Watson Institute Team

Jeremy Callinan is a technology leader and educator with 20+ years of industry experience. As IT Manager at American Refining Group and faculty at University of Pittsburgh Bradford, he blends real-world tech with academic innovation. Jeremy founded ventures in tech, retail, and hospitality, and consulted for 75+ businesses. He’s pioneered VR courses, launched the eSports program, and mentors students in software, networking, cybersecurity, and systems integration.

Karen has over two decades of experience as an entrepreneur and business consultant, advocating for small businesses. She’s worked with programs like Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, One Million Black Women, Los Angeles Community Colleges, the SBA, and Small Business Development Centers. Karen has developed successful growth strategies for small and medium-sized businesses, focusing on marketing, sales management, strategic planning, and operational efficiencies.

Mentor brings over a decade of experience in leading impactful projects within social entrepreneurship. Mentor has a wealth of experience in launching businesses and crafting effective Go-To-Market strategies, and he is enthusiastic about embarking on this journey alongside you, leveraging his expertise to drive success and create meaningful impact. At his core, Mentor is a conscious leader who enjoys connecting with people and working together for a greater impact. He is a dedicated meditator on a mission to spread compassion and joy to all.

Hillary Frances is the Founder and CEO of Flying Whale Strategies, with 20+ years of experience supporting nonprofit leaders. She has worked with 125+ national organizations and nearly 300 leaders on fundraising and strategy. Hillary has held leadership roles in state government, higher education, and co-founded Prodigy Ventures. She teaches research methods at MSU Denver and holds a Master’s in International and Intercultural Communication from the University of Denver.

Ali is a dedicated facilitator and strategist with 15+ years of experience, passionate about empowering teams and communities for positive change. She specializes in systems change, well-being, and empowering young changemakers, artists, and movement-builders. Her work is rooted in our shared humanity and guided by creative and spiritual practice, always with a focus on justice and well-being for all.

Erick Gavin is the Executive Director of Venture Miami, an economic development office of the City of Miami tasked with facilitating the growth of the technology and innovation ecosystem. Prioritizing STEM education, he fosters social and economic impact through collaboration, shaping Miami as a tech hub.

Cole Hoover, a seasoned transformative facilitator with 15 years of social impact experience, enhances social and environmental impact through business principles. As an entrepreneur and co-founder of Washington state’s first accredited social enterprise certificate program at the University of Washington, he actively teaches related courses. Serving on the board of the Whidbey Institute and an alum of the World Economic Forum’s “Global Shaper” program, Cole’s global influence extends through inspiring professionals in social enterprise, equity, and microfinance.

Pearl, a Wharton and NYU Law alumna, is a former attorney, Wall Street banker, corporate executive, and internet entrepreneur. Pearl is now a mindfulness coach, guiding others toward inner growth and resilience. She brings mindfulness and self-compassion courses to schools and corporations, aiming to cultivate meaningful, burnout-free lives. As a Lululemon ambassador and Global Ambassador Advisory Board member, Pearl crafts mind-body approaches to unlock human potential and promote well-being.

Chris Houghtaling, CEO and co-founder of RaiseLink, was active in the European startup ecosystem living in Vienna, Austria, and started VisioneersPartners, an international sales strategy consulting and coaching firm. Chris was involved in the European Council and World Bank’s Pioneers of the Balkans, worked with scores of international accelerators/incubators and event organizers, CMO of DealMatrix, venture capital including expanding the European Super Angels Club across Europe, corporate innovation teams, and has been an adjunct faculty member for seven universities in Austria and the US.

Christina is the Director of Learning & Development at Mastercard, where she leads global initiatives to build AI & Data fluency, drive skill development, and support career mobility. With experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, she designs learning systems that connect people to opportunity. She is an Aspen Institute Fellow and a former Vice Curator of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers, passionate about inclusive innovation and the future of work.

Ramsay Huntley is an innovation and sustainability leader with deep experience across sectors including energy, agriculture, and finance. The founder of Tenmile Strategies, he is an advisor to growth companies, helping them successfully scale their businesses. Previously he was a sustainable finance leader at Wells Fargo. His other roles at Wells included leading climate strategy for the bank, developing the bank’s sustainable finance taxonomy, and expanding the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator.

Jason is the Founder and Managing Partner of Propellant Ventures, a Seed-stage fund that invests in the growth of Chicago and the greater Midwest. He is also the Managing Director of the Chicago chapter of Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed technology accelerator. With over 20 years of experience, Jason supports entrepreneurs through investor readiness, strategic advisory, and capital formation. Additionally, he teaches business and entrepreneurship at DePaul University as an adjunct faculty member.

William has spent more than twenty-five years as an executive and entrepreneur with rapid growth SaaS and EdTech startups, and has advised over 400 ventures as a subject matter expert and mentor on go-to-market (GTM) strategy. He studied mathematics and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and English literature and theater at Oberlin College and the California Institute of the Arts. , and is a co-founder of cybersecurity startup Foresight Resilience Strategies.

Heather Lawver is the Founder & CEO of Perfectly Pitched, supporting early stage entrepreneurs & automating the future of startup branding, marketing & pitch decks. In their first year & a half in business, Perfectly Pitched helped clients raise over $12 million, which went to 97% underrepresented founders. Heather’s been a lifelong entrepreneur and is especially passionate about expanding inclusion and diversity across venture capital for women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled founders.

Brian is the Co-Founder of Roamli, which was launched to help organizations create immersive experiences for any audience and their community. In May 2023, he launched Gildre, an invite-only knowledge community for ambitious founders, providing exclusive access to mentors, events, and tools to help them build successful companies.

Miriam is the Executive Coach to Founders and Executives around the world. Her client list includes Academy Award winners, Olympians, many Start-Ups that have reached $1B+ valuations, non-profits and public companies. She is familiar with every phase of business and focuses on each leader finding ways to be authentic and effective in each moment.

Drew Popple is an AI Operator and strategic advisor, blending two decades of marketing experience with cutting-edge AI workflows. He helps founders and businesses unlock growth through smart systems, custom AI agents, and creative thinking. As a former agency founder and creative director, Drew now focuses on future-proof strategies, product-market fit, and driving meaningful innovation at the intersection of technology, culture, and business.

Terrance is an accomplished entrepreneur and product leader with over a decade of experience developing AI solutions for social impact. He began with a startup providing books to low-income communities in sub-Saharan Africa. He later launched Intend, a mental health app, and founded Myndful, an AI-powered well-being platform. Terrance mentors emerging ventures and advises with the Kirchner Impact Foundation, nurturing diverse, socially-conscious entrepreneurs and investors.

Matt Reynolds is a seasoned executive in socially responsible business startups, focusing on fair trade, organics, and ESG practices. He co-founded one of the first B Corporations in fashion, generating over $70 million in fair trade and organic product sales. His leadership spans Cloth Foundry, Higg, Indigenous Designs Corp., and more. Recognized with multiple awards, he exemplifies innovation, collaboration, and commitment to sustainable growth.

Dr. Paul Rivera, a dynamic strategist and visionary, excels in empowering individuals, organizations, and communities. A resilient leader and a proud Latino, his multifaceted roles span entrepreneur, strategic planner, facilitator, coach, economist, and educator. Dr. Rivera catalyzes sustainable growth and meaningful change, guiding others toward lasting systemic impact. Paul is a polyglot, music lover, and world traveler.

Robyn Tosick is a visionary coach, speaker, and strategist who helps leaders thrive through mindset mastery, emotional intelligence, and conscious leadership. With 25 years of experience across Fortune 500 brands and her own ventures, she blends neuroscience, mindfulness, and bold strategy to unlock lasting success. A Forbes-recognized changemaker and University of Arizona mentor, Robyn empowers purpose-driven entrepreneurs to lead boldly and build thriving, values-aligned businesses from the inside out.

Raviv is a product-driven founder working at the frontier of Physical AI and Earth intelligence. He’s CEO & Co-Founder of a GeoAI startup redefining how we see Earth from space. Previously, he co-founded CaliberMind and NatureX, scaling AI products and nature risk tools. Raviv also contributes to TNFD’s nature data working group and mentors at TechStars, bridging deep tech with real-world applications in climate, risk, and geospatial intelligence.

Sarah Windrum is a technology business founder and investor who is leading the development of MIRA Tech Park’s future mobility cluster in the UK. The park hosts 40+ global tenants specializing in zero-emission and cyber resilience technologies. A leader in regional innovation, she serves on multiple boards and was formerly Chair of the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.  She is Deputy Chair for the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Innovation Board, a Regional Fellow at the University of Warwick, and a recent MSc graduate from Coventry University in Data Science. Sarah also wrote a book, The Superhero I Was Born to Be, sharing how she manages her mental health as an entrepreneur, published in 2017.

Tim is a 4-time startup founder as both CTO and CEO, and always as product visionary. He has raised millions of dollars in venture capital and exited the first three businesses via acquisition.  Tim holds two patents in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Father of two amazing kids and a fan of the future, even in these chaotic times.

Vanessa Zamy, The Business Defibrillator®, is empowering women nationwide to lead prosperous community enterprises. Her background includes a Management Science and Engineering Degree from Stanford University, and strategic leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies. A Consultant, a Professor, a Speaker, and Bestselling Author, in her spare time, Vanessa enjoys sleeping, and living by her mantra: “have fun, grow money, and share”.

Dr. Esther Zeledón, known as Dr. EZ, is a resilient Latina immigrant and trailblazer. Her diverse roles include entrepreneur, speaker, coach, diplomat, activist, mother, mentor, travel guru, scientist, and author. In her book “Creating Your Limitless Life,” she guides others toward authentic fulfillment. Dr. EZ bridges cultural gaps, fostering transformational change and collective power based on purpose, joy, peace, health, love, and prosperity. She inspires others to live a limitless life.