Global Leadership
Summit
Day 1 of the Global Leadership Summit
Day 2 of the Global Leadership Summit
About GL22
Ideagen’s Annual Global Leadership Summit is committed to finding systemic solutions via catalytic impact to solve the world’s most vexing issues.
Effective leadership is crucial now more than ever as we work to achieve the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Coming out of an unprecedented 2021, we will showcase how global leaders are addressing some of the most vexing issues of today, highlighting the leadership qualities and capabilities that have allowed their organization to weather unforeseen challenges to reimagine the future.
2022 Summit Mission
Our Speakers
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Dr.
Edward B. Burger
President and CEO of St. David's Foundation
Dr. Edward Burger is President and CEO of the St. David's Foundation, and President Emeritus of Southwestern University as well as Professor Emeritus of Mathematics and a leader on thinking, innovation, and creativity. He has delivered over 700 addresses worldwide at venues including Berkeley, Harvard, Princeton, and Johns Hopkins as well as at the Smithsonian Institution, Microsoft Corporation, the World Bank, the IMF, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the New York Public Library, and the National Academy of Sciences. He is the author of over 70 research articles, books, and video series. His latest book is titled Making Up Your Mind: Thinking Effectively Through Creative Puzzle-Solving
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Professor
Photini Pazartzis
National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
Photini Pazartzis is Professor at the Faculty of Law, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and Director of the Athens Public International Law Center of the Faculty. She is currently Chair of the UN Human Rights Committee (ICCPR). She is member of the Board of the European Society of International Law (former President 2019-2021), member of the American Society of International Law, the French Society of International Law, the Hellenic Branch of the International Law Association, the Hellenic Society of International Law & International Relations.
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Nahin Jorgge
Associate Director of Admissions & Director of Multicultural Outreach at Phillips Exeter Academy
Nahin Jorgge is an Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Multicultural Outreach at Phillips Exeter Academy. He began his career in education and has been a teacher, adviser, coach, and consultant. He has also served as the Co-Head of the Diversity Roundtable for the Ten Schools Admissions Organization, Exeter Summer Associate Dean, and Head of Dormitory with over 50 students. On-campus, he advises La Alianza Latina and the Salseros dance team. He enjoys traveling, discussing foreign affairs, playing soccer and basketball, studying languages, and solving puzzles. He is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Yale University.
Eli J. Lesser
Executive Director, Wharton Global Youth Program, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Eli J. Lesser is currently Executive Director of the Wharton Global Youth Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Leading a suite of programming that provides pre-collegiate students and teachers worldwide with access to the knowledge of the Wharton faculty and research centers. His work focuses on developing new models for student mobility in higher education and helping to unbundle content from traditional programming.
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Dr. Pelin Munis
Executive Director of RestoringVision
Pelin Munis joined as Executive Director of RestoringVision in January 2015 and as a Board of Director in 2021. An accomplished professional, applied Psychologist and entrepreneur, Pelin brought to the position more than 20 years of executive planning, administration, communications and marketing experience in for- and non-profit sectors. She holds a B.A. degree in Psychology from The George Washington University, an M.S. degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Miami.
Alex Goldberg
General Partner, Ad Astral
As a serial entrepreneur & technology investor for more than two decades, Alex has deep domain expertise in enterprise software, artificial intelligence, and a wide range of emerging technologies. He spent the earlier part of his career working in strategic product management and business development roles at two of the earliest Unicorn tech startups that spawned from MIT, followed by a role working for one of the top executives at a Fortune 500 company, serving in the Office of the CTO. Subsequently, as an investor-operator, Alex has acquired & operated several technology-based businesses as CEO or Executive Chairman.
Alex has had a commitment to social impact, throughout his career, via both his investing activities, and leadership across many philanthropic projects.
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Brien Biondi
CEO, Institute for Private Investors & Campden Wealth
Brien comes to Campden/IPI after a successful career of leading numerous high-profile membership organizations for the past 25 years. Biondi has served as executive director of the Chief Executives Organization (CEO) and as chief executive officer of the Entrepreneurs’ Organizations (EO). He began his career with KPMG. Biondi is also an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).
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Sheri Hashemi
Integrated Product Team Lead at Boeing
Sheri leads a multidisciplinary engineering team committed to solving complex problems. She has been working for Boeing for the last thirteen years. Sheri has a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering, two masters degrees in operations and supply chain management, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Aviation through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
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Prof.
Barrie E. Litzky,
Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel Univeristy
Barrie E. Litzky, received her Ph.D. in organizational sciences and psychology from Drexel University and taught for 18 years at Penn State Great Valley. She established the Consortium for Sustainable Business Development at Penn State Great Valley. Barrie created courses in sustainability and social entrepreneurship and led the effort to create a graduate certificate in Sustainable Management Practices. In
September 2017, Barrie returned to Drexel as an associate professor of entrepreneurship in the
Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship. Barrie serves as President of the International Association for Business and Society and is a former board member of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia.
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Dr. Christine Galib
Senior Director of Programs at The Ion
Dr. Christine Galib serves as the Senior Director of Programs at The Ion. In this role, she oversees the development and execution of programs at The Ion, including The Ion's Accelerator Programs, Workforce Development Programs, Academic and Mentor Programs, and Community Education Programs. She also directs The Ion Smart and Resilient Cities Accelerator, which supports selected startups as they develop and deploy technology that connects ideas, people, and communities in Houston. Backed by the Mayor's Office, the City of Houston, Microsoft, Intel, and TX/RX,
Kathy Cheng
Associate Director of Admission at Phillips Exeter Academy
I am pleased to be part of the Admissions Office at Phillips Exeter Academy and to join a dedicated team working with students and families from diverse backgrounds. Beginning my career in education, I am passionate about working with “youth from every quarter.”
I graduated with a dual degree in international business and Chinese studies after completing an internship in Shanghai with a multinational corporation. I obtained a master's in integrated marketing communication from Emerson College while working in college admissions. My career has taken me from higher education to experiential education within the gap year and experiential education travel sectors helping students achieve their potential life skills, independence and grit.
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Gülay Barbarosoglu
General Manager, Hisar School Turkey
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Tim Strong
Head of Agriculture Finance for Opportunity International
Head of Agriculture Finance -- Timothy Strong serves as the Head of Agriculture Finance for Opportunity International. In addition to managing a diverse portfolio of agriculture finance products and services throughout Africa, he has spearheaded Opportunity’s efforts to implement and mainstream gender-inclusive services to empower women in farming. Tim is originally from Northern California and has worked in Southern and Eastern Africa since 2005. Before joining Opportunity, Tim worked with a Silicon Valley start-up coordinating Lean and Kaizen project management, the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Services, the U.S. Peace Corps, the Clinton Foundation, and several commercial farms. He received a Bachelor in Science in biochemistry and plant physiology from the University of California at Davis, and he holds a master’s degree in environmental policy and an MBA in operations management from Middlebury College.
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Atul Tandon
CEO of Opportunity International
Atul Tandon is a global leader known for building, growing, and turning around some of the world’s best-known for-profit and non-profit enterprises. Tandon currently serves as CEO of Opportunity International, a non-profit organization that designs, delivers, and scales innovative financial solutions to help families living in poverty build sustainable livelihoods and access quality education for their children.
Prior to Opportunity International, Tandon founded and served as CEO of the Tandon Institute, which provides strategy, solutions, and staffing to enable social sector enterprises. Before that, Tandon served as the leader of United Way Worldwide’s 41-country International Network, helping build and shape the world’s largest network of community-based charities. Additionally, he oversaw the network’s worldwide corporate relationships and fundraising functions.
Dr.
Sunny Zhang
Founding Partner of Z LAB Ventures
Dr. Sunny Zhang is a researcher, educator, entrepreneur, and investor focusing on behavioral science and digital innovation for over 20 years. She is a Founding Partner at Z LAB Ventures, a venture studio based in Houston, Texas, building and investing in impact-driven tech startups. Her venture studio Z LAB supports women, minority, and immigrant founders. She serves as the program advisor for Women in AI USA and on the board of advisors for the George H. W. Bush Foundation of U.S. China Relations
Tracy Benson, Ed.D.
President Waters Center for Systems Thinking
As a leader, author and innovator in the field of systems thinking, Tracy Benson, Ed.D., brings extensive practitioner experience to education, government and corporate sectors in her role as president of the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, a nonprofit organization internationally recognized for motivating and inspiring individuals and groups to make significant differences to their schools, businesses, organizations and communities. She was a contributing author to the best-selling book, Schools that Learn by Peter Senge and is co-author of The Habit-forming Guide to Becoming a Systems Thinker.
Walter L. Simmons
founding President & CEO of Employ Prince George’s Inc.
Walter Simmons is the founding President & CEO of Employ Prince George’s Incorporated, the Executive Director of the Prince George’s County Workforce Development Board, a 2021 Maryland Daily Record Maryland’s Most Admired CEO Honoree, and 2020 Maryland Daily Record Influential Marylander. Over the past 10 years Walter has held various workforce development positions within local government, state government, the private sector, and nonprofit industries. In 2016 Walter began his career in Prince George’s County and later that year, at the age of 28, he became Maryland’s youngest Local Workforce Development Board Director, and one of the youngest in the United States.
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Rev. Deanna Vandiver
Founder, Ever Unfolding LLC
Founder of Ever Unfolding LLC, the Rev. Deanna Vandiver (she/they) is a Minister of Love and Liberation affiliated with the Church of the Larger Fellowship Unitarian Universalist and a member of the Un/Learning for Liberation Beloved Conversations Virtual design team and coaching staff. Deanna served as Co-Director of the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal in New Orleans for many years before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2018 and has served in many emergent leadership roles since arriving to the Salish Sea. With certification in Spiritual Leadership Coaching (Peace Ministry LLC) and Experiential Education and Leadership (Tulane University’s Center for Public Service) and rooted in the Undoing Racism™ analysis of the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, Deanna offers accompaniment to leaders seeking to lead with integrity and imagination.
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Nick Katsoris
President and Founder, Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation
In 2003, New York attorney Nick Katsoris was inspired to write a book about a fluffy little lamb named Loukoumi that just wants to make the world a better place. The first book was written for fun after his son was born, but more than a decade later, there are 9 books in the series and Katsoris has donated over 100,000 books and donated proceeds from the books to numerous charities. In 2014, Nick Founded the Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation which teaches children to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. Over 100,000 children are now changing the world one good deed at a time through the Loukoumi Foundations programs and curriculum. In 1995 he was appointed as General Counsel of The Red Apple Group in New York, a position he still holds. Nick is also President and co-founder of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, which has awarded almost 1,000 scholarships totaling over $2.5 million.
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Dr. Fariba Alamdari
Former Corporate Vice President from The Boeing Company
In 2006, she joined Boeing from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom, where she served as chair of the university’s Department of Air Transport, and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Manufacturing and Science. She has published extensively on aviation-related issues.
Fariba is a strong advocate of diversity and is a speaker at diversity forums. She believes in a compassionate leadership style focused on achieving results based on trust and respect for all. She has served on the board of directors of many non-profit organizations including Neighborcare Health, British American Business Council, and University of Washington Bothell.
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Maurizio Vecchione
General Partner, Ad Astral
Maurizio Vecchione is the co-founder and co-General partner of AdAstral. He is jointly also serving as the president and CEO of Washington Global Health Alliance, a non-profit organization that plays a pivotal role in fostering collaboration among leading global health institutions. He also serves as the Chief Innovation Officer of the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, (TIBI), a non-profit research organization conducting leading-edge research in biomedicine.
Maurizio has spent the last 30 years at the forefront of biomedicine in global and public health, focusing on innovation to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. From 2014 until 2020, he was the executive vice president for Global Good and Research at Intellectual Ventures (IV) where he oversaw collaboration with Bill Gates to invent and deploy technology to address some of humanity’s most daunting challenges.
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Jean Accius
Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership at AARP
As Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership at AARP, Dr. Jean Accius leads a team in positioning AARP as a global thought leader by identifying emerging trends around the world, cultivating and elevating new ideas, forging global strategic alliances that become the foundation for collaboration and sparking bold solutions to change systems and improve the lives of the global population as it ages.
Dr. Accius is a passionate champion and catalyst for changing how the world sees and values aging. He is an internationally recognized thought leader on aging, longevity, equity, health systems transformation and modernizing the delivery and financing of long-term care. With tri-sector experience and deep knowledge, he has a strong track record of building high-performing teams, managing cross-functional operations and processes, and developing innovative and actionable solutions, policies, and programs to close the opportunity gap so that everyone can live longer, healthier and more productive lives.
Tomas Thyblad
Vice President
Head of ESG Solutions, European Markets at Nasdaq
Back in 2002, Tomas started at NASDAQ – Beginning as a business analyst and bid manager at OMX Technology before moving over to OMX Treasury in the role of Deputy Group Treasurer. While working for NASDAQ OMX Treasury for six years, Tomas was the Vice President and Treasurer for the Non-US entities where he was responsible treasury operations. Continuing as a Vice President, this time for Nasdaq Clearing, Tomas was also the Chief Risk Officer between 2015 and 2016 where is oversaw the risk management department. For the coming 3 years, 2016 to 2019 Tomas moved to Nasdaq Treasury and became the Head of Financial Risks and Treasury Operation in EMEA / APAC.
As of April 2020, Tomas is the Vice President and Head of ESG Solutions, European Markets for Nasdaq, where he is responsible for coordination of initiatives and the tactical and strategic work around
offerings in the Environmental, Social, and Governance area. He also serves as Director of the Board of Nasdaq Clearing.
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Dr. Peggy Pelonis
President of ACS Athens
Dr. Peggy Pelonis was raised in Los Angeles, California. She has earned a Doctorate degree in Education from the University Of Bath, UK, an M.Sc. degree in Counseling and School Psychology from California State University, Fullerton (where she also received two awards for Outstanding Student and Outstanding Researcher), an Executive M.B.A. from the University of Indianapolis, and a B.S. in English Literature and Psychology from the American College of Greece.
Dr. Pelonis is a Licensed Psychotherapist and certified School Counselor in the State of California and holds school leadership certification from the Harvard Business School and Harvard School of Education. She is a National Certified Psychologist and holds a diploma in Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. Pelonis was on the staff of Cal State University Fullerton as well as the University of LaVerne teaching in the Master’s Psychology programs, she was on the staff of the Adlerian Training Institute, USA and is currently on the staff of ICASSI (International Committee of Adlerian Summer Schools and Institutes). She is Chair of the Special Interest Group of the European Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) and works with Middle States Association (MSA) as a leader for school accreditation.
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Jen Potter
Senior Manager, The Boeing Company
She has always had a strong desire to understand how things work, and began her higher education at Purdue University for a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Jen has also earned Master's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering through Michigan Tech and in Systems Engineering at the University of Washington. She is currently working on a Doctor of Education at the University of Southern California in Organizational Change and Leadership. Jen has been with Boeing in Seattle since 2005, first as a test engineer, but quickly moving into people management where she feels she can contribute the most to an organization. Jen has managed groups of test, manufacturing, integration, and systems engineers over the last ten years and strives to create an environment where people feel valued and enjoy their work.
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Gaelyn Hastings, M.Ed.
Director, College Access Programs, YOU Inc.
Gaelyn Hastings is the Director of the YOU, Inc. College Access Programs: The Bruce Wells Scholars Upward Bound/TRIO Program at Clark University and Dynamy John S Laws Academy Program in Worcester, Ma. She has worked in TRIO since August 1999; she has a B.S. in Business Management from Nichols College and M.Ed. with a concentration in Special Education from Fitchburg State University. YOU Inc. is a non-profit human services organization with a foundation of mental health and clinical services for youth and families and is an Affiliate Member of Seven Hills Foundation. Naturally the college access and success programs at YOU Inc. have consistent and constant health and wellness components to all programming. Gaelyn has served on the Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association as President-Elect, President, Past President, MA Liaison, Development Chair, and Scholarship Chair. She is an active member of the Worcester College Access Network that has over 30 different college access programs city wide. She has served on many committees on the New England Educational Opportunity Association Board through the years including President. 2015-2016. She proudly served on the Council for Opportunity in Education National of Directors 2015-2017.
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Tineyi Mawocha
Chief Program Officer and Africa Regional Director for Opportunity International
Chief Program Officer -- Tineyi Mawocha serves as Opportunity's Chief Program Officer and Africa Regional Director. He oversees operational partnership management and supports business development for the region through high-quality program strategies, concepts, and proposals for resource mobilization. Tineyi previously held the Chief Executive Officer role at Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited. He joined Opportunity International in 2014 as CEO of Urwego Opportunity Bank (UOB Rwanda), moving to Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited in 2016. Prior to joining UOB, he was Managing Director of Tetrad Investment Bank in Zimbabwe, where he led the transition from investment banking to a commercial banking strategy for the group.
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Andrew McCusker
Head of Education Finance
Opportunity International
Andrew McCusker is Opportunity International's Head of Education Finance, overseeing Opportunity’s work developing customized financial tools and programs to improve the accessibility, quality, and sustainability of education around the world. As one of Opportunity’s most innovative initiatives, EduFinance has grown from pilot projects to a robust portfolio invested in school proprietors, parents, students, and education quality. Andrew is responsible for scaling Opportunity’s existing footprint and further evolving outreach and program strategy, preparing us for a future where we will help even more students go to and stay in high-quality schools.
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Robert Reiss
Founder and CEO, The CEO Forum Group
Robert Reiss is founder and host of The CEO Show, nationally syndicated to more than 600,000 listeners on AM/FM radio. His company publishes The CEO Forum, a quarterly magazine whose subscription base is exclusively 10,000 CEOs. Reiss is a frequent keynote speaker on lessons from CEOs.
Reiss is co-author of The Transformative CEO, published by McGraw-Hill in June 2012. He was recently featured on Squawk Box discussing The Transformative CEO.
He is a regular contributor with Forbes.com, where he has written over 40 columns on CEO perspective. His work with CEOs was featured in the Harvard Business Review, where Reiss was cited as an “expert in executive communications”.
In 2011 Reiss launched The CEO TV Show which is the first pan-mobile program featuring CEOs who have reinvented the fabric of American industry. Also as a program Director of The Conference Board’s annual Senior Marketing Executive Conference, which in 2009 was cited in Weber Shandwick’s annual research as the #4 Global C-Suite Conference.
Organizations Include
Presented Globally by Microsoft
