Speakers for this event

• Alan Martinez (panelist)

  Alan Martinez (panelist)

  Director of Advisory Services at Entrepreneurial Finance Lab (EFL Global)

  Alan is Director of Advisory Services at Entrepreneurial Finance Lab. He leads a global team focused on ensuring EFL client success. With institutions like BTPN in Indonesia, JFS in India, and Equity Bank in Kenya, he partners with chief executives and other senior leaders of the top FIs providing access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs and consumers. He has worked with top SME lenders in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. After starting his lending career at ShoreBank in Chicago, he joined ShoreBank International where he founded the company’s credit scoring practice and led micro and SME finance programs across the globe. Alan earned a BA in Philosophy from the University of Texas and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University.

  Director of Advisory Services at Entrepreneurial Finance Lab (EFL Global)

• Ambereen Mirza (moderator)

  Ambereen Mirza (moderator)

  Lecturer, Entrepreneurial Leadership

  Ambereen Mirza has over ten years of experience as a consultant, researcher, and instructor in Social Entrepreneurship, Risk Mitigation, and International Development. She has worked with government agencies, quasi-government regulators, multilateral, international development firms, non-governmental organizations, nonprofits, and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Her projects have targeted tourism development, workforce expansion, private sector competitiveness, disaster relief, economic governance, access to finance and healthcare at the bottom of the pyramid, and information, communication, and technology (ICT) promotion in the emerging markets.
  Ambereen holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and History from Tufts University and a Master’s in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

  Lecturer, Entrepreneurial Leadership

• Jeffrey Kushner (panelist)

  Jeffrey Kushner (panelist)

  Board Member at Social Venture Partners (SVP Boston)

  Jeff applies the knowledge garnered in a 20-year career in Finance to efforts in the non-profit and government realms. He has a particular interest and expertise in early stage enterprises at the intersection of the profit and non-profit space. Jeff serves in leadership roles in a number of ventures including as a board member of Social Venture Partners, Boston, and Prospect Hill Academy Charter School. He is Board Chairman of GRIT Inc., a Boston based social venture that designs and builds mobility devices. Jeff is also a member of Town Meeting in Brookline, and is an active angel investor and mentor, working with diverse organizations such as Launchpad Venture Group, Harvard i-lab, and Social Innovation Forum. Prior to receiving his MPA from the Kennedy School of Government in 2014, Jeff held a number of leadership roles in the financial services sector, most recently serving as the CEO of BlueMountain Capital, Europe. Jeff also holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BA in History from the University at Albany.

  Board Member at Social Venture Partners (SVP Boston)

• Mary McVeigh (panelist)

  Mary McVeigh (panelist)

  Co-Founder and Executive Director at Soccer Without Borders

  Mary is a former professional soccer player and humanitarian, co-founder, and currently the Executive Director of Soccer Without Borders, an international non-profit that uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change in the United States and abroad. SWB is best known for its work breaking barriers for girls of all cultural backgrounds to play, and using soccer as a tool for integration and inclusion of refugee and immigrant communities. In 2003, Mary was the only Ivy League player drafted to the Women’s United Soccer Association, chosen by the Philadelphia Charge in the first round. A Dartmouth College philosophy major, she holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology from Lehigh University where she also served as an Assistant Coach.

  Co-Founder and Executive Director at Soccer Without Borders

• Nadeem Mazen (panelist)

  Nadeem Mazen (panelist)

  Founder of Nimblebot and danger! awesome

  Nadeem is an educator, entrepreneur, and community organizer. Nadeem first arrived in Cambridge to study Engineering at MIT. After graduation, he founded two small community-oriented businesses in Central Square: Nimblebot, a creative agency, and danger! awesome, a maker space that brings creative expression and tools to the masses. He is a natural collaborator and problem-solver, dedicated to bringing fresh, progressive voices into community leadership. Nadeem currently serves as an elected member of the Cambridge City Council.

  Founder of Nimblebot and danger! awesome

• Nayab Ahmad (panelist)

  Nayab Ahmad (panelist)

  Director of Product Development at Barakat Bundle

  Nayab is a recent Harvard College graduate and currently the Director of Product Development of Barakat Bundle, a social enterprise that is dedicated to reducing preventable infant and maternal mortality in South Asia. Inspired by the Finnish Baby Box, Barakat Bundle is a curated bundle of life-saving solutions and baby care items to support expectant mothers during delivery and infant care. Barakat Bundle was a 2015 finalist in MassChallenge and is currently being incubated at the Harvard Innovation Lab.

  Director of Product Development at Barakat Bundle

• Rita Fuerst Adams (moderator)

  Rita Fuerst Adams (moderator)

  Vice President and Philanthropy Practice Leader at Sandler Training | Salefish, LLC

  Rita transforms charitable and philanthropic organizations at the heart of social change into professionally run, better funded, effective organizations through management and fundraising consulting and training. She recently joined Sandler Training | SaleFish, LLC because its nontraditional selling system plus innovative reinforcement training makes it the ideal partner for entrepreneurs at all stages of development of their idea and company and for new and emerging philanthropic organizations.

  Vice President and Philanthropy Practice Leader at Sandler Training | Salefish, LLC