TFC Social Ventures Summit
February 18, 2023
Schedule | Speakers | Tickets
BOB CORNEY
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Clearloop
In his current role, Bob Corney supports corporate strategy and development and leads the Partnerships team at Clearloop, an organization spurring renewable energy generation in the U.S. electricity grid by working with brands big and small that want to offset their carbon footprint. Bob’s role includes building sales, community, industry, and advisory partnerships to advance the shared value for their customers, communities, colleagues, and company.
Corney cut his teeth on local political campaigns in the 1980s, embarking on a three-decade career spanning politics, public service, and public affairs with stints in the White House, Tennessee State Capitol, and corporate C-suites. In addition to leading partnerships across Clearloop, he leads efforts to expand the ambition of corporate climate action through academic, institutional, and advocacy efforts. At the core of this work is a commonsense focus on decarbonizing the US electric grid, expanding access to clean energy for all, and ensuring robust and tangible economic and social benefits in the communities currently getting left behind in the clean energy transition.
TRACY DETOMASI
Chief Executive Officer, Callisto
Tracy (she/her) has held leadership positions over the past 20 years across the nonprofit sector, where she developed and implemented trauma-informed programming and curricula. She was instrumental in changing domestic violence laws in the US and has worked on projects globally with The Commonwealth of Nations, Ecuador, Australia, The United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ghana. Previously, Tracy was the Co-Founder of Good People Collective, the Interim Executive Director at NO MORE, and the VP of Domestic Violence Services at the YWCA.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Tracy has extensive experience working in the field of gender-based violence, giving her a deep understanding of the ecosystem of survivors, offenders, and allies. She has consulted with organizations to develop tech-based tools, such as an app that educates users about violence against women, a smartphone device for sexual violence prevention safety, and virtual reality trainings to address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Anti-Sexual Harassment.
HATTIE DUPLECHAIN
Director of Learning Experience & Impact Measurement, Innovation Space
Beyond her role at the Innovation Space, an incubator for early-stage science startups in Wilmington, Delaware, Hattie teaches social entrepreneurship coursework at the University of Delaware. Hattie has spent over ten years working across the education and social impact sectors, with organizations including Ashoka, The New Teacher Project, and the U.S. Fulbright Program. Hattie holds an M.Ed. in International Educational Policy and Management from Vanderbilt University and dual B.A. degrees in Communication Studies and English from Clemson University.
NIHARIKA HANGLEM
Program Director, Kaplan Institute
Over her 15+ years of experience in the innovation space, Niharika has developed an expertise covering innovative business models and entrepreneurship. Currently, Niharika focuses on tech innovation and entrepreneurship with an equity lens in her role with the Kaplan Institute, in addition to serving as a Board Director for the sustainability-focused nonprofit Delta Institute, which works throughout the Midwest to solve complex environmental challenges and build resilient communities. Previously, she was a Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship consultant for the World Bank, working on various social entrepreneurship and data innovation projects across the organization. In 2014, Niharika became a StartingBloc Social Innovation Fellow, building on her passion to create significant social impact using market-based solutions for innovative projects across service delivery models.
Throughout her career, she has worked for various startups, social enterprises, and private sector companies. Some of her notable projects include: designing and launching Illinois Tech’s first-ever venture immersion program; building an ecosystem diagnostic of the social enterprise sector in Asia and Africa; facilitating and showcasing the use of big data innovations in global projects; conducting impact assessments for 150+ schools in the urban slums of India; launching a first-of-its-kind school choice initiative; supporting the design and deployment of the 108 emergency medical service; and launching the inaugural Demo Day showcasing innovative startups in NYC.
Appreciative of opportunities to engage, she has served as a judge for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Chicago:Blend, Future Founders, GWU New Venture Competition, and the United Nations Science Technology and Innovation competitions, in addition to speaking at conferences including the Urban Land Institute Fall Meeting, HackingHR, ChiHackNight, MovingWorlds, and the Peace Corps. Her lectures focus on social innovation, startups, and social impact.
Currently based in Chicago, Niharika was born and raised in India, where she earned an MBA from the Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies in Pune and a Master’s in Sociology from the University of Mumbai. She enjoys time with her family, conversations, live music, and good food.
DAVID HOLMES
Associate Director, S&P Global
David Holmes is an Associate Director covering credit analysis for charter schools, independent schools, and community colleges at S&P Global. Prior to S&P, David was a K-12 educator in Houston, Texas, serving as a school leader, founder, and teacher for over a decade across YES Prep Public Schools and Houston Independent School District. David is a 2006 Teach for America alum and holds a B.A. in Government and Economics from the University of Virginia, an MBA from Rice University, and a data analytics certificate from UPenn Wharton School.
SHOSHI KAGANOVSKY
Serial Entrepreneur
Shoshi Kaganovsky is a serial entrepreneur and social impact fighter with a proven track record of success in the startup world. As the founder of 11 startups, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table, along with a passion for innovation and a drive to make a positive impact on the world.
Throughout her career, Shoshi has demonstrated a unique ability to identify and capitalize on emerging trends and technologies, resulting in the creation of several successful companies in a wide range of industries. She is a master at building and leading teams, and is known for her ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve great things.
In addition to her business acumen, Shoshi is deeply committed to using her skills and resources to make a positive difference in the world. She is a vocal advocate for social and environmental causes and is dedicated to using her platforms and networks to raise awareness and drive change.
With her combination of business savvy and social consciousness, Shoshi is a true force to be reckoned with in the startup world and beyond. She is an inspiration to many and a role model for those looking to make a difference in the world while building successful businesses.
CALI LIVINGSTONE
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Type R Partners & Author
After receiving a BA in International Development Studies from Colby College, Cali worked for the international humanitarian development organization Mercy Corps for six years. With Mercy Corps, she lived in China, Kenya, and Nepal as the Southeast Asia Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor. In this role, Cali grew staff capacity in data systems and analysis with a programmatic focus in climate resilience and natural disaster preparedness.
With the bulk of Mercy Corp’s funding in Asia coming from the corporate sector, Cali became interested in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and pursued an MBA from Vanderbilt with a focus on sustainable supply chain. After spending her MBA internship in procurement and distribution operations at Johnson & Johnson, she came to LUCI, the first-ever smart power wheelchair platform that reimagines mobility for people in wheelchairs. In her role, Cali builds business systems and operational capacity to meet national and global demand for LUCI’s products.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Cali currently lives in Nashville with her partner Ben and her dog Maple. Cali enjoys cooking – especially Asian noodle bowls! – tending to her garden and hiking in the mountains with Maple.
MEGI LLUBANI
Research Analyst, MDRC
Megi is a Research Analyst at MDRC, a social policy research and evaluation organization based in New York City dedicated to learning what works to enhance the effectiveness of social and educational policies and programs where she focuses on youth, criminal justice and employment.
Prior to joining MDRC, she was a civil society activist, researcher and gender equality expert for over a decade in her home country of Albania. Most recently, she was a program manager at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (UN Women) office in Tirana, where she tackled violence against women and its intersection across identity markers including gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability. Her areas of interest and expertise include human rights, gender equality, domestic violence, community safety and good governance.
AMA MARSTON
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Type R Partners & Author
Ama Marston is an internationally recognized mission-driven leader, strategist, capacity-builder, systems thinker and early innovator. She is the award-winning author of TYPE R: Transformative Resilience for Thriving in a Turbulent World (Hachette Book Group). For over two decades Ama has worked on five continents leading and building organizations, teams, and multi-stakeholder social change and business initiatives as well as providing advisory services that have positioned a large number of partners for success and making lasting change. This includes work with leaders like Mary Robinson, first female President of Ireland, and Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate economist, FTSE and Fortune companies, the United Nations, Oxford University, numerous NGOs, philanthropic organizations, and local communities. Her work and thought leadership have also been featured in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and CNN among numerous others.
SAIT MBOOB
Foreign Service Officer, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Sait Mboob first joined USAID in 2012 as an economist and has worked around the world promoting economic growth in US government partner nations.
During his first tour, Mr. Mboob was based in the Thailand regional office, where he managed the $6M economic growth portfolio in Laos and the flagship trade policy project that facilitated Laos’ accession to the World Trade Organization. Following his time in Southeast Asia, he was stationed in the USAID Office of Trade and Regulatory Reform in Washington, D.C., where he oversaw the U.S. government contribution to the $50M Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation and served as the liaison officer between USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Most recently, Mr. Mboob’s work brought him to Senegal, where he managed a $60M economic growth portfolio across five countries in the Sahel, designed and facilitated private sector partnerships and youth programs, and performed a cost-benefit analysis of all USAID agriculture projects in the region.
Before joining USAID, Mr. Mboob worked as an economist for the Central Bank of Gambia (2006-2010) and for the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (2010-2012).
Mr. Mboob received his undergraduate and graduate (M.A.) degrees, both in economics, from McGill University and Vanderbilt University respectively. His research focused on economic and monetary integration in Africa, using lessons from the CFA zone.
TORI SAMPLES
Senior Product Manager, Stellar Development Foundation | Fintech Founder & Chief Technology Officer (acquired)
Tori Samples is a technologist, entrepreneur, and financial inclusion advocate with over a decade of impact-focused product experience. In her current role as Senior Product Manager at the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), she builds open source tools for humanitarian assistance in emergency settings.
Prior to SDF, Tori was Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Leaf Global Fintech, a blockchain-based digital wallet that provides cross-border financial services on both smartphones and basic phones. She built Leaf’s system from the ground up in Rwanda. Initially designed for refugees and cross-border traders, Leaf operates across East Africa and was acquired by IDT Corporation (NYSE:IDT) in 2022.
Tori’s technology background began through her work as a Data Architect at HCA Healthcare. Her long personal history with resettled refugees led her to pivot from healthcare IT to refugee-focused financial services after receiving her MBA from Vanderbilt University. She is passionate about bringing best-in-class technology to those who usually receive it last.
EMILY SHELDON
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, African Health Innovation Centre
Emily Sheldon is most passionate about using market-based approaches to solve complex challenges throughout the African continent. Her global development experience spans sub-Saharan Africa and includes diverse engagement in facilitation and training, capacity building, and program design. Emily serves as co-founder and CEO of the African Health Innovation Centre, a Ghana-based NGO dedicated to the utilization of innovation and entrepreneurship to improve health outcomes.
Prior to establishing AHIC, Emily served as the Director of Health Innovation for Impact Hub Accra, and held a second role as Africa Regional Lead for the Impact Hub global team, driving strategy and business development throughout the continent. Emily has worked in the non-profit, for-profit, and consulting fields with a predominant focus on process leadership, project management, and strategy. She holds a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
In addition to her work at AHIC, Emily supports entrepreneurs through a variety of advisory roles. She currently serves as a Mentor-in-Residence for the Sustainable Health Initiative at the Yale Institute for Global Health, as formal co-Ambassador for the Master of Public Health program at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and on the Advisory Board for the Turner Family Center for Social Ventures at the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management. She also provides direct startup support as the chair of the board of directors for Crowdfrica (Ghana), and as an advisory board member for AlephEngineering (Ghana), Rare Disease Ghana Initiative (Ghana), and PocketPatient MD (Kenya).
We are so excited to see you at the Summit! Summit tickets can be purchased here.