UOG Tritons's video: Week 6: Panel of Aggregators

CIS2020- Week 6- June 5, 2020 The first panel in Week 6 of the series featured Aggregators- women business leaders who are promoting positive multiplier impact for others with a focus on sustainability and inclusion. This panel was curated and moderated by Amanda Ellis, the CIS2019 keynote speaker. Bank of Guam Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Maria Eugenia Leon Guerrero said diversity doesn’t happen by accident, and if we want to change it, we need to have a deliberate strategy from the top. In order to promote business development that is inclusive and sustainable, she suggests three important factors: you have to define specific outcomes that you want to achieve and start measuring data; you need to integrate diversity and inclusion values into your sales teams and sale culture; and you need to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders. Co-Founder Meli James shared how Mana Up taps into Hawaii's brand, unfair advantages, and regional strengths to scale businesses to the global market and bring new dollars to the state. With a growing portfolio of 51 companies in her accelerator, she says it’s important to help consumers from around the world get connected with the stories, culture, and authenticity of Hawai`i. Sun Valley Institute’s Founder and Chair, Aimée Christensen, greatly appreciates island wisdom, as it is directly relevant to her small community in Idaho working toward local self-reliance. Christensen is a global sustainability legend, who has advised Google and the World Bank, among others. She now helps localize the food system and energy system of her community. Each year, her organization brings global sustainability leaders and investors together through the Sun Valley Forum to promote local sustainable and regenerative solutions at scale. Barefoot College International’s Director and CEO, Meagan Fallone, works to empower women and poor communities around the world. Barefoot College works in 1,300 villages world-wide, impacting bringing light to 550,000 people through Solar Mamas program. She said the program skills women (who may not have had a formal education) not only with knowledge about technology and renewable energy, but more importantly with confidence, competence, and belief in themselves. For more on the conference, visit www.uog.edu/cis2020.