N(v) Summit Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. For many of us, this year has been the ultimate test of our resilience. We learned, we grew, and soon, we’ll be stronger than ever. The Nexus Initiative is excited to share with you stories of resilience in our community through a line up of virtual panels and speakers.

N(v) KEYNOTE SPEAKER

George Mathew, CEO & Chairman of Kespry

See George’s Feature on Instagram

N(v) PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Resilience: Acknowledge

Our anchor panel is a cross industry discussion focusing on opportunities to uplift women’s voices in our community and the world. This panel discusses some of the struggles that women of color face and how to break through those barriers together, making us more resilient as a result.

“The first step in solving a problem is acknowledging there is one” – Unknown

Liya Thachil (Moderator)
Co-Founder, @westxeast
Legislative Aid, NY State Senate

Juli Mathew
Presiding Judge, Fort Bend County Court

Rebekah Lovett
Co-Founder, Revive Kombucha

Sonia Koshy, PhD
Director of Measurement, Evaluation and Learning,
Kapor Center

Resilience: Dedicate

This panel features individuals in the public service and not for profit industry that have dedicated their careers to giving back. These panelists share their experiences, motivations, and how to stay focused in the face of adversity.

“Fall down seven times, stand up eight” – Japanese Proverb

Fenit Nirappil (Moderator)
Reporter, The Washington Post

Danie Samuel
Supervisory Special Agent & Acting Unit Chief, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Deborah Ninan
Partner, Ninan + Vibriesca Law, LLC

Hazel Elizabeth Koshy, JD, MA
Asst. General Counsel, Chicago Public Schools
Former Asst. District Attorney, Philadelphia County

Julie Kumar
Captain, Fire Investigation & Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Dallas Fire Rescue

 

Resilience: Assess

This panel features a cross industry discussion on how to assess, plan and execute during a crisis, especially in the time of COVID-19.

Be honest about how you approach failure. Don’t just be critical of yourself, because that can be self-serving. Approach it honestly, assess your performance, and assess the areas where you have fallen short. Correct them and move on. Don’t dwell on it. Don’t hold on to it. – Megan Rapinoe

Reena Ninan (Moderator)
Founder, Good Trouble Productions
Host, The Rebound Podcast

Dr. Ashley Joseph
Pediatrician & Pediatric Anesthesiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center

Elvin John
Deputy Political and Economic Chief, U.S. Department of State

Jacqueline Marciante
Co-Owner, Marciante & Co

Justin Jacob, PhD
Supervisory Chemist and Chemical Terrorism Coordinator, D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences, Public Health Lab Division

Resilience: Balance

This panel features a cross industry conversation on recognizing the need for work/life balance, how to sustain the lifestyle, and how our panelists create an environment that encourages work and life balance in their careers.

Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. ― Dolly Parton

Fenit Nirappil (Moderator)
Reporter, The Washington Post

Bobby Mathew
Senior Client Executive, VMware

Christina Varkey
Systems Engineer, Boeing

Shilpa Cacho
Makeup Artist & Podcast Host, Chic Lotus

Resilience: Adapt

This panel features a cross industry conversation on deciding to become an entrepreneur, obstacles faced when starting a new business, and how to adapt to a post-COVID reality.

A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it. – Chinese Proverb

Reena Ninan (Moderator)
Founder, Good Trouble Productions
Host, The Rebound Podcast

Sarah (Sophy) Thomas
CEO & Founder, Bili Beauty

Shobin Uralil
Co-Founder, Lively, Inc

Abel Mathew
CEO and Co-Founder, Backtrace.io

Chai and Chat: The Arts

This conversation between Binoj Jacob and Alisha Thomas focuses on her experience as a playback singer in the Indian film industry. Alisha is best known for her hit song, Don’u Don’u Don’u, from the Dhanush blockbuster Maari with composer and co-singer Anirudh. Alisha also was the singing voice behind Anna in both Tamil and Telugu versions of Disney’s Frozen II.

Binoj Jacob
Producer and On Air Personality, The Big Time With Whitney Allen

Alisha Thomas
Playback Singer, Indian film Industry

Keralans as Allies

This panel features a discussion among community activists about the history of social structures in India and how it has affected our perspectives in America. The panel also discusses how to break through barriers that divide us, what Keralan-Christian solidarity and allyship looks like, and the tangible steps we can take to make a more equitable America.

To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.
– Rosa Parks

Jens Jacob (Moderator)
Producer & Owner of Sypher Films

Sini Stephan
Educator and Activist

Sonja Thomas
Author, Associate Professor of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies at Colby College

Steven Olikara
Founder and President, Millennial Action Project

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible!

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