RAINA KUMRA
Founder
As a strategic design consultant over the past decade, Raina has helped solve problems for brands, ideas and products on mass platforms. Her parents hail from India by way of Malawi. She was raised in the Silicon Valley with an international and entrepreneurial perspective. She got her start as an editor at Newsweek.com, next heading up digital production at Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and then as an interaction designer at R/GA. She led the interactive department at Wieden+Kennedy NY as Director of Digital Strategies. She studied Film at Boston University, Interactive Design & Technology at New York University, and Urban Studies and Architecture at the Harvard Design School.
Raina has lectured on design for public space at UCLA & the HvA in The Netherlands, directed two documentaries, and is engaged in various strategic marketing, branding, design and social impact projects globally.
In late 2006 she started The Agency for Holistic Branding to serve brands and ideas through a new platform of experts. Her research areas include emerging technologies and cultural trends. She is deeply passionate about bringing social change and impactful design solutions to real-world problems. Raina Kumra supports the Designer’s Accord: Do no harm; Communicate and collaborate; Keep learning, keep teaching; Instigate meaningful change; Make theory action
She is currently working for the U.S. Department of State on the e-Diplomacy team.
RYAN RENNER
Executive Director
Ryan is new to non-profit development, but experienced in business development and cross-cultural project management. Prior to receiving his Global MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, specializing in Sustainable Innovation and Energy, Ryan worked in regional and export focused business development. Following his graduation from Taylor University with a BA in International Studies (Politics and Economics), he went to China and studied Mandarin and the emerging market business environment, which ultimately led to a position in Corporate Development at a top 3 Fashion Design company.
Ryan’s initial focus with LUM will be on political, economic, and market research, which provides us an edge as we continue to refine our strategy and goals in a way that mitigates risks and maximizes opportunity. Beyond our immediate needs, Ryan will focus his time on developing LUM into a sustainable entity that brings economic and social value to our investors and stakeholders. His ultimate goal is to take capacity generating technologies beyond the regulatory and entrenched obstacles of developed markets in to the regions that need them most.
LORAINE BJORENDAHL
Partnerships and Community Development Director
Loraine Bjorendahl is a “Connector” at Origo, Inc, a public private partnerships brokerage firm, specializing in the development of opportunity-driven collaborative platforms + holistic partnership models in the sustainability space. Loraine began her career as a non-profit co-founder, pioneering a community youth rowing program in Philadelphia to enable disadvantaged girls to earn college scholarships (and life skills) through the sport of rowing. Always with an entrepreneurial spirit and often in the role of coach/mentor/consultant, she has worked with diverse groups of individuals to identify and transform innovative ideas into flourishing realities for social/environmental good.
Prior to joining Origo, she spent several years pursuing the perfect rowing stroke as a competetive lightweight rower in her one-woman boat. Loraine has also worked as a teacher and volunteer in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, inspired by her early childhood in Congo, anthropology upbringing, and love of African community life . Her persistent interests are uncovering cultural assumptions, the power of storytelling, scenario planning, process design, and “following the YES!” She graduated from Villanova University with a BA in International Relations and focus on poverty studies.
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Our Strategic Advisors: Sanjhi Climate Solutions
Special thanks to the amazing support and energy of our friends & family in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Logo designed and kindly donated to us by Parra
Animation designed and kindly donated by Unwork, Inc. Final Editing kindly donated by Nico Chiotellis
Technical website support kindly donated by Sonny Pak
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