NILE RODGERS, Chairman
Co-FOUNDER/CHAIRMAN, WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION; Producer, Musician, Songwriter
Nile Rodgers is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a multiple Grammy Award winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist.
In 2023 he became the first creator to be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy for his legacy in the same year as being awarded a Grammy for his new work with Beyoncé on the smash hit “Cuff It”.
As the Co-founder of CHIC, Nile pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like "Le Freak”, the biggest selling single in the history of Atlantic Records and sparked the advent of hip-hop with "Good Times” and “Rapper’s Delight”.
His work in The CHIC Organization, including “We Are Family” for Sister Sledge and “I’m Coming Out” for Diana Ross, and his productions for artists such as David Bowie (“Let’s Dance”), Madonna (“Like A Virgin”) and Duran Duran (“The Reflex”), have sold more than 500 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide, while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Daddy Yankee, LE SSERAFIM and Beyoncé reflect the vanguard of contemporary hits.
Nile is the first, and only Producer In Residence at Apple Music and helms the award-winning Apple Music 1’s “Deep Hidden Meaning” radio show celebrating the work of great songwriters. Nile served as the first-ever Chief Creative Advisor for the incomparable Abbey Road Studios and is the Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as Co-founder of Hipgnosis Songs, the multi-billion-dollar investment fund listed on the London Stock Exchange’s FTSE 250.
In 2001 in the wake of 9/11 Nile co-founded the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) at first to bring everyone together following the tragedy to start the healing process. It quickly evolved into an organization dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that promote cultural diversity while nurturing, mentoring, and amplifying the vision, talents and ideas of young people who are positively changing the world.
WAFF is focused on empowering young people globally through its acclaimed youth leadership, storytelling and mentoring program, Three Dot Dash; Youth To The Front Fund, designed to support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), youth at the forefront of fighting systemic racism, inequality and injustice; and Youth To The Table, bringing youth voices to decision making tables that are shaping humanity’s future.
Most recently Nile received the 2024 World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award for his extraordinary efforts to make the world a more peaceful, equal and inclusive place through his music, his exemplary commitment to fighting systemic racism, inequality and injustice, and by championing innovative youth voices to decision-making tables.
MARK BARONDESS, vice chairman
PARTNER, MILLER BARONDESS, LLP
An attorney for more than 36 years, Mark A. Barondess has earned a reputation as an aggressive civil advocate in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and in Los Angeles, CA. Barondess is a founding partner of the firm Miller Barondess, LLP, a 40-lawyer firm that has served the Los Angeles community since 2006. His clients have included a former major party presidential candidate, Grammy Award winners, an Academy Award winning Best Actress, multiple Emmy Award winners, various sports legends including two Olympic gold medalists, corporate leaders as well as members of the United States Congress and the Federal Executive Branch of the United States Government at top levels. Mark acted as General Counsel to the former CNN broadcasting giant Larry King and his affiliated companies until his passing. He serves as Vice-Chairman and General Counsel of the We Are Family Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Ambassadors of Project Restore at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center and works with The Nancy Davis Race to Erase MS.
NANCY HUNT, President
Co-Founder/President, We Are Family Foundation
Nancy Hunt is a co-founder of We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) and has served as President since its inception in 2002. As President, Nancy is responsible for developing WAFF’s educational programs including its acclaimed global teen leader and mentor program, Three Dot Dash; forging strategic partnerships and spearheading fundraising initiatives. Directly after 9/11 Nancy was Executive Producer of the We Are Family Project, which brought over 200 celebrities together to re-record "We Are Family" as a start of the healing process. She was also Executive Producer of the "We Are Family" children's music video PSA which brought together over 100 children's television characters for the first time in history to promote diversity and multiculturalism. Prior to the Foundation, Nancy co-founded Smock Media Inc., an art-based media company in 1999, and Notorious Entertainment, an upscale urban brand with media icon Sean "Puffy" Combs in 1996. During her tenure as Partner and Executive Vice President of both media companies, Nancy oversaw joint ventures, the publishing of Smock and Notorious magazines and the extensions of each brand. She is an award-winning photographer and earned her Master's degree in clinical psychology at The American University.
ROBERT LIGHT, Vice PRESIDENT
Managing Partner & Head of Worldwide Music, Creative Artists Agency
Rob Light is Head of the Music department, a Partner, and Managing Director of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Under Light’s leadership, CAA’s Music department represents many of the world’s most accomplished and talented musical artists and comedians. Light oversees all of CAA’s music agents, providing strategic counsel on concert tours and event bookings worldwide, as well as advising clients on their overall career development.
Respected throughout the industry for his innovative deal structures and his ability to foresee and adapt to changes in the business environment, Light has led CAA’s music department to new heights by implementing an integrated services model that leverages CAA’s expansive and deep resources within the department and across the agency. This inter-departmental approach has taken clients into soundtracks, theater, features films, television, documentaries, sponsorship, endorsement and licensing.
Light is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communication with a degree in Film and Television. Married, with five children, he serves on the Board of Trustees for Syracuse University and is a board member for The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Communities in Schools, and The Tiger Woods Foundation.
MICHAEL LEVINE, Ph.D., Treasurer
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, NOGGIN (NICKELODEON)
Michael Levine is the senior vice president for learning and impact at Nickelodeon where he is leading the transformation of its educational brand, Noggin. Previously he was the Chief Knowledge Officer at Sesame Workshop and the founding director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, an action research and innovation hub devoted to harnessing the potential of digital media to advance young children's learning and healthy development. Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Levine served as Vice President of New Media and Executive Director of Education for Asia Society, managing the global nonprofit's interactive media and educational initiatives to promote understanding of Asia and other world regions, languages and cultures. Previously, Dr. Levine oversaw Carnegie Corporation of New York's groundbreaking work in early childhood development, educational media and primary grades reform, and was a senior advisor to the New York City Schools Chancellor, where he directed dropout prevention, afterschool, and early childhood initiatives. Dr. Levine often serves as an adviser to government and public media organizations such as the US Department of Education, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is the author of a best-selling book on technology and early learning and writes for policy groups and the mass media. He serves on numerous nonprofit boards and advisory councils, including the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, JumpStart, Promise Venture Studio and the Harvard Center on Media and Child Health. Michael has advised WAFF since its founding!
DANIEL CROWN, Secretary
Co-founder Red Crown Productions
Coming from a family with a tradition of philanthropy, Daniel, along with his wife Ellen, continues that legacy with honor. He serves on the Board of a number of worthy and prestigious organizations, including Lincoln Center, Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan Eye Ear & Throat Hospital, The Jerusalem Foundation, The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America's Greater New York Chapter, the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network and the Mount Sinai Children's Center Foundation. A native of Chicago, Daniel has been a resident of New York for more than 20 years.
Ahmed M. Badr
Director, the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship
Ahmed M. Badr is an Iraqi-American author, poet, and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of creativity, climate action, displacement and youth engagement. He is author of “While the Earth Sleeps We Travel: Stories, Poetry, and Art from Young Refugees Around the World” (Andrews McMeel). Ahmed is the Director of the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Wesleyan University. At 25, he is one of the youngest senior university faculty and staff members in the world.
As a teen, Ahmed founded Narratio, a 501c3 that activates, supports and highlights the creative expression of displaced young people through fellowships, workshops, publishing and partnerships. In the summer of 2019, Narratio launched an annual storytelling and leadership Fellowship for resettled refugee youth in partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Over the past five years, work by 80 Narratio Fellows has reached 2.5 million individuals worldwide.
In 2020, Ahmed began a storytelling and strategy consultancy with the World Bank’s Connect4Climate initiative. For this role, Ahmed co-hosted #Youth4Climate Live, a nine-episode series highlighting youth climate leaders in conversation with government ministers, institutional executives and civil society. The series and the #Youth4Climate campaign reached over a billion people across 130 countries.
Ahmed’s work has been exhibited at Juilliard, Harvard Divinity School, Yale Law School, UNICEF House, Christie's, World Bank Headquarters and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others.
Ahmed received a BA in Anthropology from Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Education from Harvard University. He is a winner of the Echoing Green Social Innovation Showcase, a Regional Murrow Award, the Adrian Cheng Fellowship from Harvard Kennedy School, and the Social Innovation Fellowship Fund award from Harvard Business School. He is a National Geographic Young Explorer and serves as one of 17 UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals.
KIM BRIZZOLARA
Film Producer and Investor
Kim Brizzolara is a film producer, and private investor; and serves as advisor to several non-profit organizations. She is Executive Vice Chair of the Hampton's International Film Festival, where in 1999, she co-founded the signature program "Films of Conflict & Resolution", which she continues to oversee, Ms. Brizzolara is a Trustee of Glascow Caledonian University/NYC, which focuses on sustainable business practices, and serves on the boards of Creative Visions, Blade of Grass, The Sunny Center in Ireland for exonerees, and the Women's Leadership Board at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
She started her career as a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer, and later worked with Kerry Kennedy at the Robert Kennedy Center for Human Rights, where she began to focus on the area of international conflict resolution. She then served as a grants maker for the Threshold Foundation, where she designated funds to nonprofit organizations that focus on peace and national security issues; as acting director of the Coexistence Center at Baruch College School of Public Affairs, which focused on conflict resolution, race relations, ethnic diversity, and equity in the academic environment and in the community; and worked in fund-raising and wrote position papers for various political campaigns.
Julie Garcia
PRESIDENT, THE GARCIA FAMILY SPOTLIGHT FOUNDATION
Julie Garcia is a lawyer, artist, and philanthropist based in Washington, D.C. Julie’s philanthropic efforts center on social justice, the arts, and providing access to education. She is a trustee of the Phillips Collection and serves on the board of A Breeze of Hope, which provides comprehensive legal and support services to victims of childhood sexual assault. She serves on advisory councils at both Brown University and Wesleyan University.
Julie retired from Chevron Corporation in 2009, after five years as a senior consultant for the policy team with a focus on Southeast Asia. Before joining Chevron, Julie spent nearly a decade at AOL Time Warner, where she was Vice President for International Public Policy. At AOL, Julie played a pivotal role on a range of market access, baseline regulation, and intellectual property issues, in more than a dozen different geographies. Earlier in her career, Julie practiced intellectual property law and policy in Washington, D.C. at DLA Piper, where she specialized in representing “new media” clients. Julie has published extensively on novel issues in intellectual property law and policy.
Julie earned her M.A. from the Corcoran College of Arts & Design at the George Washington University, her J.D. from Georgetown Law Center, and her B.S. from Northwestern University.
Merck Mercuriadis
Founder/CEO - Hipgnosis Song Management, Hipgnosis Songs Fund, Hipgnosis Songs Capital
Merck Mercuriadis is the Founder and CEO of Hipgnosis Song Management, Hipgnosis Songs Fund, a London FTSE 250 company, and Hipgnosis Songs Capital in partnership with Blackstone. He has invested more than $3 billion in iconic songs that have been extraordinarily successful and are of great cultural importance amassing a portfolio of over 150 catalogs and 65,000 songs including the catalogs of Neil Young, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nile Rodgers, Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie /Fleetwood Mac, Shakira, Leonard Cohen, The-Dream, Steve Winwood, Justin Timberlake, Journey, Justin Bieber, Timbaland, The RZA, , David A. Stewart / Eurythmics, Jimmy Iovine, Chris Cornell /Soundgarden, Kenny Chesney, Mark Ronson, Richie Sambora / Bon Jovi, Journey, Carole Bayer Sager and Chrissie Hynde / The Pretenders. The catalogue includes more than 25% of Spotify BillionsClub and over 10% of Rolling Stone’s Top 500 songs of all time. Highlights include Don’t Stop Believin, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), Umbrella, Shape Of You, Go Your Own Way, Heart Of Gold, Higher Love, All I Want For Christmas Is You, Like A Virgin, Let’s Dance, Get Lucky, Smooth, Le Freak, Livin’ On A Prayer and many more.
As a manager, Mercuriadis has helped to guide the careers of Nile Rodgers, Elton John, Guns’N’Roses, Iron Maiden, Beyoncé, Morrissey and many others.
Andile Alexius Mnguni
Founder, ROAR South Africa
Andile Alexius Mnguni is a South African serial Social Entrepreneur, Speaker and Changemaker dedicated to catalyzing change in the Education sector and at the intersection of Food Systems and Climate Change within underserved communities.
As the founder of ROAR South Africa, Andile spearheads a social enterprise and movement aimed at empowering young people, providing them with the tools to find their voices and effect meaningful change within their communities. Her commitment to impact has continued with the establishment of The Source, an initiative dedicated to bridging the divide between social and environmental challenges. The Source's primary mission involves building sustainable circular economies within local contexts.
Andile graduated with distinction from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science’s Social Entrepreneurship Programme. She wears many hats as a consulting impact practitioner, helping businesses understand the intricacies of grassroots challenges and navigating the role of socially conscious business practices within local communities. Her commitment and vision have earned her several notable recognitions, including being named a 2020 Global Teen Leader, a 2021/22 Thought For Food Ambassador, a 2022 Africa’s Brightest Young Mind by the United Nations World Food Programme, a United Nations General Assembly Youth Delegate, a YALI Climate Tech Innovators and Leaders Fellow and Faith For Our Planet Youth Interfaith Leader.
Andile uses her voice to advocate for grassroots empowerment within Africa and she hosts Beyond The Bite, a platform fostering engaging discussions that showcase the intersectionality of various food system stakeholders. She served on the COP28 Food Systems Non-State Actors Directive Committee in which she represented the youth voice and contributed to the Non-State Actors Call To Action. She is dedicated to amplifying the voices of youth, women and girls within all her work.
STEVEN MUSUMECI
COO/Founder, Soleus CapiTal Management
Steven J. Musumeci is a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Soleus Capital Management, a healthcare investment firm primarily focused on the innovative areas of life sciences and investing across the healthcare lifecycle from developmental-stage companies through commercial companies. Prior to forming Soleus Capital, Mr. Musumeci was the Chief Operating Officer of Center Pond Management (2014-2017) and HealthCor Management (2005-2013), each an investment management firm focused on the global healthcare and life sciences sectors. Prior to helping establish HealthCor in 2005, Mr. Musumeci was a Senior Counsel at Meister Seelig & Fein, LLP for several years where he focused his practice on hedge funds and corporate transactions. From 2000 until 2001, Mr. Musumeci was an investment banker at Robertson Stephens International in London where he helped establish an investment banking group focused on the communications industry. Prior to joining Robertson Stephens, he worked at BNP Paribas in the International Finance and Legal Group from 1997 until 2000. From 1991 until 1997, Mr. Musumeci was an associate in the corporate department of Rogers & Wells. Mr. Musumeci received a B.A. in Economics from Boston College in 1988 and a J.D. from Georgetown University in 1991.
MICHAEL OSTIN
Entertainment Executive
One of the most respected executives in the music business, Michael Ostin began his career at Warner Bros., where he both signed and recorded some of the greatest artists in music history, including The B-52's, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Paul Simon, Prince, Seal, Greenday, and Quincy Jones. He then served as the President of DreamWorks Records from its inception until its sale to the Universal Music Group. He continues to consult with DreamWorks as well as other clients and is currently producing television and film projects.
FARAH PANDITH
AUTHOR, FORMER US DIPLOMAT, MUHAMMAD ALI GLOBAL PEACE LAUREATE, AND SENIOR FELLOW, KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Farah Pandith is a diplomatic entrepreneur, foreign policy strategist and author. She is a world-leading expert and pioneer on how to halt extremist recruitment of youth. Her book How We Win: How Cutting-Edge Entrepreneurs, Political Visionaries, Enlightened Business Leaders, and Social Media Mavens Can Defeat the [JB1] [NH2] [NH3] Extremist Threat was released in 2019.
She served as a political appointee in the George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack H. Obama administrations on the National Security Council, at the US Agency for International Development and the US Department of State. Since leaving government in 2014, Ms. Pandith has been advising governments, companies and communities on combatting hate and how to build innovative global programs and organizations dedicated to mobilizing youth against extremist ideologies. She is a frequent media commentator and public speaker.
Ms. Pandith is an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a senior fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. She served on the Homeland Security Advisory Council from 2015-2017, co-chairing the CVE Task Force. She was a Senior Advisor and Commissioner for the Center for Strategic International Studies 2016 CVE Commission Report, Turning Point.
She is the recipient of many awards including the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Honor Award, the European Academy of Science and Art’s Ring of Tolerance, the Smith College Medal, and the Tufts University Distinguished Achievement Award. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Tufts University and Mount Saint Mary’s University. She serves in leadership positions on several boards with a focus on international affairs, women’s empowerment, education and cultural diplomacy. She is a key architect of the Women in Public Service Project. In fall 2020, the Muhammad Ali Center named Pandith the first-ever Muhammad Ali Global Peace Laureate for her proven track record of and commitment to promoting diversity, cohesion and respect.
Ms. Pandith received a master’s degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and an A.B. from Smith College, where she was president of the student body. She is a member of the Board of Advisors of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Ms. Pandith was born in India and raised in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To learn more please visit farahpandith.com and @Farah_Pandith.
SUSAN ROCKEFELLER
Founder/Editor-in-Chief, Musings, FilmMaker and Conservationist
Susan Rockefeller is a documentary filmmaker, jewelry designer and avid conservationist. Deeply committed to nurturing our planet, Susan is a board member of Oceana, and the Stone Barns Center for Sustainable Agriculture as well as a partner at Louverture Films. Susan is married to David Rockefeller, Jr.
JED SELKOWITZ
Most recently Americares SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Jed was charged with providing both strategic leadership and hands-on tactical execution of the global health nonprofit’s marketing and communications efforts. During Jed’s tenure at the global health relief and development organization, Americares’ cash revenue grew from $40 million in 2015 to over $120 million in 2022 and brand awareness grew by 70%.
Jed has over 20 years of senior marketing and strategy experience, including work with some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Prior to Americares, Jed served as a Vice President at iHeartMedia, a mass media company that specializes in radio broadcasting and producing live events where he oversaw iHeartMedia's strategic brand partnerships with companies like American Express, AT&T, Coca-Cola, and Johnson & Johnson. Prior to iHeartMedia, Jed spent 10 years at The Coca-Cola Company, starting in brand management before ultimately overseeing entertainment marketing in North America, including oversight of key partnerships, including American Idol, the Oscars, the American Music Awards, Spotify, Ryan Seacrest and Heidi Klum.
Jed is a member of the board of directors of the We Are Family Foundation in New York, the Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation in Atlanta, and the Stamford Jewish Community Center and Future 5 in Stamford, Connecticut. Jed earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Delaware and a M.B.A in marketing from Emory University.
MILTON SPEID
Community Manager, The ImPact
Milton is an expert social impact advisor. Currently, he guides members of The ImPact, a group of visionary families committed to aligning their assets with their values towards their impact investing goals. Prior, he was responsible for executing the ”Beyond the Bay” and Eastern Region strategies that seek to support Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s role as global social enterprise and the premier philanthropic partner for charitably minded individuals and corporations. He has also held senior roles at Epic Foundation, TED Talks, and Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
At Epic, he worked closely with the founder and CEO to grow its network of charitable minded entrepreneurs in North America. While at TED, Milton helped fortune 500 companies share their best ideas with the world. During his first tenure at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, he advised companies on their philanthropic strategies including SAP, Dolby, SanDisk, LinkedIn, Texas Instrument, Stub Hub, and Intuit to name a few. At Bank of America Charitable Foundation, he was responsible for crafting and executing the community and employee engagement strategy for the San Francisco Bay Area.
As the son of Jamaican immigrants, Milton has a personal commitment to poverty alleviation and developing partnerships that maximize resources and achieve greater impact.
Milton holds a Psychology Degree from The University of Hartford where he captained the Men’s Soccer Team. He’s been a key note speaker at many events such as the International Olympic Committee International Woman’s Day Celebration. He sits on the Boards of several nonprofit organizations including, The International Center for Research on Women, We are Family Foundation, Equality League, and SEEDs of Africa. He’s also on the New York Committee for the Human Rights Watch. In 2018, Milton was selected as University of Hartford College of Arts and Sciences Alumni of the Year and was inducted into his High School Hall of Fame.
He currently lives in Hyannis, MA where most Saturday mornings, you can find him playing or watching soccer.
CARYL STERN
Chief Impact Officer, LionTree
Caryl Stern is the Chief Impact Officer at LionTree.
Prior to joining LionTree in 2023, she served as the Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation, and has more than 40 years of experience in the non-profit sector, including over 13 years as CEO of UNICEF USA. She serves on the boards of directors of The Container Store and the We Are Family Foundation, and is a member of the Advisory Board of Chime for Change.
Caryl earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art, a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel Administration and completed her PhD coursework in the same field. She is the recipient of five honorary Doctoral degrees.