Using the tagline We take Black folks (and allies) to the wilderness. Grab your crew and book an adventure, Camp Yoshi launched during Covid and racial reckoning and grew to yearly delivering 20+ corporate and individual trips. Learn what motivated them to focus on unplugging from the world, connecting with nature, and seeking healing.
An English major in college, Katharine now leads the Digital Innovation team at adidas. She has decades of experience leading cross-functional teams, creating innovation and inspiring others to think creatively. Come listen to how her career detours have been part of her path to success.
A Comparative Literature major from a small liberal arts college, learn how Chris became part of the founding team at TREW where he was responsible for designing, developing, and sourcing outdoor apparel and accessories. His passion is backcountry skiing and helping people acquire the right gear, skills, and knowledge to go on human-powered adventures.
Entrepreneurship is often an immigrant person’s path. Born in a refugee camp in Indonesia, Lisa’s family took on a new journey as entrepreneurs when they opened Tân Tân Café & Delicatessen in Beaverton. Today, Tân Tân’s line of sauces can be found in more than 300 locations in the U.S. and Japan.
Meet the Executive Director of Business for a Better Portland and hear from this operations and finance leader about being a startup mentor and founder of “PitchBlack” pitch competition. Ask questions about how to improve Portland, increase diversity in business, and deliver community impact.
Come listen to Dr. Cyrus Wadia talk about his multifaceted career in sustainability. Committed to a consumer led movement to combat climate change his career path spans from leadership roles in Silicon Valley, to the White House, to Nike and Amazon.
CANCELED - Eric is no longer able to join us - new speaker at this time and date is Cyrus Wadia.
Former adidas board member and once responsible for all its brands including Yeezy as well as the key brand management functions of product design, innovation, sustainability, marketing, and digital brand commerce, Eric recently launched the brand Unless Collective which makes 100% plant-based streetwear designed to leave nothing behind.
Michael oversees eOne’s scripted and unscripted television.Shows include Yellowjackets on Showtime, The Recruit on Netflix, The Rookie and The Rookie: Fedson ABC, and Cruel Summeron Freeform/Hulu. eOne is a global independent studio for television and film that Hasbro acquired in 2019.
Shannon Berg is the founder of a women-owned strategic communications firm. She serves both as a crisis communications expert and helps companies communicate their social impact, sustainability and brand to build trust with stakeholders.
A reporter, Nájera has filed stories for NPR, the BBC, CNN and NPR’s Latino USA and describes himself as a “hybrid storyteller”: an actor/director/journalist/teacher. He created a one-man show which explores mental health issues in communities of color.
Lynn could not find boxing gloves that fit a woman’s hands, so she launched Society Nine, an award-winning, modern femme sports brand providing boxing gear and sportswear to empower women in their fight. Currently she is Brand Director at Adopt, an agency that uses the power of sport to build brand.
Ceremonial designer and outdoor futurist Jocelyn Rice is a visionary creative force, award-winning apparel designer, and Founder/CEO of Black Earth United. Her mission is to reclaim the narrative around Black folks and their connection to the outdoors through storytelling and clothing.
Learn how this cross-cultural communicator deeply influenced by his immigrant Colombian upbringing led to him being in leadership roles in private and nonprofit companies including the Director of Hacienda CDC’s Portland Mercado to overseeing the City of Portland’s economic development.
Learn how this Lewis & Clark alumna combined her pattern-making skills and knack for engineering, math, and art to create a company that works with a variety of apparel designers and innovators, enabling them to construct manufacturing-ready digital prototypes, all the way through from concept to creation.
Come listen to the entrepreneurial journey that weaves from janitor to Nike footwear designer, to leaving it all behind to start a coffee shop built around the sneaker community and the guiding mantra “Coffee Should Be Dope.”
Learn how the critical thinking mindset of his liberal arts degree translated to this speaker creating and nationally scaling a high-quality product that reflects the social and environmental values the founders hold true.
Do you want to meet him because he is a world famous hacker, because he co-hosted a t.v. show, or because his nickname is Kingpin? Whatever the reason, grab lunch with us and hear how he testified in front of the US Senate and his role in crypto.
Whether launching your venture or figuring out your career, learn from this arts major how to develop, organize and hone your brand strategy.
Come learn how this immigrant went from industrial designer to problem solver to creating one of the largest international design and innovation consultancies in the world.
Hear how liberal arts has informed the passion and dedication of this History major alumna who went from Junior Year abroad in India to trailblazing Portland chef and entrepreneur.
Learn from this dynamic leader who uses her social entrepreneurship drive and political savvy to strategically utilize public and private resources to drive equitable educational transformation.
Converse with a retired NBA Champion and his business partner to learn how entrepreneurship (and wine) have fueled their passion project: Chosen Family wine.