999 with support from The Asia Foundation. IDSP offers basic education, and
training in literacy, human rights, and community organizing.
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Former U.S. Secretary of State
UNITED STATES
Madeleine K. Albright is chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, and chair of Albright Capital
Management LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. She was the 64th secretary of
state of the United States. In 1997, she was named the first female secretary of state and became, at that time,
the highest-ranking woman in the history of the US government. As secretary of state, Madeleine reinforced
America’s alliances, advocated for democracy and human rights, and promoted American trade, business, labor,
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Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
and environmental standards abroad. From 1993 to 1997, she served as the US permanent representative to the
United Nations and was a member of the president’s Cabinet. From 1989 to 1992, she served as president of the
Center for National Policy. Previously, she was a member of President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Council
and White House staff and served as chief legislative assistant to US Senator Edmund S. Muskie. Madeleine is a
professor in the practice of diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She chairs both
the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the Pew Global Attitudes Project and serves as
president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. She serves on the US Department of Defense’s Defense Policy
Board, a group tasked with providing the secretary of defense with independent, informed advice and opinion
concerning matters of defense policy. Madeleine also serves on the boards of the Council on Foreign Relations, the
Aspen Institute, and the Center for American Progress. In 2009, she was asked by NATO Secretary General Anders
Fogh Rasmussen to chair a group of experts focused on developing NATO’s New Strategic Concept. Madeleine
is the author of four New York Times best-sellers: her autobiography, Madam Secretary: A Memoir (2003); The
Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs (2006); Memo to the President: How We
Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership (2008); and Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box
(2009). Madeleine received a BA with honors from Wellesley College and master’s and doctorate degrees from
Columbia University’s Department of Public Law and Government, as well as a certificate from its Russian Institute.
FABRICIO ALTAMIRANO
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Chief Executive Officer, Altamirano Publishing
EL SALVADOR
Fabricio Altamirano is CEO of Altamirano Publishing, a positon he has held for 19 years. The company includes the
daily newspapers El Diario de Hoy and MAS (which he founded in 1994) and the website elsalvador.com (which
he founded in 1998). In 2004, he founded Albacrome, one of the two largest commercial printing plants in Central
America and the Caribbean, focusing on printing school books, catalogues, and magazines. Fabricio has twice
served as president of the local chapter of the Young Presidents Organization. He was co-founder and is current
president of The Monica Herrera School of Communications, an accredited university in El Salvador with over
300 undergraduate students working toward bachelor’s degrees in communication and design. Fabricio serves
on the executive board of the Inter-American Press Association, an 800-member, 50-year-old organization that
monitors and fights for freedom of the press in the region. He has chaired the Internet Committee and currently
chairs the Journalistic Excellence Committee. Fabricio received his BA in Finance from Syracuse University in 1988.
He is a 2010 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
BEN AUSTIN
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Policy and Advocacy Director, Students Matter
UNITED STATES
Ben Austin leads policy development and advocacy for Students Matter, where he manages the politics and
policy related to the landmark Vergara civil rights litigation. Ben comes to the Students Matter team from Parent
Revolution, an organization focused on transforming underperforming public schools by empowering parents to
advocate for their children through grassroots community organizing, which Ben both founded and led for six
years. In his role at Parent Revolution, Ben created, implemented, and scaled California’s historic parent trigger
law, which enables parents to turn around failing schools. Ben has dedicated much of his career to fighting for a
California where every child can get a great public education. Prior to founding Parent Revolution, Ben helped
run the successful campaign to transform Locke High School from the most violent and lowest-performing high
school in Los Angeles into a college preparatory model. He served as a deputy mayor of Los Angeles under Mayor
Richard Riordan and was a senior advisor to Rob Reiner and First 5 California from 2002-2006, where he invented
and launched LAUP (Los Angeles Universal Preschool). In 2010, Ben was appointed to the California State Board of
Education. Ben came to the education space through a career in Democratic politics, during which he worked on
five presidential campaigns and served in the Clinton White House in a number of different capacities. Ben graduated with honors from UC Berkeley in 1991 and graduated cum laude and on law review from Georgetown Law
School in 1998. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Tracy, and their two daughters, Fiona and Eloise,
who attend their neighborhood public school. Ben is a Fellow of the tenth class of the Pahara-Aspen Education
Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
PATRICK AWUAH
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — GHANA
Founder & President, Ashesi University Foundation
GHANA
Patrick Awuah is founder and president of Ashesi University College in Ghana. Before founding Ashesi, Patrick
worked as a program manager for Microsoft. He holds bachelor’s degrees in engineering and economics
from Swarthmore College and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Patrick was nominated as
a 2007 World Economic Forum Global Leader and was awarded Membership of the Order of the Volta by His
Excellency, President J.A. Kufuor of Ghana. In 2009, he won the John P. McNulty Prize for outstanding projects
of Fellows of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. He is a member of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary
Foreign Aid (ACVFA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development. He is a member of the United States
Council on Foreign Relations, the Pacific Council on International Policy, and the Tau Beta Pi honor society. He
is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Africa Leadership Initiative-Ghana and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
MEHRDAD BAGHAI
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Director, Alchemy Growth Partners
AUSTRALIA
Mehrdad Baghai is managing director of Alchemy Growth Partners, a boutique advisory and venture firm he
founded in 2005. Prior to Alchemy, Mehrdad was an executive director and chair of the commercial executive
committee at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. He was previously a partner in McKinsey and Company’s
Sydney and Toronto offices and co-leader of the firm’s worldwide growth practice. Mehrdad is executive chairman
of Emue Technologies and has served as chairman and CEO of Natural HealthLink. He has worked as an attorney
with Coudert Brothers and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. Mehrdad is co-founder of High Resolves, a community
project around global citizenship which has reached almost 20,000 high school students. He has had an economist role with the World Bank, been a consultant to the UN Secretariat, and served on the board of directors of
UNICEF Australia. Mehrdad is co-author of As One, The Alchemy of Growth, and The Granularity of Growth. He
earned his Master of Public Policy as a Kennedy Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Juris
Doctor from Harvard Law School. Mehrdad is a 2004 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member
of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JIM BALFANZ
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
President, City Year, Inc.
UNITED STATES
Jim Balfanz is president of City Year, a role he has held since 2010. He led the organization’s strategic shift toward
leveraging national service to focus on improving student achievement in high-need urban schools and played
a leadership role in developing Diplomas Now, which was awarded a $36 million Investing in Innovation Award
by the US Department of Education. Prior to this, Jim served as City Year’s COO for five years, guiding the
organization through a period of growth that enabled it to scale from 15 to 21 US locations and launch its
second international affiliate in London. He was previously founding executive director of City Year Greater
Philadelphia, deputy director of national affairs, and director of new site development for the organization. Jim
began his work with City Year as a corps member at a Head Start Program in Boston in 1993. He serves on the
boards of Mass Insight Education, Eye to Eye, and City Year London. He received his undergraduate degree from
Northeastern University and is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Executive Management Program.
Jim is a Fellow of the fourth class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
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Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
SKIP BATTLE
SENIOR MODERATOR, THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
UNITED STATES
A. George (Skip) Battle is a senior fellow of the Aspen Institute as well as a long time Institute moderator. He
was previously executive chairman of the board of Ask Jeeves, which was acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp in
July 2005. Prior to that, he was CEO of the company from 2000 to 2003. From 1968 until his retirement in 1995,
Skip served in management roles at Arthur Andersen LLP and then Andersen Consulting LLP (now Accenture),
where he became worldwide managing partner of market development and a member of the firm’s executive
committee. He currently serves as a board member of FICO and is a former board member of OpenTable, Netflix,
LinkedIn, Workday, and Expedia, Inc. He was previously a director of the Masters Select Family of Mutual Funds,
PeopleSoft, Advent Software, and Barra, Inc. He is also a grape farmer in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County,
California. He received a BA with highest distinction in economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA in finance
from Stanford Business School, where he held McCarthy and University Fellowships, and has lectured at Stanford
Business School, University of California-Berkeley Business School, and the American University. Skip makes his
home in Berkeley, California.
BRUNO BERTHON
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Global Managing Director, Accenture Strategy
FRANCE
Bruno Berthon serves as Managing Director for Accenture Digital Strategy and for Accenture Strategy in France &
BeNeLux. He is also in charge of Accenture Strategy Executive Education programs and of the Digital Disruption
Research program. He was also the founder of Accenture Sustainability Services and still practices in that space.
Bruno’s expertise lies in helping multinational clients evaluate and transform business opportunities and challenges related to major disruptive trends, including digital, climate change or social sustainability across industrial
sectors, and in public service, and to support them on their transformational journey. Bruno has been working
for the past 20 years with the top management of large multinationals and administrations across several industrial sectors, including consumer goods, retail, transportation, hi-technology and media on their transformation
agendas, helping them address the challenges of globalization, large-scale operating model change, the Internet
and now digital revolutions, and innovation and sustainability-led transformation. Bruno lives in Paris; he graduated from Ecole Centrale Paris and holds an MBA from INSEAD, a master’s degree in Macroeconomics from La
Sorbonne and a Degree in Law.
KEITH BERWICK
SENIOR MODERATOR
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
UNITED STATES
Keith Berwick is a senior fellow of the Aspen Institute and inaugural holder of the Keith Berwick Chair of
Leadership. He moderates seminars for the India Leadership Initiative, the Africa Leadership Initiative, the Catto
Fellowship in environmental leadership, and other programs of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. From 1996
to 2007, he served as executive director of the Henry Crown Fellowship Program, and from 2003 to 2004, he
was executive vice president for seminars of the Aspen Institute. Berwick is a four-time Emmy Award-winning
television broadcaster and principal of Berwick Communication, a newspaper and communication consulting
company. He was founding president of Barry Ambrosetti & Associates, associate editor of Pacific Historical
Review, editor of New Management magazine, an co-publisher with his wife Sheena of the Country News. He has
taught at UCLA, the Claremont Graduate School, Pepperdine University, and University of Southern California’s
Marshall School of Business. Berwick is author of The American Revolutionary Experience, 1776-1976 and The
Federal Age, 1789-1829, among other historical works. He has served on the board of the Santa Barbara Foundation
and the Eleos Foundation and is a lifetime trustee of the Aspen Institute. He earned his PhD in US history at the
University of Chicago.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
AMIT BHATIA
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Chief Executive Officer, Impact Investors Council (India)
INDIA
Amit Bhatia is a social entrepreneur and CEO for Impact Investors Council in India. Previously, he was founder
and chairman of Aspire, an employability education firm in India that has trained over 62,000 students across 100
institutions in 16 states since 2007. Amit has been recognized as a 2008 Education Czar by Mint, was a finalist for
the Aspen Institute’s John P. McNulty Prize in 2010 and winner in 2012, was featured in Fast Company in 2011, was
recognized as a Young Turk by CNBC-TV18, and was featured by Business Today as one of 66 Reasons to Keep
Your Faith in India in 2013. Until 2007, Amit was CEO of WNS Knowledge Services, which he successfully listed
on the New York Stock Exchange with a $1 billion IPO. Amit was previously the founding country manager for
FreeMarkets, Inc.; conceived, founded, and led the McKinsey Knowledge Centre in India; and held business and
financial analysis positions at American Express. Amit has a master’s degree from Delhi School of Economics and
is a qualified cost and works accountant. He is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the India Leadership Initiative and
a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
SHELLEY BILLIK
CATTO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Chief Strategy Officer, EcoBiz
UNITED STATES
Shelley Levin Billik is chief strategy officer at her firm EcoBiz, in Los Angeles, California, where she consults to
businesses and organizations on their environmental sustainability goals. She is also consulting to various bidders
on the City of Los Angeles’ recycling and composting initiatives beginning in 2017. Before EcoBiz, Shelley was Vice
President of Environmental Initiatives at Warner Bros. Studios, where for 18 years she created a comprehensive
environmental strategy and sustainability department. Shelley spearheaded several groundbreaking and complex
initiatives, including the first LEED Silver-certified building in the entertainment industry, the first LEED Gold
soundstage in the world, and the first photovoltaic/solar installation in the industry, which would later produce an
additional 500 kilowatts and to this day is the largest in the entertainment industry. Before that, she worked at an
environmental engineering firm, supporting projects focused on Assembly Bill 939, California’s waste reduction
laws that were passed in 1989. She is a Mexico City native who was raised on a agricultural kibbutz in Israel and in
Buenos Aires, Argentina. She pursued a liberal arts education at University of California at Berkeley and at Santa
Cruz, studying music and philosophy and graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in psychology. Shelley loves
to travel, sail, and scuba dive, is a musician, and loves to grow vegetables in her organic garden. She is passionate about organic/sustainable agriculture and improving our soils, renewable energy, and the empowerment of
girls/women. She is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Catto Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
SHARHONDA BOSSIER
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Vice President, Advocacy & Engagement, Education Cities
UNITED STATES
Sharhonda Bossier is vice president for advocacy and engagement at Education Cities. In her current role, she
focuses on helping Education Cities members develop the skills and capacity to engage much more meaningfully
and effectively with stakeholders in the communities in which they work. Prior to joining the Education Cities
team, Sharhonda co-founded Families for Excellent Schools, where she developed its training program and overall parent engagement strategy. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, Sharhonda started her
career in education as a public school teacher and also brings years of legislative and electoral campaign experience in both volunteer and leadership capacities to her work at Education Cities.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
ANDRES BOTRAN
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
President, Ingenio Santa Ana
GUATEMALA
Jose Andres Botran Briz is president of Ingenio Santa Ana, an agriculture business. Prior to this, he was president
of Grupo Edifica SA, a real estate development company. He previously worked in the Guatemalan government,
where he spearheaded the National Public Policy of Food Security and Nutrition and the creation of a new government office, the Secretariat of Food Security and Nutrition. Andres played a key role in launching the UN’s
Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative and was nominated for the 2007 World Food Prize,
which recognizes the best initiatives that work toward strengthening food and nutrition worldwide. Andres has
been a spokesperson in conferences all around the world to address the issue of world hunger and malnutrition,
and he has provided consulting and supported several Latin American governments on the topic. He is a board
member of Financiera Guatemalteca Sociedad Anonima (FIGSA) and Ingenio Santa Ana y Industrias Licoreras
de Guatemala. Andres is married and has two children. He is a Fellow of the third class of the Central America
Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JENNY BOWEN
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Founder & CEO, Half the Sky
UNITED STATES
Jenny Bowen is the founder and CEO of Half the Sky Foundation, which has been partnering with the Chinese
government since 1998 in order to better the lives of orphaned and abandoned children living in state-run welfare
institutions. Half the Sky’s approach has become China’s national standard for care of institutionalized children.
A former screenwriter and independent filmmaker, she is a 2008 recipient of the Skoll Award. Her memoir, Wish
You Happy Forever: What China’s Orphans Taught Me About Moving Mountains, was published by Harper Collins
in 2014, and was recently released in paperback. This year, Half the Sky launches OneSky, a new global initiative
dedicated to unlocking the potential of the world’s most vulnerable children. OneSky’s first project is focused on
transforming the lives and futures of 23 million very young children who are left behind in China’s rural villages
when their parents migrate away to pursue the “Chinese Dream.”
AARON BRENNER
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, The One World Network of Schools
UNITED STATES
Aaron Brenner is head of primary schools for the Knowledge Is Power Program’s early childhood program in KIPP
Houston. He also works with the KIPP Houston executive team, the national KIPP Foundation, and is helping in the
development and launch of KIPP-inspired schools internationally, with a focus on Latin America. He was previously
founder and school leader of KIPP SHINE Prep, the nation’s first KIPP early childhood and elementary school.
Aaron received an Echoing Green Fellowship, which allowed him to open Proyecto Derecho del Corazon, a cultural
arts center in Donna, Texas which he used to teach literacy through the arts. Aaron began his career in education
as a Teach for America corps member in the Rio Grande Valley, where he taught second-grade ESL. He was named
Teacher of the Year at the school, district, and regional levels. He received the KIPP Fisher Fellowship for school
leaders in the spring of 2004 and was a finalist for the Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership in 2007. Outside
of his day-to-day work, Aaron supports and consults the efforts of leadership in Boston, Detroit, South Bend, and
Houston in their efforts to revitalize Catholic and Christian academies working within their most underserved
communities. He graduated from Rhodes College and holds an MA in education from Stanford University, from
which he graduated summa cum laude. Aaron is married to a wonderful teacher, Diana Ruiz Brenner, and they
are the happy parents of Isabella, four, and Maria Fernanda, five. He is a Fellow of the third class of Pahara-Aspen
Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
JEAN-CLAUDE BRIZARD
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
President, UpSpring Education Group, LLC
UNITED STATES
Jean-Claude Brizard is president of UpSpring Education Group, a network of experienced education practitioners
and not-for-profit leaders who work to develop proof points in education and whose goal is to support the
strategic, instructional, and operational work of school superintendents, public charter leaders, and education
organizations across the United States and abroad. Jean-Claude spent the 2013 calendar year as an advisor
to the leadership of College Board, developing the organization’s career-readiness initiative. This engagement
culminated in a strategic plan for integrating career readiness into the College Board’s mission and a special supplement that was published as part of the 45th edition of the PDK/Gallup Poll of the Publics Attitudes toward the
Public Schools. He is the former chief executive of Chicago Public Schools. Prior to his appointment in Chicago,
he was superintendent of schools for the Rochester City (NY) School District. Under Jean-Claude’s leadership,
both the Chicago Public Schools and the Rochester City School District saw substantial improvements in student
performance. He introduced a comprehensive change agenda across the Chicago Public Schools, including closing
a significant budget gap of more than $1.3 billion over two fiscal years while preserving core reforms and investing in classrooms. He developed a new framework for teaching, and the system saw record increases in student
achievement, in graduation rates, and on college-readiness benchmarks. He created a blueprint for reform that
will continue to serve as a roadmap for years to come. Jean-Claude’s experience also includes a 21-year career as
an educator and administrator with the New York City Department of Education. He served as a regional superintendent, supervising more than 100 schools in the Borough of Brooklyn, and as the system’s executive director
for secondary schools. Jean-Claude is a Fellow of the Broad Center, a Fellow of the third class of the Pahara-Aspen
Education Fellowship, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
MICHELLE BROOKE-MARCINIAK
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Co-Founder/Co-Chief Executive Officer, SHEEX, Inc.
UNITED STATES
Michelle Brooke-Marciniak is co-founder and co-CEO of SHEEX, Inc., the world’s first performance-fabric bedding company with globally patented technology. Inspired by the feel and breathability of athletic performance
fabrics, Michelle and co-founder Susan Walvius shook up the bedding world in 2007 by inventing a whole new
“performance home” category in home textiles. Their beachhead into the marketplace was performance-fabric
bedsheets; they have since expanded into an entire SHEEX Sleep System, including SHEEX performance nightwear. In 2012, they were recognized by Ernst & Young as Winning Women, an honor celebrating the top female
entrepreneurs in America. Michelle made her entrepreneurial debut having already distinguished herself as one of
the most outstanding point guards to ever play women’s basketball, starring at the University of Tennessee under
coach Pat Summitt. A leader on the court, Michelle ran the Lady Vols offense while guiding Tennessee to the 1995
and 1996 NCAA title games, as well as a National Championship in 1996, and was named the NCAA Tournament
Most Valuable Player. She began her six-year professional playing career in the ABL en route to becoming a fan
favorite for the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. Michelle stepped into the coaching arena in 2003 as an assistant coach at
the University of South Carolina, where she inked back-to-back top-ten nationally ranked recruiting classes. Given
her entrepreneurial skills, Michelle has also become a highly sought-after speaker and panelist. She serves on
the board of the Pat Summitt Foundation and as an advisory board member of Ernst & Young’s Women Athletes
Business Network. Michelle is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
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DAVID BROOKS
Columnist, The New York Times
UNITED STATES
David Brooks’s column on the op-ed page of The New York Times started in September 2003. He has been a senior
editor at The Weekly Standard, a contributing editor at Newsweek and The Atlantic Monthly, and he is currently
a commentator on “PBS Newshour” with Jim Lehrer. He is the author of Bobos In Paradise: The New Upper Class
and How They Got There and On Paradise Drive: How We Live Now (and Always Have) in the Future Tense. David
joined The Weekly Standard at its inception in September 1995, having worked at The Wall Street Journal for
the previous nine years. His last post at the Journal was as op-ed editor. Prior to that, he was posted in Brussels,
covering Russia, the Middle East, South Africa, and European affairs. His first post at the Journal was as editor of
the book review section, and he filled in for five months as the Journal’s movie critic. David graduated from the
University of Chicago in 1983 and worked as a police reporter for the City News Bureau, a wire service owned
jointly by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.
PAULINE BROWN
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Chairman, LVMH Inc.
UNITED STATES
Pauline Brown is chairman of North America for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. For more than 25 years, she
has helped to acquire, grow, and lead premium global brands. At LVMH, the world’s leading luxury goods company, she provides regional leadership for 65 brands in five sectors, including fashion and leather goods, perfumes
and cosmetics, watches and jewelry, wines and spirits, and selective retailing. She also serves on the boards of L
Capital, a private equity fund backed by LVMH; Moda Operandi, an online luxury retailer; and several LVMH’s subsidiaries, including Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, and Fresh Cosmetics. Earlier in her career, Pauline was a managing
director at The Carlyle Group, where she led investments in the consumer and retail sectors. Prior to Carlyle, she
was the senior vice president of corporate strategy and global business development at Avon Products, responsible for developing the company’s long-term growth strategy and driving key components of a major restructuring
plan. Pauline joined Avon from The Estee Lauder Companies, where she was the vice president of corporate strategy and new business development in charge of all mergers, acquisitions, and licensing efforts. Pauline began
her career as a management consultant at Bain & Company. She currently sits on the boards of directors of the
National Retail Federation, Parsons School of Design, and the French-American Chamber of Commerce. Pauline
earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Dartmouth College
and is a member of the executive alumni councils at both schools. She is 2008 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen
Institute and a member of the Fellowship’s board of overseers as well as the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
SCOTT BUSH
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Director, JPMorgan
UNITED STATES
William P. (Scott) Bush is a managing director in St. Louis for J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with responsibility for market leadership in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebreska. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan in late 2011, he
was managing director and co-founder of WhiteHawk Capital, a renewable energy, energy security, and energy
infrastructure private equity firm. Prior to WhiteHawk, Scott held senior executive management positions at
Maritz, most recently as CEO and president of Maritz Performance Improvement Company and as CMO and head
of global sales at Maritz Inc. Scott previously served as corporate vice president for Trans World Airlines (TWA)
and filled venture capital, private equity, and investment banking roles earlier in his career at Bush O’Donnell,
H&Q, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and J.P. Morgan. From 1988 to 1989, he served as director of
special placement in the Office of Presidential Personnel at the White House. Scott serves on numerous nonprofit
boards and previously served as a board member for American Express Incentive Services. He holds an MBA
from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in American studies
from Yale University. He is a 2005 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
DONNA BYRD
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Publisher, The Root
UNITED STATES
Donna is publisher of TheRoot.com, a daily online magazine that provides thought-provoking commentary on
today’s news from a variety of African-American perspectives. She helped launch TheRoot.com in 2008 and has
worked to build it into the number one African-American news site in the U.S. Prior to joining TheRoot.com, Donna
was CEO of Black America Web, where she worked with entrepreneur and national radio personality Tom Joyner
to launch one of the top three African-American news and lifestyle websites. She was also a founding partner of
Kickoff Marketing, a strategic planning and brand firm. Her online career began in 1999 when she served as vice
president of marketing for Ezgov.com. Donna has held previous positions at The Coca-Cola Company as brand
manager, and Procter and Gamble where she developed and managed marketing strategies and advertising for
new products, among other initiatives. Donna has a B.A. in American Government from the University of Virginia,
and an M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She also attended Graduate Business School at
The University of Cape Town, South Africa. She is a 2012 Henry Crown Fellows of the Aspen Institute and a member
of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
LATOYA CANTRELL
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
City Councilwoman, New Orleans City Council
UNITED STATES
LaToya Cantrell was elected as District “B” Councilmember in December 2012 and re-elected without opposition
in February 2014. Before joining the City Council, LaToya was a nonprofit management executive for over 10
years, where she gained valuable experience in education reform, strategic planning, neighborhood revitalization,
financial management, economic development and grass roots organizing. Post-Katrina, she led the citizens’ fight
to save Broadmoor after it was flooded due to levee failures. LaToya was recognized as a Restore America Hero
by the National Trust of Historic Preservation and a Young Leadership Council role model and one of the “New
Orleans People to Watch, Gambit 40 under 40,” and most received a “Wisdom of Women” award by Planned
Parenthood. LaToya is a member of the New Orleans Citizens’ Diplomacy Council advisory board, Canal Street
Development Corporation, Broadmoor Education Corridor, French Market Corporation board of directors, and
New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation board of directors. As a community leader and elected official,
LaToya is committed to always lending an ear to neighborhood concerns. She is a graduate of Xavier University of
Louisiana, earning a BA degree in sociology and completed executive management training at Harvard’s Kennedy
School of Government. While serving on the city council, LaToya has been recognized as Best Neighborhood
Councilperson by Neighborhoods Partnership Network, the Mondale-Brooke Award for Fair housing leadership
and participation, and the LGBT’s 2013 Allies Award. She is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and
a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JOSEPH CASTRO
RESNICK LEADERSHIP FELLOW
President, California State University, Fresno
UNITED STATES
Joseph Castro is president of California State University at Fresno, a position he was appointed to in 2013. He previously served in faculty and administrative positions at the University of California for 23 years. Born in Hanford,
California, Joseph received his bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public policy from
University of California at Berkeley. He received his PhD in educational policy and leadership from Stanford
University. Joseph’s wife, Mary, is a full-time volunteer for Fresno State. They have three children: Isaac, a graduate
of UC Berkeley; Lauren, a student at Humboldt State University; and Jess, a preschool student at Fresno State’s
Huggins Center.
LEONG CHEUNG
CHINA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Executive Director, Charities and Community, Hong Kong Jockey Club
HONG KONG
Leong Cheung is executive director of charities and community of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, a position he was
appointed to in August 2014. He also serves as co-founder and chairman of RunOurCity, a foundation that gener100
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
ates positive social impacts through running programs for young people. Leong was formerly an operating partner
with Bain Capital Asia. Prior to joining Bain Capital in 2008, he was managing director of global sourcing and
supply chain for Esquel Enterprises. He was an entrepreneur and a senior consultant with the Boston Consulting
Group before that. Leong has a diverse exposure in community engagements. He taught strategy and change
implementation at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for five years as a part-time lecturer from 1999
to 2003, co-founded the young professional forum 30S Group in 2003, and has been a director of Social Venture
Hong Kong (SVHK) since its inception in 2007. A Chinese mainland native who grew up in Hong Kong, Leong
obtained a BBA from CUHK and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He is a Fellow of the inaugural class
of the China Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
CALVIN CHIN
CHINA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
CEO, Transist Impact Labs
CHINA
Calvin Chin is a co-founder of Transist Impact Labs, an incubator and investor in impact-driven tech start-ups
in China. He is the founder and former CEO of Qifang, China’s first online student loan service and, in 2009, the
first Chinese company recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer. In 2011, Fast Company
named him one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business. He is a Social Innovation Park Fellow and was named
2009 Chinese Business Leader of the Year by Horasis and Baker & McKenzie. Calvin is a World Economic Forum
Young Global Leader and served on its Global Agenda Council on Social Innovation. He has an MBA from TRIUM
(NYU, LSE, HEC Paris) and a BA from Yale. He is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the China Fellowship Program
and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JOHN CIANCUTTI
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Chief Product Officer, Coursera, Inc
UNITED STATES
John Ciancutti is the first chief product officer of Coursera, which he joined in November 2013. Coursera is an
education platform that partners with top universities and organizations worldwide to offer courses online for
anyone to take, for free. John is a veteran leader in Silicon Valley, known for his long and successful career at
Netflix, where he went from one of the first engineers to running all of product engineering, and more recently for
his leadership at Facebook. At Facebook, he led product management and engineering as director of engineering
for products such as Facebook Pages, location services, photos, and video. During his 12-year tenure at Netflix,
John led personalization, search, social integration, and the Netflix user experience on web, phones, tablets, and
television-connected devices. In his earlier years as a software engineer, he helped design and develop the first
personalization systems for the company, developing Netflix’s reputation as one of the most advanced movie-recommendation services in the world. John graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1997 with a
BS in computer science and a focus in artificial intelligence and adaptive systems. He is a 2012 Henry Crown Fellow
of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ARTURO CONDO
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Professor, INCAE Business School
COSTA RICA
Arturo Condo is president of INCAE Business School, where he is also a full professor. He also works as an independent consultant in strategic planning and global strategy. He was previously a director of the Latin American
Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development. Arturo serves as senior institute associate of the
Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School. He is an author and co-author of articles,
books, and teaching cases in his areas of expertise. Arturo was recognized as a 2008 World Economic Forum
Young Global Leader. He is a member of the global advisory board of the Oath Project and Fundación Paniamor.
Arturo has a doctorate in business administration from Harvard Business School and a MBA with high honors from
INCAE Business School. He is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Central American Leadership Initiative and a
member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
VERA CORDEIRO
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Founder & Chairwoman of the board, Associacao Saude Crianca
BRAZIL
Vera Cordeiro is founder and chairwoman of the board of Associacao Saude Crianca (ASC), founded in 1991. ASC
is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, non-religious organization that works together public hospitals breaking
the cycle of readmissions of critically ill children from low-income, high risk environments. ASC’s work has been
responsible for a 60% decrease in hospitalization days among assisted families, 38% increase in average family
income and significant annual savings in public spending in which helps keep more hospital beds open to those
who truly need them. For its transparency, impact and wide applicability has been rewarded various prizes by
institutions from around the world. Vera is globally recognized for her groundbreaking work in social inclusion.
She is an Ashoka fellow, a Skoll Foundation and a Schwab Foundation social entrepreneur, and an Avina leader.
She is member of the world council of Ashoka and served as a board member of PATH: A Catalyst for Global
Health from 2005-2011.
EMILE CUBEISY
MIDDLE EAST LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Managing Partner, Silicon Badia
JORDAN
Emile Cubeisy is managing partner at Silicon Badia Ventures. Formerly, he was managing director of IV Holdings,
an early stage venture capital firm dedicated to the development of Arab online and interactive ventures. He is
a director of Jeeran, Gate2Play, Dakwak, Mixed Dimensions, and several other regional online and digital media
companies. Emile is a board advisor of Oasis 500, an accelerator for entrepreneurial ventures in Jordan that he
helped found. In 2005, he helped establish Accelerator Technology Holdings, a company dedicated to investing
in and building best-of-breed ventures in the tech value chain across the Arab world. In that year, the World
Economic Forum selected Emile as a member of its Young Global Leaders. In 2003, he served as director of the
Jordan Education Initiative. In 2000, he served as director of initiatives at Jordan’s Ministry of Information and
Communications Technology. Emile attended the University of Southern California, where majored in economics
and political science. He is a Fellow of the third class of the Middle East Leadership Initiative of the Aspen Institute
and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JOSEPH DANIELS
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
President & Chief Executive Officer, 9/11 Memorial & Museum
UNITED STATES
Joseph Daniels is president and CEO of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade
Center Foundation. As head of the organization dedicated to building a memorial and museum to honor the
victims of September 11, 2001, he directs all planning, construction, and development. He has led the foundation
to many accomplishments, including a 25 city national tour and an initial capital fundraising goal of $350 million.
After joining the 9/11 Memorial in 2005 as general counsel, Joe served as acting president and CEO for several
months before being named president and CEO in October 2006. Prior to his work with the 9/11 Memorial, he was
chief of external initiatives at the Robin Hood Foundation, leading the expansion and rollout of the second phase
of its Library Initiative, a $45 million public-private partnership that put state-of-the-art libraries into underperforming New York City elementary schools. Prior to that, Joe was a consultant at McKinsey & Co. and an attorney
at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, where he represented private equity funds in their acquisition-financing transactions.
Since 2002, Joe has served on the board of the Hope Program as chair of the strategic planning committee. The
Hope Program offers job training, food, and emergency grants to New York’s needy. Joe holds a JD from the
University of Pennsylvania Law School and a BA in history from Washington University. He is a 2012 Henry Crown
Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
DIEGO DE SOLA
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
CEO, Bolivar Investments
EL SALVADOR
Diego de Sola is a Central American committed to making a positive impact on the region through his business
and nonprofit endeavors. He is currently CEO of Inversiones Bolivar SA de CV, a 60-year-old real estate develop102
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
ment firm specializing in multi-level housing and commercial projects. Previous to this, he served as CFO of UNEX
SA de CV, a bi-national coffee exporter for El Salvador and Guatemala, and before that worked as an investment
banker with Citicorp Securities / Salomon Smith Barney in New York City. In addition to his role as chairman
of Glasswing International, he participates actively on the board of the Salvadoran Chamber of Construction
(CASALCO) and on INCAE Business School’s El Salvador National Committee. In 2012 he was selected by the
World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. Diego attended the Hotchkiss School, received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, and earned an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. He currently resides
in El Salvador with his wife, Alexandra, and his three boys, Diego Xavier, Herbert, and Alejandro. He is a Fellow of
the inaugural class of the Central America Leadership Initiative and a member of and moderator for the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
JOHN DEASY
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Superintendent in Residence, The Broad Center
UNITED STATES
John E. Deasy consults for The Broad Center for the management of school systems as a superintendent-in-residence. In this role, John provides executive coaching to Center alumni leading urban public school systems as well
as facilitates professional development sessions for The Broad Academy. Most recently, John was superintendent
of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where he led improvements that propelled student achievement and high school graduation rates to historic levels in the nation’s second-largest school district. At LAUSD,
he championed a “youth first” agenda credited with reversing the district’s school-to-prison pipeline, raising
achievement and helping more students graduate ready for college and the workplace. John previously served as
superintendent in Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
in California and Coventry Public Schools in Rhode Island. He was named Superintendent of the Year in 2001
by the Rhode Island School Superintendents’ Association. A former high school principal, John focused school
improvement efforts on child-centered, outcomes-based practices, including alternative assessment, school-towork transition programs and interdisciplinary instruction. He has been a Broad Fellow, an Annenberg Fellow, and
a consultant to school districts undertaking high-school reform and district-wide improvement strategies. He is a
Fellow of the inaugural class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of and moderator for the
Aspen Global Leadership Network.
STEPHEN DEBERRY
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Chief Investments Officer, Bronze Investments
UNITED STATES
Stephen DeBerry is the chief investment officer of Bronze Investments. Previously, Stephen was a partner at Kapor
Capital where he helped build early impact investing strategy with Lotus Development founder, Mitch Kapor.
Before that he served as investment director at Omidyar Network, the mission-based investment firm started
by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam. During his earliest days in Silicon Valley Stephen managed
business development at Interval Research, the research lab established by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. In
addition to his investment work Stephen is an active contributor to nonprofit organizations. He is a member of the
national board of directors for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and a former trustee and member
of the Investment Committee at The California Endowment. He also serves the boards Friends of New Orleans and
The Dalai Lama Foundation. Stephen earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with highest honors from UCLA
as well as a master’s degree in social anthropology and a MBA degree from Oxford University. He is a Marshall
Scholar. He lives in Mill Valley, California with his wife, Cristine (Chief of Staff to San Francisco District Attorney
George Gascon) and two daughters. Stephen has been honored by Ebony Magazine and The Root/Washington
Post as one of the most influential African-Americans in the United States. Stephen is a 2004 Henry Crown Fellow
of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
ORODE DOHERTY
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — WEST AFRICA
Country Director, Africare Nigeria
NIGERIA
Orode Omolara Doherty is a pediatrician and public health physician and the country director for Africare Nigeria
where she is responsible for overseeing the implementation of several high impact projects, including comprehensive integrated malaria programming services in ten of Nigeria’s twenty four high burden states, care for orphans
and vulnerable children through education and economic empowerment for caregivers and pioneering integrated
life skills leadership and sports programming for in-school youth in partnership with the private sector. In the
year preceding her appointment, she took the lead on a transformational opportunity for the oldest Children’s
Hospital in Nigeria working with a team of independent experts and the state Government. She served previously
as project director for Africare’s Technical Response to AIDS-Affected Populations (TAP) project in Nigeria as well
as the pioneer pediatric advisor at Columbia University’s International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment programs (ICAP). In both these positions, she led teams responsible for establishing over 120 community based HIV
care and treatment access centers across nine states in Nigeria. Orode was an award winning Pediatric resident
and clinician at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, a pediatric center of excellence in the US. She obtained her
medical degree from the University of Benin Medical School in Nigeria and a Masters of Public Health degree from
Harvard University. She and her husband ‘Funso have three children. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of
Pediatrics, Associate Fellow of the West African Post Graduate Medical College, Fellow of the African Leadership
Initiative West Africa, and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
SONIA DOMINGUEZ
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Program Development Assistant, USAID/Guatemala
GUATEMALA
Sonia Domínguez is the program development assistant for the Food Security Program in the US Agency for
International Development in Guatemala. She has been working for USAID since 1998 in several chapters, including
food security, democracy, disaster preparedness, and poverty reduction. Her 16-year career with such programs
has given her a broad view of Guatemala’s rural reality and knowledge of successful models in the field. Sonia
is also the co-founder of Orejitas de Amor/Ears of Love, a foundation to support children born with congenital
malformations and hearing loss. She holds a degree in organizational psychology and a master’s degree in development and decentralization from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. She is married and has two little girls.
Sonia is a Fellow of the eighth class of the Central America Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
KRISTE DRAGON
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Citizens of the World Charter Schools
UNITED STATES
Kriste Dragon is co-founder and CEO at Citizens of the World Charter Schools. She previously served as executive director of Teach For America in Los Angeles and vice president of regional operations for six of Teach For
America’s western regions. In that role, Kriste was responsible for the placement and ongoing support of over
900 Teach For America corps members. She has also served as professional development coordinator at UCLA’s
Center X, developing mathematics curricula and training more than 4,000 teachers in the Los Angeles Unified
School District. She began her work in education as a middle school mathematics teacher in south Los Angeles.
Kriste served as founding board chair for Citizens of the World Charter School Hollywood, vice chair of Community
Magnet Charter School for five years, and a board member of Larchmont Charter Schools for eight years. She has
a JD from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Alabama.
Kriste is a member of the first cohort of the Broad Fellowship for Education Leaders. She is a Fellow of the sixth
class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
AMI DROR
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Zaitoun Ventures
ISRAEL
Ami Dror is co-founder and CEO of Zaitoun Ventures, a business development company that connects Israeli and
Arab entrepreneurs and manages businesses across the Middle East. Prior to founding Zaitoun Ventures, Ami
had a successful public sector career as both a captain in the Israeli secret service and as vice consul in Israel’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Moving into the private sector, Ami co-founded XPAND 3D in 2005 and grew it into
one of the biggest 3D companies in the world, with over 15,000 3D cinema installations worldwide and millions
of 3D consumer products sold every year via retail channels. Working as the company’s chief strategy officer, Ami
was the driving force behind key industry innovations. In 2008 he initiated the work on the first FHD 3DTV and
a few months later, during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2009, XPAND and Panasonic showcased the
first product. Expanding the market, Ami led the formation of FHD3DTV, a licensing company, jointly owned by
Sony, Samsung, XPAND, and Panasonic. Seeking new challenges, he also led the development of a medical device
company within XPAND. This effort led to the introduction of Amblyz, a totally new approach in the treatment of
children’s amblyopia. Ami is also an angel investor, investing and connecting innovative media companies with
his network, including major Hollywood studios and consumer electronics companies. He sits on several boards,
including those of New York City-based Audience Entertainment and Tel-Aviv based BABEL5. Ami holds a BSc in
computer engineering and international marketing. He is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a
member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JANET ECHELMAN
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Sculptor, Studio Echelman
UNITED STATES
Janet Echelman builds living, breathing sculpture environments that respond to the forces of nature — wind,
water, and light — and become inviting focal points for civic life. Exploring the potential of unlikely materials,
from fishing nets to atomized water particles, Janet combines ancient craft with cutting-edge technology to
create her permanent sculpture at the scale of buildings. Experiential in nature, the result is sculpture that shifts
from being an object you look at to something you can get lost in. Recent prominent works include: Her Secret
is Patience, spanning two city blocks in downtown Phoenix; Water Sky Garden, which premiered for the 2010
Vancouver Winter Olympics; She Changes on the waterfront in Porto, Portugal; and Every Beating Second in San
Francisco Airport’s new Terminal Two. Recipient of the Harvard GSD Loeb Fellowship, a Fulbright Lectureship, and
a Guggenheim Fellowship, Janet was named Architectural Digest’s 2012 Innovator for “changing the very essence
of urban spaces.” Her TED talk “Taking Imagination Seriously” has been translated into 33 languages and is estimated to have been viewed by more than one million people worldwide. She now lives in Brookline, Massachusetts
with her husband and their two children. Janet is a 2006 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member
of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
DI-ANN EISNOR
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Head of Growth, Waze/Google
UNITED STATES
Di-Ann Eisnor is head of global partnerships for Waze, the crowdsourced navigation and real-time traffic start-up.
Founded in Israel, Waze was sold to Google for approximately $1.13 billion in June 2013. Working across governments, international media, and local community groups, Di-Ann continues to spearhead the company’s global
initiatives to make connected cities a reality. Prior to joining Waze, Di-Ann was co-founder and CEO of Platial, The
People’s Atlas, a collaborative, user-generated, cartographic website that enabled people to map the things that
are important to them. She also founded Community-Centric Marketing, an Amsterdam-based consulting firm
helping brands and media companies work with social media; and Eisnor Interactive, an offline promotion agency
engaged in building and communicating Internet brands. Di-Ann serves on the board of Gray Area Foundation for
the Arts (GAFFTA) and speaks widely on mobile, location, advertising, connected cities, and crowdsourcing. She
holds a BS in studio art and business administration from New York University. She is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow
of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
CHADIA EL MEOUCHI NAOUM
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Partner, Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm
LEBANON
Chadia El Meouchi Naoum is managing partner of th Badri and Salim El Meouchi law firm, one of the oldest
regional law firms with offices in Lebanon, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. She is a visiting professor at Pantheon
Assas University for the LLM in business law, a member of the Lebanese committee for Human Rights Watch,
a co-founder and board member of Les Journées des Sciences Association, a founder and board member of
Young Arab Leaders Lebanon, and head of the Legal and Regulatory Committee of the Lebanese Corporate
Governance Task Force. Chadia served as a board member for the Lebanese Transparency Association until 2009.
She is a member of the New York Bar and has an LLM from Georgetown University, an LLB from the University
of Montreal, a BA from Concordia University, and a license in alternative methods of conflict resolution by the
Canadian International Commerce Arbitration Centre. She has a postgraduate diploma in oil and gas law from
Robert Gordon University at Aberdeen in the UK and is enrolled in an LLM/MSc in oil and gas law. She also has
an Islamic Finance Qualification from the UK Securities and Investment Institute and the École Superieure des
Affaires. She is the co-founder of the Middle East Leadership Initiative, a 2008 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen
Institute, and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JACQUELINE ELLIOT
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
President & Chief Executive Officer, Partnerships to Uplift Communities National
UNITED STATES
Jacqueline Elliot is president and CEO of Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC) National and co-founder of
PUC, an organization that strives to revitalize socio-economically challenged communities by creating high-quality charter schools. Since 1999, when she founded the first school, Community Charter Middle School, Jacqueline
has co-developed and operated a network of 13 high-achieving public charter schools located in two high-need
communities in Los Angeles. She is currently spearheading a national expansion effort that will begin with the
founding of a cluster of PUC schools in Rochester, New York. Jacqueline has been dedicated to school reform since
1986, when she first became a public school teacher in Los Angeles, following a brief career in public health. She
has served on several boards and councils that currently include the 501c4 board for the California Charter School
Association and the board for Fenton Public Charter Schools in Los Angeles. In 2009, Jacqueline earned her
Doctorate of Education in educational leadership and change from Fielding Graduate University. She has an MA
in educational administration, a BA in anthropology, and a multiple-subjects teaching credential. Jacqueline is a
Fellow of the ninth class of the Pahara-Aspen Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
BROOKS ENTWISTLE
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Partner & Group CEO, Everstone Capital
SINGAPORE
Brooks Entwistle is a partner and chief executive officer of The Everstone Group, an India- and Southeast Asiafocused private equity and real estate investor. Headquartered in Singapore, Everstone has 180 employees across
five offices (Singapore, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mauritius) and manages approximately $3 billion. As CEO
of Everstone, Brooks leads the day-to-day management of the firm, with a particular focus on large-deal origination and cross-border transactions. Prior to joining Everstone in 2014, Brooks was a partner at Goldman Sachs,
where he spent 22 years in various capacities, including 15 years based in Asia. Most recently, he was chairman of
Goldman Sachs Southeast Asia and CEO of Goldman Sachs Singapore. Prior to this, he spent five years in Mumbai
as CEO and founder of Goldman Sachs India, where he was responsible for leading and building the firm across
all divisions. He also served as the founder and co-head of Goldman Sachs Asia’s High Technology Group. Earlier
in his career, Brooks was a district electoral supervisor with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
(UNTAC). Brooks holds an AB from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is currently
a board member of The Asia Foundation, The Aspen Institute, EmancipAction, and Young Life and a member
of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Explorers Club. Brooks is a 2007 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen
Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
LAURA ENTWISTLE
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Founder & CEO, EmancipAction
SINGAPORE
Laura Entwistle is the founder and CEO of EmancipAction, a nonprofit organization which seeks to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the developing world through its strategic work with best-in-class NGOs
and forward-thinking governments. Laura has extensive experience living and working in Asia, having spent more
than a decade advising clients in Hong Kong, China, and India. After receiving an MBA from the Harvard Business
School, she gained professional experience in the corporate sector with the Boston Consulting Group in New
York and Hong Kong. Together, these equipped her with the tools for her work on the social issues that she cares
deeply about: education and social justice. During her five years living in Mumbai, Laura served as president of the
board of trustees at the American School of Bombay and founded the Mumbai chapter of Room to Read. Laura
currently lives in Singapore along with her husband, Brooks, and her three young daughters, Bryanna, Kayla, and
Ashley. She serves on the board of directors of the Battery Dance Company, a world leader in cultural diplomacy,
inspiring and empowering disadvantaged youth around the world through the arts. She also serves on the board
of the Singapore American School.
TRACY EPP
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Chief Academic Officer, Achievement First
UNITED STATES
Tracy Epp is the chief academic officer of Achievement First, a network of charter schools that serves Brooklyn,
New York and multiple cities in Connecticut. As the organization’s first CAO, she is building a cohesive K-12
curriculum, instruction, assessment, and teacher-development model that will ensure school leaders have the
foundational tools to build excellent schools and ensure great teaching and learning in every classroom across the
growing network. She also oversees and supports a portfolio of elementary schools to ensure that their students
remain college bound. Prior to joining Achievement First, Tracy helped establish and lead the expansion of IDEA
Public Schools, a network of charter schools in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Before her involvement with IDEA,
she served as both a program director and member of the national program team at Teach For America, where she
coached and developed novice teachers and assisted in the development of metrics around teacher effectiveness.
She has served as a consultant for several education nonprofits, including The New Teacher Project, The Texas
High School Project, and Citizen Schools. She began her career as an eighth-grade history teacher in south Texas
as a Teach For America corps member. Tracy holds dual bachelor’s degrees in history and political science from
Case Western Reserve University, a MEd in educational leadership from the University of Texas at Pan American,
and an EdD in educational leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a Fellow of the fourth class of
the Aspen-Pahara Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
GOVINDRAJ ETHIRAJ
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Founder, IndiaSpend
INDIA
Govindraj Ethiraj is a television and print journalist and founder-editor of www.indiaspend.org, India’s first data
journalism initiative and a social entrepreneurship venture. He is also the founder of Ping Digital Broadcast, a
Google multi-channel network (MCN) for knowledge, news, and utility programming for digital audiences. He
also writes for newspapers such as Business Standard, mostly about business issues, and anchors seasonal shows
on channels such as Headlines Today and Rajya Sabha Television. Previously, Govindraj was founder and editor in
chief of Bloomberg TV India, a 24-hour business news service launched out of Mumbai in 2008 and a partnership
between Bloomberg LLP and the UTV Group in India. Prior to setting up Bloomberg TV India, he worked with the
Business Standard newspaper as editor, with a specific mandate of integrating the newspaper’s news operations
with its digital or Web platform. Before that, Govindraj spent five years with television channel CNBC-TV18, where
he drove most of the channel’s programming growth and expansion initiatives. He also worked with the Economic
Times newspaper, Business World, and Business India magazines. He is the recipient of a British Chevening
Scholarship for Young Indian Print Journalists at the University of Westminster in 1998 and was selected as one
of the 25 most influential personalities in media and advertising in Bombay by Mid-Day news site in 2004. Other
honors include being nominated for Distinction in Communication at the Teacher’s Achievement Awards in 2004,
an Outstanding Contribution to Media Award, the Indira Award for Marketing Excellence in 2006 and the BMW
Foundation Responsible Leaders Award in 2014. Govindraj graduated from Elphinstone College, Mumbai. He is
a Fellow of the inaugural class of the India Leadership Initiative and a member of and moderator for the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
AIMÉE EUBANKS DAVIS
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Founder, Beyond Z
UNITED STATES
Aimée Eubanks Davis is the founder of Beyond Z, a nonprofit passionate about discovering, developing, and
connecting extraordinary, diverse young people who have the focus, drive, and talent to become experts and
leaders in our world. Formerly, she worked in various capacities with Teach For America. Aimée joined Teach For
America’s staff in 2002 as vice president of new site development, helping to grow the organization’s presence
into Miami and Philadelphia as well as doubling its presence in New York City. In 2003, Aimée moved to the
regional operations team, where she managed Teach For America’s executive directors and helped ensure maximum impact in each of the organization’s 22 regions. In 2005, Aimée became the chief people officer and oversaw
the organization’s growth from 200 to over 1,500 staff members. Additionally, she worked on the development of
a comprehensive competency model for staff recruitment, selection, performance management, and learning and
development and ensured that the human assets team is positioned to fuel the growth and success of Teach For
America through strategic business partnerships with organizational leaders and teams. In 2011, Aimée took on
the expanded role of executive vice president of people, community, and diversity, leading TFA’s work to uphold
its commitment to diversity and to build an organization that is a model of fairness and equality. Before Teach For
America, Aimée was a program officer at The Breakthrough Collaborative (formerly Summerbridge National) and,
prior to that position, she led the Summerbridge New Orleans site to become one of the most successful sites in
The Breakthrough Collaborative. Aimée is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, was a 1995 Teach For America
corps member, and taught sixth-grade social studies and language arts in New Orleans. She is a Fellow of the
fourth class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
MIGUEL FABREGA
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Creative Director, NEO & Diablo Rosso
PANAMA
Miguel Fábrega is the president and creative director of NEO!, a creative consulting firm that specializes in business strategy and creative solutions for all types of business. He is also the founding partner of Diablo Rosso, a
think-tank space and launching pad for emerging artists and creators of all types, and partner for the Daily Senet,
an insiders’ guide to 32 cities in the world. In 2006, his international art career began with the help of Dean Project
Gallery in New York City. In the past, he has worked as the creative director for marketing and public relations
companies such as Oglivy, JWT, and Young and Rubicam. During his nine years with WPP, the British multinational
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
advertising and public relations company, he worked in various countries including Argentina, Mexico, and New
York and was part of global creative teams for Samsung and Colgate. Miguel also co-founded MOGO magazine,
the first intelecto-cultural publication in Panama. Miguel has shown his work across Latin America, the United
States, Europe, the Middle East, and Japan. He won first prize in the Central American emerging artist triennal at
the Museo de Arte y Diseño de Costa Rica, has represented his country in the Bienalle de Centro America, and has
been nominated twice for the prestigious CIFO (Cisnero-Fontanals) grant. He has been a columnist for AGENDA
magazine and a TED Talk presenter and fellowship finalist. He graduated in marketing and advertising with additional studies in photography and cinema. Miguel is a fellow of the ninth class of the Central America Leadership
Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
IFEOMA FAFUNWA
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — WEST AFRICA
Director/Producer, iOpenEye
NIGERIA
Ifeoma Fafunwa has over 20 years of professional experience in both the United States and Nigeria, designing and
directing artistic projects in theatre arts and architecture. She is the founder and creative director of iOpenEye,
a performance art production company in Nigeria that challenges the status quo when it limits the potential of
women and progress of the collective African society. Her most recent project is the touring stage production
titled Hear Word!, a collection of monologues based on true stories of inequality told by 20 Nigerians. For the
past two years, she has also run a pro-bono acting workshop for women. Ifeoma is a graduate of the University of
Massachusetts at Amherst and Dorsey Studios for the Performing Arts. She is a Fellow of the fourth class of the
Africa Leadership Initiative — West Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JONATHAN FERRARA
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Artist/Gallery Owner, Jonathan Ferrara Gallery
UNITED STATES
Jonathan Ferrara is a New Orleans artist, gallery owner, community activist, and arts entrepreneur. His eponymous
gallery exhibits cutting edge works of art by local, national, and international artists, including paintings, sculpture,
glass, metal works, mixed media, video, and installation art. Exhibitions he has produced have been featured in
The New York Times, TIME magazine, Art In America, ARTPAPERS, ART News, ELLE, The Art Newspaper, the AP,
and on NPR and ABC’s “Good Morning America,” in addition to numerous local and regional publications.
JUSTIN FERRELL
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Fellowships Director, Institute of Design at Stanford University
UNITED STATES
Justin Ferrell joined the Institute of Design at Stanford (aka “the d.school”) in 2012 to design and direct its fellowship program, a creative leadership accelerator for restless experts who want to transform their industries. The
program helps entrepreneurial professionals learn and apply design thinking to organization design, to create
and spread large-scale transformations. Since its launch, fellows have designed systems interventions in international development, food equity, philanthropy, K-12 education, disaster relief, financial services, legal technology,
and federal workforce collaboration. Current fellows are also working on issues in health care, including childhood obesity, cancer prevention, and clinical care for low-income communities. A career journalist specializing in
organizational behavior and design, Justin worked for seven years at The Washington Post, most recently as the
director of digital, mobile, and new product design. Also a prolific visual storyteller, Justin designed the investigative series “Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency,” winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting,
as well as four other Pulitzer finalists. He has spoken on creative culture in many venues, including the SXSW
Interactive festival in Austin, the Norwegian Research Council in Oslo, the US Embassy in Dublin, and Education
City in Doha, Qatar. Justin teaches Stanford graduate courses in design thinking, creativity, and organization
design. He also teaches executives at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and his consulting clients have
included Hewlett-Packard, Univision, IDEO, and Citi Ventures. He has led many innovation workshops, including
sessions for Facebook, Google, Humana, Infosys, Knight Foundation, SAP, the United Nations, the US Department
of State, and the World Economic Forum.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
BETSY FLEMING
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
President, Converse College
UNITED STATES
Elizabeth (Betsy) Fleming is president of Converse College. She was formerly the executive director of the Gibbes
Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina. She has worked at The Frick Collection in New York City, Yale
University Art Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Department of Decorative Arts and Sculpture at
Harvard’s Fogg Art Museum. She interned with The J. Paul Getty Trust in Los Angeles and served as a Whitney
Fellow at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Betsy has also taught at Yale and the Parsons School of Design.
She is chairman of the College Town Consortium, comprised of Spartanburg’s six institutions of higher education,
and serves on the board of the Women’s College Coalition, the ETV Endowment of South Carolina, United Way
of the Piedmont, and Brevard Music Center. Betsy graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a BA in fine
arts and received an MA in history of design from the Royal College of Art in London. She earned a PhD in the
history of art from Yale University. She grew up in Spartanburg. She is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Liberty
Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JOANN GAMA
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Co-Founder, President and Superintendent, IDEA PublicSchools
UNITED STATES
JoAnn Gama is the co-founder, president, and superintendent of IDEA Public Schools, where she helps lead the
replication efforts of the original school that she co-founded with fellow TFA corps member Tom Torkelson in 1998.
Today, IDEA Public Schools consists of over 15,500 students enrolled in 30 schools across three regions of Texas.
In 2013, IDEA Donna, IDEA Quest, and IDEA Frontier were ranked in the top 1 percent of all public high schools
in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. In 2009, U.S. News and World Report ranked IDEA College
Preparatory Donna as the 13th best high school and second-best charter high school in the nation. Also in 2009,
IDEA Public Schools was the first-ever charter organization to be named the best school system in the state of
Texas. JoAnn is the recipient of the prestigious Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership (2009) and in 2010 was
appointed to President Barak Obama’s White House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. JoAnn
was born and raised on the north side of Houston and attended Sam Houston High School. Upon graduation, she
attended Boston University on a full scholarship and joined Teach For America in 1997. After one successful year
of teaching fourth and fifth grades in Donna, Texas, she was nominated by her peers as campus Teacher of the
Year. JoAnn holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Texas, Pan American. She
resides in Edinburg, Texas, with her husband Juan and their two children, Gael and Jimena. JoAnn is a Fellow of the
eighth class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ANAND GIRIDHARADAS
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Columnist, The New York Times
UNITED STATES
Anand Giridharadas is an author and New York Times columnist. He writes the Admit One column for the Times’s
arts pages and the Letter from America for its global edition. He is the author of the new book The True American:
Murder and Mercy in Texas, about a Muslim immigrant’s campaign to spare from Texas’s death row the white
supremacist who tried to kill him. In 2011, he published India Calling: An Intimate Portrait of a Nation’s Remaking,
about returning to the India his parents left. In 2009, he completed a four-and-a-half year tour reporting from
India for the Times and the International Herald Tribune, chronicling India’s transformation, Bollywood, corporate
takeovers, terrorism, outsourcing, poverty, and democracy. He was appointed as a columnist in 2008, writing the
Letter from India series. He first interned for The New York Times at age 17. In 2003, after graduating from college,
Anand moved to Bombay to work as a consultant for McKinsey & Company. He appears regularly on television
and radio in the United States and internationally. He has lectured at Harvard, Stanford, Brown, the University of
Michigan, the United Nations, and Google. He studied history of political thought at the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor and at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. He is presently a doctoral candidate at Harvard University. Anand is a
2011 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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KRISTIN GISLESON PALMER
RODEL FELLOWSHIPS IN PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
Founder/President, The Gisleson Group
UNITED STATES
Kristin Giselson Palmer is founder and president of the Gisleson Group. Fomerly, she served on the New Orleans
City Council, where she chaired the Transportation, Sanitation and Environmental, and Disaster and Recovery
Committees for District C. Before that, she was executive director of Rebuilding Together New Orleans, where she
assisted residents returning to their homes after Hurricane Katrina. As a housing construction and renovation professional with historic-preservation and green-building expertise, Palmer developed a $6 million annual rebuilding
operation and leveraged over $7 million in public funding to create a model for creating long-term sustainability
in communities. She earned her BA in history at St. Louis University. Kristin is a 2010 Rodel Fellow of the Aspen
Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
BLAIR GLENCORSE
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Executive Director, Accountability Lab
UNITED STATES
Blair Glencorse is founder and executive director of the Accountability Lab, an organization that empowers citizens to fight corruption and build the accountability of governments. Blair has dedicated his career to catalyzing
people-centered ideas for change across public institutions, social enterprises, and nonprofit organizations. He
developed a youth network and strategies for post-conflict countries at World Bank, has advised presidents and
prime ministers on leadership issues through the Club de Madrid, and has worked on several presidential campaigns in Africa and Asia. Blair is a Stanford Business School Social Entrepreneurship Scholar, an American Express
NGEN Fellow and 50 Under 40 Change-maker, and BMW Foundation Responsible Leader. Previously, Blair won
the Johns Hopkins Outstanding Recent Graduate Award and was chosen as one of 99 under 33 Foreign Policy
Leaders by Diplomatic Courier magazine. Blair grew up in the United Kingdon, was educated in the United States,
and has lived across Africa and South Asia.
JOSHUA GREER
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Director, Roxbury and Lexington LLC
UNITED STATES
Joshua Greer has been identifying new technologies and turning them into profitable products and businesses
for over 20 years, currently serving as partner with Roxbury & Lexington. Formerly, as co-founder and president
of RealD, Joshua’s ability to recognize early technology and market trends while quickly generating and locking up critical intellectual property has allowed the company to become the industry leader in 3D technology
across cinema, consumer electronics, and professional applications. Previously, Joshua was co-founder and chief
convergence officer of Walden Media, where he was responsible for overseeing the company’s technology and
infrastructure and was involved in the development of James Cameron’s 3D documentaries for IMAX: Ghosts
of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep. It was working with Cameron, designing the first all-digital 3D projection
system, that inspired Joshua to co-found RealD. Prior to Walden Media, Joshua was president of Digital Domain’s
New Media Group, where he was responsible for overseeing the company’s cutting-edge products and produced
the first-ever streaming media site for General Motors. Prior to Digital Domain, Joshua was CEO and co-founder
of Digital Planet, an award-winning digital design studio, where he designed and implemented Web strategies for
MCA/Universal, MGM/UA, 20th Century Fox, and Sony. Joshua is a frequent speaker on technology and business
and participates on a number of key technology standards groups including the Society of Motion Picture and
Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is a 2011 Henry
Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
KRISTEN GRIMM
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Founder & President, Spitfire Strategies
UNITED STATES
Kristen is the Founder and President of Spitfire Strategies, one of the country’s leading public relations firms
dedicated to working exclusively with nonprofits and foundations to create positive social change. She is a frequent and highly-rated presenter and has developed numerous resources for the field including Smart Chart 3.0,
Discovering the Activation Point, Just Enough Planning Guide, and Big Ideas to Big Change. Prior to launching
Spitfire, Kristen worked as a fellow at the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation to ban landmines, reform the
death penalty and criminal justice systems, and reduce the threat of nuclear war. Before her fellowship, she was
the president and chief operating officer of Fenton Communications, where she wrote NOW HEAR THIS: The Nine
Laws of Successful Advocacy Communications, which remains a mainstay of nonprofit communications today. She
won the Silver Anvil for her work on SeaWeb’s “Give Swordfish a Break” campaign, which successfully mobilized
hundreds of chefs across the country to stop serving swordfish until the U.S. government adopted a sustainable
fisheries management plan.She serves on the boards of Grist Magazine, National Academy for State Health Policy
and Alaska Wilderness League. Kristen has a B.A. from Smith College. She is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow of the
Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
RAVI GUPTA
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, RePublic Schools
UNITED STATES
Ravi Gupta is co-founder and managing partner of RePublic Schools. He has a unique background in politics,
international development, law, and international relations. As the founder and executive director of Nashville
Prep, Ravi led the school to be named the highest-performing charter school in Tennessee by Stanford University
for two consecutive years. In 2010, Ravi prepared to found Nashville Prep by joining the Building Excellent Schools
Fellowship, where he studied and learned from best practices employed by the highest-performing schools and
school leaders in the nation. Ravi previously served as special assistant and speechwriter to Susan Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations. He also spent two years working on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign,
joining then-senator Obama’s exploratory committee and working through the primary and general elections. He
ran fundraising, voter registration, and voter turnout operations in more than a half-dozen states during the primary election and served as assistant to chief strategist David Axelrod during the general election. Ravi received
his JD from Yale Law School and his BA from Binghamton University, where he was named the 2011 winter commencement keynote speaker and 2012 convocation keynote speaker. In 2012, he was named to the Forbes 30
Under 30 list.
ARJUN GUPTA
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Chief Believer, TeleSoft Partners
UNITED STATES
Arjun Gupta is the founder and chief believer at TeleSoft Partners, a special situations venture capital firm. Over
the last two decades, he has overseen investing in and helping build over 60 technology companies, resulting
in over 40 acquisitions and IPOs to date. Arjun is also a member of the new ownership group of the Sacramento
Kings NBA team and helps revitalize downtown Sacramento. He serves on the boards of the Natural Resources
Defense Council (NRDC), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), and the AG Family Foundation, which has provided
partial funding for over 90 projects in the United States, India, and Africa. Earlier in his career, Arjun was a strategy
consultant for high-tech clients with McKinsey & Company and a software engineer with Tektronix, Inc. He has
an MBA from Stanford University, an MS and BS (Phi Beta Kappa) in computer science from Washington State
University, and a BA (honors) in economics from St. Stephen’s College (India). Arjun is a passionate outdoorsman
and among his many adventures, he was a member of the 100th anniversary ski expeditions to both the North and
South poles. He is an Advanced Leadership Fellow at Harvard University, a 2001 Henry Crown Fellow, a trustee of
the Aspen Institute, and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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STACEY HADASH MCDONELL
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
UNITED STATES
Stacey Hadash McDonell is managing director and chief operating officer for global capital markets at Bank of
America Merrill Lynch. The business includes equity capital markets, investment grade capital markets, leveraged
finance, corporate finance, and derivatives & foreign exchange origination. Prior to joining the firm in 2005 she
was managing director and head of financial planning at The New York Stock Exchange. Before that, she worked
with Governor Ann Richards at Public Strategies, a communications consulting firm. In 1996, Stacey joined the
mergers & acquisitions group at Goldman Sachs in New York. She later moved to London to advise companies in
the communications, media and technology sectors. She started in investment banking as an analyst at Morgan
Stanley. Earlier in her career, she worked on economic policy in the 1992 Clinton/Gore campaign. Following the
election, she was appointed as a special assistant in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S.
Department of State. Stacey holds a BA from Smith College and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth
School of Business. She is on the board of the Ann Richards School Foundation. Stacey is a 2003 Henry Crown
Fellow of the Aspen Institute and member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network
TOMEKA HART
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
RODEL FELLOWSHIP IN PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
Vice President of Programs, Southern Education Foundation
UNITED STATES
Tomeka Hart is the vice president of African American community partnerships for Teach For America. Previously,
she was president and CEO of the Memphis Urban League and is serving her second term on the Memphis City
Schools Board of Commissioners. She taught for five years in Georgia’s public schools and established a labor
and employment law practice with Ford & Harrison, LLP. Tomeka earned a BS in marketing education from the
University of Tennessee at Knoxville, an MBA from Kennesaw State University, and a JD from the University of
Memphis. She is a Fellow of the eighth class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship, a 2010 Rodel Fellow of
the Aspen Institute, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JUAN CARLOS HASBUN
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Pastor, Iglesia Kemuel
EL SALVADOR
Juan Carlos Hasbun is senior pastor at Kemuel Christian Church in El Salvador. Through this dynamic organization,
he has led the celebration of 80 editions of Christian concerts called Noches de Alabanza, creating a space to promote good fun and spiritual values among youth. Juan Carlos has helped establish the John Maxwell Leadership
Center in El Salvador, which annually holds conferences and distributes material to develop the leadership skills of
pastors, entrepreneurs or anyone interested in the program. He is currently the president of the Alianza Evangélica
de El Salvador (Evangelical Alliance of El Salvador), an organization that gathers an important number of churches
and religious and civic groups. Additionally, Juan Carlos is on the board of directors of COICOM, a group that
annually holds a Latin American conference for Christian media and communicators. He has also served in the
coordination of different projects of evangelistic nature, such as crusades with Cash Luna, Oral Roberts, Franklin
Graham, and Benny Hinn, among others. Juan Carlos holds a double major in communications and marketing from
the Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado. He has a master’s degree in Asian history and culture. He also holds a
Master and PhD in theology. Juan Carlos has three children: Camila, Juan Carlos, and Leah. He is a Fellow of the
seventh class of the Central America Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
BRYAN HASSEL
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Co-Director, Public Impact
UNITED STATES
Bryan Hassel leads Public Impact’s team in developing and advancing path-breaking ideas with his wife Emily A.
Hassel. His team strives to dramatically improve K-12 education, as well as lead public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and foundations in designing and implementing new approaches with transformative potential. Bryan
is a recognized expert on teacher and leader policy, charter schools, school turnarounds, and school-system
governance. A current focus is the national Opportunity Culture initiative, an effort to help states, districts, and
schools adopt new models that extend the reach of excellent teachers and their teams to more students, for more
pay, within existing budgets. His work has appeared in Education Next, Education Week, and numerous other
publications; he blogs for Education Next and is a guest blogger on other forums, such as Education Week. He is
also the author of “The Charter School Challenge: Avoiding the Pitfalls, Fulfilling the Promise”. Prior to founding
Public Impact, Bryan was involved in community economic development via the Center for Community SelfHelp, a nonprofit development bank. Bryan received his Ph.D. in public policy from Harvard University and his
master’s degree in politics from Oxford University, which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar. He earned his B.A. at
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which he attended as a Morehead Scholar. He is a senior research
affiliate with the Center on Reinventing Public Education. Bryan is a fellow of the 12th class of the Pahara-Aspen
Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
KAYA HENDERSON
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Chancellor, DC Public Schools
UNITED STATES
Kaya Henderson is the chancellor of DC Public Schools. Prior to being confirmed by the DC Council to this position on June 21, 2011, she was deputy chancellor, leading the district’s human capital efforts andthe development
of IMPACT, a new and innovative teacher-assessment system designed to ensure that an effective teacher is
leading every classroom. From 2000 to 2007, Kaya worked with The New Teacher Project, where she eventually
became vice president for strategic partnerships, overseeing the organization’s work on improving teacher hiring
for school districts. She previously served as both a recruiter and national director of admissions for Teach For
America and, in 1997, became the executive director of Teach For America-DC, where she was responsible for 170
teachers in more than 50 DC public schools. Kaya’s career in education began as a middle-school Spanish teacher
in the South Bronx. Kaya is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where she received a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in leadership. She is a Fellow of the Pahara-Aspen
Education Fellowship and a member and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
MIREI HERAS
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Minister of Environment, Government of Panama
PANAMA
Mirei Endara de Heras has been the minister of the Environmental Authority of Panama (Autoridad Nacional
de Ambiente - ANAM) since May 2014. In this cabinet-level position, she governs the protection, conservation,
preservation, and restoration of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources. Mirei is the former
executive director of the Fundacion CALI (Central America Leadership Initiative). Since 2003, she has been a
board member and international relationships representative for FUNDACUNA, a social- and education-development initiative of poor semi-urban communities in Panama City. She is also a board member, since 2000, at
the Fundación Smithsonian, a not-for-profit organization created by Panamanians to support and divulge the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s work in Panama and Latin America. She is also a board member of
Fundacion Centro de Ciencias y Arte, which manages the children’s museum EXPLORA in Panama. From 2000 to
2003, Mirei was director of the Nature Conservancy’s Panama Program. From 1998 to 1999, she was the administrator general for the National Environmental Authority, and from 1994 to 1997, she was the deputy director of the
National Institute for Natural Renewable Resources. She holds an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College
and a master’s in environmental studies from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Management. Mirei is
married to Miguel Heras and has two children, Miguel and Sofia. She is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Central
America Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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BRANDON HILLIARD
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
MBA Candidate, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
UNITED STATES
Brandon (Brady) Hilliard is an MBA candidate at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Brady completed an internship as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs in New York, NY in May 2015. Prior to this, he
was a Navy SEAL officer with over twelve years of experience leading, managing, and mentoring military and civilian personnel and foreign forces in uncertain, hostile, and chaotic environments. He has conceptualized, planned,
and led strategic operations for the US Secretary of Defense and four-star general and admiral officers in Europe,
the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Brady also served as a SEAL platoon commander, SEAL detachment commander,
and acting operations officer deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Before being awarded his SEAL Trident, he served as a Surface Warfare Officer, working as an engineering officer on a Navy cruiser circumnavigating the globe and as a force protection officer mentoring Iraqi naval forces.
Brady has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, four Iraq Campaign Medals, the
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, various Navy unit awards, and is an Eagle Scout. Brady graduated from the United
States Naval Academy with a BS in economics in 2003. He is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina. He is a 2014
Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
TONYA HINCH
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Director, Henry Crown Fellowship Program, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Tonya Hinch joined the Aspen Institute as managing director of the Henry Crown Fellowship Program in the spring
of 2014. She relocated from Crossville, Tennessee after selling her family business, Hinch & Associates, a regional
insurance agency, for which she served as CEO. Tonya was also the founder of LifePlanning Unlimited, a coaching
and seminar business that supports women in areas such as raising their cash and retiring backwards. Prior to
this, she successfully created and enjoyed a career that encompassed Fortune 500 companies, a groundbreaking start-up in a highly politicized category, and leadership in one of the most controversial education reform
movements in the United States. Tonya was executive vice president of operations at Edison Schools, responsible for $500 million in business and overseeing more than 100 schools in 23 states and over 7,000 employees.
Formerly, Tonya specialized in marketing and sales at consumer packaged-goods companies, including Ultrafem,
Neutrogena, Clairol, and Procter & Gamble. She received a BS in marketing from the University of Tennessee.
Tonya resides in Washington, DC and New York City. She is a 2007 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and
a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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SEAN HINTON
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
CEO of the Soros Economic Development Fund & Director of the Economic Advancement
Program at the Open Society Foundations
CHINA
Sean Hinton serves as chief executive officer of Soros Economic Development Fund. He founded Terbish Partners
in 2007 to provide strategic and investment advisory services in North Asia, with a focus on the energy and
minerals sector in China, Mongolia and Africa. His other recent positions have included: an ongoing role as senior
independent advisor to Goldman Sachs (Asia); special advisor to the CEO of SOHO China on their $1.9bn IPO;
and chairman of China Networks Ltd, a regional TV roll-up. He is also a long-term senior advisor to Rio Tinto PLC,
where he works on large-scale mining projects in the developing world and on their social and economic impact
and served as deputy chairman of SouthGobi Resources. Prior to this Sean was a partner and principal at Media
Entertainment Advisors in London, a boutique investment bank which he co-founded, where advised private
investors and corporate clients including major public broadcasters, distributors, banks and hedge funds as well
as governmental agencies. From 2000-2005, he was managing director of Ealing Studios and Fragile Films-the
oldest film studio in the world and one of the UK's largest film production companies. Sean oversaw the operation
of all the businesses from facilities to production, focusing on strategy and business development. Sean worked
with McKinsey & Company for five years, working in the Sydney and London offices, where he advised major clients on a wide range of strategic issues, specializing on helping companies deal with growth challenges. Before
McKinsey he lived in Mongolia for seven years and was founder and CEO of the adventure travel and trekking
operator, Nomads Expeditions, which he sold in 1995. Sean studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
(A.G.S.M.), the University of Cambridge (M.Phil. Ethnomusicology) and the MIT Sloan School of Management
(Sloan Visiting Fellow). He serves on the Development Committee of the Arts Council of Mongolia. He served as
a founding member of the national Bahá'í council of Mongolia, as a founding director of Mongolia's first Rotary
Club, and for four years was the Honorary Consul-General of Mongolia in Australia. Sean lives in Beijing with his
wife and three daughters. He is a 2005 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
BO HOPKINS
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Lecturer, Yale University
UNITED STATES
Bo Hopkins has over 25 years of private industry investment, management, and consulting experience. As a
managing partner with CM Equity Partners, he has led and participated in direct equity investments for the past
12 years. During this period, he has served on the boards of portfolio companies across industries in government
services, manufacturing, and consumer products. In addition to board responsibilities, Bo was chief executive
officer of Evans Consoles, a manufacturing and technology company based in Alberta, Canada. Prior to joining
CMEP, he was a partner at Connor & Company, a management consulting firm specializing in strategic alliances
and operations management. From 1986 to 1991, Bo was an investment banker, culminating that part of his career
at Kidder Peabody, where he was director of the private business group focused on raising capital and advising
privately held companies with strategic alternatives including mergers, acquisitions, and partnering relationships
to improve value. Outside of industry, Bo is on the teaching staff of the Jackson Institute at Yale University and
has also been instrumental in developing the curriculum for the Program on Social Enterprise at the Yale School
of Management. His coursework at Yale has been designed to introduce graduate and undergraduate students
to practical issues faced by mission-driven social entrepreneurs based in India and other developing nations.
Students are assigned to work with carefully selected social entrepreneurs to address a particularly complex
issue impeding the success or impact of each organization. Bo is a member of ANDE, the Aspen Network of
Development Entrepreneurs, and a trustee of the Gow School in Buffalo, New York. He received his MBA from the
Yale School of Management in 1986 and is a Management Fellow at the school.
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HUI HUANG
CHINA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Board Director, Renren Inc.
TAIWAN
Hui Huang is the board director and former CFO of Renren Inc., a leading social network Internet company in
China. Prior to joining Renren in 2010, she was the chief financial officer of Cathay Industrial Biotech Ltd., a
biochemical technology company in Shanghai. Earlier in her career, Hui worked primarily in the private equity
investment industry, including Goldman Sachs Principal Investment Area and Johnson Electric Capital Limited.
She started her career with The Boston Consulting Group in 1994. Hui received a bachelor’s degree from Shanghai
Jiaotong University and an MBA degree from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Hui leads Renren’s
corporate social responsibility programs with a primary focus on helping underprivileged children in China receive
an education. Hui is a Fellow of the second class of the China Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
WALTER ISAACSON
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
President & Chief Executive Officer, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Walter Isaacson is the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan educational and policy studies
institute based in Washington, DC. He has been the chairman and CEO of CNN and the editor of TIME magazine.
Isaacson’s most recent book, The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital
Revolution (2014) is a biographical tale of the people who invented the computer, Internet and the other great
innovations of the digital age. He is the author of Steve Jobs (2011), Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007),
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (2003), and Kissinger: A Biography (1992), and coauthor of The Wise Men:
Six Friends and the World They Made (1986). Isaacson was born on May 20, 1952, in New Orleans. He is a graduate
of Harvard College and of Pembroke College of Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He began his
career at The Sunday Times of London and then the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He joined TIME in 1978 and
served as a political correspondent, national editor, and editor of digital media before becoming the magazine’s
14th editor in 1996. He became chairman and CEO of CNN in 2001, and then president and CEO of the Aspen
Institute in 2003. He is chair emeritus of Teach for America, which recruits recent college graduates to teach in
underserved communities. From 2005-2007 he was the vice-chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which
oversaw the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by
the Senate to serve as the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which runs Voice of America, Radio
Free Europe, and other international broadcasts of the United States, a position he held from 2009 to 2012. He is on
the board of United Airlines, Tulane University, the Overseers of Harvard University, the New Orleans Tricentennial
Commission, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Society of American Historians, and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE
National Political Director, Martin O’Malley Presidential Campaign
UNITED STATES
Karine Jean-Pierre’s professional experience has ranged widely from grassroots activism, to local politics, to congressional politics, to working in the White House. Karine is currently the National Political Director for the Martin
O’Malley Presidential Campaign. Karine previously served as the Campaign Manager for ACLU’s Reproductive
Freedom Initiative (RFI). Prior to joining ACLU she was the Campaign Manager for Tish James’ Run off 2013 New
York City Public Advocate Campaign – where Tish James won in a landslide victory and made history by becoming the first woman of color to be elected Citywide. Karine was also Senior Advisor on Bill Thompson’s 2013 New
York City Mayoral Campaign. In 2011, Karine served as Deputy Battleground States Director for President Obama’s
2012 re-election campaign, managing the President’s political engagement in key states while leading the delegate selection and ballot access process. Before joining the re-election campaign, Karine served as the Regional
Political Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, she
worked on the Obama for America campaign in 2008 as the Southeast Regional Political Director; she served
the John Edwards for President Campaign in the same capacity. Karine’s interests demonstrate her concern for
integrity and the human condition. In graduate school, she explored her Haitian roots through documentary film.
Later, she worked at the Center for Community and Corporate Ethics and pushed major companies like Wal-Mart
to change their business practices. While working in New York, Karine served as Press Secretary to Congressmen
Anthony Weiner, Deputy Chief of Staff for City Council Member James Sanders and Director of Legislative and
Budget Affairs for New York City Council Member James F. Gennano.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
BRETT JENKS
CATTO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
President & Chief Executive Officer, Rare
UNITED STATES
Brett Jenks runs Rare, a global conservation organization based in Arlington, Virginia that equips people in the
world’s most biologically diverse areas with the tools and motivation they need to protect their natural resources.
Under his leadership, Rare has expanded to four continents and has reached six million people, in the process
receiving four straight Fast Company Social Capitalist Awards, which honors organizations that combine savvy
business models with solutions to pressing social needs. Brett has worked in the field of tropical conservation
and rural education since 1992. Prior to his work with Rare, Brett served as the Costa Rica field coordinator
for WorldTeach and as both a journalist and filmmaker. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of
Massachusetts and holds an MBA with honors from Georgetown University. Brett is a Fellow of the second class
of the Catto Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JENNIE JOHNSON
Executive Director, Liberty Fellowship
UNITED STATES
Jennie M. Johnson is the executive director of the Liberty Fellowship. She was previously president of Liberty
Insurance Services and executive vice president of RBC Liberty Insurance. Her prior experience includes the presidency of Pierce National Life Insurance Company, strategic planning for Liberty Corporation and Ashland Oil,
and planning for United Way. A graduate of Miami University with a degree in political science, Jennie earned her
MA in public administration from the University of Virginia and her MBA from Wake Forest University. Jennie is a
moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
MIKEE JOHNSON
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Chief Executive Officer, Cox Industries
UNITED STATES
Michael (Mikee) Johnson is CEO and president of Cox Industries, a privately owned business specializing in manufacturing and global distribution of pressure-treated wood. Previously, he was an associate vice president with
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Mikee is chair of the Orangeburg (South Carolina) Chamber of Commerce and sits
on the executive committee of the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is state membership
chair for the Young Presidents’ Organization and was recently named one of the Top 20 Under 40 by The State
newspaper. He served on the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association board, has been a volunteer
for Habitat for Humanity, and served as chairman for the Orangeburg County March of Dimes. Mikee earned his
MBA from the University of South Carolina and his BA in English and political science from Furman University.
Additionally, he has a master’s in the field of family business from Kennesaw State and a DBA in the same field. He
is a Fellow of the seventh class of the Liberty Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
OMOBOLA JOHNSON
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — WEST AFRICA
Chair, UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development
NIGERIA
Omobola Johnson is chair of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, a member of the
World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council, and a trustee of the WEF’s Future of the Internet Initiative. She
is the former minister of communication technology for the Nigerian government. Prior to her appointment as
minister, she was non-executive chairman of Accenture, where she worked for 24 years, five of these years as
country managing director, before taking an early retirement in 2009. Trained as an electrical engineer, Omobola
also has a doctorate in business administration focused on corporate leadership practices in emerging economies. Omobola was founding chair and is still a member of the board of trustees of Women in Management and
Business (WIMBIZ), an NGO based in Nigeria that works in the promotion of female participation in business and
public service. She has sat on the board of several for-profit companies in the manufacturing, financial services,
and social entrepreneurship sectors. She is married to Seyi and they have three children. She is a Fellow in the
inaugural class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — West Africa and a member of and moderator for the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
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DAVE KAHWA
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — EAST AFRICA
Co-Founder & CEO, Creditinfo Tanzania
TANZANIA
Davith (Dave) Kahwa is co-founder and CEO of Creditinfo Tanzania, the first company licensed to carry out credit
reference bureau business in Tanzania. Prior to that, he founded the Equip GRC advisory firm, dedicated to partnering with clients to address governance, risk management, and compliance challenges. His career also include
six years with KPMG, where he rose from trainee to manager of information risk management. Dave has had extensive experience working with boards and executives to enhance governance and risk management processes. He
is one of the founders of the Institute of Directors in Tanzania (IoDT) and a member of the Institute of Directors
in Southern Africa (IoDSA). Dave is a BCom (with honors) graduate from the University of Dar es Salaam and
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). He is a Fellow of the third class of the Africa Leadership Initiative
(East Africa) and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ANDREW KASSOY
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Co-Founder, B Lab
UNITED STATES
Andrew Kassoy is co-founder of B Lab, a nonprofit organization that envisions a new sector of the economy that
harnesses the power of private enterprise to create public benefit. Prior to co-founding the B Corp movement,
Andrew spent 16 years in the private equity business as a partner at MSD Real Estate Capital, an affiliate of MSD
Capital, and as managing director in Credit Suisse First Boston’s Private Equity Department in London. Andrew
was formerly a founding partner of DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners and president of its international business.
He is a board member of Echoing Green. Raised in Boulder, Colorado, he graduated with a BA in political science
with distinction from Stanford University, where he was a Truman Scholar, member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a
President’s Award winner. Andrew lives in New York City with his wife, Margot Brandenburg, and three children:
Max, Jed, and Etta. Andrew is a 2001 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
REHMAH KASULE
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — EAST AFRICA
President & Founder, CEDA International
UGANDA
Rehmah Kasule is the founder and president of CEDA International, an organization specializing in mentoring,
leadership, and social entrepreneurship. She is also the CEO of Century Marketing, a marketing agency in Uganda
that builds local and international brands. Rehmah is a mentor and a certified enterprise development consultant with International Trade Centre, supporting international trade and export development. With the vision
of “creating a new generation of women leaders who are economically independent and socially responsible,”
she empowers girls and women to gain key life skills to enable them become the best at whatever they do. She
also runs special income-generating programs for women, youth, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Rehmah was
the national consultant who spearheaded the designing of the National Export Strategy - Gender Dimension, a
Ugandan government initiative that supports women to enter the export sector. She is the author of the book
From Gomba to the White House, which tells the journey of an African woman entrepreneur who has risen from
mere survival to significance. She is the first Ugandan alumna of the prestigious Fortune/US State Department
Global Mentoring Program in 2009 and represented Uganda at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in
Washington, DC, where she met President Barack Obama. Her program, the Rising Stars Mentoring Program, is
impacting more than 1,050 girls in secondary schools and working in eight universities to prevent human trafficking and sexual exploitation. She runs a Youth Engaged Program center in Kawempe that has equipped and skilled
more 947 youth with leadership, entrepreneurship, vocational, and life skills. Rehmah is a Global Ambassador
for the International Alliance for Women, winner of its World of Difference 100 Award in 2011, and was named
a Woman of Distinction by FAWEU for her leadership in promoting quality education for girls. She joined the
Buganda Kingdom Parliament as a representative of the Kabaka, the king of Buganda, earning her the prestigious
title Owekitibwa (honorable). She is a Fellow of the third class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — East Africa and
a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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HASINA KHARBHIH
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Impulse NGO Network
INDIA
Hasina Kharbhih is founder and CEO of Impulse Social Enterprises and founder, president, and team leader
of Impulse NGO Network, a social organization working on issues of child trafficking, HIV/AIDS intervention,
and livelihood support initiatives for rural northeast India. Working through Impulse, Hasina developed the
Meghalaya Model, a comprehensive strategy for combating child trafficking in northeast India. In 2006, she traveled to the United States and Thailand to attend the Changing Faces Women’s Leadership Program. In 2002,
she was invited to participate in the International Visitors Program on NGO Management, sponsored by the
US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In 2002 and 2003, she attended a twopart Women in Management training course held in Sweden and the Philippines through a scholarship from
the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. She has received numerous recognitions, including
the Asia Award for Excellence in Youth Work from the Commonwealth Youth Programme of the London-based
Commonwealth Secretariat, the Woman of Substance Award from the Ryan Foundation in India, and the Rising
Talent Award from the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society held in France in 2007. In 2006, she was
selected as an Ashoka Fellow. Hasina lives in Shillong, Meghalaya, in northeast India. She is a Fellow of the third
class of the India Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ALEXANDRA KISSLING
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
President, Vital Voices Costa Rica
COSTA RICA
Alexandra Kissling Jiménez leads Fundación Unidas para Crecer (Vital Voices Costa Rica), an organization that
groups professional leader women who want to share their life experiences with other women through mentoring in order to develop their leadership capacity and potential. She has been an instructor on deep relaxation
techniques for Centro Chopra para el Bienestar (Chopra Wellness Center) in Carlsbad, California since 1996 and a
certified instructor for the HeartMath Institute in California since 2003. Since 2001, Alexandra has been a member
of the board for AED (the Spanish acronym for Entrepreneurship for Development Association), an organization
founded in 1997 to promote entrepreneurship social responsibility in Costa Rica, serving as its vice president for
the last five years. Between 2002 and 2010, she was a vice president for the Rasur Foundation, where her main
project was the Academia para la Paz de Costa Rica (Costa Rica Academy for Peace). Alexandra was deputy
director of the PRANA Institute for Health Promotion from 1995 to 2002. In 1987, she co-founded the restaurant chain Rostipollos, serving as a board member from 1987 to 1992. She is a member of the INCAE Business
School’s national committee since 2006 and recently became a director of its board. This initiative promotes
value-based leadership to influence leaders in the region to contribute with sustainable human development
in Central America. She studied psychology at Universidad Centroamericana de Ciencias Sociales. Alexandra is
a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Central America Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
MIKE KLEIN
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sunlight Foundation
UNITED STATES
Michael Klein joined the Shakespeare Theatre Company Board of Trustees in 2007. He and his wife, Joan Fabry,
have been loyal subscribers and patrons of the company since the late 1990s. In 2004, they made a major commitment to the campaign for the Harman Center for the Arts, providing essential early support needed to give
momentum for major fundraising campaigns. The following year, they were the principal underwriters of the
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s tour to Aspen, Colorado, and in 2006, they provided a significant financial guarantee to complete the final phase of financing for the construction of Sidney Harman Hall. Last year, Michael
started the Artistic Leadership Fund and made a challenge grant to jump-start it; the fund provides annual support for the company’s ambitious programming. He also serves as chairman of the board of CoStar Group, a
public company that he co-founded; chairman of the board of Zenith Gallery; vice chairman of the board of
Perini Corporation; lead director of SRA, International; and director and co-owner of Astar Air Cargo. Michael
co-founded the public interest Sunlight Foundation and serves as its chairman. He is also director of the American
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Himalayan Foundation, a trustee of the University of Miami, a member of the Committee on University Resources
for Harvard University, and a member of the dean’s advisory board at Harvard Law School. Past positions include
president of the PEN Faulkner Foundation and partner with Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering (now Wilmer Hale).
MANOJ KUMAR
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Chief Executive Officer, Naandi Foundation
INDIA
Manoj Kumar is the founding CEO of Naandi Foundation, where he has disrupted the NGO space in India by being
the first to implement large-scale government programs with efficiency and measurable outcomes. This includes
feeding 1.3 million schoolchildren midday meals, assuring learning outcomes in 2,100 government schools, creating the world’s largest organic coffee cooperative (marketing it as branded ARAKU coffee in Europe and Japan
is his Aspen project), and looking after the education of 100,000 girls (via www.nanhikali.org) on a daily basis.
Naandi has impacted five million lives as of 2014. A Robert McNamara Fellow of the World Bank, Manoj shifted
his career from banking to the social sector, with a pit stop in micro-finance, before taking over leadership at
Naandi Foundation. He is once again breaking new ground by carving out of Naandi a bunch of for-profit social
businesses. These address some of the most pressing problems of the country today: ensuring elementary
schoolchildren learn, providing safe drinking water, training and placing unemployed youth in corporate jobs, and
creating value and niche markets for small farmer agricultural produce. Manoj serves on the boards of the Parisbased Global Livelihoods Fund, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Sustainability Council, Firmenich
SA, and is the CSR advisor for the Mahindra Group. He is a 2013 laureate of the John P. McNulty Prize. The Financial
Times in 2012 named Manoj as one of the 25 people to watch out for in India. Manoj is a Fellow of the second class
of Aspen India’s Leadership Initiative and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
LOUISE LANGHEIER
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
CEO, Peer Health Exchange
UNITED STATES
Louise Davis Langheier is the CEO of Peer Health Exchange (PHE), a national nonprofit organization tasked with
giving teenagers the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy decisions. PHE does this by training college
students to teach a comprehensive health curriculum in public high schools that lack health education. Since its
founding in 2003, PHE has trained 4,000 college student volunteers to deliver health education to 40,000 low-income public high school students in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
PHE grew tremendously between 2011 and 2015 in service of those goals, serving 100,000 teens during that time.
Louise sits on the boards of directors of Dwight Hall at Yale (Yale’s center for public service and social justice)
and Generation Citizen. She and her husband, Jason, live in San Francisco, where she was born and raised. She is
a Fellow of the fourth class of the Entrepreneurial Leaders for Public Education Fellowship and a member of the
Aspen Global Leadership Network.
DAVID LANGSTAFF
SENIOR MODERATOR, THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
UNITED STATES
David Langstaff is the former chairman, president, and CEO of TASC, a $1.5 billion company offering advanced
enterprise engineering, integration, decision support, and other technical services across the intelligence community, US Department of Defense, and civilian agencies of the federal government. He held those positions from
2010 to 2013. Previously, he was founder, president, CEO, and director of Veridian Corporation, from its formation
in 1995 until its sale to General Dynamics in August 2003. David chairs the advisory board of the Aspen Institute
Business and Society policy program, is a trustee of the Committee for Economic Development, and is a director
of The Hitachi Foundation. He serves on the Defense Business Board, which provides independent advice to the
secretary and deputy secretary of defense. David is also a musician, and he is currently putting together a PBS
special on the history of recorded music, with Sir George Martin, to be aired in late 2015 or early 2016. David is a
senior moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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KELI LEE
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Executive Vice President, Disney ABC Television Group
UNITED STATES
Keli Lee is executive vice president of casting and talent for the ABC Television Network and ABC Studios, leading
all casting and talent deal negotiations. Series under her oversight include the multi-award-winning hits “Modern
Family,” “Scandal,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Revenge,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Her
passion for developing rising stars and casting diverse talent globally led her to create and produce the ABC
casting department’s Talent Showcase, which in its 12th year continues to provide diverse actors from around the
country with training, mentorship, and exposure to industry professionals. Past participants include 2014 Academy
Award winner Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Chadwick Boseman (42), Jesse Williams (“Grey’s Anatomy”),
and Dania Ramirez (“Devious Maids”). Keli also oversees the Latino and Asian Global Outreach Initiative, which
identifies and develops notable diverse talent from around the world, and in 2013, Keli introduced ABC Casting
into the social-media spectrum by creating ABC Make Me a Star, the first-ever network television digital talent
competition. Keli first joined ABC in 1991 as a New York-based casting assistant and has served as head of casting
since 2005. She is a former mentor to the Korean government’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism for KOCCA, the
business development agency that develops cultural content to connect to US and worldwide markets. She is
the 2012 recipient of the Inspiration Award from Step Up Women’s Network, a nonprofit organization that helps
empower teen girls from under-resourced communities to become confident and professional women through
networking and continuous development. Keli holds a BA in philosophy from New York University. She is a 2014
Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
LEIGHANNE LEVENSALER
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Senior Vice President, Products, Workday
UNITED STATES
Leighanne Levensaler leads the team responsible for setting product direction for Workday, the leader in SaaSbased enterprise solutions for global human resources, payroll, and financial management. Prior to Workday,
Leighanne, a strategist that has long specialized in the intersection of people and technology, predicted the
convergence of talent and human capital management systems while serving as principal analyst and director of
talent management research at Bersin & Associates. Before that, Leighanne spent more than a decade working
with large companies to develop HR strategies and integrated talent-development solutions. She also led the
learning consulting practice at SystemLink Enterprise Solutions and has held positions at SmartForce, Edutrek
International/AIU, and Deloitte Consulting. Leighanne is a frequent speaker and contributing writer for countless
industry events and magazines. She has been profiled in Human Resources and Talent Management magazines,
has been named a top influencer, and is an active member of numerous industry associations. Leighanne is a
longtime volunteer and supporter of Project Global Village in Honduras and has mentored high school students
regarding the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Leighanne holds a master’s degree in human
resource development from Georgia State University, where she was awarded a dean’s leadership award. She
earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Clemson University, where she received the Norris Medal, an award
for exceptional scholastic achievement and leadership ability. She is a 2012 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen
Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
STACE LINDSAY
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Director of Strategic Initiatives for AGLN, Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Stace Lindsay is the director of strategic initiatives for the Aspen Global Leadership Network, a role he assumed in
2014 to help broaden and deepen the collective impact of the work being done by its 1,800 alumni. He was most
recently president of Fusion Venture Partners, a firm he started in order to bring together: people of great vision
who inspire change, engender trust, and are moved deeply to make a difference; insights that have the power to
improve our quality of life, protect that which is in danger, or to fix what is broken in our world; and capital that
can be deployed with foresight, patience, and commitment to find ways to be leveraged for economic and social
good. He has been a strategic advisor to senior business, government, and nonprofit leaders throughout the
world, having held senior positions at both Monitor Company and the OTF Group, where he worked closely with
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Michael Porter to adapt his work to emerging markets. He also has significant start-up, turnaround, and operating
experience with companies, having been CEO of New England Portable Storage and vice president of business
development for Merrimack Pharmaceuticals. He has also been a managing partner in the Latin American-focused
venture capital firm Explorador.net. Stace is the co-founder of the Central American Leadership Initiative, part
of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network. Stace has served on the executive committee of the Aspen
Network for Development Entrepreneurs and on the board of directors of TechnoServe, a nonprofit organization
dedicated to building competitive businesses in rural Africa and Latin America. He has also been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Business School and the University of Adolpho Ibanez Business School in Chile.
He is the co-author of Plowing the Sea: Nurturing the Hidden Sources of Growth in the Developing World and
author of the chapter “Culture, Strategy and Prosperity” in the book Culture Matters. Stace earned his degrees
in international relations from Georgetown University and Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He
and his family make their home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Stace is a 2002 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen
Institute and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
LEIGHTON LORD
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Managing Director, Nexsen/NP Strategy
UNITED STATES
Leighton Lord is a senior partner with Nexsen and the managing director of Nexsen’s communications and crisis
management affiliate, NP Strategy, which he founded. His practice includes economic development and business
law. Leighton is chairman of Santee Cooper, South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility and the largest
generator of electricity in South Carolina. He also serves as chairman of the Palmetto Economic Development
Corporation and is a member of the South Carolina Coordination Council for Economic Development. Leighton
serves as the governor’s appointee on the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management Offshore Renewable Energy
Task Force. He is former chairman of the board of Heathwood Hall Episcopal School and currently serves as
chairman of the school’s foundation. He is a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow, an executive committee member of
the Urban Land Institute, and serves on the board of governors of the Palmetto Club. Leighton was educated at
the University of Delaware and Vanderbilt Law School. He has written about and speaks on conservation easements, energy planning, and economic development. Leighton currently serves as a senior advisor to the Liberty
Fellowship as well as co-chairman of Liberty’s Environmental Forum. He is a Fellow of the third class of the Liberty
Fellowship Program and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ADAM LOWRY
CATTO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Co-Founder & Chief Greenskeeper, Method Products
UNITED STATES
Adam Lowry is an entrepreneur, scientist, designer, and author. He believes that design has the power to change
our world and that business is our greatest vehicle for positive social and environmental benefit. It is at the intersection of these beliefs that Adam has focused his work. In 2000, Adam co-founded Method Products, the leading
innovator in stylish and sustainable cleaning and home-care products. Method has been ranked No. 7 on the Inc.
500, and No. 16 on Fast Company’s list of the 50 most innovative companies in the world. As chief greenskeeper
at Method, Adam’s focus is bringing sustainable innovations to the Method business. He also directs the sustainability aspects of product design, sourcing, production, and marketing. Prior to founding Method, Adam worked
as a climate scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science Department of Global Ecology, where he developed
software products for the modeling of climate change. That public sector experience, combined with his earlier
experience designing environmentally preferred automotive products, formed the nucleus of his unique approach
of commercial environmentalism. Adam has been honored as one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and is a Clinton Global
Citizen Award recipient from the Clinton Global Initiative for his pioneering work on sustainable business and
product design. Adam is a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum and a contributor to the Huffington
Post and Treehugger.com. In 2011, Adam and his co-founder Eric Ryan published their second book, The Method
Method, which reveals their secrets to outcompeting the giants of the consumer products industry. He holds a
BS in chemical engineering from Stanford University. He is a fellow of the second class of the Catto Fellowship
program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
MARIAM LUYOMBO
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — EAST AFRICA
Director, Taibah Group Inc.
CANADA
Mariam Luyombo is an educational entrepreneur who currently serves as director of Taibah Schools Uganda.
Within the space of ten years, she founded four private schools in Uganda. She has received a number of prestigious awards in education innovation and entrepreneurship, has done consultancy work in both areas, and has
served on several boards. She is a graduate of Makerere University, Kampala and has a Bachelor of Arts and a
master’s degree in education. She currently lives in Ontario, Canada, where she runs her own business. Mariam is
a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — East Africa and a member of and moderator
for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ADRIANNA MA
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Partner - BF Global, Fremont Group
UNITED STATES
Adrianna C. Ma is the managing partner of BF global fund at Fremont Group, a San Francisco-based private
investment company. She oversees the investments in the flagship portfolio of funds, including investment strategy, asset allocation, manager selection and risk management. Prior to joining Fremont Group, Adrianna was a
managing director of General Atlantic, where she spent ten years investing in and serving on the board of directors of technology-enabled growth companies globally. Prior to joining General Atlantic, she was an investment
banker for five years in Morgan Stanley’s Mergers acquisitions and restructuring department. Previously, she
was a project manager at the network server division of Hewlett-Packard Company. Adrianna is involved with
a number of other educational and not-for-profit organizations. She serves on visiting committees of the MIT
Corporation, advisory council of the MIT Media Lab and the MIT Educational Council. She received both her BS in
electrical science and engineering, and ME in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and an MBA
from Harvard Business School. Adrianna is a 2012 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of
the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ROMAN MACAYA
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Ambassador to the United States, The Republic of Costa Rica
UNITED STATES
Roman Macaya was named Costa Rican ambassador to the United States in August 2014. Roman is a scientist and
businessman who served as general manager of Agroquimica Industrial RIMAC, S.A., an crop-protection company
based in Costa Rica. He has served as president of AgroCare (2009-2011), a global association based in Brussels,
Belgium, representing 865 manufacturers and distributers of generic crop protection products. He was president
of the Latin American Association of National Agrochemical Industries (ALINA) (2006-2008) and president of
Costa Rica´s National Chamber of Generic Products (2005-2010). Roman regularly represents the industry in
international forums at the WHO, FAO and WTO. He has also held positions as senior scientist at a biotechnology
start-up firm in New Jersey, and business development director at a pharmaceutical contract research organization, investment officer at a private equity firm, and managing partner at a health care consulting firm in Costa
Rica. Macaya ran in the Citizen´s Action Party´s first primary election in May 2009. Macaya holds an MBA in health
care management from Wharton Business School, a PhD in Biochemistry from UCLA, and a BA in Chemistry from
Middlebury College. He is a Fellow of the seventh class of the Central America Leadership Initiative and a member
of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
National Correspondent, CNN
UNITED STATES
Award-winning journalist Suzanne Malveaux serves as CNN's national correspondent, covering politics, national
news, international events and culture. Previously, she co-anchored CNN's Around The World and co-anchored
the network's Emmy-winning coverage of the revolution in Egypt and the network's Peabody Award-winning
coverage of the Arab Spring. Suzanne also covered the White House for more than 10 years as a White House
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
correspondent--covering Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. In September 2011, Suzanne
was embedded with U.S. troops in Afghanistan for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 where she led breaking news coverage of the Taliban's terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy there. In October 2012, she traveled to South Africa,
where she interviewed family of Nelson Mandela and covered Soweto 36 years out of the student uprising.
Suzanne was recognized by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism for covering one of the top
100 stories of the century, for her reporting on the 2008 Obama campaign. She has been recognized as one of
America's Most Powerful Players under 40 by Black Enterprise, one of Ebony's Outstanding Women in Marketing
and Communications, one of the The Root 100 most influential young African Americans by The Root.com, and
2009 Journalist of the Year by Essence Magazine. Suzanne earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University
and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. She is personally
dedicated to promoting awareness and research for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and enjoys participating in marathons and triathlons. She is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and she holds four honorary
bachelor degrees. Suzanne is a 2011 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
MICHELLE MAPP
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director, Lowcountry Housing Trust
UNITED STATES
Michelle Mapp is executive director of the Lowcountry Housing Trust. She partners with financial institutions,
government agencies, residential developers, community-based organizations and others to provide a dedicated funding source for the production and preservation of affordable housing. Michelle serves on the boards
of Affordable Housing Coalition of South Carolina, South Carolina Association of Community Development
Corporation, Port Mitigation Commission, and Tri-county Cradle to Career Collaborative. She is a graduate of
the Diversity Leaders Initiative at the Riley Institute. Michelle earned her Master of Public Administration from
the College of Charleston & University of South Carolina, her Master of Science in engineering management
from George Washington University, and her Bachelor of Science in engineering analysis from Clemson
University. Michelle is a Fellow of the tenth class of the Liberty Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
SHEILA MARCELO
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Founder, Chairwoman, and Chief Executive Officer, Care.com
UNITED STATES
Sheila Marcelo founded Care.com in 2006 after enduring frequent struggles to find quality caregivers for her two
boys and ailing parent. As a working mother, she acutely recognized the lack of resources available to help families
address their care needs. Since then, the site has paired hundreds of thousands of families throughout the United
States with quality caregivers, including child care, senior care, pet care, and housekeeping, establishing Care.com
as the largest and fastest-growing solution for care services on the Web. In March 2012, Care.com kicked off its
global expansion with its United Kingdom launch. In 2011, Sheila was awarded a Marshall Memorial Fellowship and
named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Prior to founding Care.com, Sheila served as an
executive at several successful Internet companies, including Upromise, a site helping families save for college and
TheLadders.com, an executive job-search engine. Sheila is an active alumnae of Harvard Business School, serving
annually as a finalist judge for the business plan competition and an advisor to the Rock Entrepreneurial Center.
She also serves as a trustee and member of the strategic committee of the Philippine Development Foundation,
a nonprofit organization who regularly works with the Philippine government, academe, and industry to pursue
sustainable economic development of the Philippines through initiatives in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Sheila graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in economics. She also holds both an MBA
and a JD from Harvard University. She is a 2012 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the
Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
SHANE MASSEY
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Senator, South Carolina State Senate
UNITED STATES
Shane Massey is a partner with Nance, McCants & Massey law firm in Aiken, South Carolina and serves in the South
Carolina Senate. He began his law career as a law clerk for the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee and
served as judicial clerk for the Honorable William P. Keesley, 11th Judicial Circuit judge. Shane serves on the board
of Edgefield County United Way, the Johnston Development Board, and is a member of the Aiken Sertoma Club
and Johnston Lions Club. He is a former board chairman for Edgefield County First Steps. Shane earned his Juris
Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and is a cum laude graduate of Clemson University
with a BA in chemistry. He resides in Edgefield, South Carolina. Shane is a Fellow of the sixth class of the Liberty
Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
BILL MAYER
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Partner, Park Avenue Equity Partners
UNITED STATES
In 1999, William E. Mayer formed Park Avenue Equity Partners, a private equity firm that invests in middle-market
companies. From the fall of 1992 until December 1996, Bill was a professor and dean of the College of Business and
Management at the University of Maryland. During his tenure at the University of Maryland, he organized and led
an effort that significantly improved the school’s programs and made it one of the top 25-ranked business schools
in the country. From 1991 to 1992, he served as a professor and dean of the Simon Graduate School of Business at
the University of Rochester. Bill worked for The First Boston Corporation (now Credit Suisse), a major investment
bank, for 23 years. During his career at First Boston, he held numerous management positions including president
and CEO. Bill is currently a board member of the following public companies: DynaVox, BlackRock Kelso, and Lee
Enterprises and is a trustee of the Columbia Group of Mutual Funds. Over the past 40 years, he has been a board
member of numerous other public and private companies. Bill was chairman of the Aspen Institute from 2000 to
2008 and is currently on its executive committee and chairman of the Henry Crown Fellowship Board of Directors.
He is also past chairman of the board of the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a board member of Miller
Buckfire, the Acumen Fund, and the Atlantic Council. He is also a member of the board of governors at the Pardee
RAND Graduate School, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the US–Vietnam Dialogue Group, and
vice chairman of the Middle East Investment Initiative. Bill was a First Lieutenant in the US Air Force. He holds a
BS and an MBA from the University of Maryland.
JENNIFER MCCREA
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Sr. Research Fellow, Harvard University
UNITED STATES
Jennifer McCrea is a senior research fellow at the Hauser Institute for Civil Society at Harvard University and the
co-founder and CEO of Born Free Africa, an initiative that brings private sector resources and expertise to the
goal of eradicating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. For the past 27 years, she has partnered with
philanthropists, board members, and nonprofit leaders to think more creatively and collaboratively about ways in
which to align strategic direction and resources. Jennifer has worked with a wide range of organizations including Acumen, DonorsChoose.org, Grameen America, Council on Foreign Relations, Teach for America, NAACP
Legal Defense Fund, Pencils of Promise, charity: water, Witness, Mercy Corps, Comic Relief, X Prize Foundation,
Creative Commons, VisionSpring, and Robin Hood Foundation. In addition to her popular Course in Exponential
Fundraising at Harvard, she has led seminars and workshops for Ashoka, Skoll World Forum, TED, Board Source,
Social Venture Philanthropy, Draper Richards Kaplan, New Profit, Echoing Green, Harvard Business School,
Wharton, Oxford University, and many others. Jennifer serves as chairman of the advisory board at the MIT Media
Lab. She is also a member of the board of Just Capital and the Quincy Jones MusiQ Consortium and the advisory
board of Target Zero and the Blue School. Jennifer’s is the author of The Generosity Network, co-written with
philanthropist Jeffrey C. Walker. She is a 2008 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the
Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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MAGNUS MCHUNGUZI
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — EAST AFRICA
Vice President & Managing Director, Ericsson SA
SOUTH AFRICA
Magnus Mchunguzi is vice president and managing director of Ericsson South Africa. As vice president, he is
responsible for governing commercial undertakings across Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring the company secures
profitable business, and, as managing director, he is responsible for providing the company’s strategic business
direction in the telecommunications sector in South Africa. Ericsson boasts a global market share of about 45
percent in telecommunications infrastructure and services and a similar market share in the region. Prior to his
current role, Magnus was the key account director for MTN Region West, responsible for MTN business in West
Africa, primarily in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Congo-Brazzaville for a period of about five years. During his tenure,
he oversaw the expansive growth of telecommunications services in Nigeria, especially with MTN Nigeria growing
from five million subscribers in 2005 to 35 million subscribers by 2010. Magnus earned his Bachelor of Science
from the University of Reading (UK). He is a Fellow of the third class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — East
Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
RYAN MCMANUS
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Director, Accenture
UNITED STATES
Ryan McManus is the founder and one of the global leaders of Accenture’s digital business strategy practice. He
previously served as the Accenture Strategy COO and a leader of the firm’s international expansion, corporate
strategy and M&A practices. He is a regular speaker on digital and global strategy topics internationally. Ryan
is a member of the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows, has worked in over 40 countries, and earned his MBA at
the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is the author of several publications on digital business,
corporate strategy, and M&A, which have been featured on CNBC, BBC Asia, ChannelNews Asia and other tier-1
media. These publications include “Growth Strategies for a Digital World” (February 2014), “Hypergrowth and
M&A Success in Asia” (October 2013), “The Evolving Role of the Integration Manager” (January 2013), “The New
Competitive Reality: Product Development and Innovation in Emerging Markets” (May 2012), “Who Says M&A
Doesn t Create Value” ( March 2012), “Emerging Market Entry Candidates: Where to Invest in India” (November
2011), and “Emerging Market Entry Keys to Success” (July 2011).
ANNE MCNULTY
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Managing Partner, JBK Partners
UNITED STATES
Anne Welsh McNulty is co-founder and managing partner of JBK Partners, with businesses including investment
management and a private philanthropic foundation. Before starting JBK Partners, Ms. McNulty was a Managing
Director of Goldman Sachs and a senior executive of the Goldman Sachs Hedge Fund Strategies Group. She serves
on the Board of Trustees of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and of Villanova University,
where she chairs the Investment Committee. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan
Opera of New York, of the Child Mind Institute in New York, and of the National Museum of American Jewish
History in Philadelphia. In addition, Ms. McNulty is a Trustee of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, benefiting children’s charities in Collier County Florida. Ms. McNulty earned her MBA in Finance & Insurance from the Wharton
School and served as valedictorian at Villanova University.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
SAAMRA MEKURIA-GRILLO
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Vice President of Strategy and Operations, Pahara Institute
UNITED STATES
Saamra Mekuria-Grillo is the vice president of strategy and operations at the Pahara Institute. Prior to joining the
Pahara Institute, she was an associate partner at Bellwether Education Partners. Before Bellwether, she was a consultant at Bain & Company, where she worked on organizational design, strategy, and due diligence projects for
clients in education, private equity, health care, and pharmaceuticals. Saamra also spent several years at Google,
during which she focused on training and management of Google’s customer service sales and operations team.
While at Google, she spent over a year in India as one of the founding team members of Google’s Hyderabad
office. Saamra has a deep passion for education reform, which she has tapped through several projects with KIPP
Bay Area Schools and as a founding board member of the Mission Preparatory School, a charter school serving
low-income students in San Francisco’s Mission and Excelsior districts. Saamra holds an MBA with a certificate in
public management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University,
where she double majored in history and international studies. She is also a proud graduate of the Boston Latin
School, the first public school in the United States.
SCOTT MORGAN
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Education Pioneers
UNITED STATES
Scott Morgan is the founder and CEO of Education Pioneers, an organization that trains, connects, and inspires a
new generation of leaders dedicated to transforming our nation’s educational system so that all students receive
a quality education. Scott began his career teaching social studies and leadership at St. Jude High School in
Montgomery, Alabama, where he won an Excellence in Teaching Award. He later served as the legal counsel
for Aspire Public Schools, a California nonprofit that builds and operates high quality public charter schools to
prepare urban students for college. After seeing the power of professionals with diverse skills, experiences, and
perspectives working together to improve urban education, Scott founded Education Pioneers in 2003 to develop
a national network of leaders and entrepreneurs focused on devising and implementing creative solutions to our
nation’s most pressing educational problems. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in government
from the University of Notre Dame, received his MA in teaching from the University of Portland, and earned his
law degree from Stanford Law School. He is a Fellow of the third class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
MACKENZIE MORITZ
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships, The Franklin Project, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
MacKenzie Moritz serves as the associate director for strategic partnerships for the Franklin Project. After graduating from college, MacKenzie served as a 2006 Teach For America (TFA) corps member where he taught 9th grade
world history in southwest Philadelphia. He subsequently joined TFA’s recruitment team where he spent five years
working to grow the scale and diversity of TFA corps in various roles, most recently as the managing director of
TFA’s national recruitment strategy & technology team. He graduated with BA in economics and a BA in political
science from the University of Florida in 2006 and earned a M.Ed in secondary education from the University of
Pennsylvania in 2008. MacKenzie lives in Washington, DC with his wife Melissa.
ERIC MOTLEY
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Vice President, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Eric Motley is vice president of the Aspen Institute and executive director of national programs. He served as vice
president and managing director of the Henry Crown Fellowship Program from January 2007 until April 2014.
He also served as executive director of the Aspen-Rockefeller Foundation’s Commission to Reform the Federal
Appointments Process, an independent, nonpartisan effort to evaluate the federal government’s vetting and clearance procedures. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, Eric was director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
of International Visitors within the bureau of Public Diplomacy. While there, he oversaw the International Visitor
Leadership Program, a program designed to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries
through carefully designed visits that reflect future foreign leaders’ interests and support US foreign policy goals.
In 2003, he became special assistant to President George W. Bush for presidential personnel, where he managed
the appointment process in the White House for over 1,200 presidentially appointed advisory board and commission positions. He joined the White House staff as deputy associate director of the Office of Presidential Personnel
in 2001 at the age of 27, immediately after receiving his PhD. He has written and lectured on the intellectual and
political contributions of Scottish-born American founding father James Wilson. He is currently engaged in developing a collection on the scholarship of the eminent Greek scholar Sir Kenneth Dover, including copies of all his
books, personal papers, and various items from his personal catalogue. In October 2006, he published his first
volume of poetry, Luminaria. Eric is an avid book collector whose library consists of over 4,500 volumes, which
includes but is not limited to over 1,700 first editions and rare books. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political
science and philosophy from Samford University in 1996. As a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar at the
University of St. Andrews in Scotland, he earned a master of letters in international relations and a PhD in international relations as the John Steven Watson Scholar. Eric is a 2003 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, as
well as a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ALI MUFURUKI
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Chairman, Infotech Investment Group Ltd
TANZANIA
Ali Mufuruki is the co-founder of the Africa Leadership Initiative at the Aspen Institute. He is also the chairman
and CEO of Infotech Investment Group Ltd of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is a founding partner of East Africa
Capital Partners and chairman of Wananchi Group Holdings, both based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is the founding
chairman of the CEOs’ Roundtable of Tanzania. Prior to Infotech, he was the chairman of Air Tanzania and of the
audit committee of the board of directors of Tanzania Central Bank. He has been a trustee of the African Training
and Management Services Foundation since 2009 and the director of the board of Technoserve, Inc. since 2006.
He holds a BS in mechanical engineering design and lives in Dar es Salaam with his wife and four children. He is
the founder and chairman of the Africa Leadership Initiative–East Africa, a 2001 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen
Institute, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
STEPHEN MULLENNIX
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
Senior Vice President, Operations, SolarReserve
UNITED STATES
Stephen Mullennix is senior vice president of operations for SolarReserve. He brings 20 years of experience in
various infrastructure industries to his role. Throughout his career, Stephen has worked in concert with financial
and technical teams to commercialize breakthrough first-of-its-kind technologies in complex industries. He joined
SolarReserve from US Renewables Group (USRG), a $750 million private equity fund and the founding investor
in SolarReserve. Prior to joining USRG, Stephen was associate vice president at AECOM Technology Company,
where he assisted in closing nine M&A transactions and preparing AECOM for its initial public offering. Mullennix
earned a Master of Business Administration with honors from the Anderson School at University of California Los
Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts in economic geography from Dartmouth College, where he graduated Phi Beta
Kappa and summa cum laude.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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BASHIR MUNDI
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — WEST AFRICA
Director, Development Initiative of West Africa
NIGERIA
Bashir Yusuf Mundi is the director and United States representative with the Development Initiative of West
Africa (DIWA). He is also the assistant director at the Da’wah Institute of Nigeria, an information, training, and
research unit of the Islamic Education Trust, and coordinator of operations for ProStart, a life-skills training and
consultancy firm based in Minna, Nigeria. At the Da’wah Institute, he supervises and prepares research work for
publication, and conducts intensive courses on Islam and dialogue. He has served as imam and youth director
for the Al-Huda Islamic Center in Athens, Georgia, USA, and director of education and Training for the Institute
of Islamic Information and Education, Chicago. He has made several presentations at interfaith fora, in universities, mosques, and churches throughout the US, and hosted the television program, “Your American Muslim
Neighbor” on Chicago’s CAN-TV. Bashir holds a bachelor’s degree in physics with computer science from the
Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria, and has attended graduate courses in world religions at the
University of Georgia, USA. He is a Fellow of the second class of the African Leadership Initiative-West Africa and
a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
RANJI NAGASWAMI
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Senior Advisor, Corsair Capital
UNITED STATES
Ranji Nagaswami is a senior advisor to Corsair Capital, one of the longest-standing private equity firms focused
on investing in the global financial services industry. Through her 25-plus-year career, Ranji held executive
and portfolio management positions at three world-class asset management firms: Bridgewater Associates,
AllianceBernstein, and UBS Asset Management. She also served as chief investment advisor to the administration
of former mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for the City of New York’s public employee pension plans. Ranji is currently
launching the Finance Fellows program within the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network. She has served
on numerous boards and investment committees, including the Henry Crown Overseers Board at the Aspen
Institute, the Yale University Investments Committee, and the Yale School of Management Advisory Board. She
earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Bombay University in India, an MBA from the Yale School of Management,
and is a chartered financial analyst. Ranji is a 2005 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of
and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JACOB NER-DAVID
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Senior Advisor, Mckinsey & Company
ISRAEL
Jacob Ner-David serves as a senior advisor with McKinsey & Company, as part of the global team but with main
leadership for the Israeli ecosystem. He is also chariman of Israel’s high-tech, pay-per-call platform, NoProblem,
and chairman of Jezreel Valley Winery. Jacob is a former managing partner of Jerusalem Capital and served as
co-founder and member of senior management for several Jerusalem-based high-tech companies, most recently
as acting CEO of the Jerusalem Business Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization he founded to help
bring economic renewal to the city. Jacob has also served as a volunteer advisor on foreign relations to the mayor
of Jerusalem. He is a senior consultant to JVP Studio, a technology incubator he co-founded. Prior to this, he
served as chairman and CEO of 2bAnywhere, a software company focused on wireless messaging. In 1996, he
co-founded Delta Three, an Internet telephony-based communications service, and served as executive chairman.
He also co-founded Ambient Corporation and Nomad IQ and served as chairman and CEO of both companies. A
social activist, Jacob plays an active role as chairman of Bayit Chadash, which he co-founded to bring about an
Israeli revolution of community with Jewish values and identity. He also co-founded Rikma, a fellowship program
to procude better trained and prepared leaders for the Jewish community in Israel. He serves on the audit committee of the Heschel Center for the Environment, the board of directors of JFL Media, and the Israel Steering
Committee of OneVoice. Published in many leading newspapers, Jacob has also authored several book chapters and currently serves as a volunteer lecturer on entrepreneurship at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He
received a BA from City College of New York and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center. In 1989, he was
an Isaacs Scholar of English Literature at Mansfield College, Oxford. Jacob is a 2003 Henry Crown Fellow of the
Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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LISETTE NIEVES
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Partner, Lingo Ventures
UNITED STATES
Lisette Nieves is an experienced social entrepreneur and public sector leader. She is currently a partner at Lingo
Ventures, her private business, where she provides consulting services to the nonprofit and public sectors on
growth, talent recruitment and retention, and change management. Prior to Lingo Ventures, Lisette served for
two years as the Belle Zeller Distinguished Visiting Professor in Public Policy at the City University of New York at
Brooklyn College. While a professor, she led the launch of a pilot workforce and community college partnership
in Miami and Philadelphia. Lisette also served as the founding executive director of the workforce and education
program Year Up NY, where in the span of five years she grew the organization from a $250,000 seed grant to
a $6 million operation with 40 staff serving over 250 young adults annually. Lisette’s government experience
includes serving as the chief of staff at the Department of Youth and Community Development for the City of
New York, and working at the Corporation for National Service, launching and administering the AmeriCorps program. He board affiliations include: Fund for the City of New York, Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School Advisory
Council, Stand for Children, and a White House appointment as a commissioner on the White House Initiative on
Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Lisette holds a BA from Brooklyn College and an MPA from the Woodrow
Wilson School at Princeton University. She is both a Truman Scholar and a Rhodes Scholar. Lisette is a Fellow of
the tenth class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
BONGIWE NJOBE
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
Executive Director, ZA NAC Consulting
SOUTH AFRICA
Bongiwe Njobe is the founder and executive director of ZA NAC Consulting and Investments. She started on
this venture after almost ten years working in the fast-moving consumer goods sector and over ten years in the
agricultural public sector. Formerly, she was an independent consultant in the areas of agriculture, food security,
governance, and CSR. Bongiwe was the executive director for corporate sustainability at Tiger Brands and director
of corporate affairs at South African Breweries, a subsidiary of SABMiller. Prior to this, she served two terms as
director general of the South Africa National Department of Agriculture. She previously held the posts of deputy
director general and chief director in the same department. Her work experience in agriculture includes farm
management in Zambia and Tanzania, academic work at the School of Agriculture and Rural Development of the
University of Pretoria, and business experience through her work as manager of Whitbi Enterprises. She has also
worked on gender issues, land and agricultural policy matters, and conservation development programs, as well as
at the Foundation for Research Development, where she was program coordinator for the University Development
Program. Bongiwe has an MSc in agriculture from Bulgaria, where she completed a thesis in the field of plant
breeding. She has served on the boards of various private sector, NGO, and parastatal organizations and has published a number of discussion and conference papers. Currently, she serves as director of the Vumelana Advisory
Fund and Pan-African Capital Holdings, is a member of the board of the Industrial Development Corporation, and
is a trustee of Kagiso Trust. She is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa
and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JEHANE NOUJAM
MIDDLE EAST LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Filmmaker, Noujaim Films
UNITED STATES
Jehane Noujaim is an award winning filmmaker and an Academy Award nominated director. In 2014, Jehane
directed and produced “The Square” which won numerous awards including the Directors Guild Award, the
International Documentary Award, and was the first film to win the Audience Award at both the Sundance and
Toronto film festivals. Noujaim has produced and directed other award winning films such as “Rafea”, “Solar
Mama” (2013), “Control Room” (2004) and “Startup.com” (2001). Since graduating Magna Cum Laude from
Harvard, she has dedicated her life to directing and producing films in the US and the Middle East. For her filmmaking work, she has been a guest on television shows such as John Stewart, Charlie Rose, MSNBC’s Andrea
Mitchell Reports, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria program, and Meet the Press. For her films, Jehane has been awarded
the prestigious Ted Prize in 2006 and was nominated as a Young Global Leader in 2007. Jehane currently lives
between Cairo and New York. She is a Fellow of the fourth class of the Middle East Leadership Initiative and a
member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
DELE OLOJEDE
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
Publisher, Timbuktu Media
SOUTH AFRICA
Dele Olojede is publisher and CEO of NEXT, NextOnSunday, and 234NEXT.com, which provide news and informed
opinion primarily for a Nigerian audience to further the common good. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize and a former
foreign editor at Newsday, he is chairman of the Global Network Initiative International Advisory Council and a
member of the governing board of the Aspen Institute’s Africa Leadership Initiative. In 2010, the Global Forum
for Ethics in Business honored him as an exemplar of ethical business leadership, and Fast Company named him
the same year as one of the 100 Most Creative People. A frequent public speaker on the good society, Dele earlier
in his journalism career reported from more than 50 countries as bureau chief for Newsday in Johannesburg, in
Beijing, and at the United Nations. He was educated at the University of Lagos and Columbia University in New
York, though all he ever needed to know he learned at Modakeke High. He persists at golf despite very little hope
of ever getting very good at it. Dele is a Fellow of the second class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — South
Africa, a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and the 2011 winner of the John
P. McNulty Prize.
KIRA ORANGE JONES
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director, Teach For America Greater New Orleans
UNITED STATES
Kira Orange Jones is executive director of Teach For America – Greater New Orleans. She has overseen an unprecedented expansion, managing the program through one of Teach For America’s most ambitious growth plans,
scaling the region from 100 teachers to 500 teachers in a two-year period. At this scale, the Teach For America
– Greater New Orleans region is currently the second largest corps in the nation, with its alumni base more than
tripling in the next two years, making the size of this group of talented and dedicated leaders the largest per-capita concentration of Teach For America alumni in any community in the country. With over 500 teachers and 300
alumni working across six districts and in over 70 independently run district and charter schools, corps members
and alumni in greater New Orleans currently impact one in every three students in the region. In addition, Kira
has worked tirelessly to further the understanding of the achievement gap throughout the local community and
has been recognized for these efforts with several awards, including being named a Young Leadership Council
Role Model as well as being a New Orleans CityBusiness Woman of the Year nominee. Her efforts have also been
highlighted in such noted publications as The New York Times Magazine, Harvard’s University’s Ed Magazine, and
TIME magazine. Before joining Teach For America as executive director of the greater New Orleans region in 2007,
Kira served as vice president of new site development. In this capacity, she spearheaded the opening of regions in
three new communities and raised $10 million in start-up funding toward those efforts. Prior to her tenure on staff
with Teach For America, Kira founded and served as executive director of Right Quick Productions, a nonprofit
media organization in Baton Rouge, Louisiana dedicated to amplifying community voices through documentary
filmmaking and media education. In this capacity, she oversaw the development, production, and distribution of
feature films intended for classroom and general audiences. Kira also served for four summers as a school director at Teach For America’s Houston and Philadelphia institutes. She holds a BA from Wesleyan University with a
concentration in filmmaking and an MEd focused in school leadership from Harvard University. A Bronx, New York
native, Kira began her career in education as a South Louisiana corps member and taught fourth grade at Eden
Park Elementary in Baton Rouge. She is a Fellow of the third class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and
a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
CHRISTY ORRIS
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Director, Peak to Peak Holdings
UNITED STATES
Christy Bieber Orris is an active investor and entrepreneur. Her newest venture is called Building Creative Kids,
a building-toy company that empowers and challenges our next generation of engineers and architects. From
2001 to 2011, Christy was the CEO of the ATEK Companies, a privately owned management company that owned
and ran various outsource and product-based companies. Employing over 700 people, ATEK Companies has six
manufacturing facilities with revenues exceeding $140 million. Its anchor company, ATEK Medical, was purchased
from Medtronic’s cardiac surgery business in 2003. Christy and her team developed ATEK Medical into one of the
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leading finished-device medical outsource suppliers in the world. Its customer base included Medtronic, Boston
Scientific, J&J, Smith & Nephew, and other leading OEMs. It specialized in sole-source production of complex
disposable and implantable medical devices. ATEK Medical and its sister company, ATEK Plastics, were sold to
Vention Medical/KRG in November 2011. Before ATEK, Christy was president of Regent Aviation, worked in operations at Baxter Healthcare, and was in brand management at General Mills. She received her MBA from the
Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth and her BS at the University of Colorado at Boulder. From 2008 to 2011, Christy
chaired the board of the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business and later transitioned onto the dean’s
CEO cabinet. She was awarded the Alumni Service Award at the university and frequently speaks on campus and
mentors students. Christy is a previous board member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and a member of
YPO Women’s International Network and the Committee of 200. She was one of Boulder’s 40 Under 40 in 2010.
After selling her companies, Christy travelled around the world for a year with her family and is now restoring a
historic ranch, investing, and building a toy company. She is an avid bike racer, skier, and ex-Hawaii Ironman competitor. Christy resides in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two sons. She is a 2007 Henry Crown Fellow
of the Aspen Institute, a member of the Henry Crown Board of Overseers, and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
JEANNETTE PAI-ESPINOSA
THE ASCEND FELLOWSHIP
President, The National Crittenton Foundation
UNITED STATES
Jeannette Pai-Espinosa is president of The National Crittenton Foundation (TNCF), a position she assumed in
January 2007, bringing nearly 40 years of experience in advocacy, education, public policy, strategic communication, program development, and direct-service delivery. TNCF, a 132-year-old institution, is the national
umbrella for the 26 members of the Crittenton family of agencies, providing services in 31 states and the District of
Columbia to girls and young women survivors of abuse, neglect, violence, and family and community dysfunction.
Prior to TNCF, Jeannette was a partner for nearly ten years at Metropolitan Group, an award-winning social change
agency. Much of her work focused on creating collaborative approaches to social issues such as poverty and the
disproportional representation of children and youth of color in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
Jeannette’s career includes founding an alternative middle/high school, being a higher education administrator,
serving as a member of former Oregon governor Barbara Roberts’s senior staff, and working in human rights
advocacy on the city, county, and state levels. Jeannette is currently chair of the National Foster Care Coalition
and co-director of the National Girls Initiative of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention at the
US Department of Justice. Additionally, she is a member of the board of the Human Rights Project for Girls, the
Advisory Committee for Women’s Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
at the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the advisory board for the hope & grace fund. In 2013,
Jeannette was recognized with the Robert F. Kennedy Embracing the Legacy Award for her work supporting
the empowerment of girls and young women in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Jeannette holds a
master’s degree of education in student development theory, counseling, and administration.
ELAINE PAGELS
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Professor of Religion, Princeton University
UNITED STATES
Elaine Pagels, a historian of religion, is the Harrington Spear Paine Professor at Princeton University. She received
the MacArthur Prize Fellowship for creative work, and is best known for her books on the early history of
Christianity, especially The Gnostic Gospels, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and The American
Book Award; the critically acclaimed Adam, Eve and the Serpent, and her most recent book entitled The Origin of
Satan. Dr. Pagels serves on committees at Harvard University as well as the Bioethics Committee for the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NY; and recently she has been named one of twenty-five
most influential working mothers in the United States. Her newest book, published in May 2003, Beyond Belief:
The Secret Gospel of Thomas, has been a New York Times bestseller. In June 2005, she received the Centennial
Medal from Harvard University in recognition of outstanding contributions to society.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
JUAN CARLOS PAIZ
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Presidential Commissioner, Government of Guatemala
GUATEMALA
Juan Carlos Paiz is presidential commissioner for competitiveness and investment in Guatemala. In 2010, he set
the strategy for foreign investment attraction and led a private and public proposal to increase Guatemala’s economic growth from 4 percent to 8 percent. He is also co-founder and president of Pani-Fresh, a 300-employee
bakery present in 20 countries, and serves as president of McDonald’s Latin America Supply Chain Council. He is
a professor at Universidad Marroquin and teaches a high school leadership program. He is also a director of Dutch
Cooperation ICCO at the regional council level. Juan Carlos is the co-founder and former president of GuateAmala,
which coordinates community action to empower citizens. He has also served as president of the Central America
Exporters Federation, the Exporters Association, and the Guatemalan Business Council, where he coordinated the
publication Kab’awil, which documented internal policies toward reducing poverty. He is a Fellow of the sixth class
of the Central American Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
PALLAV PATANKAR
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Director-Programs, The Humsafar Trust
INDIA
Pallav Patankar is an executive board member of The Humsafar Trust and director of its HIV programs. The
Humsafar Trust is India’s first registered charity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. His current portfolio includes HIV-prevention work for the Trust in the city of Mumbai. He also serves as the
project director for Pehchan, a Global Fund Round 9 project that provides capacity-building for 51 community-based organizations across five states of India. He is involved in the Trust’s advocacy efforts on LGBT rights at
the levels of local and national government, including corporate efforts of diversity and inclusion. He has served
as a board member of APCOM (Asia Pacific Coalition of Male Sexual Health) and as the festival director of Kashish
Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. He holds a master’s degree in biotechnology from one of India’s premier schools and a post-graduate diploma in international business from S. P. Jain Institute of Management and
Research. He is a co-author of the book, A People Stronger: The Collectivization of MSM and Transgender Groups
in India and co-author of the World Bank study, “Charting a Programmatic Roadmap for Sexual Minority Groups
in India.” Pallav is a Fellow of the fifth class of the India Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
WATANAN PETERSIK
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
Senior Advisor, TPG Capital
SINGAPORE
Watanan Petersik is a senior advisor for TPG Capital and has been in the financial industry for over 30 years.
During her banking career, she held senior management positions in research and banking for a series of European
and American banking firms in Bangkok and Hong Kong. Her last positions before leaving full-time banking in
2006 were managing director of investment banking and chief of staff/COO Asia ex-Japan for Goldman Sachs.
Watanan sits on the boards of CIMB Thai Bank and PTT Global Chemical in Thailand, and CIMB Group Holdings in
Malaysia, She is also on the board of the Lien Centre for Social Innovation at Singapore Management University.
Watanan is a Fellow of the second class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa and a member of and
moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
PATRICIA PLANELLS
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Coach and Training, PR Consulting Corp
PANAMA
Patricia Planells de Rengifo serves as director for a PR consulting company in Panama. Previously, she headed
the corporate-lending team at BAC Panama, a GE Corporation affiliate, which incorporates banking operations
throughout Central America. Since 1998, she has been involved in higher education through instructional posts
at Universidad Santa Maria la Antigua (USMA), distinguished as the top private center for higher education in
Panama, and the International Banking Institute, the academic branch for the Panamanian Bankers Association,
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leading the instruction of various finance and bank-related topics. Patricia has published articles in the Banca y
Mercado magazine, the official magazine of the Panamanian Bankers Association. She has served pro bono as
a financial advisor for several nonprofit organizations, such as the Fundación de Amigos del Niño con Leucemia
y Cancer and the orphanage house Malambo. Before joining BAC in 1997, she served as credit officer at Bank
Boston Panama Branch and production plant engineer for Kraft Foods Panama. Born and raised in Panama City,
Panama, Patricia is a magna cum laude engineer from USMA and has an MBA with honors from the Universidad
Latinoamericana de Ciencias y Tecnologia – ULACYT. She is a Fellow of the sixth class of the Central America
Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
CHRIS PLUTTE
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Co-Founder, Global Nomads Group
UNITED STATES
Chris Plutte is the co-founder and executive director of Global Nomads Group (GNG). Founded in 1998, GNG is
an international nonprofit whose mission is to foster dialogue and understanding among the world’s youth. GNG
engages and empowers students worldwide using classroom curriculum and innovative technologies, including
webcasts, interactive video conferences, and social media. Operating at the intersection of international and
peace education, GNG strives to serve as a vehicle for awareness, bridging the boundaries of cultural misconceptions and instilling a heightened appreciation and comprehension of the world. As one of the original founders
of Global Nomads Group, Chris contributed to GNG’s initial pedagogical framework and spearheaded strategic
planning sessions with the board of directors and staff members. He led and supported the implementation of
core programming in over 40 countries, focusing on media distribution, which garnered him numerous awards and
recognitions. In 2008, Chris went to work for Search for Common Ground (SFCG) as chief of party and country
director for Rwanda. He opened and directed all of SFCG’s programs in the country and oversaw cross-border initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. During his two years in the African Great Lakes region,
Chris introduced innovative programs for peace-building, using technology in the classroom, and secured new
funding for program growth and expansion. He rejoined GNG in 2010 as its executive director. Chris received his
BA in international communications from the American University of Paris. Chris is a Fellow of the seventh class
of Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
KIM POLESE
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Chairman, ClearStreet
UNITED STATES
Kim Polese is a technology entrepreneur and business leader. She is as chairman of ClearStreet, whose employer-sponsored financial wellness platform incorporates behavioral science to help people save money and achieve
long-term financial health. She also serves as chairman of CrowdSmart, which uses crowd wisdom and crowdfunding to accelerate the volume and success of start-ups launched by university and alumni communities. Kim has a
deep track record of technology innovation. She began her career at IntelliCorp, helping Fortune 100 companies
use AI expert systems, and later moved into product management at Sun Microsystems where she led the launch
of Java in 1995. She then co-founded Internet software pioneer Marimba, serving as president, CEO, and chairman
and leading the company through its IPO and a successful acquisition by BMC. Kim advises numerous technology
start-ups and serves on several boards, including the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, TechNet, the Public Policy
Institute of California, the University of California President’s Board on Science and Innovation, and the Long Now
Foundation. In 2011, she was named to President Obama’s Innovation Advisory Board. Kim received a bachelor’s
degree in biophysics from University of California at Berkeley and was awarded an honorary doctorate in business
and economics from California State University. She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognition, including
being named one of Information Week’s top technology executives, receiving the National Center for Women and
Information Technology Innovator Award, and being named to TIME magazine’s 25 Most Influential Americans list.
She is a 2001 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
FAITH POLKEY
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Chief of Pediatrics, BJHCHS, Inc.
UNITED STATES
Faith Polkey is the chief of pediatrics at Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services (BJHCHS). She
is also the regional director of Medical Education for AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona,
whose South Carolina campus is based at BJHCHS. Previously she was the chair of the Department of Pediatrics
at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where she is currently a member of their board of trustees. Faith has served on
the task force to redefine the definition of underrepresented minority at the Association of American Medical
Colleges and has served as a team leader for the first expansion site of City Year in Columbia. Faith received her
BS in biology from the South Carolina Honors College, her MD from Johns Hopkins University, and her MPH from
the University of North Carolina School of Public Health. She completed her pediatric residency training at Duke
University Medical Center and a second residency in Preventive Medicine in UNC, where she served as chief resident. Faith resides in Beaufort. She is a Fellow of the fifth class of the Liberty Fellowship Program and a member
of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ANA PONCE
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Chief Executive Officer, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy
UNITED STATES
Ana Ponce is the CEO of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy (CNCA), a network of high-performing charter schools
serving more than 2,500 pre-K through 12th-grade students near downtown Los Angeles. CNCA schools serve
predominantly Latino English-language learners and have won various awards and distinctions, including the
Title 1 Academic Achievement Award, the California Association of Bilingual Education Seal of Excellence, the
California Distinguished Schools Award, and the Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC) Award. An alumnus of Teach For America, Ana spent three years in the classroom before becoming one of the founding teachers
and administrators at The Accelerated School, the first independent charter school in south Los Angeles. Under
her instructional leadership, The Accelerated School was named elementary school of the year by TIME magazine
in 2001. Ana serves on the board of the California Charter Schools Association. She earned her undergraduate
degree from Middlebury College and a master’s degree in bilingual-bicultural education from Teachers College,
Columbia University. She earned her administrative Tier 1 credential and second master’s degree from UCLA
through the Principal’s Leadership Institute (PLI) and is a doctoral candidate in educational leadership at Loyola
Marymount University. She is a Fellow of the fourth class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member
of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
GISELA PORRAS
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Managing Partner, Arias & Muñpz
PANAMA
Gisela Alvarez de Porras is a managing partner with Arias & Muñoz in Panama. She recently founded Albacrome,
a large commercial printing company, in Panama. The former minister of commerce and industry for Panama,
she also served as director general of the country’s internal revenue service and vice minister of finance. She has
represented Panama before the Interamerican Center of Tax Administration and has been the head negotiator of
the International Treaties to Avoid Double Taxation. Gisela specialized in tax and estate planning as partner in the
firm of Patton, Moreno & Asvat and was managing director of Assets Trust & Corporate Services. From 2004 to
2005, she was a member of the Presidential Commission for the Prevention of Money Laundering, representing
the private sector. She studied at the London School of Economics, where she earned her LLM, and has a postgraduate degree from Stetson University in real estate and a master of science from the Swiss Business School
(SBS). She completed her MBA in 2009. Gisela is certified as a trust and estate practitioner by The Society of
Trusts and Estate Practitioners (London) and is founding partner of its Panama branch. She is president of Vital
Voices Panama and a member of the Panamanian Association of Exeuctives, where she was a member of the
board. She is a member of the boards of directors of the Panamanian Stock Exchange and Special Olympics.
She is a Fellow of the third class of the Central America Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
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ROBERT PRICE
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
President, Edible Arrangements
UNITED STATES
Rob Price is president of Edible Arrangements. With more than 1,200 franchise locations open or under development worldwide, Edible Arrangements is the world’s largest franchisor of shops offering creatively designed
fresh-cut fruit arrangements. He joined Edible Arrangements in 2014 after more than seven years as chief marketing officer of CVS/pharmacy, where he shifted the company’s strategy from mass media to more targeted
customer engagement and drove industry-leading growth. Rob previously led marketing for Texas-based H-E-B
Grocery, served as chief marketing officer for Wawa Food Markets, and directed business development for Hardees
restaurants. He began his career as a strategy consultant at Monitor Company. In addition to his role at Edible
Arrangements, Rob serves on the boards of advisors of Walker and Company, Kind Exchange and Care.com. His
community service efforts have included leading corporate fundraising campaigns for Easter Seals and United
Way, serving as a host parent for the Chernobyl Children’s Project, and board membership for Junior Achievement
of the Delaware Valley. In 2010, Rob collaborated with his wife and three sons on a CD of original music to raise
awareness and funds for Haiti earthquake relief. This effort was recognized by the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and
President Préval of Haiti. Rob served for two years as a guest faculty member in the Wharton MBA program. He
holds a BS in applied economics from Cornell University and earned an MBA with high distinction from Harvard
Business School, where he was named a George F. Baker Scholar. He is a 2012 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen
Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
MARGOT PRITZKER
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
President and Founder, WomenOnCall.org
UNITED STATES
Margot Pritzker launched the WomenOnCall.org organization in February 2006 to provide women and non-profits
with an on-line meeting place to forge productive and efficient connections that make a difference in people’s
lives. The WomenOnCall.org website went national in scope in May 2010 and now has over 4,000 members and
growing across the country. Margot is Chair of the Zohar Education Project Inc. which she established in 1995. This
is a 15-year project to translate the Zohar, the canonical work of Jewish mysticism, into English. Margot is involved
in a number of initiatives that affect women and children in the developed and developing world. She has overseen
the initiation and progress of schools in remote areas of the Himalayas and Afghanistan. Furthering cultivation of
leadership amongst young people has led her to support and become involved with Ashesi University in Ghana
and the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. Through the Aspen Institute, where she is a Trustee, she participates in leadership development initiatives throughout the world. She continues her involvement in international
issues as a member of the Board of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, as a Trustee of the International Board
of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and as a member of the Advisory Board of America Abroad
Media. Margot currently serves as a trustee of the Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, where she was Chair of the
Board from 1993-2001. She serves as a Director of the Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation. She is also the chair
of the University of Chicago Charter School Governing Board, which is a part of the University’s Urban Education
Institute. Born in England, Margot became a United States citizen in 1994. She currently resides in Chicago with
her husband, Thomas J. Pritzker. They have three sons. Their extensive travel and knowledge of South Asia has
resulted in one of the foremost collections of South Asian art. Margot holds a BA from Northwestern University
and an AM from the University of Chicago.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
RAHUL RAJ
2015 ACTION FORUM PARTICIPANT
VP Marketing & E-Commerce, ecobee
CANADA
Rahul unlocks the potential of brands to better the world and the bottom line. As the VP of Marketing & e-commerce at ecobee, he is leading a team to change the way people consume and conserve energy through the
adoption of smarter wi-fi enabled thermostats. Rahul is a serial innovator. As the Director of Sustainability +
Merchandising Innovation at Walmart.com, he incubated new revenue streams to deliver economic and social
impact. Most notably he developed a multi-channel trade-in program to help Walmart’s customers turn high-quality gadgets into gift cards. He then built out a refurbishing infrastructure to bring these electronics to like-new
condition for re-sale and keep them out of landfill. For these efforts, he was honored with Walmart’s Innovation
Champion Award, a fellowship with the Aspen Institute and by GOOD magazine as 1 of 100 people pushing the
world forward in 2013. Rahul leads with purpose. He founded and developed Meal Exchange, mobilizing students
to achieve a more secure and sustainable food system on campuses and in communities across the country. The
non-profit organization has since expanded across Canada and to the United States and Australia, raised over $3M
to feed those in need, and recognized by TIME magazine as “revolutionary”.
CHHAVI RAJAWAT
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Sarpanch/Elected Head of the Village Council, Village Council of Soda
INDIA
Chhavi Rajawat was elected head of the Village Council of Soda, in India, in February 2010. As sarpanch, her initiative has been to bring holistic development into her village, thereby making it a model village, the development
work of which could then be replicated in other villages in rural India. The objective is to empower the people so
that they continue to grow and thrive even after Chhavi is long gone. To accomplish her goals, she is actively seeking support from the government as well as nongovernment sectors including corporations, NGOs, individuals,
etc. Chhavi has been travelling in the hope of garnering support in the form of funds or adoption of projects for
many of her projects, fighting adversities along the way and surging forth in a singular goal of empowering the
people of her village, thus paving a way for self-sustained and empowered Soda even after her five-year tenure
comes to an end. Thus far as sarpanch, Chhavi has been able to do the following in this largely underdeveloped
area: raise funds to de-silt the village reservoir to conserve rain water and provide safer potable water to the
villagers; increase the duration of supply of electricity from four hours intermittent supply to almost 16 hours
per day; introduce solar electrification in hamlets deprived of built roads connecting the village of Soda with
the main roads and other villages; introduce banking by opening a branch of the largest national bank in Soda;
raise funds to construct toilets and make Soda free from open defecation; introduce alternate sources of income
through self-help groups that grind spices, pulses, and train in tailoring; open a computer lab with the support
of SAP; introduce a certified training program for the unemployed graduates on soft skills and holding various
other training and career guidance programs; plantation and cleanliness drives with village volunteers. Chhavi
graduated with honors in English literature from Lady Shriram College, New Delhi. She then followed it up with
a degree in business management in marketing from Pune. She worked in the corporate sector from 2003 until
2009, during which she undertook myriad roles in media, hospitality, and the telecom industry. Chhavi received
the Young Indian Leader Award by CNN-IBN in 2010, the Young Global Leaders Award by the World Economic
Forum in 2012, and the Karamveer Puraskar in 2012. She is a Fellow of the fourth class of India Leadership Initiative
Fellows and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
SAM RAMIREZ
RESNICK LEADERSHIP FELLOW
Board of Directors, Paramount Academy
UNITED STATES
Sam Ramirez is a member of the board of directors for Paramount Academy Charter School in Delano, California.
His career in public service began at age 26, when he was elected to the Delano City Council in one of the closest races in Kern County, in which he prevailed by 17 votes. He quickly made economic development, public
safety, and programs for kids his top issues during his term. He was re-elected in 2008 and became mayor of
Delano in 2009. Sam served as representative of Delano on various local, regional, and state boards, including
the South San Joaquin Division of the League of California Cities, the Kern Council of Governments, the Mayors
and Councilmembers Executive Committee of the League of California Cities, and the Central California Regional
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Obesity Prevention Program. Shortly after his term on the Delano City Council ended, he continued his public service as an employee of the California State Assembly. Sam is an avid runner, having recently completed
the Honolulu Marathon. He attended California State University in Sacramento and graduated with a degree
in government.
TSAKANI RATSELA
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
Deputy Auditor General, Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA
Tsakani Ratsela is the deputy auditor-general of South Africa and CEO of the Office of the Auditor-General of
South Africa. She is a qualified chartered accountant and businesswoman with experience in a number of areas,
including retail, auditing, private equity, development finance, management consulting, skills development, and
black economic empowerment. She is a member of the Presidential BBBEE Advisory Council, where she chairs
one of the council’s subcommittees and currently serves as the chairperson of the Charter Council for the BBBEE
Charter for the CA Profession. Tsakani is the former chairperson of the board of FASSET, the SETA responsible for
skills development in the accountancy profession, amongst others. She is the past national president of ABASA
(Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants in Southern Africa). Tsakani is a Fellow of the seventh
class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
JOANNA REES
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Director, Soda Rock and The B Team
UNITED STATES
Joanna Rees is a managing director at Soda Rock Partners LLC, supporting entrepreneurs to build leading highgrowth companies and organizations, and a senior partner of the B Team. Most recently, Joanna led the formation
and capital raise for Endeavor Catalyst, an impact investment fund supporting high-impact entrepreneurs in
emerging markets. She currently serves on the corporate boards of FICO, Leapfrog Enterprises, and Hickies.
Joanna also serves on nonprofit boards including the New Schools Venture Fund and Endeavor Global. She previously chaired the Bay Area board for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. Joanna was a candidate for
mayor of San Francisco in November 2011. Previously, she founded VSP Capital, a San Francisco-based venture
capital firm. Joanna has served on the boards of more than 25 venture-backed companies across a broad range
of industries, including Danger Inc., Sabrix, Quinstreet, Stonyfield Farms, Account Now, Mirra, Posit Science, and
Post Communications. She also served on the boards of the National Venture Capital Association and the Coppola
Companies and as chairman of the USA for Madrid-based FON. Joanna was the co-creator of the Build Brand
Value CEO forum, which she ran from 1997 to 2003 as part of VSP Capital. Joanna spent her early career in advertising and brand management. She oversaw multiple brands at Groupe Danone and was head of new product
development in the United States. She started her career at Benton & Bowels (now DMB&B), working on multiple
consumer brands. Joanna is an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University where she teaches leadership in the
Leavey School of Business. Joanna was selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum,
and a Rising Star Entrepreneur of the Year by NAWBO. She earned her MBA from Columbia University and a BS
from Duke University. She is a member of the 2002 class and senior mentor with the Henry Crown Fellowship and
a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
PETER REILING
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
TRUSTEE OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
Executive Vice President, Leadership and Seminar Programs, The Aspen Institute
UNITED STATES
Peter A. Reiling is executive vice president for leadership and seminars, and executive director of the Henry Crown
Fellowship Program at the Aspen Institute. In these roles, he oversees the Institute’s growing portfolio of leadership initiatives (the Aspen Global Leadership Network) and seminars (including the Aspen Seminar, offered at the
Institute since 1950), as well as its flagship leadership program. Peter is a trustee, officer, and senior moderator
of the Aspen Institute and a Henry Crown Fellow (Class of 1998). He is also the founder of the Africa Leadership
Initiative (ALI), a joint venture between the Aspen Institute and five African business leaders, and co-founder of
similar initiatives in Central America (CALI), India (ILI), the Middle East (MELI), and China, with plans to expand
into Southeast Asia and Mexico. Similar programs have also been launched in the fields of US politics, education,
health care, and the environment, with plans to expand into financial services shortly. The goal of all these ventures, knitted together as the Aspen Global Leadership Network, is to stimulate a new generation of accomplished,
entrepreneurial leaders to play a greater role in the social and political development of their communities and
countries. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, from 1996 to 2004, Peter was president and CEO of TechnoServe,
helping entrepreneurs across Africa, Latin America, India, and Central Europe to build businesses in their communities. He is co-founder of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs and currently serves as chairman of
the board of the CALI Foundation. He also sits on the boards of Unique Solutions Ltd., Georgetown University’s
Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, ALI/East Africa, ALI/West Africa, ALI/South Africa, MELI, and the
China Fellowship Program. Peter is a former adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International
and Public Affairs and guest lecturer at the Institute for Developing Economies in Tokyo. He is also a member of
the Council on Foreign Relations and was named Outstanding Social Entrepreneur by the Schwab Foundation
in Geneva. A graduate of Georgetown University (BSFS) and the University of California/Berkeley (MBA), with
additional studies at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Peter is married to Denise Byrne of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
and is the father of two children, Dylan and Eva Luna.
BRUCE ROBERTSON
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Gulu Agricultural Development Company Ltd
SOUTH AFRICA
Bruce Robertson is the founder and CEO of Gulu Agricultural Development Company. Through GADC, he invested
in northern Uganda in 2009 as it emerged from the murderous reign of the Lord’s Resistance Army led by Joseph
Kony. Starting by buying and ginning cotton, GADC has branched into sesame and chillies and now trains 60,000
farmers across northern Uganda in agronomy, financial management, and organization development. GADC has
also planted 500 hectares of timber and 60 hectares of macadamias. Bruce has worked with the Ugandan government, cotton farmers, and other ginners for the last decade and a half to rebuild the cotton crop after Idi
Amin’s regime destroyed it. He is the chairman of the Uganda Ginners and Cotton Exporters’ Association, which
provides farming inputs to 300,000 cotton farmers. From 1991 to 1995, Bruce was general manager of Premier
International Development, where he was responsible for trade in wheat flour, maize, and edible oils for Premier
Group in Sub-Saharan Africa. He also investigated investment opportunities for Premier in other African nations.
He was regional coordinator of Consultative Business Movement from 1990 to 1991 in the Johannesburg region.
He was responsible for establishing dialogue between business leaders and political leaders in the area of economic policy, development, and conflict resolution. Bruce was educated at Hilton College; the University of Natal,
where he earned an MS in agricultural economics; and University of Cambridge from which he has an MPhil in
economics and politics of development. He lives in Durban and is married to Janina Masojada, with whom he has
two young children, Aleks and Klara. In his spare time, he runs, surfs, plays polo, and reads. He is a Fellow of the
inaugural class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa and a member of and moderator for the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
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MAYA ROCKEYMOORE
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
President & Chief Executive Officer, Center for Global Policy Solutions
UNITED STATES
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore is president and CEO of Center for Global Policy Solutions, a Washington, DC-based consulting firm, and president of the Center for Global Policy Solutions, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to
making policy work for people and their environments. She previously served as the vice president of research and
programs at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), senior resident scholar for health and income
security at the National Urban League, chief of staff to Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), professional staff on
the US House Ways and Means Committee, and as a CBCF legislative fellow in the office of former congressman
Melvin Watt (D-NC), among other positions. Maya is the immediate past board chair of the National Committee
to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and also serves on the boards of the National Council on Aging, National
Association of Counties Financial Services Corporation, the Campaign for America’s Future, and the Economic
Policy Institute. She co-chairs the Commission to Modernize Social Security. She is also a member of the National
Conference of Black Political Scientists and the Insight Center Experts of Color Network. The recipient of many
honors, she received Running Start’s 2007 Young Women to Watch Award. Maya holds a BA in political science
and mass communications from Prairie View A&M University and an MA and PhD in political science, with an
emphasis in public policy, from Purdue University. She is a 2004 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a
member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
TOM ROONEY
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Superintendent, Lindsay Unified School District
UNITED STATES
Tom Rooney is the superintendent of Lindsay Unified School District in California. Prior to his position as superintendent, he served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, where he was instrumental
in implementing the Performance Based System in grades K-12. His previous experience includes serving as a
teacher, assistant principal, and principal at the elementary-school level. Tom is highly knowledgeable about
research-based instructional practices and is a key leader involved in work related to the development, evaluation,
and modification of all aspects of the Performance Based System in Lindsay Unified. He maintains a strong track
record of successful and committed leadership at the site and district levels, focused on serving the learners and
families of the Lindsay community. Tom is a Fellow of the 12th class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
LUANNE RUNGE
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Associate Executive Director, Liberty Fellowship
UNITED STATES
Luanne Runge is associate executive director of Liberty Fellowship. A Liberty Fellow from the fourth class, Luanne
came to Liberty Fellowship from the law firm of Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A., where she was a shareholder, practicing complex business litigation within the health care industry and defending professional malpractice claims.
Before joining the law firm, she was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable C. Victor Pyle, Jr. Luanne has been
involved with a number of organizations supporting business, arts, and education. She served the Greenville
Chamber of Commerce for many years, including as chair of the board and general counsel. She is chair of the
Greenville Chamber Foundation and a founding member and vice president of the Greenville County Schools
Foundation. She is a founding member and vice president of the Greenville County Schools Foundation. Luanne
also serves on the boards of the Metropolitan Arts Council, Greenville Tech Foundation, Christ Church Episcopal
School, Greenville Chamber Foundation, and South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. She received
her undergraduate degree in politics, cum laude, and her law degree from Wake Forest University. She is a Fellow
of the 2009 class of the Liberty Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
MARIO SACASA
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Executive Director, Future of Nicaragua Foundation
NICARAGUA
Mario Sacasa is the executive director of Future of Nicaragua Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated
to helping the neediest sectors of Nicaragua through sustainable development programs in the areas of health,
education, and culture. He is also vice president of Emprendedores Juveniles Nicaragua, an organization that
fosters entrepreneurship and leadership skills for youth in rural areas of Nicaragua. In 2008, Mario was awarded
the Freedom of Mobility Award in Hollywood, California for his humanitarian work throughout Nicaragua. In 2007,
Mario lived a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to India with Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi,
in a delegation promoting nonviolent direct action. He is also an accomplished musician; among other honors, his composition “Quiero Maria” was the Grand Prize Winner in the Latin category in the 2002 John Lennon
Songwriting Contest. A native of Nicaragua, Mario attended the University of Maryland, majoring in communications. He is a Fellow of the seventh class of the Central America Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
KWAKU SAKYI-ADDO
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — GHANA
Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications
GHANA
Kwaku Sakyi-Addo is the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the industry voice for seven major
multinational mobile network and telecoms infrastructure companies in Ghana. Until his appointment in 2011,
he was general manager of communications for Aqua Vitens Rand, a Dutch-South African firm charged with
managing Ghana’s challenging water sector. Kwaku is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster. He worked
for the BBC and Reuters and, for over a decade and half, hosted his own live current affairs radio show, The Front
Page, which expanded the frontiers of political accountability. His personality television show, Kwaku: One-onOne, was the medium for telling compelling stories. His guests included Brigadier General Charlie “Moss” Duke
who walked on the moon, Ghanaian NASA engineering strategist Ave Kludze, and Marion Jones who ran, but fell.
The government of Ghana awarded him the Order of the Volta, one of the country’s highest honours, in 2007.
Kwaku holds an executive master of governance and leadership from Ghana Institute of Management and Public
Administration, and a graduate diploma in communications from the University of Ghana. He held a World Press
Institute fellowship at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1992. He’s chair of the board of the International
Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Ghana, and serves on the boards of the Africa Democracy
Fund, Private Enterprise Federation, and the Project Management Institute Ghana But his work on the boards of
Databank Foundation and the Ghana Cleft Foundation means the most to him. Kwaku is a Fellow of the inaugural
class of the Africa Leadership Initiative-Ghana and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
RAMEZ SHEHADI
MIDDLE EAST LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Booz Allen Hamilton
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Ramez T. Shehadi has recently re-joined Booz Allen Hamilton as executive vice president and managing director
tasked with driving the international expansion of the firm’s general management consulting services for public
and private sector clients across all major industry verticals. Prior to this, Ramez lead Booz & Company’s digital
business and technology practice in the Middle East and served as the global leader of the digitization platform.
He has written extensively on digital strategy and technology-driven socio-economic development. Ramez also
led Booz & Company’s corporate social responsibility program in the Middle East, with the aim to deliver positive
change across the region through diversified support on essential themes, such as empowerment of women,
entrepreneurship, health care provision, and other socio-economic issues. Prior to this, Ramez was senior director of product development at eBreviate.com in San Francisco, a senior associate at A.T. Kearney in Toronto, a
research associate at the Centre for Management of Technology and Entrepreneurship in Toronto, a mechanical
engineer at Stone & Webster in Boston, and a competitive 8m class amateur sailor and medalist in the 1997 and
1998 North American championships and the 1999 world championships. Ramez is a board member of the Young
Arab Leaders and several other regional NGOs and technology start-ups and remains an active Endeavor mentor.
He holds a BEng in mechanical engineering from Rutgers University and an MASc in industrial engineering from
the University of Toronto. He is a Fellow of the second class of the Middle East Leadership Initiative and a member
of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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VINCENT SHEHEEN
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Senator, South Carolina State Senate
UNITED STATES
Vincent A. Sheheen represents District 27 in the South Carolina State Senate. Elected in 2004, he serves on the
Judiciary and Transportation Committees. He is also a partner at Savage, Royall, and Sheheen LLP. Vincent was
the South Carolina Democratic nominee for governor in 2010, winning outright a three-way primary. He narrowly
lost one of the closest general elections in the country. Before serving in the state Senate, he was a member of
the South Carolina House of Representatives and was the second vice chair of the Judiciary Committee. Prior to
the state legislature, he taught at the University of South Carolina and was a prosecutor for the City of Camden.
Vincent received his JD magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law and his BA from
Clemson University. He is married to Amy Renee Sheheen, and they have three sons: Austin, Joseph, and Anthony.
He is a Fellow of the third class of the Liberty Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
TIFFANY SHLAIN
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Filmmaker / Director, The Moxie Institute Film Studio
UNITED STATES
Tiffany Shlain is a filmmaker, writer, founder of the Webby Awards, and co-founder of the International Academy
of Digital Arts and Sciences. A celebrated thinker and catalyst, Tiffany is known for her ability to illuminate complex ideas in culture, science, technology, and life through her unique films, dynamic talks, and innovative projects.
She delivered the campus-wide keynote commencement address at University of California at Berkeley, and her
films and work have received 60 awards and distinctions, including a Disruptive Innovation Award from the Tribeca
Film Festival. Her two most recent films have been invited to represent the United States at embassies worldwide
as part of the US State Department’s America Film Showcase, and her last four films premiered at Sundance
Film Festival, including her 2011 acclaimed feature documentary, Connected: An Autoblogography about Love,
Death and Technology, which The New York Times hailed as “incredibly engaging” and “examining everything
from the Big Bang to Twitter.” She is currently working on a film series which is paving the way for a new kind of
collaborative filmmaking that she and her film studio call cloud fIlmmaking. The series, titled Let It Ripple: Mobile
Films for Global Change, will include ten short films over the next four years about important aspects of life that
connect us. Each of these films invites participants to send in videos from their cell phones, and then after the film
is completed, her team makes free customized versions for nonprofits all over the world. Three films have been
released (A Declaration of Interdependence, Engage, and Brain Power) and nearly 500 versions of the films have
been made for nonprofits. These films have been volunteer-translated into 65 languages. The third film in the
series, Brain Power: From Neurons to Networks, is also the basis for Tiffany’s first book that the TED conference
published, of the same name. Tiffany was invited to share the groundbreaking approach of cloud filmmaking as
the keynote speaker for the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival Interactive Day. She is currently also working on an original
film series for AOL, The Future Starts Here, that will be released this fall. Tiffany has been honored by Newsweek
as one of the Women Shaping the 21st Century. She is a member of the advisory boards for the Prince of Wales
Fellowship at MIT, the MIT-IBM Network Science Research Center, and the Institute for the Future, and she was
invited to advise then secretary of state Hillary Clinton about the Internet and technology. She is a 2007 Henry
Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
OLIS SIMMONS
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
President & Chief Executive Officer, Youth UpRising
UNITED STATES
Olis Simmons is the founding chief executive officer of Youth UpRising (YU), a nationally recognized organization committed to changing the place without displacing the people in one of America’s most disinvested areas:
Alameda County, California. Olis is also the co-founder and board chair of Castlemont Community Transformation
Schools (CCTS), a cradle-to-career continuum designed to regenerate a robust community school environment
within the Oakland Unified Schooll District and hold students as primary drivers of neighborhood revitalization.
Olis launched both organizations as hyper-locals in an expanding constellation of entities designed to personally transform opportunity youth, radically improve systems, and develop economic opportunities at scale for
the community. Prior to founding CCTS and YU, Olis’s regional work for Alameda County, within both health
care and child welfare, leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars in public and private resources to integrate and
enhance critical services. Her national work with Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC) on
welfare reform and welfare-to-work projects included research and technical assistance aimed at shaping public
policy and programs for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Americans. As a social innovator, Olis’s work is
frequently highlighted in the media, and she has received a number of prestigious awards, including the James
Irvine Foundation Leadership Award. She is a Fellow of the 11th class of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship
and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
CAROLYN SIMPKINS
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Global Lead BMJ Outcomes, BMJ
UNITED STATES
Carolyn Wong Simpkins, an internal medicine specialist, is clinical director and general manager, North America,
for the British Medical Journal Publishing Group. She was the founding medical director of the Barrier Islands Free
Medical Clinic of Johns and Wadmalaw Islands in South Carolina. The clinic provides primary care and preventive
health services to the working poor population of these two barrier islands outside Charleston, SC. She previously
served as a congressional science fellow and legislative assistant for the US House of Representatives Ways and
Means Subcommittee on Health; has practiced medicine in inner city Baltimore, a large community health system
in South Carolina, and in various hospitals around the United States; and has held teaching positions with the
Greenville Hospital System, Clemson University, Duke University, and the Governor’s School of South Carolina in
Charleston. She is a former president of Democratic Women of Greenville County, and in addition to her medical
degree, she holds a rarely used PhD in pharmacology and cancer biology from Duke University. Carolyn is a Fellow
of the second class of the Liberty Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JOHN SIMPKINS
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Deputy General Counsel, White House Office of Management and Budget
UNITED STATES
John L. S. Simpkins is the deputy general counsel for the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Previously, he was a counsel with Wyche, P.A., a visiting assistant professor of law at the University of Victoria
in Canada, and a Fellow at Charleston School of Law. As a member of the African Network of the International
Association of Constitutional Law, he serves as a consultant and conducts research in comparative constitutional
law and constitutional design. John received his BA in government from Harvard College and a JD and LLM
in international and comparative law from Duke University School of Law. He lives with his wife Carolyn and
son Jonah in Vancouver, British Columbia and Washington, DC. He is a Fellow of the fourth class of the Liberty
Fellowship and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
SHAMINA SINGH
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Executive Director, MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth
UNITED STATES
Shamina Singh is the executive director of the MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth. In this position, she is
responsible for the center’s consistent achievement of its mission to advance sustainable and equitable economic
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growth and financial inclusion around the world. In her previous position as global director of MasterCard’s government social programs, she worked to digitize social subsidy programs in over 40 countries. Prior to joining
MasterCard, she led government and public affairs for Nike and spent five years with Citigroup’s global community
development group. Over the course of 15 years in the public sector, Shamina has held senior positions within
the Clinton Administration and the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a young global leader with the World
Economic Forum and serves on their India Global Agenda Council and their meta-council on inclusive growth. She
also served on the presidential advisory commission on military leadership diversity. Her advisory board service
includes Data & Society; the Beeck Center of Social Impact & Innovation at Georgetown University; and Care.
com, a public company operating in 11 countries connecting care providers and families. Shamina has a graduate
degree in public policy from the Lyndon B. Johnson School for Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin
and has completed executive programs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Yale’s Jackson Institute for
Diplomacy, and the India School of Business. Shamina is a 2000 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a
member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
LISA SKEETE TATUM
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, LandIt
UNITED STATES
Lisa Skeete Tatum is founder and CEO of LandIt.com, a career management technology platform for women.
Previously, Lisa was a general partner for over a decade with Cardinal Partners, a $350 million-plus early-stage
health care venture capital firm, where she focused on investments in health care technology and led the firm’s
investment in companies including AthenaHealth and TechRx. Lisa previously worked for Procter & Gamble in
various global and functional roles, including product development, purchasing, and product supply. She also
worked at GE Capital and was a managing director at Circle of Beauty, a health and beauty start-up. In addition,
she founded her own consulting practice specializing in strategic operational development for medium-sized
consumer products companies. Lisa serves on the boards of Surgical Care Affiliates (NASDAQ:SCAI) and Pager.
She is also on the board of trustees for Cornell University and the boards of the Princeton Healthcare System
Foundation and the Princeton Area Community Foundation. She is the immediate past president of the Harvard
Business School Alumni Board and a former founding board member of the Center for Venture Education. Lisa is a
member of the Kauffman Fellows Class 4. She received her BS in chemical engineering from Cornell University and
her MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a 2012 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member
of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
TAMSIN SMITH
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
President and Founder, Slipstream Strategy
UNITED STATES
Tamsin Smith brings to life good ideas that matter to the world. As a brand builder, social impact innovator, and
poet, she helps individuals and organizations tap their values, unlock their potential, and tell their stories to better
inspire and ignite others. Whether the mission is leadership development, scaling a new company, or building a
global movement, these people-powered connections add up to profound change. Tamsin created the consultancy SlipStreamStrategy to fuel this work in 2009. Recent roles have included: head of brand and partnerships
for sharing economy pioneer Yerdle, president of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, and senior strategic advisor
to the United Nations Foundation. From 2006 to 2009, she served as founding president of (RED), working with
partners Bono and Bobby Shriver, to launch a revolution in creative capitalism by empowering iconic brands and
regular consumers to make a profound difference in the lives of women and children in Africa. At the time of her
departure, they had delivered nearly $200 million to the cause. Prior to (RED), Tamsin directed public policy for
Gap Inc. and earlier served several years as a senior congressional staffer. She’s a published poet and blogs for the
Huffington Post. Tamsin holds an MA in international law and diplomacy from Tufts University and a BA in English
literature from Kenyon College, where she graduated summa cum laude with highest honors. She is a 2009 Henry
Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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KIMBERLY SMITH
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Founder and CEO, Pahara Institute
UNITED STATES
Kim Smith is Founder and CEO of the Pahara Institute. She is widely recognized as an innovative and entrepreneurial leader in education, and was featured in Newsweek’s report on the “Women of the 21st Century” as “the kind
of woman who will shape America’s new century.” Immediately prior to the Pahara Institute, Kim was co-founder
of Bellwether Education Partners, a nonprofit organization working to improve educational outcomes for low-income students. Earlier in her career, she served as a founding team member at Teach For America, created and
led an AmeriCorps program for community-based leaders in education, managed a business start-up, and completed a brief stint in early online learning at Silicon Graphics. After completing her MBA at Stanford University,
she co-founded and led NewSchools Venture Fund, a philanthropic organization focused on transforming public
education through social entrepreneurship, where she helped to catalyze a new, bipartisan, cross-sector community of entrepreneurial change agents for public education. Kim has helped to incubate numerous education and
social change organizations and has served on a range of boards, which currently include those of Bellwether,
NewSchools, and Rocketship Education, and she has authored or co-authored a number of publications about
innovation and social entrepreneurial change in education. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she
lives with her husband and two daughters. She is a 2002 Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a member
of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
HEATHER SONN
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
Managing Director, Gamiro Investment Holdings
SOUTH AFRICA
Heather Sonn is the managing director of Gamiro Investment Holdings, which has a focus on making investments
and building businesses in the energy, agriculture, and financial services sectors. The company is committed
to creating successful sustainable-legacy businesses based in South Africa through sound commercial practices as well as delivering positive social returns. The company has been appointed by a joint government- and
community-owned diamond-mining company to create sustainable businesses in the area while creating social
improvement opportunities for the community. Heather started her career completing the investment banking
analyst program at Merrill Lynch in New York, working in the globally branded consumer goods and leveraged
buyout divisions. She has held senior executive positions in investment management, stockbroking, and banking
industries, including CEO of a stockbroking firm in Johannesburg that expanded its business to include the launch
of a successful hedge fund; deputy CEO of the largest women’s investment company in South Africa, Wipcapital,
that served over 200,000 women beneficiaries via its trusts; and a senior executive of Barclays in London, where
she was responsible for formulating the commercial-banking strategy for global philanthropy organizations, testing the globally integrated banking model. Heather has also worked in national social cohesion projects aimed
at increasing the strength of South Africa’s democracy and lobbying government and the social-justice sector on various aspects of policy. She currently holds directorships on a number of listed and unlisted company
boards, including Steinhoff International, Prescient Limited, and Esor Limited. She is also the chairman of the
South African Wind Energy Association, the Prescient Foundation, and GreenCape, an organization formed to
support the growth of the green economy in the Western Cape. Heather holds a liberal arts degree from Smith
College and a Master of Science in international affairs (business) from Georgetown University. She is a Fellow of
the second class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa and a member of and moderator for the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
ALAN STOREY
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
Methodist Minister, Methodist Church of South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA
Alan Storey is an ordained minister of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and is presently situated in Cape
Town, where he also serves on the board of a number of civil society organizations. Alan received Rotary’s Paul
Harris Award as a result of his contribution to society in 1997. He is at present the chairperson of Gun Free South
Africa. Alan specializes in facilitating diversity engagement encounters. These encounters expose entrenched
dynamics of power, privilege, and prejudice and attempt to heal the divisions that still divide us. Alan has an
honor’s degree in theology and a master’s in philosophy (applied ethics in economics). He is a Fellow of the ninth
class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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HARRY STRACHAN
AGLN MODERATOR CORP
Managing Partner, MESOAMERICA Investments
COSTA RICA
Harry Strachan is managing partner of Mesoamerica Investments. He was a partner of Bain & Company from 1979
to 1998 and continues to work part time with Bain and Bain Capital in the company’s new-partner training. Harry
was a business school professor at INCAE and at the Harvard Business School from 1970 to 1979 and rector of
INCAE during the 1981/1982 transition. He is president of the Strachan Foundation, which he established in honor
of his parents and grandparents. He also serves as an advisor on the boards of the Mesoamerica Foundation,
INCAE, Escuela Superior de Economía y Negocios, Hospital Clínica Bíblica, and Fundación Adelante. He received
his DBA from Harvard Business School, his JD from Harvard Law School, and his BA from Wheaton College. Harry
was born in Costa Rica of missionary parents. He is married and has two children and several grandchildren. His
hobbies are golf, poker, and reading. Harry is a moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
AMJAD TADROS
MIDDLE EAST LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Middle East Producer, CBS News
UNITED STATES
Amjad Tadros is both an entrepreneur and award-winning investigative journalist. He has successfully founded and
managed more than half a dozen regional businesses in the diverse fields of communications, marketing and also
security and logistics. He is the Middle East producer for CBS News, managing the network’s coverage and operations in the region since 1990. In 2001, he was awarded an Emmy in investigative journalism. In 2007, he received
an Alfred Dupont Award for excellence by the University of Columbia in New York. He is also a co-recipient of
the Peabody award in 2008. In 2006, he founded ShooFeeTV, the first internet-based television guide in Arabic.
ShooFeeTV was launched on the web in 2008, and quickly expanded its program listings to newspapers, and
mobile devices. Later, the platform expanded into a wider lifestyle guide that includes gaming, cooking and films.
In 2013, Amjad co-founded Syria Direct, a non-profit media organization that produces timely, credible coverage
of Syria while training a small group of aspiring Syrian and American journalists in professional news-gathering
and accurate, in-depth reporting. Syria Direct is committed to using the highest journalistic standards for Syrians
to tell their own story. Amjad Tadros holds an honors degree in mechanical engineering from Imperial College of
Science and Technology at the University of London. He is married and divides his time between Amman, Jordan
and Devon, Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Middle East Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
REBECCA TAICHMAN
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Theater Director
UNITED STATES
Rebecca Taichman is a successful theater director who directs new plays, opera, musicals, and Shakespeare. She
has the skill and vision to make the theater a powerful platform for leadership. She has directed many off-Broadway productions, including Sarah Ruhl’s The Oldest Boy at Lincoln Center and Stage Kiss at Playwrights Horizons,
Kirsten Greenidge’s Milk Like Sugar also at Playwrights Horizons, Telemann’s Orpheus at NYC Opera, Nico Muhly’s
Dark Sisters for MTG/Gotham Opera, David Adjmi’s Marie Antoinette at Soho Rep, The Scene at 2econd Stage,
Kirsten Greenidge’s Luck of the Irish at LCT3, Sarah Ruhl’s Orlando at CSC, and an upcoming productions of Danai
Gurira’s Familiar at Playwrights Horizons and Paula Vogel’s Indecent at Yale Rep/La Jolla/The Vineyard. She has
also directed numerous regional productions, including Winter’s Tale, Twelfth Night, Cymbeline, and The Taming
of the Shrew at The Shakespeare Theatre. She has directed around the country at theaters like ART, The Old
Globe, Woolly Mammoth, La Jolla Playhouse, ACT, McCarter Theater Center, The Huntington, among others. Her
productions have garnered many awards including Obie Awards, Helen Hayes Awards, and IRNE Awards. Indecent
is a piece Rebecca co-created with writer Paula Vogel premiering this Fall. The play has its roots in her own family
history, and draws on themes of censorship in society and the arts. Rebecca has taught theatre arts at the O’Neill
National Theater Institute, MIT, UMD, NYU, and Yale. Rebecca is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and a
recipient of the TCG New Generations Grant. She is a 2014 Henry Crown of the Aspen Institute and a member of
the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
RASHI TALWAR BHATIA
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Portfolio Manager, Ashmore Investment Advisors
INDIA
Rashi Talwar Bhatia is a portfolio manager at Ashmore Investment Advisors India and partner at AshmoreEMM,
LLC. Rashi has been advising AshmoreEMM on their South Asia portfolios, which invest in equity markets in India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, since 2007. She specializes in investments in financials, manufacturing, and
infrastructure in India and the automobile sector across all emerging markets for Ashmore. Rashi has over ten
years of experience in the Indian financial markets. Prior to Ashmore, she was vice president of Asian equity sales
at Kotak Institutional Equities from 2006 to 2007, through India’s heaviest equity issuance season. Rashi led the
government of India’s disinvestment of Maruti Suzuki post-IPO, during her stint as AVP of research for automobiles
at Kotak from 2005 to 2006. Rashi is actively involved with the Talwar Foundation, where she focuses on raising
resources and funds for the running and upkeep of St. Michael’s Girls Hostel, which provides basic education,
boarding, and lodging for 85 girls from underprivileged homes and other backward sections of society. The Talwar
Foundation has also set up vocational training institutes on the outskirts of Delhi to provide market-focused
livelihood programs to underpriveleged girls. Rashi received her Master in Business Administration from Owen
Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University in 1999. She also holds a BA in economics from Delhi
University, earned in 1997. She resides in Mumbai with her husband Aditya and daughter Raina. She is a Fellow
of the fourth class of India Leadership Initiative Fellows and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
DIANE TAVENNER
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Chief Executive Officer, Summit Public Schools
UNITED STATES
Diane Tavenner is the founder and CEO of Summit Public Schools, a leading charter management organization
serving Silicon Valley’s diverse communities. Summit currently operates four schools serving 1,200 students. With
the mission to ensure all students have the opportunity to not only attend, but succeed in, a four-year college or
university, Summit will grow to serve 6,000 students from across Silicon Valley through 14 schools, creating the
nation’s first College Ready Corridor. Employing a model that leverages technology, world-class teaching, and a
rigorous college, career, and life-prep curriculum, Summit’s graduates are completing four-year college degrees
at three times the national average and eight times the national average for students of color. Diane founded
Summit’s flagship school, Summit Preparatory Charter High School, in 2003, quickly earning the reputation as
one of the best public high schools in the nation, according to national rankings by Newsweek and U.S. News &
World Report. The overwhelming community demand for more Summit schools was featured in the acclaimed
2009 documentary film, Waiting for Superman. Diane serves as the board chair of the California Charter Schools
Association (CCSA), representing the majority of California’s 1,000-plus charter schools. Diane has been honored as the Hart Vision Leader of the Year by CCSA and Dreamer of the Year by the Young Dreamers Network.
Prior to Summit, Diane was a public school teacher, administrator, and leader in traditional urban and suburban
public schools throughout California. She holds degrees from the University of Southern California and Stanford
University. She is a Fellow of the sixth class the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
HILDY TEEGEN
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Professor, University of South Carolina
UNITED STATES
Hildy Teegen is a professor of international business at the University of South Carolina, where she focuses
her research and teaching on international negotiation, firm-government-NGO interactions, and market-based
solutions for development. She began her career as an instructor of international business at the University of
Texas. She was then named assistant professor of marketing at the College of William and Mary. She later joined
the faculty of George Washington University, where she became a professor of international business and international affairs. While at GWU, she founded and directed the Center for International Business Education and
Research. Prior to that, she co-founded the George Washington International NGO Working Group and served as
secretary/treasurer for Women of the Academy of International Business. She received her BA in Latin American
studies, her BBA in international business and finance, and her PhD in international business from the University
of Texas at Austin. She is a Fellow of the fifth class of the Liberty Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.
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CATHERINE TEMPLETON
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Former Director, The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
UNITED STATES
Catherine Templeton is the former director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Control, appointed by Governor Haley. Before that, she was the director of the South Carolina Department of
Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) in the Haley administration. Prior to leading LLR, she practiced law at the
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart firm. Catherine was chosen by former Supreme Court justice Sandra
Day O’Connor to be national coordinator for iCivics, O’Connor’s Web-based project to teach students about their
civic responsibilities and encourage their involvement in democracy. She has served Boy Scouts of America as a
board member of the Coastal Council and on the board of the Gibbes Museum of Art’s Women’s Council of the
Carolina Art Association. She has been awarded the Compleat Lawyer Award by the USC School of Law. Catherine
earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts
degree from Wofford College. Catherine is a Fellow of the ninth class of Liberty Fellowship and a member of the
Aspen Global Leadership Network.
BRIAN TRELSTAD
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Partner, Bridges Ventures
UNITED STATES
Brian Trelstad is a partner at Bridges Ventures, a leading UK impact investor with $550M in AUM. He is working to
raise a $100M growth equity fund in the US to invest in businesses located in or serving underserved communities.
Prior to joining Bridges, Brian was the chief investment officer at Acumen Fund, a $100M social venture fund that
uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. During his tenure at Acumen Fund, he
oversaw the expansion of the portfolio and the global team, co-founded the Aspen Network of Development
Entrepreneurs (ANDE), and was an architect of the Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS), an initiative of the Global Impact Investing Network. Prior to Acumen Fund, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Company.
Brian has co-founded several early-stage for-profit and non-profit social enterprises, including GetActive and
the Center for Environmental Citizenship. He was also the lead environmental staffer for President Clinton's
AmeriCorps program in the mid-90s. Brian holds an MBA from Stanford University, an MA in city and regional
planning from the University of California at Berkeley, and a BA in social studies from Harvard University. He is a
2010 Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
CHRIS VARELAS
ASPEN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK MODERATOR CORP
Founding Partner & Chief Investment Officer, Riverwood Capital
UNITED STATES
Christopher Varelas is a founding partner and chief investment officer of Riverwood Capital. Riverwood makes
private equity investments in high-growth global technology and technology-enabled businesses. Prior to establishing Riverwood, Christopher was the global head of technology, media, and telecom investment banking at
Citigroup Global Markets as well as head of Citi’s National Investment Bank. During his 20-year Wall Street career,
he was one of the top-rated TMT bankers responsible for many of the largest transactions in the sector, as evidenced by his leadership on landmark transactions such as Compaq/HP, Lucent Fiber, PeopleSoft/Oracle, IBM/
PWC, and Flextronics/Solectron. Christopher was a senior member of Citi Investment Bank’s operating committee
and head of Citi’s Culture Management Board. He was named to the list of the top 100 dealmakers by The New
York Times and was named top technology Rainmaker by DealMakers magazine. Christopher earned an MBA from
the Wharton School of Business and a BA from Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he serves on the board
of trustees. Christopher is a moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
HILDEGARD VASQUEZ
CENTRAL AMERICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Head Architect, Hache Uve
PANAMA
Hildegard Vasquez has led the architectural office Hache Uve, which she created, since 1998, concentrating
mostly on preservation and renovation of historic sites such as San Felipe, Panama’s historic district, and the
city of Granada, Nicaragua. Her office has worked on major restoration projects such as the National Theater of
Panama, Santo Domingo Convent, Las Clementinas Hotel, Benedetti Building (recognized with the Architectural
Restoration First Prize of the Society of Panamanian Architects in November 2011), and the American Trade Hotel
and Hall. She is a founding member and president of Fundación Calicanto, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
restoring and conserving the historic and human heritage of Casco Antiguo (San Felipe). Fundación Calicanto
projects include the re-socialization of local gangs, educational programs for single mothers, a leadership in the
arts program for kids, multi-cultural events, and many direct battles for the conservation of historical heritage. She
also serves on the board of the Interoceanic Canal Museum since its inception in 1997 and was part of the board
of the Museum of Contemporary Arts from 2001 to 2005. Hildegard has a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of fine
arts from Rhode Island School of Design and a Master of Architecture in historic restoration from the Polytechnic
University of Madrid. She was a finalist for Avon Woman of the Year in 2011, a Hero for Panama in 2011, and was
recognized as a Light in the Community by the Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Panama in 2011. Hildegard
is a 2011 finalist for the McNulty Prize, winner of the 2013 Latin America FT/Citibank Urban Ingenuity Award, and
recipient of the 2014 RISD Professional Achievement Award. She is a Fellow of the second class of the Central
America Leadership Initiative and a member of and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
RAJ VINNAKOTA
PAHARA-ASPEN EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
Co-Founder & Managing Director, The SEED Foundation
UNITED STATES
Raj Vinnakota is co-founder and managing director of The SEED Foundation. Raj attended Princeton University,
from which he received a BS in molecular biology, as well as certificate of studies from the Woodrow Wilson
School of Public Policy. He then became a management consultant with Mercer Management Consulting. However,
Raj’s training as a scientist continued to shape his worldview. After a conversation with friends about the challenges of educating urban, at-risk students, Raj developed a scientific hypothesis: that underserved children,
when provided with a 24-hour, supportive, academically-rigorous environment, could achieve scholastic success.
Soon after, Raj met a management consultant from a competing company, Eric Adler, who also had visions of a
public, college-preparatory boarding school for urban students. Together, they founded The SEED Foundation
and opened the first-ever SEED School in Washington, DC, in 1998. In 2008, they opened The SEED School of
Maryland; they currently have plans to open two more schools in Ohio and Florida. Additionally, Raj serves on the
executive committee of the Aspire capital campaign for Princeton University and is the former national chair for
annual giving for his alma mater. Raj is a board director for Colfax Corporation (NYSE: CFX) and serves on the
national advisory committee for the College Board Advocacy and Policy Center. Raj is an Echoing Green Fellow
and an Ashoka Fellow. For his work at The SEED Foundation, he has received an Oprah Winfrey Use Your Life
Award and was named the 2009 winner of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson Award. Raj and his wife Cathy
have a daughter, Annie, and two cats. He is a Fellow of the fifth class of Aspen-Pahara Education Fellows and a
member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
AMITAV VIRMANI
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Chief Executive Officer, The Education Alliance
INDIA
Amitav Virmani is the CEO of the Education Alliance. Formerly, he was country director for Absolute Return for
Kids (ARK), India, a UK-based charitable organization founded in 2002. Amitav previously worked as a general
manager in the office of the CEO and managing director at Ranbaxy Laboratories. He began his post-MBA career
in the United States, working as a project manager for the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb, where
he was also responsible for setting up its office in Mumbai in 2003. Amitav has been a part of his family-run food
processing business since 1994. He now, in addition to his work at ARK, manages the development of a real estate
project in Punjab. He sits on the boards of several companies and is a managing committee member of the PhD
Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is also a member of the International Board of Advisors for Kenan Flagler
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
Business School at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Amitav represented the Delhi State in squash for
seven years and played at the national level across Asia. He studied economics at St. Stephens College of Delhi
University and got his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Amitav is married to Sonali; they
have two children and are based in New Delhi. He is a Fellow of the third class of the India Leadership Initiative
and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
CARLO VIVIANI
CATTO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Senior Economist for Greece, European Commission
BELGIUM
Carlo Viviani is a senior economist at the European Commission, directorate-general for economic and financial
affairs, Unit F2 - Greece. In the context of the Economic Adjustment Programme which Greece negotiated with the
EU and the IMF, Carlo leads the policy development, coordination, negotiation and surveillance in areas such as
energy policy, public administration reform, and public procurement reform. Carlo is also responsible for the analysis of competitiveness and determinants of growth, contributing to the formulation of the overall Commission’s
stance vis-à-vis economic and budgetary developments and policy in Greece. From 2011 to 2013, Carlo was a
director in the secretariat of the board of the Italian Regulator for Electricity and Gas, and from 2005 to 2011,
he was a director in the Italian Prime Minister’s Office, coordinating the Italian position in the EU policy making
process on energy, climate change, environment, and the Europe 2020 Strategy. Before 2005, Carlo worked as
senior economist at the Italian Senate and as consultant at European House-Ambrosetti. From 1993 to 2013, Carlo
has been professor of economic policy and European Economic Policy at LUISS “Guido Carli” University in Rome,
where he graduated in 1991. Carlo is a member of Aspen Institute Italia, a Fellow of the second class of the Catto
Fellowship Program, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
SAMEER WALIA
INDIA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Managing Director, The Smart Cube
INDIA
Sameer Walia runs the operations of The Smart Cube, a leading research and analytics firm with operations across
India, Europe, North America, China, and South America. As a co-founder of the company, he built the organization from scratch in 2004 and is currently involved in managing the next phase of expansion. Sameer has 20 years
of consulting and industry experience, of which a little more than a decade was spent at Accenture’s strategy-consulting practice. He joined Accenture in 1993 and worked with a large array of Indian and global clients, including
multinationals, Indian conglomerates, Internet start-ups, state governments, PSUs, and entrepreneurs. He has
deep experience in business strategy, corporate finance, restructuring, and operational improvement programs.
He started his career rolling up his shirt sleeves and getting his hands dirtied on the shop floor of some of India’s
largest manufacturing companies. Over the years he leveraged his knowledge of grassroots operations to move
into an advisory role on strategic organizational issues. In his current as well as prior role, Sameer has worked with
top management and boards at corporations across the world, developing a strong understanding of the nuances
of global market dynamics. Sameer now regularly mentors young professionals and entrepreneurs through the TIE
and Mumbai Angels platforms. He has been finding expression for his academic aspirations by attending executive
education programs at Harvard Business School. Sameer is a chartered accountant; however, he moved away
from that profession the day he qualified in 1993. A private person, Sameer is an avid trekker who loves to spend
free time in the Himalayas and a long-distance runner. Sameer is married to Ishita Swarup, an entrepreneur, and
has a five-year-old daughter, Tara, who is the love of his life. He is a Fellow of the fourth class of India Leadership
Initiative Fellows and the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
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PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES
KARL WESTVIG
AFRICA LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE — SOUTH AFRICA
Chief Executive Officer, AFB Group
SOUTH AFRICA
Karl Westvig is the chief executive officer of the AFB Group. Formerly, he was chairman and founder of a venture
capital fund, Como Capital. The fund was established in 2008 and has started and invested in seven businesses,
including businesses in the consumer credit, protein trading, and recruitment industry. He is the group CEO of
African Finance Bank (AFB), which is building a consumer finance business in Africa, excluding South Africa.
Prior to Como Capital, he co-founded the South African consumer finance business The RCS Group, where he
served as CEO until December 2008. RCS Group is now the leading provider of independent credit services to
retailers in southern Africa. Karl sits on the Boards of RCS Group, The Kuyasa Fund, and AFB Group (Mauritius).
Karl graduated from UCT in 1992 with an honor’s degree in business science (statistics and operations research).
He is a Fellow of the eighth class of the Africa Leadership Initiative — South Africa and a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.
DAVID WILLIAMS
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Care3 LLC
UNITED STATES
David Williams is a social entrepreneur and innovator in consumer digital health. He is currently Founder & CEO
of Care3. David was most recently Co-Founder and CEO of InvolveCare, a mobile task crowdsourcing application
for family caregivers inspired by his 10-year caregiving role with his mother, a multiple cancer survivor. Incubated
within Aetna’s Healthagen unit, InvolveCare reached thousands of families and attracted multi-millions in revenue in its first year. With this early success, InvolveCare was acquired after only fourteen months in operation
by a leading health information exchange, the fastest exit of any Heathagen startup. Prior to InvolveCare, David
was a Founding Executive at PatientsLikeMe, the world’s first and leading consumer health data-sharing platform. Responsible for marketing and business development, David invented the first non-advertising revenue
model for a social health company and was heralded by numerous media outlets including Fast Company, ranking PatientsLikeMe the #2 Most Innovative Healthcare Company in 2010 (behind GE Healthcare). His previous
corporate experience includes neuroscience global strategy with Lilly and healthcare management consulting
with Deloitte. David serves on multiple startup advisory boards in the digital health and crowdsourcing space.
He is a founding advisor of #YesWeCode, founded by Van Jones, with the mission to teach 100,000 students of
color to code. David also serves on the Advisory Board of The Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at UCLA
where he has mentored hundreds of student entrepreneurs. David earned a BS in Economics and Entrepreneurial
Management from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Digital Strategy with a
certificate in Corporate Governance from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. David is a fellow of the
2013 Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
JESSIE WOOLLEY-WILSON
HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Chief Executive Officer & President, DreamBox Learning
UNITED STATES
Jessie Woolley-Wilson is chair, president, and CEO of DreamBox Learning, the company that pioneered Intelligent
Adaptive Learning and was heralded as a game changer in the ed-tech sector by nationally renowned academic
and technology experts. Jessie has nearly two decades of experience in K-12 e-learning and has held several
leadership roles in prominent education companies. Before joining DreamBox Learning, Jessie was president of
Blackboard’s K-12 Group where she led the company’s growth for the virtual and blended online-learning market.
Prior to Blackboard, she was president of LeapFrog SchoolHouse, where she established SchoolHouse as a leader
in ed-tech and one of the fastest growing educational software producers in the United States. Jessie also held
leadership positions at collegeboard.com, the interactive division of the College Board, and at Kaplan, the leading
test preparation company in the United States. As an ed-tech industry leader, Jessie serves on the boards of several educational organizations, including the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), Camelot
Education, and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Locally, she serves on the boards of IslandWood, an environmental learning center that connects children to the outdoors, and Seattle Venture Partners International. Jessie
has also served as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on technology and educa-
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tion, and has presented at TEDx Rainier, SXSWedu, and DENT. She was awarded the 2015 Executive Excellence
Award in the CEO of the Year category by Seattle Business magazine, was named on the Forbes Impact 15 list for
being a disruptor of education, and was honored as a Woman of Influence by Puget Sound Business Journal for
making an impact in the ed-tech industry. Jessie has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in English
from the University of Virginia. She is a 2007 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of and
moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
BEA WRAY
LIBERTY FELLOWSHIP
Executive Director, The Creative Coast
UNITED STATES
Bea Strickland Wray is executive vice president of business development for Kin Valley. Previously, she was the
founder and CEO of SourceHarbor, a software escrow company, facilitating technology transactions between
software developers and software licensees, which she sold to NCC Group in 2006. Prior to SourceHarbor, she
worked for Siemens Business Services of Munich, Fort Knox Escrow Services, and SourceFile and is a former CEO
of Data Securities International. Bea serves as a board member and mentor for the Coastal Venture Investment
Forum and is active with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, and the
American Cancer Society. She graduated summa cum laude with a BA in political science and psychology from
Emory University and holds an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School. She resides on Daufuskie
Island in South Carolina. She is a Fellow of the second class of the Liberty Fellowship Program and a member of
the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
ELIE WURTMAN
MIDDLE EAST LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE
Executive Chairman, Vroom.com
ISRAEL
Elie Wurtman is a serial entrepreneur, venture investor, and technology-company executive. He has played an
active role in several high profile start-ups. He currently serves as the executive chairman of NJOY, the US market
leader in electronic cigarettes. Between 2006 and 2012, he served as a general partner of Benchmark Capital
Israel. Previously, he served as CEO of JVP Studio, a Jerusalem-based venture capital firm, where he focused on
early-stage consumer and media investments. He also served as interim CEO at several of the firm’s portfolio companies. Prior to joining the venture capital community, he co-founded and took public deltathree.com, a leader in
IP telephony. As CEO, Elie took the company from its founding to 60 points of presence globally with operations in
35 countries. Some of his other start-ups and investments include Ambient, TTR Technologies, Back Bay Scientific,
Double Fusion, FilesX, Daz3D, GreenRoad, Ctera, IronSource, GigaWatt Global, Fulcrum Materials, and Bat Shlomo
Vineyards. In addition to personal entrepreneurship, Elie is active in several social initiatives, including a co-working space to revitalize the creative start-up scene in Jerusalem and an innovative high school program, Regavim,
integrating agricultural work with academic studies. Elie resides in Jerusalem and Caesarea with his wife Naomi
and their three children Sammy, Odelia, and Liam. He is a Fellow of the third class of the Middle East Leadership
Initiative and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
RICKY YU
CHINA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Light Be (Social Realty)
HONG KONG
Ricky Yu is the founder and chief executive officer of Light Be (Social Realty) Co. Ltd. Committed to poverty
alleviation through affordable housing, Ricky came up with the idea of Light Home, a rental scheme which allows
landlords to help single-mother families in need. Light Be and Light Home have quickly drawn media and public
attention as an innovative action. In November 2013, the scheme was awarded the Social Enterprise Award for
Innovation by the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Ricky has
about 20 years of business experience and was the general manager for the Hong Kong Office of Amway. In
February 2014, he was appointed to be a member of the Social Enterprise Advisory Committee to advise the Hong
Kong government on the development of social enterprises in Hong Kong. Ricky is a Fellow of the second class of
the China Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
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JIANYU ZHANG
CHINA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Managing Director, Environmental Defense Fund
CHINA
Jianyu Zhang is the managing director of the China program for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). He advocates the use of market-based instruments for solving environmental problems, notably the establishment of a
domestic carbon-trading market for China. Jianyu specializes in environmental and energy-related public policy
issues. He speaks and writes frequently on both domestic and international occasions. He is currently a member of
the lead expert group for China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED)
and an executive board member of the China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO). Before joining EDF in
1999, Jianyu helped start two enterprises, one in environmental consulting and one in educational software. A
native of Beijing, he attended Tsinghua University (environmental engineering), Stanford University (civil and
environmental engineering), and Carnegie Mellon University (engineering and public policy). Jianyu is a Fellow
of the second class of the China Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
TAO ZHANG
CHINA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Founder & Managing Director, Dao Ventures
CHINA
Tao Zhang is founder and managing director of Dao Ventures, a China-focused impact investment group with
co-headquartered offices in China and the United States that primarily consists of ACBridge Global Advisors,
China Impact Fund (CIF), and New Ventures Global. The various entities of Dao Ventures have so far made and/
or facilitated investments of over $200 million into China’s environmental small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs). CIF is a member of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) and is considered China’s
first impact fund that specializes in supporting environmental SMEs, including companies with an environmental value proposition for the country’s base of pyramid (BoP) population. Tao is the lead author of Creating the
Chinese Dream and China Crowdfunding Report, two recent impact investing-related publications, and a columnist for the Wall Street Journal Chinese, with a focus on how to leverage investing to cure environmental and social
ills. He received a BA from Beijing Foreign Studies University, an MBA from Wake Forest University, and an MPA
from Harvard University as a Mason Fellow. Tao is a Fellow of the third class of the China Fellowship Program and
a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
154
Biographies for all Action Forum participants are available at www.AspenActionForum.org
NOTES
#AspenAction
July 28 – 31, 2015
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A S P E N, C O
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NOTES
158 ASPEN ACTION FORUM
www.AspenActionForum.org
ASPEN
Gondola
Plaza
GALENA
F
I
H
BLEEKER
MAIN
MAIN
J
THIRD
2
HWY 8
HALLAM
FRANCIS
TH
EIGH
NTH
NORTH
SEVE
SIXTH
SMUGGLER
FIFTH
FOURTH
MILL
HUNTER
SPRING
G
SECOND
HOPKINS
Rio Grande
Parking Garage
A
MONARCH
HYMAN
DURANT
FIRST
ORIGIN
AL
COOPER
DEAN ST.
GARMISCH
C
E D
DURANT
MAP
B
ASPEN
The Gant
GILLESPIE
NORTH
1
2
4
3
Route to Benedict Music Tent and Aspen Institute campus.
Paepcke Auditorium
1
2
FREE Cross-Town Shuttle
Doerr-Hosier Center
3
Aspen Meadows
Reception Center
4
Aspen Pedestrian/Bike Way System
7:54 AM – 8:36 PM DAILY
Every 30 minutes, the RFTA Cross-Town Shuttle provides FREE transportation
to and from downtown Aspen to the Aspen Institute campus and Music Tent.
The bus stop is in the main Music Tent parking lot.
OUTBOUND
From Rubey Park (downtown Aspen) to Harris Hall at the Aspen Institute
campus at :06 and :36 past each hour.
INBOUND
From Harris Hall at the Aspen Institute campus to Rubey Park at :15 and :45
past each hour. Call 970-925-8484 for more information.
FREE Action Forum Shuttle
Action Forum shuttles will run on a continuous loop to and from the
Aspen Institute resort in the mornings and evenings from July 27 – 31,
stopping at the Limelight Hotel, Sky Hotel, St. Regis Hotel, across the street
from Rubey Park bus terminal, The Little Nell bus stop, The Hotel Jerome,
The Hotel Aspen/Molly Gibson, and The Annabelle Inn.
Purple dots indicate venues and landmarks that are not shuttle stops.
•
WE-cycle Bike Share
WE-cycle, Aspen’s community bike-share program, features 100 bikes and
16 stations open 24/7. Designed for quick point-to-point trips, WE-cycle
makes pedaling a fast, easy, and fun way to get around town.
Visit the registration desk in the Barksdale Lobby for more details on
WE-cycle passes or call 970.205.9222 for more information.
Benedict Music Tent
Limelight Hotel
355 S Monarch St
St. Regis
315 E Dean St
Gondola Plaza Bus Stop
in front of The Little Nell
The Little Nell
675 E Durant Ave
Sky Hotel
709 E Durant Ave
The Hotel Jerome
330 E Main St
Explore Booksellers
221 E Main St
Hotel Aspen
110 W Main St
Molly Gibson Lodge*
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
101 W Main St
Annabelle Inn
232 W Main St
*Guests staying at the Molly Gibson Lodge
can catch the shuttle across the street
at the Hotel Aspen.
J
il
Tr
a
R io G ra n d
e Trai l
H
ik
in
g
)
DOERR-HOSIER
CENTER
Ca
st
le
Cr
ee
k
MAP
RESNICK-MALEK
HEALTH CENTER
Mead
( to R io o w s T r a il
G ra n d e
T ra il
ASPEN MEADOWS
ASPEN MEADOWS
RECEPTION CENTER
R
oa
ri
ng
MARBLE
GARDEN:
THE HUB
Fo
rk
R
iv
er
M
Bi
ACTION
WALL
th
Hiki
Plato’s, Meadows Restaurant, Hefner Lounge,
Merrill Patio, Bernhard
Pa
ANDERSON
PARK
ASPEN MEADOWS RECEPTION CENTER
ke
TO ead
DO ow
W sR
NT oa
OW d
N
AS
PE
N
KRESGE BUILDING
rai
ng T
Wa
RESNICK-MALEK HEALTH CENTER
ath
gP
Registration, McNulty, Kaufman, Catto,
Resnick Gallery, Isaacson Room
MARBLE GARDEN: THE HUB
GREENWALD
PAVILION
l
lkin
DOERR-HOSIER CENTER
BUCKMINSTER
FULLER DOME
The Network Bar, Espresso Bar, Oxygen Bar,
Community Board
KRESGE BUILDING
KOCH SEMINAR
BUILDING
Hines
KOCH SEMINAR BUILDING
Booz Allen Hamilton, Lauder, Stranahan
WALTER
PAEPCKE
MEMORIAL
BUILDING
BUCKMINSTER FULLER DOME
MAYER PATIO
WALTER PAEPCKE MEMORIAL BUILDING
Auditorium, Gallery, Library
MAYER PATIO
BOETTCHER SEMINAR BUILDING
BENEDICT
MUSIC TENT
BOETTCHER
SEMINAR
BUILDING
HARRIS HALL
NTO
t
WN
ASP
SHUTTLE STOP
See transportation
guide
TO Third
DO
W Stree
WE CYCLE
Bicycle Share
Station
EN
Dingman, Hudson, Harris