A lifelong entrepreneur, Tony established himself as a successful business owner early in his career. He currently owns and operates multiple ventures, including three automotive shops and a food truck at the age of 27!
Rooted in values of family, integrity, and a strong work ethic—principles instilled in him by his father, who introduced him to the automotive industry—Tony is dedicated to giving back. He is passionate about sharing his story, insights, and roadmap to success to inspire and mentor the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs.
Akosua Bates is a dynamic executive consultant with extensive experience in labor relations, union negotiations, and organizational strategy, paired with high-level support for celebrity clients and high-net-worth individuals. She specializes in personal assistance, lifestyle management, and seamless execution of elevated events, bringing discretion, excellence, and precision to every engagement. Akosua provides strategic guidance in workforce relations, executive support, and event planning, helping organizations and individuals operate with sophistication, efficiency, and impact.
Dr. Dawn Blackwell is a transformational leader, school principal, speaker, and CEO who helps leaders build cultures of excellence without sacrificing humanity.
Area of Guidance: helping leaders lead with heart, strategy, and impact
Delius Doherty is an actor, director, and educator whose work spans Broadway, film, television, and education. A Broadway veteran, performing alongside the original “Book of Mormon” company with credits including “Law & Order SVU” and HBO’s “Vinyl,” he holds an MFA from UNLV and a BFA from Penn State. Now a resident director and choreographer at Providence High School in Burbank, CA, he channels years of rigorous training and stage experience into mentoring and helping young artists find their own voice.
Myles Gaines is a Sales Director at Capital Group, one of the largest asset managers in the world. He is responsible for product education, portfolio construction, and increasing firm sales in the northeast. Before joining Capital Group, Myles was a Vice President at BlackRock and started his career at Putnam Investments. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Amherst College, where he was a four-year member and co-captain of the football team, and remains an active Amherst Football Alumni member. He also co-founded the Council of Amherst College Student-Athletes of Color, a support group dedicated to empowering student-athletes of color on campus. He currently serves as a board member at his High School alma mater, St. Luke’s school in New Canaan, CT, and lives in CT with his wife and son.
Dr. Ramon Goings is Professor in the Language, Literacy, and Culture PhD Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is an expert on Black male student success K-PhD, diversifying the teacher workforce, and doctoral student success.
Los Angeles native and Tulane University ’21 graduate with a degree in Film and Communications, whose career in entertainment began in production in New Orleans before moving back to LA to work for two agents at CAA in the Unscripted TV department. She now supports the VP of Nonfiction Series, Sports, Podcasts, and Live at Netflix—bringing industry experience and a love of storytelling.
Area of Guidance: College transferring / careers in entertainment
Jonas Harper holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Global Marketing Management from Boston University, where he competed as an NCAA Division I basketball player. He currently plays professional basketball, with experience in Australia and Germany, while also building IsoScoring, a basketball education platform focused on helping players improve through film breakdowns and scoring education. His passion for basketball, marketing, and entrepreneurship continues to drive him as he pursues opportunities both on and off the court.
Trisha Jones, The Career Interpreter, builds people AND the spaces they get paid in: coaching students and young professionals into confident careers and founders, and as COO of VenU2Go, creating the brick-and-mortar access that lets entrepreneurs sell where the customers already are.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in New Canaan, Connecticut, Shannon Smith earned his undergraduate degree in Finance and MBA from Clark Atlanta University. After graduation, he began his professional career at the Boeing company in Finance & HR. While grateful for the experience, he realized his true passion was in storytelling and the people who bring stories to life. In the Fall of 2025, Smith was promoted into Elevate, the agency’s professional development program for emerging agents and executives.
Area of Guidance: HBCU’s / Student-atheltes / careers in entertainment
Nijah Wilson is a Health Insurance Specialist with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), bringing experience in navigating Medicare and the broader health insurance landscape. She is passionate about making complex healthcare information easier to understand and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their coverage and care.
Personalized insurance advisor specializing in the strategic placement of coverage for high net worth individuals. Experienced in writing various lines of coverage including high risk exposures.
