David Madden
Senior Director, Partnerships & Innovation at Luminate
David leads Luminate's Partnerships team which develops and supports Luminate's collaborations with other funders and networks. In this role, David and his team work closely with other funders to bring more resources to those who are working to ensure that that everyone - especially those who are underrepresented - have the power to shape society. David brings nearly 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur creating organisations that use technology to drive change. Prior to joining Luminate, David was the Founder & CEO of Phandeeyar, a tech hub in Yangon, which spearheaded the development of Myanmar’s startup and social innovation ecosystem. Previously, David co-founded Purpose, a global social impact agency, which uses technology to build movements and harness New Power. A civic tech pioneer, he co-founded Avaaz, the world’s largest online citizens’ movement, now with more than 50 million members, and GetUp, a technology-enabled movement that has more members than all of Australia’s political parties combined.
David leads Luminate's Partnerships team which develops and supports Luminate's collaborations with other funders and networks. In this role, David and his team work closely with other funders to bring more resources to those who are working to ensure that that everyone - especially those who are underrepresented - have the power to shape society. David brings nearly 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur creating organisations that use technology to drive change. Prior to joining Luminate, David was the Founder & CEO of Phandeeyar, a tech hub in Yangon, which spearheaded the development of Myanmar’s startup and social innovation ecosystem. Previously, David co-founded Purpose, a global social impact agency, which uses technology to build movements and harness New Power. A civic tech pioneer, he co-founded Avaaz, the world’s largest online citizens’ movement, now with more than 50 million members, and GetUp, a technology-enabled movement that has more members than all of Australia’s political parties combined.
Kalia Lydgate
Dream Machine Innovation Lab Senior Strategist
Kalia Lydgate is a strategist and cultural creative building new models that make the old obsolete. Her work focuses on common ground solutions at unlikely intersections. Kalia is Senior Strategist at Dream Machine where she leads research and programs related to artificial intelligence. Following the 2016 election, Kalia co-founded and led the #LoveArmy, a national pro-democracy campaign to counteract the increased hatred and division in the U.S.. As the Director of Engagement, Kalia led the effort to integrate #LoveArmy’s values-based distributed and digital organizing infrastructure into the heart of Dream.Org to catalyze impact for its programs. Before joining the Dream.Org team, Kalia worked with a Hawaii-based nonprofit, the Olohana Foundation, working on climate adaptation and agroforestry projects rooted in indigenous knowledge systems. Kalia began her career in the green jobs movement, initially passing first-in-the-nation legislation to fund green jobs training programs and later co-leading a green jobs program in New Bedford, MA, where she also served as a Mayoral Fellow for the City of New Bedford. When she’s not working, Kalia is immersed in regenerative land practices, alternative economies, and bioregional organizing in her rural community. Kalia graduated from Wesleyan University in 2007 with a degree in Social Ecology. She is a mother, kitchen herbalist, printmaker, spoken word artist and salsa dancer.
Kalia Lydgate is a strategist and cultural creative building new models that make the old obsolete. Her work focuses on common ground solutions at unlikely intersections. Kalia is Senior Strategist at Dream Machine where she leads research and programs related to artificial intelligence. Following the 2016 election, Kalia co-founded and led the #LoveArmy, a national pro-democracy campaign to counteract the increased hatred and division in the U.S.. As the Director of Engagement, Kalia led the effort to integrate #LoveArmy’s values-based distributed and digital organizing infrastructure into the heart of Dream.Org to catalyze impact for its programs. Before joining the Dream.Org team, Kalia worked with a Hawaii-based nonprofit, the Olohana Foundation, working on climate adaptation and agroforestry projects rooted in indigenous knowledge systems. Kalia began her career in the green jobs movement, initially passing first-in-the-nation legislation to fund green jobs training programs and later co-leading a green jobs program in New Bedford, MA, where she also served as a Mayoral Fellow for the City of New Bedford. When she’s not working, Kalia is immersed in regenerative land practices, alternative economies, and bioregional organizing in her rural community. Kalia graduated from Wesleyan University in 2007 with a degree in Social Ecology. She is a mother, kitchen herbalist, printmaker, spoken word artist and salsa dancer.
Ranji Nagaswami
Chief Executive at Leading global asset management firms
Ranji is Chief Strategy and Chief Commercial Officer of SVPGlobal (Strategic Value Partners, LLC) a global investment firm managing over US$17 Billion in distressed debt, special situations and private equity investments. Through her 30+ year career in the investment industry, Ranji has held executive and portfolio management positions at world-class asset management firms. She was previously Chief Executive Officer of Hirtle Callaghan, a pioneer of the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) fiduciary model managing $20 Billion in client assets. She has held leadership roles at UBS Asset Management, AllianceBernstein, Bridgewater Associates and Corsair Capital. She also served as chief investment advisor to the administration of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for the City of New York's public employee pension plans. Ranji has served on numerous Boards and Investment Committees including currently serving on the Curtis Institute Investment Committee, and previously as a member of the Yale University Investment Committee, the Yale School of Management Advisory Board, and the North American Council of Ashoka, a global fellowship of social entrepreneurs, among others. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Mumbai University in India, a MBA from the Yale School of Management and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Ranji is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Her chief life mission outside of her professional endeavors is to deepen the crucial connection between Finance and Society through the Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship, which she founded at the Aspen Institute. Ranji relies greatly on her husband Bo Hopkins, a professor at Yale University and their two grown children Mira and Jay for their shared laughter, love and courage.
Ranji is Chief Strategy and Chief Commercial Officer of SVPGlobal (Strategic Value Partners, LLC) a global investment firm managing over US$17 Billion in distressed debt, special situations and private equity investments. Through her 30+ year career in the investment industry, Ranji has held executive and portfolio management positions at world-class asset management firms. She was previously Chief Executive Officer of Hirtle Callaghan, a pioneer of the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) fiduciary model managing $20 Billion in client assets. She has held leadership roles at UBS Asset Management, AllianceBernstein, Bridgewater Associates and Corsair Capital. She also served as chief investment advisor to the administration of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for the City of New York's public employee pension plans. Ranji has served on numerous Boards and Investment Committees including currently serving on the Curtis Institute Investment Committee, and previously as a member of the Yale University Investment Committee, the Yale School of Management Advisory Board, and the North American Council of Ashoka, a global fellowship of social entrepreneurs, among others. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Mumbai University in India, a MBA from the Yale School of Management and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Ranji is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Her chief life mission outside of her professional endeavors is to deepen the crucial connection between Finance and Society through the Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship, which she founded at the Aspen Institute. Ranji relies greatly on her husband Bo Hopkins, a professor at Yale University and their two grown children Mira and Jay for their shared laughter, love and courage.
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Chadia El Meouchi
Managing Partner at Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm
Chadia El Meouchi Naoum is managing partner of Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm, a leading regional law firm in the Middle East, and is a member of the New York Bar. Chadia has been recognized by Financial News as amongst the top 50 Most Influential Women in Middle East Finance, by International Financial Law Review IFLR Women Leaders Top 300 global, and as leading corporate and commercial lawyer by Chambers Global Guide for Leading Lawyers since 2004. Chadia is visiting professor at: University Panthéon – Assas Paris II, Paris - France, American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University. Chadia is co-founder of ed-tech startup, LeapLearner. Chadia is also a co-founder and board member of various NGOs and institutions. Chadia has a Master of Laws from Georgetown University (Washington, DC), a BCom from Concordia University, a BCivLaw at the University of Montreal, a post-graduate diploma in Oil & Gas law from Robert Gordon University, an Islamic Finance Qualification from the UK SII and ESA. Chadia is the co-founder of Middle East Leadership Initiative, a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, and of Aspen Global Leadership Network, the Aspen Corps of Moderators, and the Aspen Leadership committee.
Chadia El Meouchi Naoum is managing partner of Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm, a leading regional law firm in the Middle East, and is a member of the New York Bar. Chadia has been recognized by Financial News as amongst the top 50 Most Influential Women in Middle East Finance, by International Financial Law Review IFLR Women Leaders Top 300 global, and as leading corporate and commercial lawyer by Chambers Global Guide for Leading Lawyers since 2004. Chadia is visiting professor at: University Panthéon – Assas Paris II, Paris - France, American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University. Chadia is co-founder of ed-tech startup, LeapLearner. Chadia is also a co-founder and board member of various NGOs and institutions. Chadia has a Master of Laws from Georgetown University (Washington, DC), a BCom from Concordia University, a BCivLaw at the University of Montreal, a post-graduate diploma in Oil & Gas law from Robert Gordon University, an Islamic Finance Qualification from the UK SII and ESA. Chadia is the co-founder of Middle East Leadership Initiative, a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, and of Aspen Global Leadership Network, the Aspen Corps of Moderators, and the Aspen Leadership committee.
Taavet Hinrikus
Partner Plural
Taavet is a partner at Plural, the early-stage investment fund that backs the most ambitious founders on a mission to change the world through technology. He co-founded Wise in 2010, which went public in the first-ever direct listing in Europe in 2021. Prior to that, Taavet was Skype’s Director of Strategy until 2008, starting as its first employee. He’s been an active investor for more than a decade, looking for 10x better solutions to huge problems that have impact globally. More recently he co-founded Jōhvi Coding School to help increase the number of people with coding skills in Estonia.
Taavet is a partner at Plural, the early-stage investment fund that backs the most ambitious founders on a mission to change the world through technology. He co-founded Wise in 2010, which went public in the first-ever direct listing in Europe in 2021. Prior to that, Taavet was Skype’s Director of Strategy until 2008, starting as its first employee. He’s been an active investor for more than a decade, looking for 10x better solutions to huge problems that have impact globally. More recently he co-founded Jōhvi Coding School to help increase the number of people with coding skills in Estonia.
Josh Baer
CEO Capital Factory
Joshua Baer helps people quit their jobs and become entrepreneurs. He’s the founder of Capital Factory, a startup community that helps entrepreneurs find investors, customers and employees. Josh founded his first startup in 1996 in his college dormitory at Carnegie Mellon University and now teaches a class at the University of Texas for student entrepreneurs. He is a Henry Crown Fellow and Braddock Scholar at the Aspen Institute, a member of the National Committee on US-China Relations Young Leaders Forum, an Eisenhower Fellow, and a recipient of the Anti-Defamation League Torch of Liberty. Josh lives in Austin with his wife Amy and three children. The best way to reach him is on Twitter @joshuabaer or by email josh@quityourjob.com
Joshua Baer helps people quit their jobs and become entrepreneurs. He’s the founder of Capital Factory, a startup community that helps entrepreneurs find investors, customers and employees. Josh founded his first startup in 1996 in his college dormitory at Carnegie Mellon University and now teaches a class at the University of Texas for student entrepreneurs. He is a Henry Crown Fellow and Braddock Scholar at the Aspen Institute, a member of the National Committee on US-China Relations Young Leaders Forum, an Eisenhower Fellow, and a recipient of the Anti-Defamation League Torch of Liberty. Josh lives in Austin with his wife Amy and three children. The best way to reach him is on Twitter @joshuabaer or by email josh@quityourjob.com
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