Staff & Board

Sunila Artani – Director of Development

Originally from Pakistan, Sunila grew up in Houston and is a very proud Houstonian! Being an immigrant from an under-resourced community in one of the most diverse cities in the US, Sunila was drawn to service early on. She is deeply passionate about working towards closing the opportunity gap for underserved youth and has worked towards this mission throughout her career in nonprofits. Sunila has extensive experience in youth development, program and partnership management, and growth strategy. Her role as Director of Development at Global Glimpse provides an avenue for Sunila to do what she’s most passionate about: bringing community partners together to provide equitable global exposure and leadership opportunities for all youth. Sunila holds a BS along with a Nonprofit Management Certification from the University of Houston. When not at work, you can find Sunila reading, spending time with family and friends, binge-watching tv shows, and trying new restaurants in her city.

Marcela Berrios – VP of International Programs

Marcela was deeply influenced by the inequality she witnessed growing up between New Orleans and Nicaragua. She is passionate about creating opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to break through barriers and envision themselves as leaders. Since beginning her career with Global Glimpse in 2012, Marcela has held multiple leadership roles. She has extensive experience in program design, international operations, risk management, and health & safety.  As VP of International Programs, Marcela oversees all international operations to support a safe and meaningful experience for students, educators, and staff.  Marcela is bilingual and multicultural, and she holds a BA in Psychology and Behavioral Social Science from Ave Maria University in Nicaragua. When not at work, you can find her picnicking or building forts with her two daughters, learning how to cook new dishes,  and connecting with new people wherever she can.

Ilda Castro – Finance & Operations Coordinator

Yader Centeno – Director of Finance & Operations

Yader is a history buff from Leon Nicaragua where he lives with his wife, 3 children, and one grandchild. He is passionate about the relationship between social justice and economics, and he believes that exposing young people from the US to the realities of life in the Global South will create greater responsibility and understanding in the next generation.  Since beginning his work with Global Glimpse in 2012, Yader has overseen both US and international finances and he has extensive experience in budgeting, accounting, financial planning, and systems management. As Director of Finance & Operations, he leads all finance support and organization-wide accounting and bookkeeping. Yader holds a BA in Public Finance and Accounting, a BA in Economics from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, and he is currently studying to be a certified Senior Technician in Web Development.  When not at work, you can find Yader cheering in the stands at baseball games across Nicaragua, reading poetry by Rubén Darío, or programming new online applications.

Paúl Cevallos – Ecuador Country Coordinator

Paúl was born and raised in Riobamba, a city located in the heart of Ecuador, before moving to Quito at the age of 17 to continue his studies. New opportunities like learning languages, helping on mission trips with people from other countries, and traveling to new places sparked Paúl’s curiosity to discover and help the world and its people. Paúl is now back again in Riobamba where has written two books, given lectures to students about leadership and values, promoted training programs on democracy, and built a nonprofit that teaches English, programming, and kindergarten classes to underprivileged children in his city. In his role as Ecuador Country Coordinator, Paúl supports program operations, curriculum, itinerary building, and program expansion. When taking a break from saving the world, you can find Paúl at home reading a book or in a new coffee shop having a dessert with his friends or family.

Miguel Cubas García – International Health & Safety Manager

Born and raised in Northern Nicaragua, Miguel found Global Glimpse through a local youth development organization. He is passionate about helping young people envision and create a more just and equitable world. Since joining Global Glimpse in 2016, Miguel has led Global Glimpse programs in Nicaragua and Panama and he has extensive experience in partnership development, program operations, risk management, and health and safety. As International Health and Safety Manager, Miguel works across the organization to ensure the health and safety of all Global Glimpse students, staff, and educators. Miguel is bilingual and holds a BS in Computer Engineering from the Evangelical University in Nicaragua. When not at work, Miguel loves spending time with his wife and twin daughters, going for long drives, learning about cars and new technology, and watching action movies.<

Sydney Hicks – Chicago Programs Manager

Sydney is a native Midwesterner, born and raised in Michigan, and has spent the last six years living in Chicago and working in various public schools as an educator and program manager. As the daughter of a teacher, social worker, and minister, she has a deep conviction for the importance of serving and uplifting communities through human connection. In 2017, she had the opportunity to travel with a college group to Cape Town, South Africa where she interned at a research unit and was immersed in communities that worked in harmony to tackle challenges – this was the beginning of her journey in learning what it means to be a global citizen. Since then, she remains dedicated to serving her community, while also making a point to visit other parts of the world, creating connections and growing to be a better human. As the Chicago Programs Manager, Sydney works to ensure that Chicagoland students and schools are supported in all aspects of the program, both leading up to and after their summer travel experience. Outside of work, Sydney enjoys spending time with friends and family, staying active and outdoors (when the Chicago weather allows), and catching up on the latest news in TV/film or pop culture.<

Jonathan Kramer-Roach – Senior Programs & Operations Manager

Jonathan has lived in each of Global Glimpse’s U.S. regions: he was born and raised in the Northeast, went to college in Chicago, and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ever curious and hungry to learn, he is deeply committed to the belief that every student deserves the opportunity to experience other cultures and ways of life firsthand. Jonathan brings a passion for travel and experiential education to his work with Global Glimpse, and his cross-functional role allows him to work with team members across the organization. He is adept at managing everything from flight logistics to organizational partnerships, program communications, and staff engagement. Jonathan holds a BA from Northwestern University. When not at work, you can find him playing soccer, working to raise awareness about mental health, or co-hosting a weekly podcast on public policy news called Pocket Policy.

Richa Langella – Marketing & Communications Manager

Richa was born in New Delhi, India, and immigrated with her family to the U.S. at the age of three. Growing up in a diverse metropolitan in Michigan, she had a multicultural upbringing as an Indian-American. Richa has always stayed connected to her cultural heritage by absorbing and reflecting both cultures by integrating them, not assimilating to one or the other. Traveling back to her motherland frequently while growing up and traveling across the globe through her acting career opened her eyes to different perspectives and the importance of immersing oneself in cultures different from your own. In high school, she co-founded and ran her own youth tutoring group for four years, which sparked her passion for youth empowerment through nontraditional education. Richa currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner, Joe, and son, Luca. Throughout her professional journey spanning corporate healthcare, tech, entertainment, nonprofit and early childhood education, Richa has always stayed true to her values and commitment to social justice and community building.  As the Marketing & Communications Manager, Richa brings a fresh perspective with her atypical entrepreneurial background in brand management to help take Global Glimpse to new heights through creative strategy, design, and innovation. Richa is multilingual and holds a BS in Communications with a Theatre Arts minor and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. When not at work, you can find her exploring the Portland food scene, attending cultural events, hosting friends and family and binge-watching reality tv.

Lorena López – Ecuador Financial Administrator

Lorena grew up in Pallatanga, a small town in the Chimborazo region of Ecuador where she fell in love with the tranquility and peacefulness of being in nature. At a young age, her parents and grandparents taught her to value people and hard work. In high school, she had the opportunity to explore two different careers studying both in the mornings and evenings, which taught her the importance of education. In college, she studied at the Chimborazo Polytechnic School where she obtained her degree in Business Engineering and became passionate about finance. As the Ecuador Financial Administrator, she oversees all Ecuador book-keeping, administration, compliance, and office operations ensuring fiscal responsibility and infrastructure for all our programs in Ecuador. Lorena is passionate about sharing quality time with her family and her two children who are her inspiration for moving forward in life. When not at work, you can find her taking care of her plants, meditating in the middle of nature, or continuing to practice learning English.

Javier Moraga – Ecuador Country Director

Javier was born and raised in Matagalpa, a beautiful city in the central mountains of Nicaragua. He is passionate about working with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and he loves to contribute to creating transformative travel experiences for students and educators. Since joining Global Glimpse in 2013, Javier has led Global Glimpse programs in Nicaragua and Ecuador, and he has extensive experience in program management, partnership development, negotiations, and budgeting. As Ecuador Country Director, Javier oversees all aspects of the Global Glimpse program across five program sites in Ecuador. Javier is bilingual in Spanish and English, holds a BS in Industrial Engineering and Systems from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, and is pursuing postgraduate courses in financial management. When not at work, you can find Javier drinking coffee, playing music with friends – especially bass and electric guitar, spending time with family and friends, and watching movies.

Brent Nichols – VP of US Programs

Brent grew up in a family of educators in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in San Jose, California, which helped him develop an insatiable interest in different cultures and international issues. He is passionate about giving all students equal access to the kinds of transformative travel experiences that he has been fortunate to have in his life. Since joining Global Glimpse in 2013, Brent has managed everything from administration and bookkeeping to flight operations, teacher training, and alumni engagement. As VP of US Programs, Brent oversees the full student journey and all program operations across the US and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. He holds a BA from the University of California, Davis, and a Masters in International Relations from San Francisco State University. When not at work, you can find Brent coming up with the most clever puns, playing, coaching, or watching sports, going on outdoor adventures, or attending community events.

Julia Orkin – Director of People Operations

Julia became passionate about educational equity through her experience growing up and attending public schools K-12 in Atlanta, GA. As a high school student, Julia learned how formative and impactful travel can be when she had the opportunity to live and learn for 2 months in Granada, Nicaragua. Her experiences overseas as well as what she saw in her school back home instilled a deep conviction in ensuring all students have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Since then, she has spent her career working to provide access and opportunity to all students, both as an 8th-grade teacher and by working in education non-profits. Throughout her career working in education, Julia has developed a love for people operations and a passion for fostering equity-centered workplaces. As the Director of People Operations, Julia works to live into Global Glimpse’s belief that “Our People Are Everything” by leading the strategies, systems, and customs that help make Global Glimpse an incredible place to work for people from all backgrounds. Julia holds a B.A. in English from Colby College and a Master of Education from Lipscomb University. When not at work, you can find Julia hosting dinner parties and game nights with friends, exploring the outdoors, hitting up community festivals with her family, and dreaming up her next adventure.

Eliza Pesuit – Executive Director

The daughter of a Serbian Orthodox father from rural Ohio and a Russian Jewish mother from Boston, Eliza became comfortable with differences early on. She is passionate about connecting people from different backgrounds through shared experience, and she believes deeply in the importance of supporting young people from all backgrounds to have access to educational opportunities that expand their perspective. Under her leadership, Global Glimpse has grown more than ten-fold and expanded to serve over 1,000 students annually across 100 US public high schools. Eliza is skilled in organizational strategy, cross-sector partnerships, financial planning,  and board leadership, and she is deeply committed to the community of students, families, educators, and staff who make Global Glimpse’s work possible. Eliza is bilingual in Spanish and English and has lived and worked across Latin America. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and has received awards for her work from the Edwin Gould Foundation and the Jefferson Foundation. When not at work, you can find her painting, going on outdoor adventures with her partner, gardening, hosting dinner parties, and volunteering with community organizations.

Cassidy Phillips – Donor Relations Coordinator

Cassidy grew up in Northwest Indiana with her supportive family. While in college, she was able to travel domestically and internationally for the first time, ultimately changing her perspective, worldview, and career focus. As one of the first people in her family to spend significant time abroad, Cassidy is deeply passionate about creating opportunities and making provisions for all to explore the world and experience the transformative joy of stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. As the Donor Relations Coordinator, Cassidy supports Global Glimpse’s fundraising efforts across all funding pipelines, stewarding donors, and supporting the development team in all coordinating fundraising activities and events. She earned her BS in Public Health from Purdue University and her Master of Public Health from the University of South Carolina. In her free time, Cassidy enjoys playing tennis, bike riding, listening to podcasts, hosting game nights, and making memories with her family.

Ben Polansky – Chief Operations Officer

Ben is proud to be born and raised in the Bay Area, CA, and attributes his commitment to equity and justice to the vast diversity of life experiences he was exposed to growing up. His own experience of feeling that he was different from his peers during his formative years helped him to develop a passion for supporting young people to find their inner strength, expand their perspective, and realize their potential. Ben has over 15 years of leadership experience in training and facilitation, global program and curriculum design, risk management, people operations, and branding, marketing, and communications. As Chief Operating Officer, he oversees marketing and communications, people & culture, information technology, and program operations and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has been recognized for his work as an educator by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the San Francisco Giants. When not at work, you can find Ben in the ocean, having spontaneous dance parties with his young daughter, listening to live music with friends and family, and traveling vicariously through the amazing students in Global Glimpse programs.

Gabriela Quintana-García – Bay Area Programs Coordinator

Gabriela was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. She is bilingual in Spanish and English, having grown up visiting family in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Gabriela developed a deep love of travel at a young age and is committed to paying forward the privilege and opportunity to travel to the next generation. Through her career working in education, she has become passionate about building the confidence and agency of students and helping them expand their worldviews and develop into global leaders. As Bay Area Programs Coordinator, she maintains a diverse portfolio of strong partner schools, recruits new schools that align with our mission, helps lead sessions and trainings for our community, and cultivates strong relationships with community and education leaders across the Bay Area region. Gabriela graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BA in Global Studies and a minor in Music. When not at work, you can find her spending time with loved ones, singing and playing music all around the Bay Area, gardening, watching documentaries, and bonding with her cat.

Carissa Villafaña – Director of California Programs

A Southern California native, Carissa grew up in a sunny beach town surrounded by family. After graduating from college, she packed her bags and began her service as a Peace Corps volunteer in the education sector in the Dominican Republic. Her time in the Peace Corps further ignited a passion for facilitating connections between students from different backgrounds and led her to begin her journey with Global Glimpse by leading our programs in the Dominican Republic in 2018. She wants to give students everywhere equal access to travel opportunities. Carissa is bilingual in Spanish and English, and she has strong experience in program design and management, training facilitation, student recruitment, and partnership management. As Director of California Programs, she oversees a diverse portfolio of school partnerships across the Bay Area and Los Angeles, manages alumni programming, and supports our Bay Area Regional Leadership Council. Carissa holds a BA in Ethnic Studies from the University of California in Sacramento. When not at work, you can find Carissa connecting with friends for dinner, hiking in the Oakland hills, attending sporting events, and watching movies. She loves reading SciFi and journaling, and she’s always up for a travel adventure.

André Ware – Northeast Programs Manager

André was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. As a high school student, André had the opportunity to travel abroad to Chile and Kenya, which is where he first developed an interest in sociopolitical affairs and international issues. Through those experiences, André recognized the impact of traveling abroad on his education and has since traveled to over three dozen countries. André is also a former Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Ukraine from 2016 – 2018. In Ukraine, André volunteered for a non-profit that assisted with the reintegration efforts of internally displaced peoples from Donbas and Crimea.  André‘s global experience and dedication to youth education led him into the classroom, where he facilitated workshops on leadership development, globalization, socio-economic issues, and current events for high school students in the Bronx.  André is passionate about education reform and believes that youth should have their education centered around more experiences outside of the classroom, such as travel abroad. As the Northeast Programs Manager, he oversees school partnerships across New York City and Western Massachusetts, manages alumni programming, and supports the New York City Leadership Council. André graduated from Niagara University with a BA in Political Science and International Studies and earned an MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service specializing in Social and Political Advocacy. When not at work, you can find André traveling, researching random historical facts, and spending time with family and friends.

Jennifer Zhang – International Operations Manager

Jennifer is used to being on the go, having grown up in Italy, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Her later adventures include cycling through roles as a Fair Trade barista, an EFL/ESL teacher, and a program coordinator and facilitator for Global Glimpse. Each step opened her eyes to different facets of the world: the inequalities present across and within country borders, the boundless potential of inspired youth to effect change, and the capacity for travel-based, student-centered experiential learning to promote global citizenship and intercultural awareness. As the International Operations Manager, Jennifer focuses on curriculum development, program expansion, and management of health and safety systems. She holds an MA in Linguistics from the Ohio State University and a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. When not at work, you can find Jennifer trying new recipes, taking care of her plants, brushing up on languages, and exercising to BTS.

Jennifer Ogden-Reese, Board Chair

Chief Marketing Officer, D2L 

Jennifer has launched, developed, and led digital marketing strategy for new digital and print products in her role as Chief Marketing Officer at multiple startups and companies. She holds a B.A. in History and Government from Dartmouth College and brings extensive experience in consumer marketing to the team. Jennifer believes strongly in both the power of increasing global awareness of America’s youth and the value of learning through experience.  Her passion for these two ideas stems from her international study in college and from her life now, raising three boys in a diverse multi-cultural community.  She lends her content marketing expertise to help tell the Global Glimpse story to a growing audience of students, educators, and donors. 

Aji Oliyide, Vice Chair

Senior Programs Manager II, Google

Aji is a PMO Mission Lead at Google. She oversees a team of program managers to launch features on Search and deliver on cross-org operational improvements. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business with an MBA, and Eaton Corporation’s General Management Development Program for engineers, Aji spent several years as a Management Consultant. During her four years with Accenture and three years with Deloitte in management positions, she traveled the country optimizing operating models and consulting for Fortune 500 companies. In 2015, Aji moved to California to join the Google team as an M&A Finance Integration Manager, overseeing finance integrations and divestitures, eventually leading to the role she now holds as a PMO Lead within Google’s Search organization. She is an avid traveler, having visited over 35 countries and lived in Argentina for a graduate study abroad program. 

Jocelyn Garcia, Treasurer

VP Controller, Honor Technology

Jocelyn is the VP Controller at Honor Technology, an industry-leading tech platform that is revolutionizing the way people age in place, while simultaneously making the world a better place for the care professional workforce. Before Honor, Jocelyn held roles at Fastly, Google (Nest), and Ernst & Young where she garnered her passion for team coaching, global expansion and coordination, exponential growth and related process efficiencies, and transactions such as IPOs, M&A, and financing. Jocelyn grew up in a Mexican-American immigrant family and credits her love of travel, cultures, and the “global village” to their travels to her grandparents’ and father’s hometown during her childhood. Jocelyn feels so fortunate for the childhood opportunity to experience the small Mexican towns and ranches her grandparents and father are from. Seemingly simple privileges like plumbing, electricity, and access to great public education were things she never took for granted and that perspective drove her to give as much to, take as much from, and strive for as many opportunities as possible. She is so excited to work with Global Glimpse to provide that kind of inspiration and perspective to young leaders.

Kristine Matheson, Secretary

Country Manager for Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Mastercard

Kristine has been with Mastercard for 8 years and currently acts as Country Manager for Costa Rica and Nicaragua, responsible for leading the company to achieve significant growth within a very competitive and dynamic environment, driving financial inclusion and vision for a world beyond cash. Within Mastercard, Kristine has transitioned through different roles including Vice President for Products & Innovation for Mexico and Central America and Director of Marketing for Central America. Before joining Mastercard, Kristine held distinct marketing roles in companies such as Mondelez, The Coca-Cola Company and DHL Express. She left her native Nicaragua as a refugee during the Nicaraguan revolution and credits living in many countries and traveling extensively for shaping her into a resilient, open-minded, and inclusive leader. It is her background that made her immediately connect with Global Glimpse’s desire to provide transformative travel and leadership opportunities to our future leaders.

Tiph Turpin

Global Vice President of Employee Communications, Expedia Group

Dr. Tiph Turpin is the Global Vice President of Employee Communications at Expedia Group. Her team’s responsibilities include executive communication, enterprise-wide communication, operating division communication, corporate function communication, corporate brand and visual identity, employee events and experiences, and strategy operations and measurement. For nearly two decades, Tiph has served in leadership roles spanning internal, external, legislative, community engagement, and investor communications in corporate, consulting, and nonprofit sectors. She graduated from Georgetown University with a double major in English and Sociology before earning an M.A. at the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. at Howard University. She’s a lifelong traveler and volunteer who enjoys exploring the world with her family. She’s passionate about the ways Global Glimpse creates life-changing travel experiences for students.

Tanya Staples

Executive Coach, Advisor, and Board Member

Tanya Staples is an Executive Coach, Advisor, and Board Member. She works with a number of for profit and nonprofit organizations, mainly in the online learning and educational technology industries. Tanya spent 20+ years in key operating roles in the online learning space, including VP Product for LinkedIn Learning Content at LinkedIn, and SVP Product, Learning Content and Chief of Staff to the CEO at lynda.com. Tanya joined lynda.com in 2003 where she worked closely with the co-founder, Lynda Weinman, creating best-in-class content, building the first subscription-based online learning platform, and developing go-to-market strategies for both individuals and organizations in the corporate, academic, and government spaces. Tanya played a key role leading lynda.com through the LinkedIn acquisition in 2015, then later went on to become VP Product for Trust, Equity, and Privacy and LinkedIn, where she focused on creating safe and equitable experiences across LinkedIn’s products and services. Outside of her life in online learning and educational technology, Tanya is a quilter and pattern designer and is in the process of launching her first quilt pattern through her small business, Straight Line Stitching.

Ebony Lee

Strategy & Operations Executive

Ebony has been developing innovative growth strategies and delivering positive financial outcomes for consumer technology businesses for over 20 years. Most recently, Ebony was EVP and Head of Learning Product for 2U, Inc., where she was responsible for developing a unified product strategy and managing the roadmaps for four product lines. Previously, she was Managing Director of Degree Programs at 2U where she held P&L accountability for the company’s largest business unit. Prior to 2U, Ebony held various strategy and operations leadership roles at Comcast for more than 10 years and spent several years as a management consultant at A.T. Kearney. Ebony has an M.B.A. from Harvard and a B.S. in Commerce from University of Virginia. She also spent a year in Spain through School Year Abroad in high school, sparking her love for international travel and passion for unlocking similar opportunities for underrepresented students.

Bryce Gilleland

CEO, Asha Capital Partners

Bryce Gilleland oversees Asha Capital Partners, a premier cryptocurrency hedge fund. He has an MBA from Haas and a BS in economics from UCI. In a previous life, he managed corporate strategy, finance, and investor relations in fortune 500 companies, and served as an Executive Coach. He has a great appreciation for mindfulness and believes that taking care of oneself allows you to better help others.  He thinks shared experiences can bring greater inclusivity and that through great conversations, meeting inspiring people, and supporting others we can work towards collectively creating a better future.

Greg Schulze

Senior Vice President of Strategic Partners, Expedia Group

Greg Schulze is a Senior Vice President at Expedia Group, representing some of the best brands in travel, including Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Orbitz, Hotwire, Wotif, and Expedia Cruises. His team manages all global relationships with Expedia Group’s travel partners. Greg joined Expedia Group in 2005 to lead its air reporting and analysis practices. He subsequently assumed responsibility for revenue management, building on his days at American Airlines, where he led the airline’s internet pricing strategy. At Expedia Group, he has held a wide variety of leadership positions for strategy, commercial, operations, and analytics.  Greg was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. He is a respected leader and collaborates regularly with the highest levels of the travel industry. Greg holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina.

Stephanie Chung

Aviation Executive & International Speaker

With over 30 years of experience catalyzing transformative growth in the aviation sector, Stephanie Chung is widely recognized as a trailblazer, from her early career as a progressive sales leader with Bombardier Aerospace and US Airways (now American) to later being appointed the first African-American president of a major private aviation company when she took the helm at JetSuite. In 2020, Chung joined Wheels Up, one of the largest private aviation companies in the world, as the first Chief Growth Officer, focusing on generating revenue through new client acquisition by building preference and loyalty among diverse customer segments, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women. In 2022, Chung transitioned roles and served as a Global Brand Ambassador for the company. Stephanie is an active member of c200, a community of the most successful women in business, and the Business Executives for National Security (BENS), a nonpartisan nonprofit comprised of business executives who apply best practices and cutting-edge ideas to help solve some of the nations most complex security challenges. Chung also serves on the Advisory Council of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and is on the board of Make-A-Wish. Stephanie has received numerous accolades in hospitality, luxury travel and aviation. She was named to Adweek’s 2021 Women Trailblazers and to the Robb Report 2021 magazine featuring “23 Black Visionaries Who are Changing the Luxury World Right Now”.She was also named one of 2021’s Top Women in Travel Hospitality by Women Leading Travel & Hospitality. She was listed on the 2020 Ebony Power 100, in Savoy Magazine’s “Americas Most Influential Black Executives of 2022”, in D CEO Magazine’s Top 500 and in a feature article on “Women Who Built Dallas”. Stephanie has been a contributing columnist for Inc. and Black Enterprise Magazine, and is a highly sought-after speaker.

Usman Nabi

Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Browning West

Usman Nabi grew up between South Asia and the US and he is deeply passionate about inspiring international service in the next generation of leaders. Prior to founding Browning West, he was a Senior Partner at H Partners Management, a New York-based investment management firm. Currently, Usman serves on the Board of Directors of Domino’s Pizza Group plc as a Non-Executive Director and has previously served on the boards of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and Tempur Sealy International Inc. Usman earned his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. As a Strategic Advisor, Usman supports Global Glimpse’s strategic growth. 

Deborah Duncan

Senior Advisor and Board Member, Fremont Group

With over 30 years of experience in financial services and asset management, Debbie Duncan is currently a Senior Advisor and member of the Board of Directors of the Fremont Group, a San Francisco based private investment company. She also chairs the Audit Committee of the Board and is a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of one of its primary investing entities. Her previous position with Fremont Group was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Fremont Group, Ms. Duncan worked for 21 years at Chase Manhattan Bank (now JP Morgan Chase). She held a variety of leadership positions including Executive Vice President of Chase’s Global Asset Management business, EVP and Corporate Treasurer and EVP and Co-Head of Global Markets. Her assignments included positions in London, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Debbie is a member of the Board of Directors of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and Chairs its Investment Committee. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Smith College, Northampton, MA and an M.S. in Accounting from New York University Stern School of Business and earned the designation of CPA in New York. She previously served on the Board of Trustees of Smith College, including as its Chair.

Adom Cooper

Operations Planning Specialist, U.S. Department of State

Adom M. Cooper is an Operations Planning Specialist at the U.S. Department of State where his current portfolio covers risk management and innovation. He has work experience with the U.S. government, the United Nations, the American Society of International Law (ASIL), and private consulting firms. He has a JD from Syracuse University College of Law, a BA in Political Science and Communications from the University of Michigan, and study abroad experience in South Africa at the University of the Western Cape. He has published with Just Security, NY Daily News, USA Today, the United Nations Population Fund, ASIL, and the International Law Association. Adom is a Term Member at Council on Foreign Relations, a Security Fellow at the Truman National Security Project, a 2021-2022 Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, and a member of the DC Bar.

Melanie Newell

President, Rocket Social Impact

Melanie joins Global Glimpse as a Strategic Advisor, alongside her work as President of Rocket Social Impact, a social impact agency dedicated to strategy, communications, and partnership development for both nonprofits and corporations. Melanie’s work at Rocket is grounded by her 15 years of experience developing CSR strategies, social impact partnerships, fundraising campaigns and employee activation initiatives for national nonprofits and companies. Her diverse background includes developing and implementing strategies for organizations such as American Airlines, Shutterfly, Roark Capital, Finish Line, Rite Aid, the National Park Foundation, No Kid Hungry, Make-A-Wish America, March of Dimes, Covenant House, American Heart Association and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Wailun Chan

Chief Financial Officer, Grafana Labs

The opportunity travel presents to experience different cultures and ways of life has had a lasting influence on Wailun both personally and professionally. Wailun’s interest in travel began at age 15 when his family made the life-altering decision to relocate from Hong Kong to Michigan and continues now as he shares his passion for traveling with his own family. Currently, he is the Chief Financial Officer at Grafana Labs. Previously Wailun was at LinkedIn, where he led the Global FP&A, International Finance, and Financial Planning Systems team. Over the past ten years, Wailun has had the unique opportunity to build, scale, and manage teams across the finance org as well as partnering closely with the executive team on defining and executing LinkedIn’s strategic plans. Prior to LinkedIn, Wailun gained 12 years of finance experience across various industries (tech, financial services, and CPG) at start-ups and Fortune 100 companies. Wailun lends his expertise to reinforce Global Glimpse’s mission to teach the importance of travel and leadership development.

Sharon Grant

Executive Director, Community Programs Accelerator, OCE  at University of Chicago

To Sharon, servant leadership is a way of life. Prior to her role at the University of Chicago, Sharon led the community affairs team at United Airlines where she served as vice president of customer contact centers for the airline. In this role, she was responsible for all aspects of the contact centers, customer care and refunds for United. She oversees 5,000 global team members comprising 15 centers in ten countries and remotely in over 35 states. Sharon has 20 years of accounting and auditing experience. Sharon received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Bradley University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA). Sharon was a 2016 Fellow of Leadership in Greater Chicago and recognized as a Chicago United 2015 Business Leader of Color. A native Chicagoan, born and raised in the South Shore community, Sharon leads the Community Programs Accelerator to support community-based organizations on the South Side. Sharon served on the Global Glimpse board for 4 years. 

Jeff Miller

Vice President of Marketing, Cruise

Jeff is the VP of Marketing at Cruise, the leading autonomous vehicle company driven to improve life in our cities by safely connecting people with places, things & experiences they care about. Prior to Cruise, Jeff led the Global Arcadia team at Snap Inc., which partnered with brands of all sizes to build best-in-mobile campaigns that drive measurable business results and cultural impact. Prior to Snapchat, Jeff spent time at Ogilvy crafting award-winning campaigns for American Express and Motorola and as a Brand Marketer at PepsiCo — managing the iconic Tropicana brand and leading digital strategy for Gatorade. Outside of work, Jeff dedicates his time to organizations that share his passion for uplifting underrepresented communities and he loves to travel with his family!