Theme: The Power of Good

We all have ideas about how we share our time, energy and resources.

What if more of us chose to use the power of good to guide our decisions?

You'll be inspired to do just that by the innovators, creatives, and do-gooders that take our stage.

John Carroll University
1 John Carroll Blvd
University Heights, Ohio, 44118
United States

Bourhan Yassin

Conservation Activist

Bourhan Yassin is a long-time veteran of the tech industry and more recently in the conservation industry. Bourhan has over fifteen years’ experience in building and leading large-scale Operations and Engineering teams in several Bay Area companies including Powis and Zazzle. Additionally, Bourhan led the Dubai-based e-commerce company MarkaVIP, where he served as long-time COO before joining Rainforest Connection (RFCx). An experienced leader, Bourhan Yassin, has spent the last 5 years as COO of Rainforest Connection prior to his current CEO role, successfully leading the organization’s mission from concept to reality in more than 32 countries.

David Eyman

Creativity Instructor at Miami University

As an entrepreneur, innovation leader, and industrial designer, David brings thirty years of creative endeavor to his teaching at Miami University. As a catalyst, his expertise lies in developing infrastructures and new thinking. His work has led to countless new products, experiences, and deeper insights. David holds an Industrial Design degree from the University of Cincinnati DAAP, and Master of Science in Creative Studies at the ICSC at SUNY Buffalo

EbaNee Bond

Startup Strategist, Storyteller, Facilitator

EbaNee is an energetic and inspiring facilitator, startup strategist, rhetorician, poet, and host of the Diverse Engineering podcast. She relishes helping entrepreneurs and organizations who care about making a difference in their industry or the lives of others. She has coached over 150 entrepreneurs from various industries on finding value propositions that align with specific markets to increase chances of engagement and profitability.

Fernanda Carapinha

Serial Entrepreneur, Author & Founder/CEO of WE Global Studios

Fernanda is a serial media/tech entrepreneur, author, speaker and elite business mindset coach with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment and technology industries. WE Global Studios, the latest venture from Carapinha, is an AI-powered innovation hub and houses multiple virtual startup studios that support women entrepreneurs worldwide. Despite Fernanda's vast and impressive experience, which includes her work as a Creative Hollywood Studio executive, therapist and science fiction author, she has found that the thread that leads to her greatest fulfillment is in heart-centered work that allows her to help individuals reach their full potential and create meaningful impact.

Heather Pederson

Dean of Students at EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute

Heather first learned she had a passion for helping others when she was in grade school. She spent a good part of her summers helping her mother take care of her elderly grandmother. This is how Heather learned to be compassionate and how she learned the power of a smile. Heather first heard about EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute because of her own "break" that she received in life. Since then she has dedicated herself to helping others who are in similar situations to what she was in.

Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri

Activist, Filmmaker, Photographer, Innovator, Speaker

Indrani is a multi-disciplinary artist, innovator, and social movement mobilizer, known for creating transformative, multi-platform works of art and impact. Recognized by the United Nations as a Women's Entrepreneurship Distinguished Fellow, and a Max Mark-Cranbrook Global Peacemaker, her extensive global expertise leverages the power of anthropology, photography, film, media, celebrity, music, fashion, branding, and education to empower equality, environmental and cultural regeneration.

Jurell Sison

Marketing Consultant, Catholic Lay Minister and Theologian

Jurell is an alum of John Carroll University from 2010 and 2013. After graduating in 2010 Jurell moved to Detroit to work as a Jesuit Volunteer. He worked full-time at Detroit Cristo Rey High School teaching math and creative writing. He returned to John Carroll as a Resident Minister and as a Graduate Assistant for the Department of Theology. Upon graduating, he worked as a youth minister and also as a theology teacher at St. Edward High School. Outside of work, Jurell runs a marketing consulting company and a ministry website called thelivingperson.com where he creates resources to help people break free from a cookie-cutter Christian life.

Kimberly Ocampo

Speaker, Dance Teacher & Performer, Model, Influencer

With parents who are Colombian dancers, Ms. Ocampo learned from a young age how to feel the music. In 2015, she moved to Miami to continue pursuing her passion for dance. Later that summer, while biking in Miami, she was struck by a car that ran a red light, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Now living in Cleveland, Ohio, she is constantly working out and furthering her dance career, working with high school students and seniors with memory loss and dementia.

Kuda Biza

Co-Founder at Nunbelievable

Kuda is a serial entrepreneur who started his first company when he was 9 years old in Zimbabwe. His dream is to educate 1 million children and feed 10 million people. Kuda is the Co-Founder of Nunbelievable, a mission-based baked goods company that donates a meal for every cookie sold. The company has donated close to 2 million meals to people since its launch in late 2019.

Michael Hollins

Founder at Endurance Training Academy

Michael Hollins is a well-respected leader who has discovered his calling for empowering at-risk youth and young adults through relevant educational programming. He is the author of Dreams to Purpose which highlights his journey of overcoming adversity, chasing his childhood NFL dream, and using those learned tools to ensure the holistic growth of his students. He is the founder of ETA (Endurance Training Academy), a leadership company that focuses on serving and developing leaders within their sphere of mastery. He graduated from John Carroll University with a degree in exercise science where he is now the Asst. Athletic Director for Student Success and Leadership. He began coaching football and mentoring at his high school alma mater Maple Heights.

Nicole McGee

Executive Director and Co-Founder of Upcycle Parts Shop

Nicole McGee leads Upcycle Parts Shop where her background as a reuse artist, a fundraiser, a sociologist, and a community organizer all come together in a vibrant storefront. Upcycle Parts Shop is a 9 year old non-profit organization that runs like a business but has a big social mission focused on environmental sustainability and centered on people. Nicole has been doing community-based work in Cleveland for 20 years. She has an undergraduate degree in Advertising/Public Relations from Penn State and a Masters degree in Sociology from Cleveland State. She is proud to identify as Latina, loves talking to strangers, creating things by hand, and finding 4 leaf clovers.

Regina Brett

Inspirational Author and Speaker

Regina Brett is the New York Times bestselling author of God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours, which has been published in more than 24 languages. She also wrote “Be the Miracle: 50 Lessons for Making the Impossible Possible” and “God Is Always Hiring: 50 Lessons for Finding Fulfilling Work.” Regina is a Cleveland Jewish News columnist and was twice named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Commentary. She has a master’s degree in religious studies from John Carroll University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kent State University

Sarah McAllister

Wellness Advocate and Aspiring Author

Anxiety was my enemy. It cost me relationships, friendships, my self-esteem and physical health, and made my world feel under water. Anxiety knocked me off my path. I now realize the importance of not eliminating anxiety, but realizing when it is helpful and when it is not. I use the ART acronym today to orient myself with anxiety triggers so I can make meaningful and positive lifestyle changes. Anxiety is no longer the enemy, but just one part of the person I am today.

Tyler Cerny

International High Ticket Sales Expert

As a former collegiate athlete here at John Carroll, to playing basketball overseas in China, Tyler transitioned his competitive nature into growing and scaling businesses. He has scaled dozens of companies by helping them grow collectively by more than $10M. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the personal development industry like Tony Robbins, Daymond John, Keven O’Leary, Grant Cardone, Robert Kiyosaki, Russell Brunson, to name a few earning him a spot as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. When Tyler is not working on scaling brands, he spends time with his beautiful wife, goes to the beach in Florida, and serves at his church.

Yoram Solomon

Author of The Book of Trust, and Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Southern Methodist University

Dr. Solomon is a trust researcher, author, and host of The Trust Show podcast. He published 16 books and more than 300 articles on Trust, Innovation Culture, and Entrepreneurship. He holds a Ph.D. in organization and management, and MBA, a law degree, and an engineering degree. Dr. Solomon is a 2-time TEDx speaker, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at SMU, former executive, elected official, pilot, and member of the Israeli 25th Airborne Brigade.