Passionate about startups, science and music. Founded a tech company in 2014 alongside my PhD with the goal of finding participants for my research. Raised investment, went through Y Combinator and scaled the company to 8 figures in revenue and a team of ~60, empowering tens of thousands of researchers around the world to do high-quality research on-demand. Successfully exited from the company & currently focused on mentoring founders and investing.

Rob Kamranpoor - Founder of RK Leadership & Seasoned Utility Industry Leader With an illustrious career spanning two decades in the electrical utility sector, Rob stands out as a distinguished utility leader and development expert. In July 2023, he embarked on a new venture, founding RK Leadership, with the noble aim of offering personalized coaching and customized strategies. His mission is to cultivate and enhance the leadership abilities and mindset of both emerging and established leaders across a diverse range of sectors and industries. Rob is not only a Professional Engineer but also holds an MBA and an LLM, demonstrating a profound blend of theoretical and practical expertise in leading project teams, optimizing operational efficiency, and mastering relationship and change management. His proficiency extends to handling mergers and acquisitions, improving business processes, and managing health, safety, and environmental (HSE) issues. Known for his exceptional leadership, Rob has a proven track record of spearheading and executing major projects with budgets reaching up to $150 million, consistently exceeding objectives in both service and project management. Throughout his extensive career, Rob has garnered numerous awards and accolades, reflecting his significant contributions and dedication to the IEEE and the utility industry at large. His approach is characterized by a strong analytical mindset, a client-focused attitude, and a relentless pursuit of solutions, all aimed at empowering his clients to unlock their leadership potential and achieve their desired goals. Rob's commitment to excellence and continuous personal and professional development makes him a pivotal figure in guiding individuals and organizations to higher levels of success and achievement. He invites you to connect and discover how he can facilitate your leadership journey, ensuring a path towards greater accomplishments and fulfillment.

Khalilah Smith is a life-long learner, an educator and an accomplished musician on multiple instruments. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Studies in Diverse Populations. In addition to being a homeschool graduate and the oldest of ten children, her diverse background experiences also include living in eight US states, West Germany, and Austria and traveling to more than 12 other countries. Khalilah is a Research Specialist and author whose goal is to create an educational system that establishes an environment for unifying diverse populations through creative, individualized expression in all scholarly disciplines. Her current research focus draws from 19th Century German philosophy relating to Bildung and Gesamtwerk as she explores the homeschool experiences from parent and homeschool graduate perspectives. With more than 30 years of teaching experience in PreK-12 schools and University courses, public/private/homeschool settings—all within five different countries—Khalilah has a unique perspective on education and pedagogy. She has helped families, schools, and districts find creative, yet simple, solutions to create astonishing lasting results. Additionally, Khalilah has more than 20 years of training and experience within CRT/DEI/Post-modernist philosophy and programs. The deep inside knowledge she brings to discussions has helped many navigate the treacherous waters of these areas without losing their hold of the good within them. As a polymath who is always seeking opportunities to continue learning and growing, Khalilah rarely has free time. However, when she does, she enjoys reading, music, crafting, renovating her 1930s home, and spending time with her family.