Be a part of this unique virtual mentoring event designed to bring together next generation leaders with seasoned entrepreneurs and leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to grow, learn, and connect.
The Millennials Mentor
Real Leadership Virtual Mentoring Event
Fact: The “workplace” as we know it has changed.
Actually, everything has changed.
Now, more than ever, it is time to bring together next generation leaders with seasoned entrepreneurs and leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Mentors will share their experience and expertises to help you learn, grow, and transition as the world and economy shift and adjust to our new reality.
In this unique virtual mentoring event, mentees will be able to meet with 5 mentors in 10-minute speed rounds for powerful insights, advice, recommendations, and resources.
How Will Virtual (Speed) Mentoring Work?
Mentor Selection: Mentees will be able to review and select their preferred mentors, and the match-ups will be assigned in advance. We will do our best to ensure mentees are able to connect with their preferences; however, based upon demand, mentees may be assigned to other mentors; a great opportunity for serendipitous mentoring.
Event Flow: We will open the event with warm welcome, quick introductions, and then jump right into the speed mentoring. Each round will be a 10 minute one-on-one mentor session, with a 3-minute break between each session to transition to the next round. We will close the event with a short group debrief to share the highlights and insights from the mentor sessions.
The Tech: We will be using the Zoom platform so each mentor-mentee pair will be able to talk one-on-one in a private virtual breakout room. Both mentors and mentees will be provided with guiding questions and discussion ideas prior to the event to help you maximize your speed mentoring rounds.
MENTORS
MENTEES
Meet Your Mentors
Michael Barrio
Advocate & External Affairs
Professional
Michael Barrio is an influential government and community affairs executive with expertise in leading public policy negotiation and development as well as strategic innovation for growth. He has a proven track record of bolstering strategic initiatives through relationship curation of business leaders, publicly elected officials, and nonprofit organizations.
Additionally, his consulting experience has allowed him to have an impact in creating, shaping, and influencing communication and public affairs strategy during various political campaigns. He is a proven leader in the execution of brand repositioning in a diverse number of industries (financial sector, solar energy, politicians/public figures, and non-profit) for optimal growth and market positioning. He currently serves on the New Mexico Health Equity Partnership, serves as Honorary Commander for the 58 SOW at Kirtland Air Force Base.
He is a NM native, NMSU Grad School Alum, and proud father & husband.
Rathi Casey
Partner & CEO
UKUU Creative
Rathi Casey comes from a background of design, innovation, and visual creativity. With more than 10 years of experience in Architecture & Design, her studio focuses on holistic problem solving. Originally from Southern India, Rathi loves to travel the world, and has worked in Paris, New York, San Francisco, and Hong Kong. Her love for international design influences her work in graphics and visual experiences. Rathi was the 2020 Albuquerque Economic Development Rising Star Honoree and a 2019 Albuquerque Business First 40 Under Forty Honoree. She serves on the board of Explora Children's Museum, the Urban Land Institute NM and Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School. Since starting her own business, her leadership focuses on entrepreneurship, cultivating your brand, and building relationships within the community. Rathi Casey is committed to high quality design projects, dedicated to serving a greater purpose. She believes that UKUU Creative completes the circle, meeting real human needs with strong design solutions.
Mae Cooper
Talent Development Consultant
Mae Cooper is a Talent Development Consultant at Capital One supporting the development and growth of associates, leaders, and teams. She has worked previously in higher education, non-profits, and political advocacy organizations and brings expertise in experiential education and inclusive facilitation to her work. She holds a Master of Education from Vanderbilt University and Bachelor of Arts in Political Communications from George Washington University.
Sonja Dewing
CEO Plot Duckies
Sonja Dewing is a freelance writer and published author. Her business, Plot Duckies, gets writers through blocks and get to the point of publishing. Her specialty is social media marketing and startup planning. She successfully launched a crowdfunding/presale campaign with Publishizer that netted her a publisher for her first novel, Toy of the Gods. She successfully used Facebook to fill her first Plot Duckies event, the Short Storyathon. And she's grown her clients, like FatPipe ABQ and Duke City Roller Derby to large fanbases.
Rob Howard
Statistical Analyst, Founder & Entrepreneur
Rob Howard is a statistical programmer that provides data analysis services to pharmaceutical companies that conduct clinical research trials. In 2007 he started his own consulting business, Veridical Solutions, and while he continues to operate his own business, he co-founded and launched a new business, Emanate Biostats, in 2020. He serves on the executive committee for PharmaSUG (a global non-profit with a mission to provide in-person and online forums to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and promote best practices for those working with analysis software in the pharmaceutical industry) and was the Co-Chair for the US event in Baltimore, MD in 2017 as well as the inaugural PharmaSUG Japan event in 2018. He is an avid runner and uncle to five amazing nieces and nephews. He lives in San Diego with his partner, Rafael and their dog, Diego.
Rafael Hurtado
Lawyer and Adjunct Professor
Rafael Hurtado practices employment law, primarily representing employees who have been the victims of wage theft, discrimination, or retaliation. Rafael represents employees from all backgrounds, a high percentage of his clients are Spanish speakers. He also teaches Legal Writing to first year law students.
Professor Hurtado is passionate about community service and advocacy. He served as a volunteer and contract attorney at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego from September 2013 through June 2014 at the unlawful detainer and civil restraining order clinic. Rafael went on to serve as General Counsel for MANA de San Diego, a Latina organization, from January 2017 to December 2019. He currently serves as the Immediate Past President of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association and was on the Board of Directors for five years prior.
Rafael enjoys exploring and his curiosity has led him to try numerous hobbies including cooking, cycling, running, swimming, hiking, camping, photography, reading, and writing. He finds it invaluable to learn about new cultures and does so by traveling and learning new languages.
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Andrej Juriga
Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
Cultural Bridge
Andrej Juriga is the founder of Cultural Bridge, a training company that helps individuals, teams and organizations to navigate the challenges of diversity and to create an inclusive environment. He held leadership positions in global US companies managing PC sales in German speaking countries and later on, leading an HR team and consulting leaders from Europe, Middle East and Africa. As a certified facilitator of emotional and cultural intelligence, Andrej delivers workshops and coaching to large corporations, medium sized companies and start-ups across continents and industries helping participants to manage emotional reactions to differences and to build strategies how to bridge those differences at the organizational and personal level. Andrej lived and worked in six different countries across Europe and in Africa, and he is currently based in Slovakia, his home country, and in Hungary.
Rachael Lorenzo (They/Them)
Indigenous Women Rising, Co-Founder & Abortion Access Lead; Assistant Commissioner of Engagement, New Mexico State Land Office
Rachael Lorenzo (Mescalero Apache/Laguna Pueblo/Xicana) is a queer parent of two and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They were born in Las Cruces, New Mexico to young parents and were raised on their father's ancestral land in Laguna, New Mexico. Rachael graduated with a BA in political science and a Masters in public administration, focusing on public health; both degrees are from the University of New Mexico. Rachael studied political campaigns, participated in policy analyses, and has been consulted for their expertise in public health policies that could impact Indigenous communities. Rachael was not only raised on traditional values but also on politics. Throughout their academic career, Rachael volunteered for political campaigns, ranging from city council elections to presidential campaigns. Rachael was selected as a fellow for President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, Obama For America (OFA). Currently, Rachael is not only part of Indigenous Women Rising but also serves as an appointee: Assistant Commissioner of Engagement and Tribal Liaison at the New Mexico State Land Office, under the first Latina and woman to serve as Land Commissioner, Stephanie Garcia Richard.
Alex Neuman
Learning Designer & Co-founder
Colearn and Explore Change Partners
Alex Neuman is an experienced learning designer, trainer and facilitator. He is a co-founder of Colearn and Explore Change Partners as well as former Head of Learning Design at Hyper Island. He is the co-author of the Hyper Island Toolbox and has helped lead programs for organizations including Google, IKEA, Spotify, Greenpeace, Adidas, Condé Nast, Swedish Institute and more. Alex has also worked extensively with the Peace Education charity CISV International building curriculum and leading training around the world.
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Miriam Ortiz Y Pino
Certified Professional Organizer, Simplicity Expert & Coach, Entrepreneur
Miriam Ortiz y Pino works with entrepreneurs and other busy and creative people to eliminate the distractions, simplify systems and create routines so they can do their best work and live a fuller life. The More than Organized Blog was recognized as one of the top 5 Simplicity Blogs, one of the top 100 productivity blogs, and one of the top 20 home office organizers. Miriam holds certificates in Workplace Productivity, Residential Organizing, Courageous Coaching Method, Fire Starter Session Facilitator and Sacred Money Archetypes Coaching.
Brett Parry
Founder & Career Architect
The Cultural Mentor
Australian born, living in the USA. A deep faith in the ability of the curious mind to navigate expanding global horizons. I believe the skills to do this can be taught with compassion, action and knowledge, all with an intentional plan to achieve high level personal and professional outcomes. I am a cross-cultural consultant and facilitator, speaker, mentor and coach. At the Cultural Mentor, I lead a global network teaching better understand of cultural gaps and how to bridge them.
Giovanna Rossi
President & CEO
Collective Action Strategies, LLC
Giovanna is a leadership consultant and results coach with 20+ years working with entrepreneurs, government and non-profits to improve the lives of women and families using intersectional feminism and mindfulness. She holds a Master of Science degree in Public Policy from the London School of Economics and is the founder of the Family Friendly Business Award® and host of The Well Woman Show on NPR One.
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Mentors make a difference.
Keith Allen West
Founder & CEO
Wild West Skincare
An Actor and Entrepreneur, Keith Allen West is known for his energetic presentations on branding, marketing and extreme career growth strategies. He applies his wildly successful entrepreneur skills to acting as a business. He has worked with actors and directors from multiple Academy Award winning films. Since 2014 he has reached the Inc. 500/5000 list with two of his cosmetics companies by growing revenue over 1,000%.
Carmen White Janak
CEO & Black Mental Health Advocate
Carmen White Janak is a leader and facilitator in the diversity, inclusion, and equity field across multicultural and multi-ethnic ecosystems. Carmen possesses an ability to create an environment whereby her audience can participate in frank and often challenging discussions of uncomfortable subject matters; this remarkable skill is seen as she weaves humor with practical wisdom and encourages empathy within these complex conversations across a multiplicity of community, educational, and business arenas. It is her ability to be a leader of leaders that fuels her work on every level causing her to be a sought-after speaker and facilitator.
Amy Whitfield
Director NM State Office
of African American Affairs
Amy Whitfield is Special Projects Coordinator for the NM Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). Ms. Whitfield has had a strong career in social services working in small non-profits serving numerous groups in both direct service and non-profit executive management. In her current role she is responsible for planning and implementing projects that move forward the strategic plan goals of CYFD Administration.
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About Your Host
Tamara Thorpe is a leadership expert and world-renowned champion for talented Millennial & Gen Z professionals–aka the next great generation of leaders. With a dynamic and compassionate approach to leadership development, Tamara helps emerging leaders build their legacies by effectively dealing with day-to-day challenges of leadership, as well as focusing on the future by helping them learn to create culturally smart, inclusive workplaces (aka “woke” workplaces).
A firm believer that people matter most to an organization’s success, Tamara brings over 30+ years of on-the-ground experience with leading international and multicultural teams, as well as an extensive background in mentoring and leadership, identity development, diversity & inclusion and intergenerational issues to the table.
Tamara is committed to creating spaces and opportunities for people to be mentored and access the support and resources they need to succeed personally and professionally.
Be Prepared! Before You Register:
Get to know the mentors, read their profiles!
Identify at least 5 mentors with whom you want to be matched!
Mark your calendar!*
*Cancellations are highly discouraged, if for any reason you have to cancel please do so at least 5 days in advance. Last minute cancellations wreak havoc on the schedule and leave mentors without mentees.