When I grow up, I want to be a(n)
A speaker network that reflects the full range of opportunity in Boston.
Whether they’re leading construction sites, producing music, or developing software, we want our speakers’ career paths to feel accessible. Our instructors work closely with teachers to identify speakers who can connect with students on a personal level. Over the last three years, One Bead’s speaker community has grown to include over 200 professionals, many of whom are Boston Public School graduates themselves. Their presence in the classroom—and the stories they share—are what make our programming so impactful.
18%
of our speakers consider themselves entrepreneurs.
10%
of our speakers are founders.
1 in 2
speakers make plans to reconnect with a student after meeting them.
Meet some of our speakers:
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Jennifer Ha
Architecture
Design Principal, Hue Architecture -
Lee Pelton
Community Services
CEO & President, The Boston Foundation -
Danny Garcia-Decoteau
Business Management
Owner, Hair It Is Barbershop -
Dianne Austin
Business Management
Co-Founder & CEO, Coils to Locs -
Cory McCarthy
Education
Assistant Superintendent of Student Development and Advancement, Boston Public Schools -
Natacha Chough
Science
Flight Surgeon, NASA—Johnson Space Center -
Liat Berry
Technology
Product Manager, Google -
Amundam Mancho
Healthcare
Resident Pediatric Physician, Boston Children’s Hospital & Boston Medical Center -
Sania Santos
Legal Services
Attorney, Silva Santos PC -
Dana Robinson
Public Services
Firefighter, Boston Fire Department -
Jo Diaz
Science
STEM Education Sr. Coordinator, Vertex Pharmaceuticals -
Olusegun Oduolowu
Media
Host of Boston Globe Today
Explore our network.
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Francis Holder, Dog Trainer, The Pawsitive Dog
Jo-Ann Keith, Founder & CEO, Stinky's Kittens & Doggies Too
Martin Wright, Business Owner, President & Dog Trainer, Argos Dog Training
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Jennifer Ha, Design Principal, Hue Architecture LLC
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Andrés Holder, Executive Director, Boston Children's Chorus
Ayana Mack, Visual Artist & Entrepreneur, Ayana Mack Design
Daniel Kim, Third Chair Violist, Boston Symphony
Danny Rivera, Jr., CEO Artistic Director, AIR Boston
Daphne Walker, Founder & Creative Director, Canvas Studio Boston
Edward Galan, Co-Founder, A Trike Called Funk
Eliana Escobar, Digital Artist & Afterschool Art Teacher, Little Voices
Ella Wechsler-Matthaei, Founder & CEO, Soca Fusion
Emmanuelle Dubuisson, Artist, Phia Art
LesleyAnn Moore, Founder & CEO, The Poetic Artiste
Leslie Guity, Owner & CEOOrangesticity LLC
Liana Farmer, Founder, bylianarae
Michael Talbot, Owner & Freelance Artist, Talbot's Art LLC
Sabrina (Phree) Claudio, Multidisciplinary Artist, ArtByPhree
Shaumba-Yandje Wa Dibinga, Founding Artistic Director, OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center
Stephen Sampson, Actor, Greater Joy Productions
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Alberto Calvo, Co-Owner, OPPED, Inc. d/b/a Compare Supermarkets
Alex Hildebrandt, Founder, SUYO Pisco
Catherine Waiswa, Founder & CEO, Love Balungi LLC
Ciara Aguilar, Senior Business and Technology Consultant, SEI
Colette Phillips, CEO & President, Colette Phillips Communications
Dana Bonner, Owner, Pink and Pretty
Daniel Garcia-Decoteau, Owner, Hair It Is Barbershop
Derick Foster-Toney, Owner & Executive Manager, Chez-Vous Roller Skating Rink
Dianne Austin, Co-Founder & CEO, Coils to Locs
Edward Toney, Owner, Chez-Vous Roller Skating Rink
Elaine Chow, Founder, ChopValue Boston,
Elson Fortes, Co-Owner & Creative Artist, Crazygoodz
Glynn Lloyd, Executive Director, Foundation for Business Equity
Herby Duverné, Founder & CEO, Windwalker Group
Jae'da Turner, Founder & Managing Director, BGM Apparel
Jenny Santiago, Stylist, Jaeni Braids
Jody Mendoza, Owner & CEO, Mojitos Country Club
Julie Cabral, Area Administrative Manager, Kleinfelder
Juliris Montalvo, Managing Member, Juli’s Beauty
Katelynne Bazile, Founder & Global Team Lead, Lumiere Rene Candle Company & Emerging Talent Programming & Operations, HubSpot
Keisha Jean-Louis, Founder, QueensKnow
Marc Amedee, Barber & Owner, Marxmen Cuts Barbershop
Myranda Peterson, Founder, Creator & Director, House MVP
Shonte Davidson, CEO, Better Together Brain Trust (BT2)
Thiago DeSouza, Founder, Urban Cargo LLC
TiElla Grimes, Founder & Principal, InnHer Uplift Consulting
Tonya Winston, Founder & CEO, B. Royal Boutique
Widline Pyrame, CEO & Founder, Fusion Dolls
Wilson Fortes, Co-Owner, Artist & Creative Engineer, Crazygoodz
Zelmon Johnson, Owner, Olive Tree Books-n-Voices
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Alex Lynn, Youth Recreation Program Manager, Community Rowing Inc.
Annissa Essaibi-George, President & CEO, Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
Ashley Eadie, Director of Community Engagement, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
Bekah Salwasser, Executive VP of Social Impact, Red Sox Foundation
Christina Bryant, Chief Administrative Officer, St. Mary's Center for Women and Children
Dana Harris, Program Director, The 3Point Foundation
Daniel Enriquez Vidaña, President, Innovation Studio
DeShawna Green, Leasing Manager, Boston Public Health Commission
Elijah Evans, Executive Director, Bikes Not Bombs
Jamaal Williams, Assistant Director of Training, PEAR Institute
Javier Suarez, Manager, Community Rowing
Jennyde Dessius, Program Director, Girls' LEAP
Josiah Bramble, Program DirectorHarlem Lacrosse
Lee Pelton, CEO & President, The Boston Foundation
Lily Mendez, Former CEO, Mass Mentoring Partnerships
Michael Curry, President & CEO, MA League of Community Health Center
Nicole Purvis-Donnell, Director of Programming, Quincy Geneva New Vision CDC
Niurka Pitts, Director of Housing, Boston Public Health Commission
Pedro Cruz, Executive Director, Mayor's Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement
Samuel Ellison, Manager of Partnerships, YW Boston
Sandra McCroom, President & CEO, Children's Services of Roxbury
Tony Galvao, President, Concrete LYFE
Turahn Dorsey, Chief Impact Officer, Eastern Bank Foundation
Wil Cardwell, Managing Director, Partnerships and Summer Learning Boston After School & Beyond
Yvonne Montilla, Deputy Chief of Staff, The New Commonwealth Fund
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Arturo Natella, Founder, Amaru
Mackenson Charles, Chief of Programs, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts
Thaddeus Miles, Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives, MassHousing
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Adkeem Jackson, Senior Director of Community Mobilization, MA Charter Public School Association
Annie Turner, Director of Corporate Responsibility, ASA
Austin Ashe, Sr. Associate Director, Culture and Belonging, MIT Sloan School of Management
Brian Alkins, Teacher, ECC
Cory McCarthy, Assistant Superintendent of Student Development and Advancement, Boston Public Schools
Derrick Young, Co-founder & Executive Director, Leadership Brainery
Farah Annylusse, Teacher, Boston Public Schools
Jeff Joseph, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Regis College
Jonathan Allen, Co-Founder & Director of Development, Leadership Brainery
Kayanna Scott-Brown, Managing Director, Network Engagement, Teach for America
Lea Serena, Executive Vice President, Boston Teachers Union
Linda Mindaye, Educational Consultant
Marsha Inniss-Mitchell, Executive Director of Postsecondary Initiatives, Boston Public Schools
Natasha Lopez, Founder & CEO, College Connects
Nicole Rodriguez-Rowe, Assistant Director of Strategic Alliances Leadership Brainery
Rafaela Polanco Garcia, Boston Public School Committee Member
Rashaun Martin, Managing Director of Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity Programs, Boston Public Schools
Sarah Kamya, Founder, Little Free Diverse Libraries
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Amiyah Richardson, Software Engineer, Liberty Mutual
Amon Millner, Associate Professor of Computing and "The Unruly Professor", Olin College of Engineering
Demetri Harrison, Senior Site Reliability Engineer, Siteimprove
Nick Dejesus, Open Source Programs Engineer
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Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Pastor, New Roots AME Church
Ronald Thompson, Beekeeper and Data Analyst, The Best Bees Company
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Cecelia Lizotte, Owner, Suya Joint All African Cuisine
Cheyvonne Heywood, Founder, Lyme Lyfe Juices
Daniel Carrillo, Head of Operation, Taqueria el Barrio
Jelissa Lamboy, Pastry Chef, The Sugar Connection
Kamaal Jarrett, Founder & CEO, Hillside Harvest
Misha Thomas, Transformative Development Initiative Fellow, MassDevelopment
Shonda Little, Chef, SouthernTwist
Tam Le, CEO, T. Le Enterprise
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Amundam Mancho, Pediatric Resident, Boston Children's Hospital
Brett Mitchell, Pediatric Resident, Boston Children's Hospital/Boston Medical Center
Cerica Horton, MRI Technologist, Boston Children’s Hospital
Faven Russom, Pediatric Resident Physician, Boston Children’s Hospital
Florence Ip, Doctor, Boston Children’s Hospital
Jakara Griffin, Resident Physician, Boston Children’s Hospital
Jeffrey Edwards, Resident Physician, Boston Children's Hospital/Boston Medical Center
Jezmarie Rodriguez, Patient Service Representative, Harvard Vanguard
Jocelyn McGill, Physician, Boston Medical Center (BMC)
Krista Gon, Consultant, Day Health Startegies
Lillian Zerihun, Doctor, Boston Children's Hospital
Michaelle Cherisol, Medical Writer, Harvard Medical School/MGH
Nia Cabey, Nurse, Cambridge Health Alliance
Omer Elshaigi, Physician, Boston Children's Hospital
Rita Wang, Resident Physician, Boston Children's Hospital
Sierra Atwater, Resident Physician, Boston Children's Hospital
Theresa Poon, Registered Nurse, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
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Charldyn Valcin, Sales Consultant & Founder, Host Valcin LLC
Iliana Ramirez, Co-Founder & CEO, Meaningful Occasions
Jonil Casado, Community Engagement Manager, City of Boston
Marvina Wilkes, CEO, Red Dress Events LLC
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Andrea Campbell, Attourney General of Massachusetts, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Geraldine Gruvis-Pizarro, Director of Advocacy and Pro Bono, Volunteer Lawyers Project
Gina Endres, Director of Workforce Development and Community Engagement, The Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice
Jenny Chen, Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP
Karen Bobadilla, Immigration Attorney, De Novo
Karla Mojica Perez, Intake Manager, Greater Boston Legal Services
Madeleine Rodriguez, Partner, Foley Hoag LLP
Rilwan Adeduntan, Assistant United States Attorney, Department of Justice
Sania Santos, Attorney, Silva Santos PC
Simone Gaines, Quality and Compliance Manager, Vertex
Thanithia Billings, Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP
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Shamara Rhodes, CEO, Boston Got Next Entertainment
SB John, Owner, SB John Entertainment
Melisa Valdez, In-Arena Host, Boston Celtics
Richy Pena, Music Producer
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Andre Weiss, Student
Beatriz Santiago
Domingos DaRosa, Owner, DaRosa Property Maintenance
Jana Amin, Student
Janay Johnson, Manager, USPS
Khymani James, Student
Leonard Perez, Product Manager, Interpop LLC
Maya Koreth, Student
Suwada Hinds, Board Treasurer and CFO, New England Anime Society Inc.
Toiell Washington, CEO, The Master's Tools
Willy Vallejo, Installer, XPEL
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Dalvin Jones, Football Assistant Equipment Manager, New England Patriots
Evan Pierce, Vice President, People & Culture, Boston Celtics
Waseem Givens, Director Of Youth Development, Boston Celtics
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Curtis Chambers, Financial Counselor, CLC Consulting and Coaching
Isis Ortiz-Belton, Vice President, Commercial Banking, Eastern Bank
Jeanette Velasquez, Founder & CEO, Velasquez Tax & Business Services, LLC
Joseph OGarro, Senior Vice President, BDC Capital
Kayla Lopez, Bank Manager, TD Bank
Michael Reid, AVP - Branch Manager III, Eastern Bank
Russell Holmes, Financial Advisor, Baystate Financial Services, LLC
Thuy Le, Senior Associate, BDO
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Christine Rose, Owner & CEO, Imani Massage
Geoffrey Janey, Owner & Founder, JET Boston
Issam Hatahet, Functional Strength & Transformation Coach, BT Strength and Wellness
Juan Sosa, Yoga Instructor
Nieisha Deed, Founder & CEO, PureSpark
Sinceree Clarke-Diego, Founder & CEO, BreakFIT Wellness
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Brian Walker, Change Management Consultant
Christopher Worrell, State Representative, MA House of Representatives
Julia Mejia, Boston City Councilor At-Large, Boston City Council
Liz Miranda, State Representative, MA House of Representatives
Melissa Beltran, Peer Support Specialist, Boston Public Health Commission
Oumou Cherif, Director of Outreach, Office of Massachusetts Attorney General & Founder, Children Education Alliance Inc
Samantha Montano, State Representative, MA House of Representatives
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Bernadine Desanges, Senior Workplace Investigator, City of Boston
Gorden Souza, AVP, Recruiter, Eastern Bank
Magdalena Barbosa, HR Consultant
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Adebukola Ajao, Digital Marketing Consultant, B.D.Y. CONSULT LLC
Annisa Benjamin, Founder & CEO, ABMI
Charlene Volmar, Marketing Account Director, JPA Health
Dalinda Ifill-PressatDirector of Marketing & Communications, Children's Services of Roxbury
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Daron English, Creative Director, AVARIA
Drake Curtis, Photographer, Photosbydrizzy
Erica Ayisi, Independent Journalist & CEO & Founder, Akosua's Closet
Gregory Molina IV, Managing Partner, The Media Men
Gregory Warfield Jr., Producer & Director, Sweeter The Juice Films
Kevin Thai, Owner & Photographer, Three Circles Studio
Larry Lawson, Executive Producer, CBS/Paramount/WBZ
Melissa Rawlins, Senior Communications Strategist, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)
Olusegun Oduolowu, Host of Boston Globe Today, Boston Globe Media Partners
Ryan Sullivan, Managing Partner, The Media Men
Victoria Griggs, Co-Founder, Producer, Photographer, Art Director, Web Dev, & Creative Direction, Sweeter The Juice Films
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Dr. Pilar Tucker, Founder, Clinician, Change Agent, Non-Profit & Consulting Businesses
Kurt Faustin, Mental Health Expert, The Dropout Academy
Melanie Robinson Findlay, CEO, Upwards N Onwards LLC
Priscilla Rodriguez, Clinician, The Home for Little Wanderes
Tamara Leroy-London, Founder, Owner, & Clinician, Healing with Trust Therapy, LLC
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Aaron Haynes, Streetcar Operator, MBTA
Ashley Armand, Deputy Director of Community Engagement, MBTA
Ciara Martinez, Bus Driver, MBTA
Dana Robinson, Firefighter, Boston Fire Department
Eric Bradshaw, Patrolman, Crime Stoppers, Boston Police Department
Kamisha Green, Police Officer, Boston Police Department
Londen Fryar, Trash Man, Capitol
Robert Franklin, Firefighter, Boston Fire Department
Xavier Cruz, Firefighter, Boston Fire Department
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Clara Arroyave, CEO, Co-iving Cashflow
Elijah Wilkerson IV, Realtor, Thumbprint Realty
Jeff Similien, Broker
Josue Velney, CEO, Velney Development
Kyle Zene-Moore, Broker & CEO, Zander Realty Group
Nicky Allen, Commercial Advisor, Thumbprint Realty
Sarah Rodewald, Broker & Owner, SR Realty LLC
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Domonique Downing, Associate Director, Verizon Wireless
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"Crew" Elenoe Smith, Director, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Anne Okrah, Supply Chain Specialist, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Christianah Aloba, Senior Research Associate, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Denisa Kim, Founder & CEO, Anteros Bio
Jo Dias, STEM Education Sr. Coordinator, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Natacha Chough, Flight Surgeon, NASA-Johnson Space Center
Sanjana Thompson, Scientist, Prime Medicine
Sarah Martinez Roth, Senior Scientist, Vertex
Taniya Mishra, Founder & CEOSureStart
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Alfredo Alvarez Lamela, Owner, Cross Of the South Development
Liat Berry, Product Manager, Google
Pariss Chandler, Founder & CEO, Black Tech Pipeline
Rana el Kaliouby, Co-Founder & CEO, Affectiva (Smart Eye)
Sundeep Patel, CEO, Iorad inc.
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Ari Staples, Stewart, Lund Rebar
Frank Amato, Business Agent, Local 12 Plumber and Gasfitters
Matthew DiGaetano, Carpenter & Owner, NorthEast Carpentry
Nominate a speaker.
All nominated speakers are invited to participate in a 30-minute introductory call with a member of our team. After the call, if the nominee is still interested in participating, they will be asked to fill out a consent form. Not all nominees are guaranteed an opportunity to speak.