After returning home from his YLAI Fellowship, YLAI 2018 Alum Andres Sanchez Mora used the connections he made in the U.S. to launch a new Startup Grind chapter and support the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Manta, Ecuador. During this interview, Andres discusses the challenges he faced while creating this new partnership with Startup Grind and Google for Startups and the strategies he applied to launch their chapter’s very first entrepreneurship event in January. Check out this interview to hear how Andres is changing the realm of entrepreneurship for the next generation of entrepreneurs in Ecuador.


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YLAI Innovators Series: Ep 1 with Andres Sanchez Mora

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YLAI INNOVATORS SERIES

Abbigale Loncke, YLAI 2016 Fellow, has made it her personal and professional mission to empower women through her entrepreneurial ventures. Today, Abbigale’s Home Care Agency stands as one of the leading private health care employers for women in Guyana. Through her work as the Founder of WeLead Caribbean and the annual Women in Business Conferences, Abbigale is constantly developing new platforms to support women through mentorships and trainings. She leveraged her connection and work experience to develop Abbi’s Power Lunch – a television show that features women in business in the Caribbean who have excelled in their respective fields. Abbi’s Power Lunch is designed to facilitate stories of empowerment and inspiration for women everywhere. Be sure to check out her interview to hear how Abbigale is using her experiences and insights about effective storytelling to inspire young entrepreneurs throughout the Caribbean to pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams.
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Ep 2 : Abbigale Loncke

Upon returning home from her YLAI Fellowship, Tishauna Mullings decided to quit her job to create NexxStepp Educational Services to support the local youth of her community in Jamaica by providing her students with the resources to make them more globally competitive. She now supports over 300 students annually through her teaching and mentorship programs. Tishauna has been able to capitalize on the success of her social venture by partnering with local companies and organizations to continue to expand NexxStepp’s impact and increase the domestic and international awareness of her brand. Tishauna’s tenacity has garnered the attention of the global community as she has won a series of awards for her work and developed partnerships within the public and private sectors to diversify the services and impact that she provides for her community. Be sure to check out her interview to hear how Tishauna uses strategic management, branding, and cross sector engagement to effectively support young people throughout the region. You can also reach Tishauna at nexxsteppeventsja@gmail.com if you are interested in partnering with her on a future venture.
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Ep 3: Tishauna Mullings

Davis Smith is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear brand with a humanitarian mission. He has been a YLAI Fellowship Host from 2016-2018. He is a member of the United Nations Foundation’s “Global Entrepreneurs Council” and one of President Bill Clinton and George W. Bush’s “Presidential Leadership Scholars.” Davis was Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s “CEO of the Year” and previously started Brazil’s “Startup of the Year.” Davis is an adventurer who has floated the Amazon on a self-made raft, kayaked from Cuba to Florida, and explored North Korea. He has turned his passion for adventuring into a business that not only provided people with quality outdoor apparel, but also empowers local communities around the world. Check out this episode to hear more about how Davis used his ‘Gear for Good’ business model to garner great support from their target audience, support the creative freedom of his staff, and positively impact the communities where the company operates.

Ep 4: Davis Smith

Alexandra Clark was born into a chocolate loving family who wasn't surprised at all when at 19, she announced that she had decided to dedicate her life to the art of chocolatier. After traveling the world studying her craft as an economist, confectioner, and retailer, she started Bon Bon Bon as a happy experiment. Since then, The Babes Babes Babes have received recognition at The James Beard Awards, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Tasting Table, Martha Stewart and Forbes Magazine who named her the "Best Pastry Chef Under 30". Clark remains committed to supporting the agricultural community through design.

EP 5: Alexandra Clark

Victor Juárez is the Co-Founder of Study Abroad Guatemala which provides short-term academic programs in Guatemala for U.S. undergraduate students. Victor has a degree in tourism and more than 6 years of experience in international education, which has helped him create linkages between Guatemala and the U.S. While working as an EducationUSA Adviser, he was able to develop skills that helped him support students with different profiles. As the head of the Office of International Affairs at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, he was responsible for developing partnerships with different institutions, especially in the US.

EP 6 : Victor Juárez

Liz Tracy is a mission-focused leader with experience in building collaborative communities. She has a deep understanding of how to build initiatives from the ground up with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. Liz is currently pursuing her PhD in Industrial/Organizational psychology at NCSU. She is the former Director of HQ Raleigh and continues to be part of the startup community through mentoring young companies and through her work as a social entrepreneurship strategist and facilitator. Liz has worked overseas and has taught social entrepreneurship classes to International students, both locally and abroad for the past six years. She has a passion for travel, especially if it means sharing a good meal with friends!

EP 7 : Liz Tracy

Javier Gantiva (YLAI 2018 Fellow) and Brian Woerner (YLAI 2018 Fellowship Host) implemented a YLAI Reverse Exchange project in Bogota, Colombia as well as surrounding farming communities to train local farmers about the practical uses and benefits of incorporating bees into the agricultural process. Listen to the full episode to learn more about their work in Colombia.