THE SPEAKERS

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Our distinguished speakers are among the top rising social entrepreneurs. Here is a short bio of each panelist:

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James Citron, CEO of Pledgeling

James is the CEO of Pledgeling, the world's first software platform to empower brands to find their purpose and integrate impact into their core to create better businesses and achieve sustainable social impact. He leads the strategic vision and organizational growth across the company, and he is a serial mobile and social entrepreneur committed to harnessing the power of mobile technology to create a more connected, healthy, and sustainable planet. Prior to Pledgeling, James led Mogreet and Outspoken, two of the largest text messaging and mobile engagement companies in the United States, to acquisitions by Silver Lake and Blackstone portfolio companies, respectively. An early pioneer in the mobile video space and nicknamed the 'Father of MMS', James' technology today powers over 50% of all MMS messages sent by businesses and was awarded one of the first patents in the mobile video space. A graduate of Princeton University, James is passionate about helping to eradicate illiteracy, homelessness, and hunger.

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Jenise Steverding, Chief Impact Officer of Gifts for Good

Jenise is the Chief Impact Officer of Gifts for Good, an e-commerce site that curates and customizes premium business gifts that support charitable causes in 19 states and 65 countries around the globe, making thoughtfulness and philanthropy easier for all. Jenise’s background spans e-commerce, technology, higher education, and nonprofits. As the second hire in TOMS Giving department, she scaled partnerships across the globe. As the second hire for the corporate sponsorship team for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, she worked on global cause marketing campaigns and sponsorships. She has a degree in sociology and business from Westmont College and received her Master’s in Public Management at SDA Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.

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Dina Feldman, Founder of Feel Good Salsa

Dina is the Founder of Feel Good Salsa, a locally sourced line of fresh farm-to-table salsa with the mission of doing good at its core. Prior to founding Feel Good Salsa, she was a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and ran a behavior services agency. Dina holds a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and a Master's Degree from Stony Brook University.

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Miles Pepper, Co-Founder and President of FinalStraw

Miles, the Co-Founder and President of FinalStraw, is the lead on product development and manufacturing of the world's first collapsible, reusable straw. A cinematographer by trade, Miles is motivated by hands-on-work and has a natural drive to develop objects that solve unique problems.

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THE MODERATOR

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Here is a short bio of our distinguished moderator:

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Jennifer Walske, Board of Director of Net Impact, Assistant Professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Faculty Director of Impact@Anderson

Jennifer is an adjunct assistant professor and interim faculty director of Impact@Anderson. Her published research focuses on emergent firms with an emphasis on how human capital, social capital and strategy aids new firm success. She has received numerous research and teaching awards, including the best paper award from NYU Stern’s Social Entrepreneurship Conference and the Cheit Award for Teaching Excellence at UC Berkeley-Haas, as well as outstanding faculty and research awards at the University of San Francisco. Prior to her career in academia, Walske was a nationally ranked software analyst by Institutional All-American and was a regular guest commentator on both CNN and CNBC. She also spent 10 years in Silicon Valley, where she held various marketing and product marketing positions within the software industry, prior to investment banking. She is recognized for coaching future leaders of emergent social venture firms, drawing on experience as a board member of various nonprofits and for-profits, including the Fair Trade USA, Net Impact, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, the Max Warburg Courage Curriculum and Better Ventures, where she served on the advisory board. She is co-founder and partner of Myriad Investments LLC, a venture capital firm with investments predominately in software and social startups.