Tulane Takeover New York 2024

Speaker Bios

Michael Gelman (Tulane Parent)
Executive Producer, ABC Entertainment

 

 

Jack Sullivan (B ’90)
President & CEO, Broadway Videos

Pedro Mota (Tulane Parent)
President & CEO of Aston Martin Americas

Pedro Mota is an expert in the Automobile Industry, having served in several leadership positions with brands like Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce and Porsche. Currently, he is the President & CEO of Aston Martin the Americas.

Founded in 1913, Aston Martin is a British luxury automaker renowned for its exquisitely crafted, high-performance sports cars and SUVs. With a blend of cutting-edge technology and timeless craftsmanship, Aston Martin remains a symbol of style, luxury, and exclusivity, with presence in over 55 countries worldwide. Aston Martin the Americas oversees operations in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America, with a network of 45 dealers and annual sales of around 2,000 units.

Pedro was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and holds a degree in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in robotics from Lisbon Technical University. He also earned an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, one of Europe’s top business schools. With nearly three decades of experience in the automotive industry—a field he is deeply passionate about—Pedro has worked with prestigious brands like Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, and Porsche. His career began in Germany, before taking him to Switzerland and England, and ultimately to the U.S. in 2004.

Pedro has a diverse background, having held key roles across Strategy, Operations, Finance, and Sales & Marketing throughout his career. Prior to becoming President of Aston Martin for the Americas, he served as the Chief Marketing Officer for Porsche Cars North America.

Steve Moffitt (TC ’99)
Partner, Goldman Sachs

Josh Blaine (B ’99)
Senior Managing Director, Blackstone

Heather Zachary (NC ’06)
Executive Director, Morgan Stanley

Heather Zachary, Executive Director, is the Head of Business Operations, Insights & Execution for Institutional Consulting Solutions at Morgan Stanley (MS). Heather has previously held similar leadership roles in Wealth Management, serving as COO for Retirement Solutions, Program Leader for Home Office Diversity & Learning, COO for Field Service and COO for Financial Advisor Associate Talent Management. In all of these roles, Heather has focused on aligning talent to strategy through impactful program and initiative management, budget oversight, generating enhanced data and insights, driving platform and technology builds to support scale, building inclusive cultures and implementing proactive governance frameworks or regulatory responses aligned to growth. Prior to joining MS in 2017, Heather served as the Head of Operations and Events at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, and helped to grow that organization from its start-up phase to an operation that reached over 435 million people in 180 countries and was a driving force in the corporate citizenship community. Early in her career, Heather helped to launch the first global children’s health program of the Lighthouse Guild. Heather earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University in Latin American Studies and Sociology with a specialization in International Development. Heather resides in southern Connecticut and, when she’s not working, is outside with her kids staying active on land or out on the water.

Rachel Lojko (B ’06)
Chief Commercial Officer, Fitch Solutions

Rachel is a global leader with ~20-years in the commercial function designing go-to-market strategy, empowering sales teams, and growing sales and revenue within data and analytics businesses for financial and risk markets. Her performance record is marked by innovating the commercial teams through strategic planning, talent spotting, organization design, and collaborating with product.

Rachel demonstrates that someone can be a culture champion focused on empowering diverse teams and deliver on performance excellence. Focused exclusively on the future; concerned with where we’re going rather than the past. Resourcefully works through anything blocking success. Inclusive leadership focused on creating a culture of connectedness especially with next generation talent.

Lyndon A. Taylor (Tulane Parent)
Managing Partner, Americas CEO & Board Practice, Heidrick & Struggles

Lyndon works with both privately held and publicly traded clients on executive leadership and board director searches and succession engagements. He also advises organizations across sectors on board effectiveness and talent development strategies.

Recently, Lyndon led the global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practice and was the partner in charge of the Chicago office.

Earlier in his career, Lyndon worked in investment banking with UBS and Merrill Lynch and spent five years in corporate development with Enron. He also served in the U.S. Navy prior to college. He attended: The University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business, MBA, Southern Methodist University, BA in History, with Honors and, Southern Methodist University, BS in Ethnic Studies

In 2020, Lyndon was honored by the AESC as one of the inaugural recipients of its new IDEA Award for outstanding contribution to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (or “IDEA”). He was recognized for his work with organizations to help them achieve their DE&I goals, no matter where they are in their journey.

Lyndon is currently chair of the board of directors of Cook County Health & Hospital System. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and serves on the Forums Committee of the Economic Club of Chicago. Lyndon also recently served as a director of the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the CFA Society Chicago.

Mike Zombek (B ’11)
Director, Boston Consulting Group

Mike Zombek is a Director in BCG’s Risk and Compliance practice area, based in the New York Office. Mike focuses on strategic transformations and capability uplifts across the risk, compliance, and internal audit operating models, within multiple industries. Mike joined BCG in 2019 and previously supported CCAR/DFAST stress testing and budgeting & forecasting activities as a VP in Morgan Stanley’s Corporate FP&A function.

Veronica Judice (L ’11)
Managing Director – Client Solutions at AON

Responsibilities:
Veronica is Aon’s Client Solutions Claims Transformation Leader and Head of Strategy & Technology Group (STG) Claims in North America. Veronica and her team focus on helping clients enhance operational performance and drive profitability through advisory on operational assessment and optimization, quality assurance management and support, and claim operations strategy design. Veronica is also responsible for driving the development and alignment of Claims optimization integrated solutions across Risk Capital.
Industry Experience:
Veronica has 16 years of advisory expertise in the Insurance and Financial Services industries. Prior to joining Risk Capital Client Solutions in 2024, Veronica was a Global Engagement Leader within Aon Inpoint, providing (re)insurance clients strategic and tactical advice to help them execute their plans and enhance connectivity on the field. Veronica joined Aon in 2014 in the London Global Broking Centre focusing on P&C complex and sensitive claims, Claims Practice operation strategies, and later on P&C placement in the US, where she designed insurance solutions for multi-national clients, developed new policy wording and lead benchmarking research against market norms. Veronica has a background in law and economics and extensive experience in litigation, general counseling and commercial negotiation gained in Milan, Italy, and New York.
Education/Designations:
Veronica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master of Science in Private Business and Law from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, and an honors LL.M. from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans. Veronica is admitted to the New York Bar. She is fluent in English and Italian.

Alexa Ambroseo (B ’19)
Climate Change & Sustainability Consultant, Montrose Environmental Group

Irwin D. Simon (Tulane Parent)
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tilray Brands

Irwin D. Simon is a visionary businessman and leader, currently serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Tilray Brands, Inc (NASDAQ: TLRY). Tilray is a global lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company, with a portfolio of consumer brands that are at the forefront of the convergence of cannabis, wellness, and beverages. The company operates in over 20 countries and leads across markets as the #1 medical and adult-use cannabis company in Canada, the largest federally legal cannabis market in the world, #1 in medical cannabis across Europe, 5th largest craft brewer in the United States, and leading hemp foods producer in North America.

Mr. Simon is a pioneer in the organic and natural products industry, with over four decades of experience as a visionary entrepreneur. He founded The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAIN) in 1993, a leading organic and natural products company, where he served as Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman for 30 years. Under his leadership, the company grew to $3.5 billion with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, providing consumers with A Healthier Way of Life™.

In addition to his role at Tilray Brands, Mr. Simon is Lead Director at Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW), a digital-first global marketing network that delivers scalable, seamless solutions through a unique combination of culture-moving creativity and leading-edge technology. He was also the Founder and Executive Chairman of Whole Earth Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: FREE), a global industry-leading platform focused on the “better for you” consumer packaged goods and ingredients space, before the company was sold in August 2024. Irwin also serves on the board of directors at Tulane University.

Andrea Turner Moffitt (NC ’00)
Founding Partner, Future Heights Ventures

Andrea has been at the forefront of investing at the intersection of venture, disruptive technologies and applying a lens of intentional investing. Her experience spans 20+ years as an investor and capital raiser across venture, project finance, hedge funds and tech investment banking with a long-term commitment to back companies advancing world positive outcomes and building inclusive cultures. Andrea has invested across climate tech, sustainable industry, agtech & future of food, automation & robotics, AI/ML, future of work, among other areas.

She is the co-founder of Plum Alley Investments, where she led the firm to nearly $100M of committed capital invested across 30+ portfolio companies. She is currently a General Partner for Plum Alley Venture Fund I, and she was previously the President of Plum Alley, Inc. launching the firm’s direct syndicate investor platform. Notable investments include Air Protein, Arix Technologies, Diligent Robotics, Einride, Helaina, Innerplant, Mammoth Biosciences, Node (exited), One Concern, ThinkCERCA and Tinkergarten (exited).

Prior to Plum Alley, Andrea founded fintech start-up Wealthrive, a content driven platform engaging women investors in private and public markets. Andrea is also an accomplished author and thought leader on intentional investing and diverse investors. In 2015, she published the book Harness the Power of the Purse: Winning Women Investors. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Inc., Fortune, NPR, and the Wall Street Journal.

She is an honors graduate of Columbia University’s Business School and the School of International and Public Affairs and earned her BA from Tulane University. Andrea is a board member of Columbia Business School’s Tamer Center for Social Enterprise and she serves on the investment committee for Tulane Ventures Fund, a seed fund to bolster innovation in the south targeting underrepresented entrepreneurs in New Orleans and the greater Louisiana region. She is a previous Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Jeffrey Silverman (A&S ’89)
Co-Founder and Managing Director, Laconia Capital Group

Jeffrey Silverman (A&S ’89), Co-Founder and Managing Director of Laconia Capital Group

With over 20 years of experience in early-stage companies and investing, Jeffrey has dedicated his career to scaling tech ventures. He began as an early employee at DoubleClick, where he held multiple senior roles and gained key insights into growing tech businesses. Following that, he served as President of Integrated Color Solutions, sharpening his leadership skills.

Today, Jeffrey is the co-founder and Managing Director of Laconia Capital Group, a seed-stage venture firm investing in sectors like enterprise SaaS, fintech, health tech, e-commerce, and martech. At Laconia, the firm takes a hands-on approach, providing operational expertise, strategic guidance, and capital strategy to help companies scale. Jeffrey and his team work closely with founders to refine business models, strengthen go-to-market strategies, and drive sustainable growth.

Beyond Laconia, Jeffrey co-founded 3SE Holdings, focused on Web3 technologies, and Proteus Collection, centered on art investment. He also serves as a senior advisor to AutoFi, an automotive fintech platform. Additionally, he sits on the board of Propensity and serves as an observer for portfolio companies such as Marpipe, WeStock, Trestle, and Tender. Mentorship is a core passion for Jeffrey, and he dedicates time to supporting entrepreneurs through Laconia’s open office hours.

Jeffrey’s philanthropic efforts include co-founding Friends of the Lake, a grassroots organization protecting Lake Lillinonah in Litchfield County, CT, and serving as former president and current board member of Project Morry, both focused on leadership development and environmental protection.

As a proud Tulane alum, Jeffrey serves as Chairman of the Tulane Innovation Institute and as an adjunct professor, contributing to its venture fund, which supports underrepresented founders. He has also enhanced his leadership through Columbia University’s Executive Education Program. Jeffrey lives in New York City and is a proud father to three young adults.

Rachel Liverman (B ’07)
Founder & CEO, Glowbar

Rachel Liverman, the force behind Glowbar, is a trailblazer in the beauty and wellness industry. Fueled by her own struggle to find an effective, convenient, and trustworthy source for consistent facials, Rachel founded Glowbar in June 2019. With her innovative spirit and hyperfocus on exceptional experiences, Rachel has propelled the brand’s 30-minute, results-driven facials to cult-following status.

Rachel’s entrepreneurial drive and commitment to quality have not only shaped the brand but have also contributed to the industry’s evolution. Rachel has taken her decade of experience in the beauty industry to develop a leadership style focused on creativity, business insight, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives through Glowbar’s services. As Glowbar continues to grow, Rachel remains at the forefront, leading the charge in how we approach skincare and self-care.

Danny Neeson (SLA ’19)
Co-Founder and President, DNA Spirits LLC “De-Nada Tequila” & Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pine Outfitters

Born and raised in New York City, Daniel Neeson attended Tulane University, earning a degree in Theatre. At Tulane he was
apart of the AEPI fraternity. His love for hospitality and entrepreneurship-became clear during his time in New Orleans.
During Neeson’s freshman year, he started Willowglen Landscaping, as well as launching Pine Outfitters, an ecocautious
clothing line which focused on shirts made from recycled water bottles. Rather than through brick and mortar or
traditional advertising, the brand was fueled by e-commerce and social media.

Also during his freshman year, Neeson met Adam Millman – tellingly in a class called “Introduction to Creative Industries.”
The two became fast friends, and in their sophomore year, Millman joined Pine Outfitters as co-owner and CFO. Between
sophomore and junior years, Neeson worked for Silo Ridge Field Club, “part of an international group of luxury
communities designed to capture the spirit of the land while providing an exceptional lifestyle and recreational options.”
In their junior year, the duo put their entrepreneurial focus and love for hospitality on Tequila, and just three years later DENADA
became an international award winning spirit And the first tequila to be ever produced in an aluminum bottle. Coming
full-circle, carbon neutral and additive free DE-NADA reflects Neeson’s love of the outdoors and hospitality.

Now a resident of New York City, in his spare time Neeson enjoys sports; cooking; movies; travel; and being outdoors;
seeing friends and family and most of all spending time with his girlfriend Natalie (Tulane 19’) and their silver lab Winnie.

Aaron Feldman (B ’03)
Co-CEO, Property Solutions Acquisition Corp & Co-Founder/Principal, Benchmark Real Estate Group

Questions?

Please contact
Byron Slosar | byron@tulane.edu