WHO WE ARE

Todd Khozein is the Founder and CEO of SecondMuse, an impact and innovation company working with communities focused on climate, equity, and tech to build resilient economies that benefit people and protect the planet. Under his leadership, the company has designed and implemented programs on all 7 continents with over 600 organizations such as NASA, The World Bank, Nike, USAID, The World Health Organization, and The Rockefeller Foundation. Since its founding, SecondMuse has reached over 160 countries and territories, prototyped 11,000 ideas for innovative solutions, and funded more that 18 million to directly support over 1,200 portfolio companies. These supported ventures have in turn raised over 850 million in additional funding, during their involvement with SecondMuse programs.

The company is a manifestation of Todd’s impassioned belief that economic and social systems can be built inclusively and not at the expense of human dignity or the health of the planet. To test his theories and gain a deeper understanding of how to build and execute better systems, Todd earned a medical degree from the University of New Mexico, spent years developing a range of businesses, and co-founded SecondMuse in 2008. He is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of TechSoup Global.

Todd regularly advises corporate executives, senior governmental leaders and heads of foundations around the world. He has delivered keynote presentations to leading organizations and government bodies about building resilient economies and the roles of communities and entrepreneurship in that process. Some of Todd’s most notable presentations were delivered to the United Nations General Assembly, Bolivia's Ministry of Economy and Public Finance, the American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society, the World Bank, and the US Bank.

Dr Stuart Gill is the Global Head of Strategy & Operations at SecondMuse. Stuart is a pioneer in applying a relational lens to economic development through partnership, finance and the acceleration of entrepreneurs and their businesses.

This approach is motivated by a belief that all big challenges, from climate change to gun violence, are, at their core, relational problems and can not be solved within our current paradigm. While we might live in a material world, he is most definitely a relational boy - a hard-fought realization and one that he works daily to hold on to.

Before coming to SecondMuse, Stuart founded the first innovation group at the World Bank and built public-private partnerships across a spectrum of global challenges. Before the Bank, Stuart taught and researched in the Department of Astrophysics at Columbia University in the City of New York.

Stuart’s true home is Wilsons Promontory National Park, at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia, where he spent nearly two years of his life camping. He is a mad supporter of the Hawthorn Football Club and an even madder supporter of his wife and three kids. To his kids, Stuart is still the funniest person in the world, and he is enjoying every minute of that while it lasts.

Chad is the co-founder and Global Head of Finance & Corporate Services of SecondMuse, an impact and innovation company working with communities focused on climate, equity, and tech to build resilient economies that benefit people and protect the planet. He is also Managing Director of SecondMuse Capital, the impact investing arm of SecondMuse, which designs and manages investments to finance economies of the future.

With 30 years of experience in entrepreneurship, finance and technology, Chad believes collaboration is fundamental in understanding and addressing the complex problems facing humanity. He is responsible for the company’s corporate services department, which includes finance, technology, HR and legal, and co-manages SecondMuse’s capital arm.

Prior to founding SecondMuse in 2008, Chad worked in Mexico as executive director of a public foundation, served on the startup team of an online university in Iran, founded a DVD production company, and ran a knowledge management company in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Chad is based out of Portland, Oregon. He holds a BA from Purdue University and MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Simone Byrd is the Global Head of Marketing and Communications at SecondMuse, spearheading marketing for the organization and their ecosystem-building projects. Leveraging her expertise in public relations, marketing, branding, and innovation, Simone was pivotal in establishing The SecondMuse Studio—an in-house team dedicated to guiding professionals in creating impactful communications aligned with the company's mission.

With a robust background in strategic development, Simone excels in collaborative strategy, leading cross-team efforts to design, track, test, and report on marketing effectiveness. Her commitment to refining processes and fostering global communications reflects a dedicated pursuit of positive change.

Before joining SecondMuse, Simone showcased her prowess by successfully leading campaigns for niche and mass-market brands, igniting her passion for impactful branding and solidifying her commitment to SecondMuse’s ecosystem-building mission. A confident self-starter with a collaborative spirit, Simone fearlessly tackles challenges to support and achieve collective goals.

Residing for over a decade in Brooklyn, NY, Simone's journey also encompasses time spent in California, Wyoming, and Colorado. Beyond work, she indulges in experimental cooking, cherishes quality time with family, and stays active through various movement activities.

As the Global Head of Business Development at SecondMuse, Jeremy brings extensive experience in the creation and oversight of complex economic development and innovation initiatives. His expertise encompasses the design and management of various projects, such as open innovation programs, incubators, accelerators, and ecosystem development projects, across many geographies and industries. In this role, he leads a team that works to understand complex challenges, bringing the best from across SecondMuse, our partners and our communities to design solutions to these challenges, and secure the resources required to implement these projects. He is particularly motivated to mobilize resources for entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities and to address global climate challenges at scale.

Prior to this role, Jeremy's experience spanned both private and public clients, including managing LAUNCH.org - a pioneering innovation program with NASA - Nike, IKEA, USAID, Walmart and many other partners. He also launched the Solar Decathlon program in China with Applied Materials, and developed early education markets in the US with the Kellogg and Packard Foundations, among many others. Prior to his position at SecondMuse, he led programs at UK Trade and Investment and the UK's Science and Innovation Network, a board member at INCLUDED.org and managed projects across China, Italy, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Japan, Australia, and Indonesia. All of these projects have allowed Jeremy to dedicate his time to work that matters, in partnership with remarkable individuals who continually inspire and push him to grow.

Jeremy is a father of two, and lives in Alameda, CA with his wife. He is always trying to convince friends and family to join him on his next camping trip or at a barbeque on the beach.

Katey is the Senior Vice President for the North American region at SecondMuse. For the past 12 years, she has led and designed some of SecondMuse’s core bodies of work, ranging from inclusive design frameworks to shifting the needle on inclusive entrepreneurship more broadly. Her early work included open innovation programs like the NASA Space Apps Challenge, the Blue Economy Challenge, and the National Day of Civic Hacking. Katey went on to build SecondMuse’s first incubator programs via the Futureworks Incubator and Shops programs in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). She grew this work into a multi-program, multi-year climate and manufacturing suite of programs supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). She led the initial setup of Gender Equity in Tech in partnership with Pivotal Ventures to run pilots in cities across the US to increase the participation of women and nonbinary individuals in the tech sector. Over the past 3 years, Katey led the SecondMuse Practice Group to refine, codify, and innovate on the SecondMuse offering around inclusive research, design, and innovation.

Katey spends her free time restoring a farm in way way upstate New York.

As Director of Finance at Secondmuse, Heidi oversees the Finance team and functions across four global entities. Working closely with our CFO, she is responsible for the co-development and implementation of policies and processes that ensure accuracy and compliance of SecondMuse finances, enabling integration of data across programs and the globe.

A committed believer in the principles of collaboration and unity in diversity, and with an interest in ecological and systems thinking, Heidi was deeply attracted by the approach of SecondMuse to advancing efforts to advance solutions to the toughest challenges faced by humanity. The full range of challenges addressed by SecondMuse make her work in the company meaningful as she strives to maximize her impact from within, bringing an eclectic career experience spanning science, the music industry, eco-hospitality, and Main Street business management.

Outside her work day, Heidi prioritizes family, leads local children’s activities, enjoys mountain biking and hiking, travel, gardening, and practices the Japanese tea ceremony.

Garrison is the Chief of Staff - Growth at SecondMuse. In his role, Garrison assists the CEO for Growth with overall strategic decision making and execution of the company-wide growth strategy. This includes collaborating closely with the C-Suite, Leadership Team and Chief of Staff - Operations to drive forward the company’s strategic vision, as well as coordinating the intersection of the Business Development, Marketing and communications, and SecondMuse Capital team.

Garrison is passionate about his work because growth enables us to scale our impact. Impact can occur in a variety of ways, including providing direct support to entrepreneurs, building capacity in other organizations to provide such support, and bringing our cultural imperatives into every space we join. Prior to starting at SecondMuse, Garrison worked in KPMG’s Deal Advisory & Strategy practice where he helped companies develop and execute their strategic goals – often involving acquisitions or divestitures.

Outside of work, Garrison enjoys accompanying youth in his neighborhood to serve their community. He is also always working to get better at soccer and cooking.

As Director, Programs at SecondMuse, Laura oversees programs in the Asia Pacific region focused on strengthening circular and regenerative economic systems and processes. Most recently, she oversaw program activities across Indonesia, India, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. These included working with incubators and accelerators, entrepreneurs and innovators, investors, NGOs, and government leaders from across the region to develop and scale impactful solutions for waste management practices to combat plastic pollution.

Laura's background in human-centered design and experience working on complex system challenges drive her to create positive change through collaboration. Prior to SecondMuse, Laura worked with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors across Asia and East Africa, leading design projects for organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Red Cross, Oxfam, Economic Development Board of Singapore and Singapore Family Justice Courts, to help solve problems that would create value for people and improve lives. Using human-centered design methods and tools to tackle complex challenges and innovating through a design-led approach, Laura has particular strengths in designing systems change, ethnographic research and strategy development.

Outside of the office, you’ll find Laura exploring different countries and cultures across Asia, FaceTiming her nieces or baking up a storm in the kitchen using old family recipes.

Neisan Massarrat is the Senior Director of Strategic Programs at SecondMuse, with over 13 years of experience in business innovation and international development. Neisan has worked with Fortune 100 corporations, governments and Multilateral Development Banks, including Intel Corporation, NASA, Nike, NYCEDC, DFAT, USAID and the World Bank Group. His expertise covers open innovation, corporate strategy, entrepreneurship, ESG investing, AI/big data and public-private partnerships. Neisan has worked across multiple sectors, from economic resilience to climate change, disaster risk management, high tech and data innovation. He has developed and executed over 60 projects across more than 30 countries, including the global platform NASA International Space Apps Challenge and the World Bank’s big data strategy. Neisan is passionate about addressing complex development challenges through collaboration, human-centered design and technology. Prior to SecondMuse, Neisan was a senior consultant on corporate strategy at Germany’s development agency GIZ. He is based in Washington, DC.

Marie is responsible for the management and implementation of client facing projects including NIST’s Public Safety Communication Research program.

Prior to joining SecondMuse, Marie worked for the largest college honor society, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, for seven years as the Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships & Programs. In this role, she found her passion for leading and executing engaging events while also bringing shared value through forming community partnerships.

Marie is an avid runner, yogi, and hiker. She’s also a lover of international travel with her family residing in Madrid, Spain. When she’s not cheering for favorite sports teams, the Washington Caps or Nats, you can find Marie volunteering with several DC based non-profits such as Back On My Feet, LearnServe International, and LadiesDC.

Based in Bali, Inar Andrea is the Finance Manager for SecondMuse Indonesia. Working with SecondMuse’s global team of finance, legal, HR, and operations, she implements company-wide policies and practices in Indonesia while accomodating the unique needs and perspectives of the Indonesian team and entity. She also assists financial functions of SecondMuse Global and associated entities in Australia, Singapore, and the US, helping to maintain and improve the financial systems as well as reporting processes for the company and its projects.

Passionate about organizing, Inar brings 7 years of experience in event management and 3 years in HR, finance, and accounting. Prior to joining SecondMuse, she worked at an International Festival and a Creative Hub in Bali, working closely to assist the director and took part in supporting local business incubation. Working largely with the creative community, Inar has a deep understanding of how to create impact with a diverse community and cater to their needs.

In her free time, Inar runs various community events mostly with the fashion and food community, including Pasar Jajan Sanur and Fashion Revolution in Bali. Equipped with new knowledge in financial management, Inar dreams to become a patron and voluntarily spread her knowledge to help youth entrepreneurs.

Anne Dodge is a Business Development Director at SecondMuse, focusing on Responsible and Ethical Technology and working closely with the Headstream and GET Cities initiatives and the entire Growth team. Anne's work centers on developing partnerships and resources to extend and expand the company's current work, while also exploring new opportunities that advance SecondMuse's mission to create and foster just, inclusive economies.

Prior to joining SecondMuse, Anne served as the Executive Director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation at The University of Chicago. This work engaged data and theory about urban environments and processes, creating an evidence base for scalable change. She also served as an instructor in the Harris School of Public Policy, and prior to UChicago, she worked at the intersection of cultural and economic development planning, on a range of subjects, including place-based giving, affordable housing, historic preservation, and community safety through environmental design. She holds a BA from Harvard University with a joint concentration in visual and environmental studies and history and a Master’s in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Anne grew up in Texas and loves to talk about data, visualizations, pop culture, and reckless ideas. She also loves learning new words every day from her two kids, Janie and Freddie, and she stans her adopted home city of Chicago.

Varsha is a Business Development Manager for SecondMuse. Her primary focus is on helping build the capacity needed within the company for growth and scaling. This includes engaging in conversation about the direction of our company’s growth strategy, supporting high priority opportunities across the company and leading the research, identification, and coordination of opportunities with teams across the company.

Varsha is passionate about utilizing economic sustainability and innovative partnerships to eliminate social inequities globally. Her past consulting analyst experience both globally and locally through her time as a Market Research Analyst at Second Harvest Food Bank and a consulting fellowship, which centered on using social entrepreneurship to help eradicate poverty for marginalized communities, made her believe that innovative solutions already exist in every community she has worked in. It is a lack of access to resources and tools that hinders these innovative solutions from changing the
world. She believes that bridging that gap means working with social enterprises all over the world get to market and lay the foundation for their local economies.

Varsha holds a BS in Public Health and BA in Economics from Santa Clara University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to new countries, exploring local food scenes, and dancing in the rain. Her joy and inspiration come from meeting new people all around the world and hearing their stories, which then motivates her to do the work she does at SecondMuse and beyond.

Andrea is a Business Development & Research Manager at SecondMuse based in Washington, D.C. In her role, she informs SecondMuse’s growth strategy by leading research that is focused on the global funding landscape. Andrea also works with all of 2M’s programs to help find opportunities for teams to collaborate and partner with external actors.

Andrea has always been driven by her desire to ensure all populations have access to resources they need to thrive. Before joining SecondMuse, Andrea spent two years working in philanthropy where she advocated for marginalized communities to have access to philanthropic dollars. Andrea also spent time in Colombia working for an NGO where she led primary research that sought to understand the realities of rural secondary education programs. Because of her experiences, Andrea has come to realize how essential it is to build bridges between people in order to tackle big issues equitably. Thankfully at 2M, she gets to do just that.

Andrea is a proud Latina who wants to build loving communities. She holds a B.A from UC Berkeley in Development Studies and is a first generation college graduate. She's the happiest when she's at her pottery wheel, dancing, laughing with family and friends, and doing meaningful work.

Riza is a Director of research Practice at SecondMuse based in Lombok, Indonesia. As part of the Impact, Research and Learning team, she manages research and provides analysis support for programs across the company. Through data collection and analysis, her work contributes to strengthening our program design and implementation.

Through her research, Riza seeks to understand how change happens, and how it can benefit the community and the environment. She believes in the power of getting the story right, including understanding how change affects different groups and communities differently. Riza has extensive field and research experience focused on addressing complex collective action problems such as tropical deforestation and rural development in Indonesia. Having worked directly with government stakeholders, communities and farmers on the ground, Riza has developed an appreciation for the challenges of translating data and information into actionable plans on the ground.

When not working, Riza spends her time hiking, snorkeling (or just be at the beach), and learning how to grow flowers.

Renni is a Program Manager at SecondMuse, where she manages accelerator programs in Indonesia. Her job involves program design, offering support for its implementation, and collaborating with partners to ensure that participants receive the essential support they need for their success. She is deeply committed to fostering innovation to address waste issues in Indonesia.

Outside her professional life, Renni enjoys a variety of hobbies and interests. She shares her home with three furry companions, loves watching movies and hitting the gym regularly.

Indra is a Finance and Administrative Associate at SecondMuse, based in Bali, Indonesia. His work focuses on supporting the finance, legal, HR, and operations team for Indonesia and Singapore. His responsibility includes maintaining day-to-day administrative operations, ensuring company’s legal compliance, and keeping financial records with accuracy and consistency.

Indra always believes that humans can grow and prosper without sacrificing the earth, he calls this ‘growing responsibly’. Growing with respect to the surroundings is what he strives to achieve. SecondMuse’s vision inspired him to contribute to caring for the planet and addressing some of the world’s complex issues. Prior to joining SecondMuse, Indra worked as a recruiter and a trainer. Working with different people around the world helps him understand the richness and diversity of human culture.

Outside his work, he enjoys hiking or just about everything that relates to outdoor activities.

Viviana is a passionate Marketing and Communications Manager at SecondMuse, located in sunny San Diego, California. In her role, she supports the Headstream team by crafting and executing innovative marketing and communication strategies that help to meet program goals and increase Headstream's visibility. Viviana is passionate about using her skills, creativity, and expertise in marketing and communications to make a positive impact on vulnerable communities and promote SecondMuse's contributions to society.
With over seven years of experience in the marketing and communications industry, including roles at well-respected companies such as L'Oréal Mexico and New Ventures Mexico, Viviana brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the SecondMuse team. Her passion for mission-driven projects and commitment to creating a better world are a true asset to any organization.
When she's not working, Viviana loves to explore the great outdoors and enjoy the stunning sunsets in San Diego. On rainy days, she can be found indulging in her other hobbies, including reading, dancing, and practicing her watercolor painting skills.

Ashlynn is a Senior Communications Associate at SecondMuse based in Brooklyn, New York. She manages, creates, and executes communications strategies across different SecondMuse programs. She supports the NASA Space Apps Challenge, the largest annual hackathon in the world and Headstream, an initiative designed to empower the youth in digital spaces, advocating for youth wellness and diversity.

She has a background in strategic communications, social management and content creation. Her passions are focused around diversity, inclusion and social impact. She has diversity and inclusion experiences across the US and the world—from representing Hawaii’s social impact in Japan to higher education leadership at Harvard Business School. She strives to empower underrepresented communities in education, opportunity, and leadership. Ashlynn hopes to bring her passions to the SecondMuse community, bringing people together, creating change and cultivating global impact.

Ashlynn spent her most recent years living in Hawaii, experiencing different cultures, communities, and environments. She enjoys all things nature, exploring, traveling, and visiting museums and is always down to try new foods and culture experiences.

Elsa is a Senior Associate of Marketing & Communications at SecondMuse where she collaborates to develop and execute innovative marketing and communications strategies to build awareness for the international brand. Through strategy implementation and content creation, Elsa's work aims to promote the unique approach SecondMuse takes when solving the world's most complex issues.

Elsa is deeply interested in the power of storytelling and the ways it can help create a more just world. Driven by a desire to work in impact-oriented spaces, she began her career in the non-profit sector focused on branding and digital marketing. Elsa joined SecondMuse because she is passionate about creating economies and systems in which all humans have equitable opportunities to participate and thrive.

Elsa has a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Franklin & Marshall College. Outside of work Elsa enjoys reading, yoga and spending time with friends and family.

Monique is a Senior Program Associate at SecondMuse and her work revolves around supporting program design and implementation in the plastics and nature-based sector.

As a former Marketing and Communications Lead at SecondMuse, she was in charge of digital strategy and content creation for The Incubation Network. This program was designed to tackle challenges and explore opportunities in regional plastics innovations. Most recently, Monique led communications for our impactful work in the Asia Pacific region, strengthening our branding and engagement.

Monique's passion for creating social and environmental impact stems from her prior experience working for an environmental consulting firm and an animal protection nonprofit. She finds fulfillment in connecting with diverse individuals and organizing events, owing to her background in events management and a decade of dedicated service as a youth leader within her community.

Outside of work, she enjoys trying new recipes, spending quality time with friends, and checking out the latest cafes and bars in Singapore!

Dara is a Digital Marketing Associate at SecondMuse. Her work focuses on digital content strategy, social media management, email marketing, and website management.

As a highly curious person, Dara is enthusiastic about learning new marketing trends and strategies. Prior to joining SecondMuse, Dara was part of a consulting company and several non-profit organizations, specifically ones that focused on education and environmental issues. Dara aims to develop her professional skills, while supporting and sharing SecondMuse's ambition in creating and fostering just economies globally.

When she needs downtime to unwind, Dara enjoys playing video games, watching movies, and goes café-hopping.

Titus is the Program Manager, Circularity at SecondMuse, where his work focuses on driving innovative solutions for plastic pollution mitigation and the advancement of more circular economies across South and Southeast Asia. Over the past two years, Titus’s work has primarily centered around strengthening the plastic waste management and recycling ecosystem, as well as supporting the growth of upstream solutions in Thailand.

Through his experience as a project manager of environmental and sustainability work across various industries within the private sector and, most recently, as an Environmental Analyst for the United Nations Development Programme in Malaysia, Titus has practised both top-down and bottom-up approaches to environmental challenges; however, he believes that there is still a plethora of ideas with untapped potential waiting to be unearthed.

Outside of work, Titus enjoys going on outdoor excursions with his small family, be it short hikes, visiting waterfalls or just simply a walk in a park, in addition to playing basketball and reading a good book in his spare time. Titus is based in Singapore.

Cassie is a Program Manager for SecondMuse's Venture For ClimateTech (V4C) Program and is based in Brooklyn NY. As a Program Manager, Cassie manages the successful execution, growth and strategy support of SecondMuse’s New York statewide V4C program. Cassie oversees the design, development, implementation and external communications of the program, as well as management of key stakeholders including partners, co-funder and sponsor relationships, advisory board, client-facing engagements and reporting. Cassie provides the leadership and strategy needed to extend our understanding of climate tech, startups, hardware and manufacturing, and provides additional value to our community through business development support.

Cassie is passionate about change related to social and environmental justice. She has a bachelors degree in Environmental Studies, and a Masters degree in Environmental Law and Policy. Before SecondMuse, Cassie worked in the environmental non-profit space, helping businesses and institutions reduce waste and turn to more eco-friendly solutions. Cassie has also spent most of her summers farming and working with circular/sustainable agricultural practices. She once ran a student-run maple syrup business out of Ithaca NY where she slept in a hammock in the woods for a semester attending to maple syrup boils.

Outside of work, Cassie loves to be active whether it be lifting, running, going for long walks around the city, or hiking. She loves to cook and bake, and finds herself always trying out new restaurants throughout the city.

Kris is the Program Manager of Scale For ClimateTech, a program that helps startups de-risk their manufacturing processes to reach their scale-up objectives. In this role, Kris provides execution and strategy support through program design, development, implementation, impact reporting, and stakeholder management.

Kris is passionate about building community by supporting one another in accomplishing shared goals, and believes designing and delivering quality educational experiences is a way to achieve that. Prior to SecondMuse, Kris ran business education programming for entrepreneurs at the NYC Department of Small Business Services. They led the design and execution of programs for Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises as well as workshops on pivoting strategies for navigating the Covid-19 pandemic.

Outside of work, Kris is an avid board game player and loves traveling as a way to explore new landscapes and cultures. They love biking around the city, going to concerts, and just being curious.

Elissa Bozhkov is a Program Manager at SecondMuse's Scale for ClimateTech program and is based in Brooklyn, NY. She delivers program planning and strategy, execution, and communications support, which includes managing stakeholders and supporting innovators in achieving their goals to scale up production. She provides support for founders to better navigate the manufacturing process so that they have the knowledge and confidence to accelerate their innovations, ultimately delivering substantial climate benefits for New York State and beyond.

Elissa is passionate about ensuring a globally diverse and gender balanced
perspective in promoting a just energy transition. With a background in environmental science and international management, her purpose is to bridge gaps between technology, business, and global policy to contribute to effective and positive long-term societal change. She believes in the importance of uniting government, NGOs, academic institutions, civil society, and the private sector to foster sustainable and inclusive development opportunities that benefit both people and the planet.

When Elissa isn't at work, she loves to catch up with her friends, explore new coffee shops and restaurants, and check out events in the city.

Lyndon Jackson is the Program Manager for the Accelerator at Second Muse, based in Chicago, Illinois. As Program Manager, Lyndon leads the Accelerator Program, ensuring startups are given the tools and mentorship they need to thrive. Lyndon is a dedicated network builder strongly believes in the transformative power of innovation and understands the intricate dance of entrepreneurship, having previously founded a fintech startup. His voice and insights have been recognized and featured in publications like Wired and the Chicago Sun-Times, underscoring his influence in the startup ecosystem.

Moreover, prior to joining Second Muse, Lyndon worked in product and his journey in the accelerator world is rich, having been associated with multiple accelerators including Techstars. Outside of work, Lyndon is an ardent fitness enthusiast and enjoys watching films in his spare time.

McKenna is the Headstream Events and Operations Manager at SecondMuse based in Portland, Oregon. As an Events and Operations Manager, McKenna leads process implementation across the Headstream program. She helps to track progress, define goals and milestones, and ensure communication between teams and projects. She is also coordinating in-person and digital events within the Headstream program and working closely with the team to align goals, expectations, and workflows.

McKenna believes that our youth are our leaders. And elevating their voices, providing them with wellness tools, and bringing them into the action that impacts them is the best way to make social change. Prior to SecondMuse, McKenna had her own start-up building a mental health platform for adolescents and brings in her knowledge of mental health technology and love of spreadsheets to the Headstream team.

When McKenna isn't at work, she loves hanging out with friends, going on hikes, rock climbing, and camping. She has two cats, Kevin and Sophie, who frequently join the Zoom calls, and she loves a good cozy day on the couch reading a book with them.

Sabrina Abdalla is a visionary educator, community builder, multidisciplinary creative, and founder who is passionate about guiding communities toward an innovative and equitable future. With her platform, Cirri, and as a Senior Program Associate at Headstream, Sabrina has demonstrated her expertise in creating programs, workshops, and spaces that resonate with the cultural fabric of society. She is weaving her magic to build a more equitable digital world for the next generation to thrive in, utilizing her unique skill set to empower and uplift those around her. As an artist, Sabrina uses poetry to express her intersectional identities and is committed to combating the historical erasure of Black womanhood. Her passion for storytelling and community-building has allowed her to inspire change in a variety of settings and has made her a powerful force in shaping the world we live in.

Sabrina Abdalla's unique background informs her work and passion for creating a more equitable future. Born in Kenya to Somali parents, she grew up in Salt Lake City, where she witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by systemically excluded communities. Her experiences have given her a deep understanding of the importance of community building, the power of education, and cultural storytelling to empower individuals and create lasting change.

Sidrah Durrani is a Senior Program Associate at SecondMuse, where her expertise in research shines. She plays a pivotal role in supporting the Accelerator and Youth programs at Headstream, where diverse entrepreneurs and youth professionals come together to develop innovative solutions to support adolescent mental well-being. Sidrah received her masters in developmental psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and uses her interdisciplinary experience to drive positive impact for systemically excluded communities. She has also published research highlighting the impact of social technologies on adolescent wellbeing and development with the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab at Wellesley College. Sidrah hopes to shape the future of social impact technologies for youth, alongside youth.

When Sidrah isn’t advocating for tech & wellbeing, she is off reading, cooking, going out on walks, or playing the New York Times word games. She considers herself a budding globe trotter, being currently based in New York City while being born and raised in Saudi Arabia and India.

Suprayogi (Yogi) is the Senior Associate, Finance at SecondMuse, based in Bali, Indonesia. His role is mainly focused on supporting the finance team in the Asia-Pacific region and helping with the daily administrative and operations for the Indonesian team. His work includes supporting the Asia-Pacific team to process all financial obligations in an accurate and timely manner, while also ensuring that the company operations are always adhering to respective local regulations.

SecondMuse’s vision of building inclusive economies and their innovative implementation motivates Yogi to join the company as he strives to bring a positive impact to the community. Yogi has extensive experience as an accountant in multiple companies before joining SecondMuse.

Outside his work, Yogi enjoys learning new stuff such as software development & basic computer programming. He loves playing PC games, reading manga/comics, and watching movies.

Alexis is a Grant Writer at SecondMuse based in Los Angeles, California. As a Grant Writer, Alexis is responsible for supporting the organization’s proposal development process to secure resources to grow and advance the company’s innovative programs. In her role, she works closely with the Senior Grant Writer and global program teams to craft clear and compelling proposal narratives, and to support a smooth and effective proposal development process.

Alexis has been passionate about effecting social change, earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Seattle University in Journalism and Public Administration, respectively. She recently finished her MPA, which focused on issues of inequity and systems change in voting rights, transportation policy, and climate change. The title of her master’s thesis was “Addressing the Climate Change Crisis: Indigenous Perspectives for Environmental Justice.”

Originally from Portland, Oregon, she recently relocated to Los Angeles after living in Seattle for 23 years. In her free time, Alexis engages in advocacy and non-profit volunteerism and loves to spend time with her partner and her dog, Nugget. She also enjoys traveling, reading, and cooking and is an avid sports fan and animal enthusiast.

Marissa is the Research Manager within SecondMuse’s Practice Group and is based in Portland, Oregon. As part of the Practice Group, Marissa supports multiple programs such as the Headstream, GET Cities, and Space Apps programs by leading both participatory and traditional research efforts, including focus groups, interviews, and workshops. She then analyzes and synthesizes the collected data to distill actionable insights that will ultimately inform SecondMuse’s greater Practice and understanding of complex economic and social systems. She acts as a community builder through interdisciplinary collaborations, engaging with subject matter experts and community stakeholders.

With a background in design thinking, strategy, and social impact research and advocacy, Marissa has shown a commitment to inclusive, human-centered, mission-oriented innovation across industries. She approaches complex problems with a sense of deep curiosity, empathy, and vision that result in meaningful community-based impact.

Outside of work, Marissa can be found outside, with a group of friends, and trying something new. She particularly loves roadtripping, paddle boarding, and comedy shows. When she isn’t off on an adventure, she is planning her next one.

Torey stands at the intersection of technology and social change, bringing over 15 years of deep-seated expertise as a technology expert to SecondMuse.

His commitment to improvement and efficiency is evident in his approach to streamlining processes, always with a keen eye on enhancing collaboration and fostering a positive work environment. This dedication to progress is paired with a strong drive for customer focus, ensuring that technology serves as a tool for innovation and a means to enrich lives and communities.

Outside of work, Torey enjoys his recent relocation to Las Vegas, where he embraces the city's dynamic culture and opportunities for leisure and adventure. Whether it's indulging in the culinary delights, or hanging by the pool with his partner and several furry pets.

Marinez (Ness) is SecondMuse's HR Specialist, based in Hollister, CA. As an HR Specialist, she supports the HR function as a whole, across HR Compliance, Onboarding, Performance Management and more. Ness also collaborates across business units to help streamline the onboarding process.

"Good Work with Good People" is what motivates Ness to do the work she does. Being part of something larger than herself and in a community that is all working toward a common goal, builds the passion in her to be even more involved and make a difference.

When Marinez isn't working, she has a busy life of cheer, water polo & basketball practices with her 17 year old and kickboxing with her 4 year old. She also loves to go wine tasting with her husband and take her 3 year old Doberman on a good run early in the morning!

Tigist is the Associate Director, Programs and Operations at SecondMuse Foundation. Her work focuses on overseeing the Foundation’s programs and operations, developing, monitoring, and overseeing all aspects of grant management, funder management, and reporting. She also serves as the Board secretary. She also supports the Chair of the SecondMuse Group as Director of Special Projects.

Tigist has a Masters degree in nonprofit management and extensive experience in the development sector. Prior to joining SecondMuse Foundation, she worked for non-profits, including Oxfam America, Chemonics, DAI and ActionAid in Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan and Sudan. Prior to joining SecondMuse, she was with Oxfam America, where she worked in various capacities for 15 years, including grant and project management, monitoring and evaluation, policy advocacy, capacity building, business development, leading on innovative financing initiatives and has served as Board Member representing the staff. Tigist is an avid traveler, having visited 58 countries and 35 US states.

Natalia leads the Future Economy Lab, a global research and design lab that innovates the financing and development of new economies. The lab takes a collaborative approach to designing financing mechanisms to create inclusive and resilient economies. She has worked with a wide variety of clients including Nike, NASA, USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Bank.

Prior to SecondMuse, Natalia was a strategy consultant with Deloitte in sustainability, shared value, and finance. Natalia began her career working in finance at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital. She holds an MBA and a Master’s in International Development from American University and a Bachelor’s in Finance with a Minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida.

Natalia is passionate about the power of business to be a driving force for good in our society. She believes that we must fundamentally rethink the role of capital in our society and create new mechanisms that take into account environmental and societal well-being.

Her worldview has been influenced by many cultures. She was born in Brazil to Iranian parents, educated in the United States, and now lives with her husband and two boys in Montreal, Canada.

Erica is responsible for SecondMuse Capital’s overall strategy and impact investing practice. Erica joined SecondMuse Capital from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation where, as Director of Solutions Finance, she led strategies for financial innovation and integration of the Foundation's financial assets to support social and economic systems transformation.

Erica spearheaded McConnell’s impact investing practice for close to a decade, which includes a multi-asset impact investing portfolio ($130M AUM), blended finance approaches; and ESG integration within the Foundation's endowment ($700M AUM). Prior to joining McConnell, Erica spent 13 years in the private sector and international development, primarily in Latin America, Canada, and the UK. She sits on a number of boards and investment committees.

Erica completed undergraduate studies in behavioral psychology and neuroscience, and holds an MPA in Public and Economic Policy from the London School of Economics & Political Science. She specializes in innovation and systems dynamics for inclusive economic development.

Erica is originally from Bolivia and is passionate about building a caring world in which every person has the opportunity and freedom to develop their full potential and one where we live in harmony with the planet.

Melina is the Coaching and Development Manager at SecondMuse. With a mission to further cultivate an enriching and nourishing workplace, Melina sits at the intersection between teams – she crosses borders, builds bridges, and is always looking for ways for staff and community members to feel connected, supported, and joyful. Melina facilitates teams and programs, coaches individual team members, and loves initiatives that weave between groups and ecosystem players.
As a global citizen, social entrepreneur, and community organiser, Melina has a passion for facilitating groups and individuals to do great things. She is a proud member of the global communities of practice DSIL Global and Enspiral Network. Melina also served as Startup Ecosystem Adviser for the City of Melbourne, supporting startups to thrive and bring about a more vibrant and sustainable city. Prior to SecondMuse, Melina spent 5 years living in Battambang, Cambodia, where she co-founded the initiatives of Kinyei International: Kinyei Cafe, a vocational training espresso cafe and Soksabike Tours, a cultural heritage bicycle tour company.
Melina is a Third Culture Kid and member of the queer community who loves to roller skate and discovers nature trails. Recently, she moved to Campbell’s Creek, Australia, trying the country life and learning first-hand about sustainable living, from rainwater and greywater to composting. She’s enjoying her worm farm, veggie garden, and backyard view full of kangaroos.

Tony wears two hats with SecondMuse. The first being to help rationalize and guide all the various kinds of research we do in support of our programs and projects. The second is to actually do research work on certain projects. The former is a (mostly) internally facing project and the latter helps us and our clients frame the challenges as precisely as possible to provide the best chance of achieving desirable results.

One professional goal has been and continues to be using the social science for social good. Social science has been relegated to “the academy” for far too long, often by academics. But there’s a power there. In his past, he tried hard to focus his efforts on work where he believed tech could reduce human suffering and increase overall human welfare. Currently, he is very much interested in creative, progressive and positive projects that address seemingly intractable social problems or challenges.

Workwise: He love, love, loves fieldwork. Personally, he likes weather, especially wind. He likes to sleep outside if he can. He walks and runs (all weather), and rides bikes (fair weather). He does not like rock climbing or vertigo inducing heights. He appreciates a terrific cover song.

Russel Estardo is the Program Manager for Headstream, which is a national innovation program focused on creating a just and thriving digital economy that supports the well-being of young people as they grow up. Russel's focus will be on managing the accelerator program and working with entrepreneurs to activate this space.

Russel brings experience in innovation management consulting, where he helped create new business models and reinvent existing ones. Before working at SecondMuse, he spent more than five years as a Digital/Innovation Strategist in helping to transform large established companies like Hewlett-Packard and Rabobank.

Over the past few years, his experience has shifted to the nonprofit sector as he was working for the largest national nonprofit organization to support BIPOC & LGBTQ+ innovators.

As Program Manager, Russel will be leading programs that are focused on creating a just and thriving digital economy that supports the well-being of young people as they grow up. He is very excited to learn and have the opportunity to create a positive difference in the lives of people.

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Russel enjoys exploring the area and experiencing all of the diversity and beautiful nature that surrounds the city. He is also a foodie and likes to experience different cuisines from around the world. In fact, his New Year’s resolution is to try out at least one new restaurant or cuisine a month in the San Francisco Bay Area.