Manifestations

Read all about the enso collaborative team retreat via my recap here.

Read Stories of Purpose: Second Edition here.

In recognition of Nelson Mandela Day, the United Nations MY World team and the Nelson Mandela Foundation encouraged people to act for a better world by making their voices heard on their priorities for the post-2015 development agenda. See more here.

I had the opportunity to be recruited away to LA to work with enso, a creative impact agency working on brand strategies and campaigns for clients that included: Google, Youtube, 23andMe, Mattel, Uber and Apeel.

On June 10, 2014 the UN Foundation and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) co-hosted the Global Accelerator at UN Headquarters in NY. The Global Accelerator was a first-of-its-kind forum for entrepreneurs and UN officials to connect and explore innovative solutions to the global challenges of job creation and youth employment, water and sanitation and gender equality. In partnership with the UN, the Global Accelerator brought approximately 100 nominated entrepreneurs from around the world to take part in this day-long program focused on supporting the UN on these issues. Innovation workshops with the entrepreneurs were facilitated by 15 UN entities. Support the UN and help create solutions for global challenges. Continue the conversation atwww.GlobalAccelerator.org

While with the UN Foundation, I had the opportunity to work on the My World project which is one of the largest and most impactful projects I have collaborated on to date. Collecting votes from over 9 million people around the world, this data culminated into a report presented to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to guide the decision making of what are now the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Inspired by world-renowned professors Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne’s bestselling book Blue Ocean Strategy, the Blue Ocean Entrepreneurship Competition, created just two years back, is now set to become the country’s largest entrepreneurship competition run for and by high school students. The competition challenges high school students to come up with an 8-minute pitch for a blue ocean business idea – one that stands apart from the competition; delivers innovative value at low cost; and produces win-win outcomes for everyone involved. It also encourages students to operationalize their blue ocean ideas into commercially viable businesses.
Check out the video here.

Our GEC team supported the life-changing work of UNHCR at Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Together we have the power to change lives by supporting innovation, expanding learning opportunities and enabling refugees to make personal investments in their future. Learn more at: https://refugeeaid.tilt.com/

Watch the fundraising video here. In 2012, I was lucky enough to be chosen as an Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation Service & Social Entrepreneurship Fellow. Working with two other fellows, we created the social business plan, marketing materials and fundraising strategy for the Integrated Community Center project partnering with CEPIA, a well known Costa Rican non profit. In October 2014, the roof construction completed on the plot of land that was secured as a donation from the Huacas village community to help CEPIA and other non profits that support over 800 children and teenagers, as well as 600 adults from poor backgrounds yearly, through after-school programs, psychological help for victims, legal counseling, educational projects for high-risk youth, professional trainings, medical care, food banks, free computer access and a community library.

Through my work with enso, I had some great opportunities to work with global brands like Mattel and the Barbie design team to inspire purpose and collaboration.

Original content here.

In the Fall of 2014, I had the pleasure of giving a guest lecture to Professor Tun-jen Cheng’s class on Political Economy class where I shared the development of the Sustainable Development Goals during pre-launch of the 2030 goals.

I am honored to have shared the stage with many other incredible lecturers of the William & Mary DC Institute immersion program that enabled me to succeed while as a student. Fun fact: Former FBI Director James Comey, also a Tribe Alumni, is currently a guest lecturer of the W&M DC Institute.

Here are some visuals we created for our campaign to gather our community to break the world record for most people blowing chewing gum bubbles simultaneously.

Read this social good spotlight interview I wrote up for the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation’s e-magazine, Engage with the incredible Taylor Nelson of the Solutions Journalism Network.

I had the pleasure of meeting and collaborating with Ryan Jacoby formerly of IDEO who supported the design-thinking workshops implemented at the Global Accelerator conference held at the UN Headquarters in NYC.

The first time I knew I was on the right track was attending the Social Good Summit in 2012 hosted by the UN Foundation. I was a member of the Ashoka team that arrived to the conference and I had the incredible opportunity to meet one of my heroes, Dr. Muhammad Yunus who happened to be my favorite Ashoka Fellow.

I had a dream to orchestrate a flashmob over one winter break. Not knowing where to begin, I taught myself how to edit audio, activate a community and created some wonderful and sweaty memories practicing dance moves with so many others who were up to the challenge. I also partnered with the College of William & Mary and WM Staying Connected to raise funds to support the mostly volunteer run effort to use this as an opportunity to create awareness with Beyond Boobs - a local breast cancer awareness non profit.

Organized by Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur Christine Souffrant Ntim, I was invited to speak on a panel for local entrepreneurs on brand, community and ecosystem navigating in the social impact space.

Ever since my first time hearing about the work of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public during college. That then launched me into my work around social entrepreneurship and impact, as I was inspired by the innovative and creative problem solving that members of their network continue to create. I had dreams of coming to the Exchange later as an Associate on the Health & Technology team in 2012. In 2019, I had the honor of working with an incredible group of speakers as a storytelling coach and panel emcee.

Fun fact: Todd Park, former Chief Technology Officer used to lead the very same Health & Technology team at Ashoka.

Find data on my research here.

The Welcoming Committee Corps 8 DC Chapter member of the social enterprise creating a movement of acceptance and equality across the nation.

Read some of my archived posts here.

I am thankful for the opportunity to have gained such invaluable research skills with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute SEA-PHAGES program that allowed me to essentially discover this virus depicted through electron microscopy in efforts to isolate novel bacteriophages that had potential to infect disease causing bacteria.