2024 Climate Week Kickoff Guests

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to expanding equity through non profits and providing philanthropic guidance that creates impact through community-centered fundraising.

I love connecting with new people, understanding what keeps them up at night and what motivates them to be the change they want to see in the world. When I'm not advocating for something I believe in, you'll find me dancing at a Phish show, snacking my way through a new city, or looking at cat and panda videos on instagram.

Andrea Bell is the Principal & Founder of Intuitive Arrow, an advisory that provides a solutions-based approach across multiple industry sectors including: AI, risk management, strategic architecture, and narrative to increase future casting efficacy.

Intuitive Arrow is informed by regenerative and intergenerational industries that focus on physical, psychological, social, spiritual and environmental legacies.

Andrea has 20 years of experience in catalyzing value through co-creation, collaboration through partnerships, creating innovative solutions and funding that enhance well-being.

Peruvian American filmmaker, photographer, and entrepreneur Marco Ríos Bollinger has directed projects for the UN Refugee Agency, National Geographic, and Time Warner, collaborated with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and photographed Beyoncé and Obama. His award-winning documentaries, covering refugee children, climate change, dance therapy, education, and tourism, have screened at Cannes and Sundance. He co-founded Uprise Institute, offering social-emotional learning to underserved youth, and Lokal Travel, connecting travelers with over 200 local and indigenous communities in Latin America.

Supporting the SDG Data Alliance and Pvblic partner for Esri

Marketing Leader, Community Builder & Experiential Marketing Catalyst.
As Vice President of Montana Ambassadors and a passionate advocate for economic and community development, Julia thrives in breaking the expected with bold marketing strategies that spark emotion. Specializing in experiential and shock marketing, she champions social impact, DEI&B, and self-awareness, while supporting small businesses and fostering Montana's growth. Let's talk about Montana!

Manuella Cantalice is a Brazilian climate finance expert and global community builder based in London. She champions participatory dialogues, innovative financial mechanisms, and immersive narratives such as VR technology to drive systemic change, motivating investors and decision-makers to put nature and people at the centre. As the founder of New Animal, Manuella is leading a movement that connects impact investors with local perspectives, promoting nature-based solutions and investments that benefit IPLCs, paving the way for the next economy.

Talmage Cooley is a NYC-based social venture strategist and filmmaker. He began his career at Morgan Stanley then co-founded the largest non-lobbying group focused on the gun issue (Center to Prevent Youth Violence) which created the Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Campaign. ASK remains the only gun violence message ever proven to be effective per Harvard/GAO studies. Talmage has also written and directed several films, with two premieres at Sundance and over twenty Best Film and other prizes at festivals worldwide. He is currently the Founder/CEO of The Gun Violence Project and Kinoglaz Pictures.

Kim Dabbs is a global leader in the area of Belonging and Purpose. As a thought leader, best selling author of You Belong Here, and speaker, she is the Global Vice President of ESG and Social Innovation at Steelcase. She has a passion for building cultures of belonging and is leveraging that mindset as she partners with organizations leading transformational change projects around the world. Her personal experience and professional history focuses on helping leaders, organizations and communities with the tools to create a more equitable and inclusive world.

Kathleen is a producer and co-host at Science Friday, a weekly public radio show produced out of WNYC Studios.

Paola is an award-winning senior executive with more than 20 years of experience leading strategy, innovation, and business operations in senior leader roles in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and consulting industries, focused on value creation strategies across global businesses. She was the Chief Innovation Officer for Mars, Inc from 2019 through 2023, spanning a career of over 15 years there, and is now leading the Food & Agriculture Portfolio for two large sustainable development investment funds at Pegasus Capital Advisors. She is also a senior advisor for the Amazon Investor Coalition

Theresa Duncan is the Associate Vice President of Principal Gifts at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Prior to WCS, Theresa served as Director of Philanthropic Engagement at Burning Man Project and as Vice President of Development at the Aquarium of the Pacific. She earned an MBA and a BA in Philosophy from California State University, Long Beach, and is the author of Destination Coffee: 60 Recipes from Around the World. A pragmatic optimist and lifelong advocate for the environment and social justice, Theresa is passionate about protecting wildlife and wild places.

A certified brain-based leadership coach, Kimfer Flanery-Rye (she/her) is the Founder of Inclusion Equals, a social enterprise focused on the IDEA: Inclusion = Diversity + Equity + Accessibility to build culture from the inside out, as well as the CEO of The FBomb Breakfast Club, a peer support community for women, femmes, and gentlethems who are company founders and business owners. She is also an Adjunct Professor teaching Creativity and Innovation for MBA students and has her MBA in Executive Leadership. She speaks locally, nationally, and globally and spends her time on boards.

Someone recently asked me what I would be most disheartened to lose. I said, “My license to be curious.” That’s what drove me to be a journalist, photojournalist and aspiring systems change engineer — to explore the stories that shape our future. To find out. Water is the overarching story that captivates me — how a molecule can define whether civilizations thrive or fail. Founder, Circle of Blue. Former NatGeo, Time. Past vice-chair World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Water Security. Rockefeller Foundation Centennial Innovation Award. Explorers Club Fellow.

I thrive when living an artful existence creating solutions for an optimistic future. My work centers around comprehensive design, systems thinking, illustration and the arts. Iv’e contributed concept design-work to the automotive, gaming, theme park, movie and tech. industries for 25 years. It’s my love of nature, experience with manufacturing and interest in bettering humanity that inspired me to found Eqogo, a robust platform to evaluate and rate products on their social, environmental and quality attributes. I seek to make the pursuit of transparency a contagion for irreversible change.

Kadir is an experienced impact capitalist who leads Sustainable Impact Capital & Holding (SICH), a firm that invests in and supports social entrepreneurs committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. He is also a F. member of the Forbes Finance Council, where he shared his insights and expertise on finance, investing, and social impact.

Kadir is a third-generation entrepreneur experienced in his family office with 40 years of ethical investing expertise.

Anna Hammond is the founder and CEO of Matriark Foods, an environmental impact food company that works with farmers and vegetable manufacturers to upcycle surplus and byproducts into healthy products for foodservice, retail, and emergency food. All mitigate the negative environmental impacts that foodwaste has on the environment, while paying farmers for their surplus and creating greater access to healthy food for all people.

Daniela Herrmann is a tech, business, and financial industry leader who is passionate about innovation/disruption and system change. She is a serial entrepreneur and invests in businesses that have global reach and significant impact, she brings a wealth of experience in growing and scaling small and midsize companies set to change the future.

Daniela is the Co-Founder of Dynex (www.dynex.co) the world’s only accessible neuromorphic quantum computing cloud for solving real-world problems at scale. She is also the mission leader of Dynex Moonshots (www.dynexmoonshots.com).

As the Senior Vice President of Partnership Development at PYXERA Global, a systems change organization that leverages the power of the private, public, and social sectors to catalyze a just and regenerative transition, John is passionate about advancing the equitable circular economy agenda. He has 15+ years of experience designing and executing innovative and inclusive circular city strategies, material reverse logistics hubs, corporate sustainability advisory services, and zero (plastic) waste community programming.

Jea Edman founder of Johnson Edman Advertising, Inc. a 15 years old company that possesses a solid background in production & communications on all levels, yet still open to new ways of delivering the message. The team works with an array of clients along with programs engaging via tech, beverage and wine industries and the passions of the non-profit organizations impacting thousands of individuals and families. The firm has proven itself in the challenging world where media and the public merge. Additionally government relations continue to drive and support conversation in a world in flux.

Elana's work centers on the body, erotic ecology, and relational intelligence for healing and social change. She is currently getting her Masters in Ecopsychology at Naropa and is a graduate of programs ranging psychosomatics to sexual healing arts. For over a decade, alongside her 1:1 and couples embodiment practice, Elana she has impacted thousands globally as a teacher, coach and experience designer, including at Esalen, Wanderlust, and MAPS, helping others reawaken belonging and strengthen our most vital relationships - with ourselves and the planet.

Otho works to connect capital with innovative ideas in the areas of climate-related risks to low- and moderate-income populations, health equity, and household financial well-being. Prior to joining the New York Fed, Otho was the Chief Investment Officer for Acumen, an international impact investment firm that invests in companies that enable the poor to transform their lives. Previously, he was a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer at Encourage Capital, a solutions-oriented impact investment firm that leverages private capital to solve critical environmental and social problems.

As the Director of Art, Design, and Technology at the NYC Public Design Commission (PDC), Caro leads the strategic vision and execution of civic projects to enhance the public realm and foster civic engagement. With over a decade of experience in program direction, design criticism and research, and policy making, she bridges art, design, technology, and public policy to support impactful and inclusive public art and civic design that enhances the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

Josh is co-founder & CEO of RepresentUs, building a movement of Americans from across the political spectrum to make government work for the people. Josh believes that brands have the power to shape our culture and has spent his career building, advising and growing organizations that do. A seasoned storyteller and creative director, his work has been honored by Rebrand 100, the Webbys, the American Package Design Awards, the ADDYs, and more. Through work ranging from political movements to credit unions, natural foods to sustainable communities, he’s mobilized millions toward a better future.

Jocelyn Mangan is a visionary leader with a mission to solve board diversity in the next ten years. Her work is at the forefront of building better companies – and therefore a better future – impacting the most influential lever for change: the boardroom. Jocelyn is the CEO and Founder of two social impact ventures: Him For Her, which is accelerating diversity on corporate boards, and illumyn, which is bridging the gap between boardroom opportunities and historically underrepresented executive talent ready for board service. Jocelyn currently serves on 3 boards.

In 2018, inspired by her daughter Karina, Bina founded the Project 8p Foundation to accelerate research for chromosome 8p heroes. Her mission focuses on gene-agnostic, cross-disorder strategies to transform rare neurodevelopmental disorder research. Co-founder of the Commission on Novel Technologies for CNVs, Bina brings 15+ years of finance expertise to advance Open Science and interdisciplinary collaboration. Passionate about travel, painting, and rekindling her love for piano and dance, Bina is dedicated to creating a healthier future for all.

Wendy joins RepresentUs as the VP of Development having served in non-profit leadership since 2010 with a focus on building strong relationships, authentic partnerships, lasting change and equitable access. A self-proclaimed lifelong learner, Wendy’s commitment to sharing knowledge, speaking truth and building strong foundations, is at the heart of her Development efforts. She believes that authenticity is the most critical component of gathering resources to an organization, a creed that was developed during her tenure as the CEO for the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic.

Harald Neidhardt is the CEO and Curator of the Futur/io Institute, where he has grown an influential faculty and think tank of innovators, futurists and thought leaders working towards desirable, regenerative futures. In the past decade he has cultivated a thorough understanding of the pressing challenges associated with climate change and environmental degradation, and committed his career to fostering new paradigms and encouraging a global commitment towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Cecilia is founder/CEO of Earthlings, a strategy and marketing consultancy for impact and sustainability focused startups. Cecilia has founded 3-venture backed startups StyleTrek, boutiquey3K and appLOUD. Formerly she was Director of Ecommerce at Burberry, VP of Marketing at La Perla and Frette, and consultant at Nike's Valiant Labs. Since 2020, she has pivoted her focus and skills to amplify entrepreneurs and ideas focused on sustainability and impact to help regenerate our beautiful planet.

Alton Parker is the Founder of Lux Digital, a full-service digital agency. He co-founded and launched TheGrio.com in 2007, sold it to NBC News, reacquired it, and sold it again to Entertainment Studios. At NBC, he built MSNBC.com and other properties. Later, as EVP of Digital at Entertainment Studios, he oversaw 7 cable networks and a film distribution company. Alton founded Block4N6, a blockchain analytics company, and launched various impact-driven brands. As a visual artist, he toured with the Allman Brothers and many other bands. He also won the Baja 1000 Overall in 2008 with Roger Norman.

Ortega is an experienced CEO Advisor and Head of Experience professional. Her skills include storytelling with high impact and conversion, sales, and customer experience. Ortega’s career has driven and supported high performance for global workforce(s) and customers across diverse industries from Financial Services, Fashion, Agriculture, & Energy. The work performed used strategies that are applicable and curated for diverse industry customer demand and competitive go-to-market to grow revenue. She is currently a secondee at The Sustainable Markets Initiative as the Head of Experience.

I am the founder @ÆRTH: a non profit, composed of earth scientists from NASA/JPL and AROSE, alongside a growing network of leading marine-, deep sea-, ocean scientists and AI engineers. We are creating the first AI driven digital twin of one of the most crucial reef systems (a Hope Spot according to Mission Blue/Sylvia Earle). I’ll be presenting our prototype at Transformative Impact Summit in NYC

Shazia is building one of Africa's largest venture philanthropy funds that invests in local women and youth-led organisations shifting local systems to address critical challenges in education, health, agriculture, governance and climate. Prior, she had a decade-long career spanning eight countries. She began as a community organizer in Kenya, contributed to corporate transformations with McKinsey in North America, and led the development of multi-million-dollar government programs in rural electrification, women's financial inclusion, and agricultural transformation across Africa.

Rebecca, a native New Yorker, worked as a Physical Therapist and Holistic Health Counselor before going into educational solutions consulting with her mom’s business Sharzer Associates in January 2002. She is dedicated to excellent customer service and committed to serving administrators and students. Rebecca is also passionate about health & wellness. She donates to the public schools of New York with Nutritional and Social emotional programming. She spends much of her free time dancing, practicing yoga/meditation, hiking and playing with her dog Sophie or husband Aaron.

Shaleen Sheth is enrolled at Choate Rosemary Hall in the United States. Since childhood, she has volunteered at orphanages, with a focus on the Dominican Republic. As a resident of Spain, she is an active participant in food distribution and fundraising in Madrid. With a fluency in Spanish, English and Hindi, her aspirations are to develop proficiency in others such as French and Italian. Passions include politics, social justice, and running.

Originally from New York, Daniel Sheth has been living in Madrid since 2018. He invests in public and private businesses in the United States and Europe. From 2001-2018, Daniel worked with the family investment office of Michael S. Dell, where he played a key role in the development of the firm’s reputation across multiple markets. Daniel maintains relationships with existing and retired public company CEOs and CFOs spanning many industries. Humanitarian passions include disaster relief, orphanage support, sex trafficking prevention and sustainable water projects, among others.

Kelly Stoetzel is the Managing Director of the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, which brings people in with the wonder of fossils and deep time, and encourages action toward planetary health. She has spent most of her career working with impact-driven organizations to share knowledge and ideas through content and experiences. As one of the first employees of TED, she led curation and planning for TED’s conferences and events, and has produced and hosted programming for other orgs, including WIRED, the NAS and the Nobel Foundation.

Seth Teicher is a serial entrepreneur, filmmaker and venture capitalist. Seth is the co-founder of surgical AI company Activ Surgical, was on the founding team and spent five years as a Principle Partner at GreatPoint Ventures (www.gpv.com), is a producer and co-EP of Seekers and current Board Director at Coral Vita.

Dana Waldman is a biophilic interior designer dedicated to cultivating compassion and curiosity for the natural world. She founded Rewild Interiors to bring nature into the built environment and foster reconnection. Deeply passionate about protecting ecosystems, Dana is eager to collaborate with teams working at the intersection of design, conservation, and regeneration.

Freya Williams is a sustainability, brand purpose, corporate responsibility and marketing leader with 20+ years experience harnessing the power of business and brands to transform the world for the better. Freya is the author of Green Giants: How Smart Companies Turn Sustainability Into Billion-Dollar Businesses. Her clients have included Google, The United Nations, Target, PVH Corporation, Colgate Palmolive and The Estee Lauder Companies. Her mission is to make sustainability mainstream.

Benjamin Von Wong's work lies at the intersection of fantasy and photography and combines everyday objects with shocking statistics. It has attracted the attention of corporations, like Starbucks, Dell, and Nike, and has generated over a billion views for causes like ocean plastics, electronic waste, and fashion pollution.

Marci coined the term “ECOfashion" in 1995 and is an internationally-recognized, award-winning ecolifestyle expert, educator, innovator, serial entrepreneur, and Author of "ECOrenaissance: Co-Creating A Stylish, Sexy and Sustainable World.” Founder/CEO of ecofashionCORP, including B2B sustainable apparel/home textile supply chain platform, with regenerative cotton farm project RESET, and lifestyle brands Farm to Home & YesAnd, and Board Chair of the Textile Exchange, Marci has been instrumental in driving authenticity, environmental leadership, and social justice worldwide for over 3 decades.