CE 10 & CE 11 Mentor Bios

Ajay Gallewale is a seasoned professional and a past founder, with expertise in technology, early-stage startups, and venture funding. He has been actively involved with Techstars, iLab, Mass Challenge and other renowned startup accelerators supporting entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses. His experience spans guiding startups through early-stage development, product market fit and refining business strategies. 

When he is not mentoring startups, you will find him as a professional standup comedian AKA ajaygcomedy, performing on Broadway and sometimes on TV (PBS, ABC). Apparently there is quite a demand for startup mentors who are comedians and comedians who are startup mentors. Who Knew?

Dr. Dhirendra Shukla is the Chair of the J Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management & Entrepreneurship (TME) at the University of New Brunswick. He has played a crucial role in fostering innovation, venture creation, and entrepreneurship in Canada. He co-founded Gray Wolf Analytics, a startup specializing in blockchain and cryptocurrency analytics, which originated from UNB’s TME Centre. Dr. Shukla is also a key player in Energia Ventures, an accelerator supporting startups in energy, clean technology, cybersecurity, and smart grid solutions. His leadership extends beyond academia, working with industry partners to support early-stage ventures. He is committed to bridging research, innovation, and commercialization.

Fabio do Prado is the owner of the Educational Group UDC University Center and several affiliated colleges and schools. He is also the owner of Medinvest, an investment group focused on education and business development. His career has been dedicated to expanding educational opportunities, supporting institutional growth, and fostering investment in emerging industries. Under his leadership, UDC has continued to grow as a leading educational institution in Brazil. He is passionate about advancing higher education and increasing accessibility to quality learning. His work spans education management, strategic investments, and leadership in academia.

Jack Griffin is the Founder/CEO of FoodFinder, a nationwide nonprofit whose website and app help people find their closest food pantries. Jack’s commitment to hunger relief began in high school and continued through his studies at the University of Michigan. After a decade of leadership, his food pantry locator has guided nearly 3 million Americans to food aid, and in 2022 he was named Forbes 30 Under 30 for his social impact work. Jack continues to advocate for technology as a way to bridge gaps and address social issues.

Jean-Jacques Degroof is an academic, investor, and philanthropist with a background in finance and venture capital. He holds degrees from UCLouvain and MIT’s Sloan School of Management, where he conducted research on innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the years, he has invested in and mentored numerous technology startups, particularly those originating from academic institutions. He is the author of From the Basement to the Dome, which explores MIT’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Beyond investing, he focuses on philanthropy, supporting initiatives that advance entrepreneurship education and social innovation with a focus on solving issues related to aging. His career bridges research, investment, and social impact.

Jeff Bartel is the Chairman and Managing Director of Hamptons Group, an alternative investment and strategic advisory firm. Since founding the company in 2011, he has led over 250 investments, generating more than $9 billion in value. He graduated from Harvard (AB ‘88) and is now a visiting lecturer at Harvard University, as well as a senior advisor for the Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship. Previously, he held leadership roles in Fortune 200 companies and the U.S. House of Representatives. His expertise spans finance, management, and strategic growth. Jeff continues to advise businesses, policymakers, and entrepreneurs on investment and leadership strategies.

Jen Guillemin is an intrapreneur and experiential learning faculty member at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business, where she mentors entrepreneurship students, directs the Startup Founders Program, and co-leads a prison education initiative. A recognized leader in arts administration, creative entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary innovation, she co-founded Creative Re/Frame, a consulting practice integrating the arts into entrepreneurship and social impact. Previously, she led arts leadership and innovation initiatives at Boston University, designing programs that bridge the arts, business, and education to cultivate creative leaders. Her work spans prison education, research on creative entrepreneurship, and the exploration of AI’s impact on the future of work. She is completing a graduate certificate in AI Applications at Northeastern University and remains a passionate advocate for interdisciplinary learning, creative problem-solving, and the transformative power of creativity in business and society.

Jeremie Rykner is a startup and venture capital advisor affiliated with Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). He has a strong background in investment strategy and guiding early-stage companies through growth and fundraising. His expertise includes AI, innovation, and digital marketing, as well as navigating venture ecosystems, supporting innovation, and helping startups scale. Jeremie works closely with founders, investors, and academic institutions to bridge research with commercial applications. His experience spans various industries, from technology to deep tech startups. He remains dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and venture growth in dynamic markets.

Kelly Twichel is the CEO and Co-Founder of Access Trax, a company focused on improving accessibility for people with mobility challenges. She developed the Access Trax Mat, a portable pathway that allows wheelchair users to navigate outdoor environments. The idea was born during her occupational therapy studies, and she has since expanded the business globally. Her work has been recognized for its impact on accessibility and inclusion, making outdoor spaces more accessible to all. Kelly is passionate about designing innovative solutions that empower people with disabilities. She continues to advocate for greater inclusivity in public and recreational spaces.

Niki Lazaridou is a fashion photographer and media project manager based in Malmö, Sweden. She holds a Master's degree in Media and Communications from Malmö University and has worked with global brands such as Amazon, PUMA, Vogue, and MIT Media Lab. Before relocating to Sweden, she managed media projects in Boston and collaborated on high-profile fashion campaigns. In addition to her photography career, she serves as a mentor at Harvard’s Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship. Her work focuses on bridging creative storytelling with digital media strategy. Niki continues to push the boundaries of fashion photography and creative direction.

Nir Hindie is the creator of Business Artistry—a philosophy and strategic approach that integrates artistic thinking into business, prioritizing creativity, human experience, and emotional connection over rigid efficiency.

It's about meaning and purpose—not just optimization and functionality.

As a global speaker, entrepreneur, educator, and storytelling coach, Nir bridges the gap between humanities and technology, helping organizations become both high-performing and deeply human.

Since 2020, Nir has been mentoring in Harvard's LPCE program, guiding emerging leaders in integrating artistic thinking into leadership and innovation.

He also teaches these topics as an adjunct professor at IE Business School, one of Europe’s leading institutions, focusing on the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and the arts.

As the founder of The Artian, he partners with global companies like Google, SAP, and TikTok to implement these principles in real-world business environments.

His expertise has earned him recognition among Spain's 100 Experts on Innovation and membership in the World Economic Forum's Cultural Leaders Network.

Paul is a transformational leader with a record of turning early- to growth-stage concepts into world-class businesses. He has founded technology and medical device start-ups with two exits; designed and founded high-growth divisions in multi-nationals; and bought and sold lower middle market industrial companies. He most recently focused on medical devices and novel healthcare delivery models, and previously founded or grew businesses in the solar, specialty chemicals, and corporate food solution sectors. Early in his career, Paul spent a decade in technology and strategic advisory firms Accenture, EY-Parthenon, and Eastwing Group. His expertise spans global strategy, M&A, long-term value creation, data analytics, and executive development in a wide range of sectors and stages.

Raised by two lifelong educators, Paul invests generously in people and communities, serving as advisor or director at numerous start-ups, private companies, non-profits, incubators, and student organizations. He is also deeply committed and engaged as an advisor to students, alumni, and leaders in higher-education.

Sam Magee is the Director of Creativity and Entrepreneurship at Harvard College, where he connects students with resources to develop innovative projects. He previously served as the Entrepreneur in Residence at Harvard’s HILT program and has experience as an arts administrator at MIT. Sam has taught creative entrepreneurship at Boston University and has mentored students in designing and launching ventures. His background includes arts education, technology, and startup consulting. He is passionate about empowering students to explore entrepreneurship through a creative lens. Sam continues to advocate for the intersection of education, creativity, and innovation.

Shai M. Dromi is an Associate Senior Lecturer on Sociology at Harvard University. His research focuses on cultural sociology, humanitarian movements, and political culture. He has been recognized for his contributions to teaching, receiving Harvard’s Anya Bernstein Bassett Teaching Award. His work examines how organizations shape moral and ethical behavior in society. Shai is also actively engaged in interdisciplinary research, collaborating with scholars across different fields. He remains committed to mentoring students and advancing sociological inquiry.

Sophocles Zoullas has over 30 years of experience in the shipping industry, specializing in strategic, commercial, and operational aspects across private and public companies. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zenith Shipping, an owner of product tankers, crude tankers, and dry bulk vessels. Previously, he founded and led Delphin Shipping, an investor in dry bulk vessels and shipping equities, and Eagle Bulk Shipping, a Nasdaq-listed 45-vessel shipping company. From 1989 to 2005, he served as an executive officer and director of Norland Shipping & Trading Corporation. Over his career, he has bought and sold over 100 vessels, overseen the construction of more than 40 new ships, and raised over $600 million in public markets, $500 million in private equity, and $2 billion in bank financing. He has appeared on CNBC, Fox News, Jim Cramer, Erin Burnett, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Barron’s, and has been featured at industry conferences and publications such as the Marine Money London Ship Finance Forum, Peltz International, Kelley School of Business, The National Herald, and Tradewinds' Power 100 Most Important People in Shipping.

Tarun Khanna is the Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School, and the inaugural director of Harvard’s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, fostering interdisciplinary research on South Asia. He has taught at HBS & Harvard College since 1993, focusing on how entrepreneurship drives social and economic development. His various books range from Billions of Entrepreneurs, a first-person 2008 comparison of Chinese and Indian entrepreneurial ecosystems, to a 2022 co-edited collection of essays, Making Meritocracy, all chronicling the creativity exercised by entrepreneurs for societal development. His online course, Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, has been taken by nearly a million students in over 200 countries. Most recently, he is a cofounder of Bangalore’s tech incubator, Axilor Ventures, and of the 501c3 corporation, Aspire Institute, providing free higher education services to first-generation college students in ~200 countries.

Theodore Wolf is a writer, educator, and creative strategist with a passion for innovation. He is on the founding team of Spike Lab, where he played a key role in developing the company's mentorship and coaching programs. Over eight years, he has mentored students, led workshops, and helped young entrepreneurs launch ambitious passion projects. He helped found Snowday, an emerging education marketplace. In addition to his work in education, Theo has written plays and screenplays produced in New York City, London, and Los Angeles and is currently finishing a nonfiction book.

Wendy Swart Grossman is a creative strategist, consultant, and educator specializing in creative social impact innovation and entrepreneurship. She co-founded Creative Re/Frame, a consulting firm that infuses creativity into business and social impact spaces. Wendy draws from her experience as a political and community organizer in the US and South Africa and clients include The Science Museum in London, Innovate@BU and is a faculty member at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. Her career is at the intersection of social impact, creativity and community and she is passionate about fostering effective storytelling to amplify the brilliance and effectiveness of her clients and students.  Wendy mentors and collaborates with students, educators, and social impact entrepreneurs.