Events
GPI-BAU Talk Series – Elevate your Pitch: Mastering the Art of Securing Capital
On Monday, November 11, 2024, at 6:00 PM (EST) the Global Policy Institute (GPI) and Bay Atlantic University (BAU) will hold a talk titled ” Elevate your Pitch: Mastering the Art of Securing Capital” via Zoom and in-person at BAU. Focus will be on providing insights and best practices to MBA students and the public on how to give compelling business pitches to VCs, “shark tank” style.
Watch Event Recording:
GPI BAU Talk Series – Elevate your Pitch: Mastering the Art of Securing Capital – YouTube
Speakers
Angela Petras
Angela Petras is a former Accenture organization change management consultant and a Certified Professional Co-active leadership/professional development coach and has spent 15+ years serving the higher education space at four reputable schools of business, including American University (AU), George Washington University (GWU), Georgetown University and UC Berkeley. Most recently, she served as Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning at American University. She is an intrapreneur who thrives working with creative minds and ideas. While at GWU and AU, she created groundbreaking experiential learning and development programs for university students pursuing careers in consulting and other industries. Her signature programs included communities of practice and pro bono consulting projects, where hundreds of students served as real consultants solving complex problems for 80+ clients around the world, across all industries. Angela finds enormous inspiration and fulfillment in engaging with start-ups and working with student entrepreneurs and alumni. She created ecosystems to provide opportunities for students to learn how to develop real world business plans, human capital strategies, market entry strategies, financial models, AI solutions, sustainability strategies, etc. She has regularly been invited to serve as a judge and mentor for various university innovation center contests, business pitches, new venture showcases, and student case competitions, while also supporting student entrepreneurs with team coaching and 1:1 advising. Angela has been inspired by her extensive experience living and working in various countries and cities, and exposure to different cultures. She currently lives in Washington, DC.
Maysam Kashipour
Maysam Kashipour is a seasoned product manager currently with Capital One, where he leads the development of innovative analytics products. With a decade-long background in product management at industry leaders such as PayPal, CVS Health, and Fannie Mae, Maysam brings extensive experience from multiple Fortune 500 companies across industries, including financial services, healthcare, and tech. Maysam holds dual Master’s degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Financial Mathematics from The George Washington University. Before moving to the U.S., he served as Chief Strategy Officer for Iran’s leading railway company, where he initiated the IPO process for three subsidiaries and led an international joint venture. He has also provided strategic consulting to startups and small to medium-sized companies, advising them on strategic planning and financial management. Beyond his professional achievements, Maysam has dedicated the past 20 years to mentoring undergraduate and international students, guiding them in career development and helping them navigate today’s complex job market. He currently resides in Maryland with his family.
Bhagyashree More
Bhagyashree More is a sustainability and finance professional with a diverse international background in ESG research, investment strategy, and climate finance. She holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from American University, where she was awarded a merit-based scholarship, and a Master of Science in Finance from Grenoble Ecole De Management in France. Bhagyashree’s career journey spans continents, starting from her foundational work in consulting and financial services with Ernst & Young and KPMG in India, where she led client acquisition and compliance projects for major financial institutions. In the United States, she has continued her focus on sustainable finance, where she worked as an ESG Research Analyst at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS STOXX) and currently as an Investment Associate with Resilient Earth Capital, where she developed business strategies for climate-focused investments. Bhagyashree also served as a Grants and Contracts Assistant Manager at the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal, securing significant funding for carbon dioxide removal research. Her expertise in ESG disclosures, regulatory compliance, and sustainability strategy makes her an insightful speaker on navigating the U.S. professional landscape in sustainability and finance.
Moderators
Bintou Lingani, Ph.D.
Bintou Lingani, Ph.D. is the chair of the Department of Business and Economics at Bay Atlantic university, Washington, DC. She graduated with a Doctorate degree in International Economics and Development in 2019 from Howard University. Her research interest focuses on International Trade and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa and less developed Countries in general. Her teaching journey began when she earned a teaching assistantship while pursuing her master’s at Howard University and she continued to work in academia ever since. Bintou Lingani’s professional philosophy revolves around constant learning in an encouraging environment. She uses her positive attitude, her tireless energy, and her expertise to empower students to reach new heights.
Sergeant Major (S) Pablo Ortiz
Sergeant Major (S) Pablo Ortiz, Jr., MBA, DML is a retired U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including over a decade with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and as a U.S. Foreign Representative in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Following his military career, Pablo transitioned to serial entrepreneurship, over the past 15+ years, he founded numerous for-profit and nonprofit ventures across a wide range of industries. As founder of Aurora Market and co-founder of the DC Young Entrepreneurs Program in partnership with The Brian Westbrook Foundation, Pablo is dedicated to empowering underserved communities through business consulting and resourcing. He also serves as a Professor of Entrepreneurship at Bay Atlantic University, where he mentors the next generation of business leaders. A lifelong learner, Pablo holds a B.A. in Intelligence Studies, an MBA with a focus in Entrepreneurship, and post-graduate studies at institutions including the University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, and Harvard University. His diverse academic and global experiences provide unique insights into project management, organizational leadership, and international business.