Event Participants

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an AI-powered compliance service for sustainability. Previously, Tai was a Director at a QED-backed fintech in New York and an exec at DTCC Europe, leading partnerships, new business, and ventures. He started as an institutional equity analyst in London and later founded and exited an e-commerce startup focused on transforming small business transactions through technology, data, and design. He holds a Masters in Business & Management from the University of London and qualifications from Oxford.

has over 25 years of experience in energy technology, including utilities, smart grid, cleantech, and big data analytics. She developed the first patented excess energy exchange platform, improving energy performance and reducing carbon emissions. She has awarded over 50 scholarships and founded the Karl H. Lewis Engineering Impact Alumni Endowment for minority students. She holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Pitt, an Executive MBA from Saint Joseph’s.

a leading decarbonization platform for the consumer industry, helping brands create sustainable products. Planet FWD’s snack brand, Moonshot, launched in 2020 as the first climate-friendly snack, was acquired by Patagonia Provisions. Previously, Julia co-founded Zume Pizza, becoming the first Black woman to lead a tech company valued at over a billion dollars. She serves on boards like Climate Collaborative and invests in female and BIPOC founders.

is the founder of Hush, a premium digital privacy protection service. Before Hush, he was General Manager of Equifax’s marketing services division and Co-Founder/CEO of Wealth-X, scaling it from a small startup to a global company with 300 staff across 13 offices. Mykolas also served as an executive at Forbes Media, an award-winning CIO, and co-founded LOBBY7, a mobile software startup sold to Nuance. He also served as CIO at W. P. Carey, a public REIT.

a Techstars, AWS, and Google-funded tech venture that helps organizations thrive through disasters by automating software update testing in real-world conditions. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science, an M.S. in Management, and a J.D. Tina has provided cybersecurity services to federal clients, including the DOJ and Homeland Security. A Maryland-licensed attorney and serial entrepreneur, she supports STEAM education and serves on local boards.

is a trailblazing advocate for representation in tech. As co-founder of Partpic, she developed tech using computer vision to revolutionize how consumers buy repair parts. Partpic raised $2M in seed funding and was acquired by Amazon in 2016, where Jewel led its integration into Amazon. She co-founded Collab Capital, a $51M fund investing in Black-led companies. A Howard University graduate, Jewel is a board member, contributor to NPR and SiriusXM, and a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

a venture capital firm focused on supporting underrepresented founders in tech. With 20+ years of experience, Luke has built and exited multiple tech companies, including Fixt, acquired by Assurant in 2020. As head of Latimer Ventures, he fosters innovation and invests in founders of color and women-led startups. He holds a J.D. from Syracuse and an MBA from Babson, blending legal and business expertise. Luke is also a mentor and speaker, advocating for diversity and inclusion in venture capital

is a highly accomplished executive with over 25 years of leadership in Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Diversity, Sustainability, and Supply Chain Management. She has held senior roles at Walmart, PepsiCo, Sysco Foods, and LBrands. Currently, as the Global Procurement ESG and Supply Chain Risk Leader at DuPont, she leads initiatives in ESG, supplier diversity, and risk management. Maria holds an MBA from UT Dallas and serves on several boards, including the Tuck Business School Diversity Board.

where she launched the Supplier Diversity Program and Vendor Sustainability Program. With 25 years in procurement, her work focuses on advancing equity, business development, and environmental impact through intentional purchasing strategies.