Waymakers Program

Everett is CEO and co-founder of Truss, designing, building, and scaling modern software for government agencies. Truss helped build IRS Direct File, and delivered systems for CMS, DOL, DOD, SEC, Dell among others. He brings experience in strategy, growth, and purpose tech from stints at Bain, Self-Help, and Linden Lab. He holds a Stanford MBA, M.Ed and Duke BSEE and is the author of Move to the Edge, Declare it Center (Wiley).

Alex is an innovation and product leader with over two decades of experience turning emerging technologies into scalable businesses. At Amazon, he reshaped shopping experiences and led early AI initiatives. As a McKinsey Partner in Silicon Valley, he helped companies launch digital ventures and growth platforms. Co-author of The Venture Mindset, a global bestseller, he now works with investors and executives to shape AI strategies, venture portfolios, and next-generation products.

Kessel is a longtime technology executive and former Senior Vice President at Amazon, where he spent over two decades helping build and scale some of the company’s most influential innovations. He played a pivotal role in the development and launch of the Amazon Kindle, transforming digital reading globally, and later led Amazon’s expansion into physical retail, including initiatives like Amazon Go and Amazon Books. Known for his customer-obsessed leadership and ability to turn bold ideas into high-impact businesses, Steve brings deep experience at the intersection of technology, product, and operations.ards.

With over 20 years in the technology sector, Randall has built deep expertise across embedded systems, digital video, applied statistics, and cloud computing. As a serial entrepreneur who has founded multiple tech startups, he knows firsthand the friction between building complex technology and successfully solving business problems. He is passionate about helping leaders bridge the gap between technical vision and market reality, and cultivating the highly aligned teams required to build something meaningful. A globally recognized speaker on innovation and business systems, Randall offers a worldly, strategic lens to the next generation of tech innovators.

Elad is a product and engineering executive with decades of experience building successful startup-like incubation teams within large corporations and getting them to scale. After 25 years in Big Tech, Elad quit his job and co-founded Unique Minds, a startup applying the magic of AI to help neurodivergent people. Elad is the former Head of AI Services for Oracle, and Co-Founder of Azure's Cognitive Services and Cognitive Search.

Vanessa is a former Chief Information Security Officer with over 30 years of experience managing technology, security, and risk teams. She has worked with startups and Fortune 500 companies around the world, and has deep experience in technology transformations, governance, risk management, and cybersecurity. Vanessa has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, an MBA from Stanford University, and an MS in Telecommunications from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Jamil Poonja is a seasoned operator and strategist with deep experience building platforms that support working people. He has held senior roles at companies including Stride, Thumbtack, and Rise (acquired by One Medical Group), where he led corporate development, strategic partnerships, and marketplace teams focused on benefits, healthcare, and financial services for small businesses and independent workers. Earlier in his career, Jamil worked at Facebook, the U.S. State Department, and The White House. He serves on the Georgetown Technology Alliance board of directors and has contributed to a working group for Harvard Law School's Labor and Worklife Program.

Philip is a founder and startup advisor with 40+ years of consulting experience across medtech, climate, and creative industries. As an Entrepreneur in Residence with the University of Pittsburgh's Innovation Institute, he co-led the National Science Foundation-funded I-Corps Site program to help 200+ research teams build market-ready solutions. He holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon.

Nick spent nearly two decades in government and politics before founding Evergreen. He has worked on two presidential campaigns, served in the State Department for four years, and has been an adviser to Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for over 15 years — by her side through 46 states and 78 countries. At Evergreen he has guided corporate leaders and public servants through a rapidly changing media landscape, and designed communications strategies for multiple NYT bestsellers, Emmy-nominated series, and Tony award-winning Broadway productions.