Written in partnership with Zachary Bernard
1 – Brian D. Evans
Brian D. Evans is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with a track record of identifying and capitalizing on early opportunities in a variety of industries. He’s known for his pioneering spirit and ability to evangelize new ideas to a global audience. Throughout his career, Evans has received numerous accolades, including being named to the Inc. 500 list as the owner of one of the Top 25 Marketing & Advertising Agencies in America and is a member of the Forbes Agency Council and Rolling Stone Culture Council.
In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Brian is an early-stage investor with a particular interest in the web3 industry as well as a member of Affinity Collective, a group of high-achieving individuals working towards ambitious goals. Within the video game sector, Evans has made a number of early-stage investments, including in Alpha District, a unique Star Wars-esque universe with a focus on narrative storytelling. He’s successfully navigated challenges related to building and leading effective teams and places a strong emphasis on the importance of networking and the careful selection of business partners. By joining the cast of a Shark Tank-style TV show focused on the crypto industry already underway, Evans looks forward to continued innovation and growth in the coming years.
Twitter : https://twitter.com/briandevans
2 – Allison Boccamazzo
Allison Boccamazzo is the founder and CEO of AB Content Marketing, a B2B content marketing and consulting company that drives the brand strategies of global leaders like Oracle and Aetna. In 2019, she published her self-help entrepreneurship book, “The Everyday Woman’s Guide to Entrepreneurship,” which has received numerous 5-star reviews and helped countless women turn their business ideas into six-figure success stories. As a working mother, Allison hopes her story will provide a new perspective and challenge misconceptions about working mothers, proving that women can successfully navigate both entrepreneurship and motherhood.
In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Allison actively donates to causes that fight inequities and injustice. Having overcome her fair share of obstacles as a business owner, Allison also embraces opportunities to give back in the form of mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs. Her personal and professional experiences have taught her the importance of finding a mentor (no matter how established one is), surrounding herself with like-minded individuals, and open, effective communication.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abcontentmarketing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonboccamazzo/
3 – Tamar Asken
Tamar Asken is a realtor and a certified financial planner based in Los Angeles who’s passionate about architecture and design. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California College of the Arts, Tamar has a strong understanding of how to create satisfying spaces. With that comes the recent launch of her own company, Parasol Realty, which is focused on providing high-level, personalized real estate services to her clients. As a mother of three and a local to LA, Tamar is also a valuable resource for families looking for information on schools and parks in the area when looking at purchasing a home.
As a real estate agent, Tamar has faced the challenge of helping clients through the emotional process of buying and selling property. She works to patiently listen to her clients’ fears and anxieties, providing them with information and professional opinions while supporting their decisions, even when they choose not to move forward with a transaction. She believes that it is important to put her client’s needs first, rather than focusing on closing a sale. Tamar’s advice for those looking to buy or sell real estate in LA is to work with an agent who they trust and who is committed to helping them achieve their desired outcome.
IG: @parasolrealty
LinkedIn: Tamar Asken
4 – Aaron Mostow
Aaron Mostow is a multi-talented artist and entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling. With a diverse background in industries such as music, dance, fashion, health and wellness, and entertainment, Aaron has established himself as a creative force to be reckoned with. As a Jewish-Filipino Los Angeles native, Aaron has a unique perspective that shines through in his work as a producer, writer, rapper, breakdancer, painter, clothing designer, and CEO. He’s the founder of Catapult World, a creative media company and boutique agency, and has worked with notable companies such as Sony Pictures, Activision, and MTV.
In addition to producing the TV series Steady Mobbin’ and directing the documentary film Going Places, Aaron released the novel Love Hertz and is currently working on multiple screenplays, and an animated sitcom. Despite facing challenges such as growing up in a broken home and navigating the entertainment industry as a minority, he’s overcome adversity and is dedicated to promoting other artists and building bridges within the art community. In the future, he hopes to continue creating meaningful art and developing a nonprofit focused on producing community-driven art.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-mostow-b572206
5 – Claire Bahn
Claire Bahn is a well-known and respected leader in the branding and marketing industry, having made a name for herself as the founder and CEO of Claire Bahn Group. With a passion for marketing individuals with authentic stories, Claire is dedicated to helping her clients tell their unique stories and gain recognition for their achievements within their respective industries. With over 100,000 followers across social media and notable coverage in prestigious publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and MarketWatch, Claire is a figure to keep an eye on in the marketing space. Since launching the Claire Bahn Group, Claire and her team have experienced tremendous growth and had to evolve the company’s offering to meet changing market and client needs.
Claire believes that everyone has a personal brand, whether they like it or not, and it’s crucial for individuals to take control of their own personal brand narrative. She wants to empower individuals to take their personal brand seriously and not miss out on great business or career opportunities. In the future, Claire sees herself continuing to scale Claire Bahn Group at 5x per year and expanding her service offerings to help more clients build and scale their powerful personal brands.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/clairebahn/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairebahn/
6 – Carrie Certa
Carrie Lynn Certa is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of Ursa Productions and Art By Mistake. As the head of Ursa Productions, she’s made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, earning various recognition and awards for her work in her tenure. In 2018, she was named one of the “50 Women Who Can Change Media/Entertainment” by Gloria Felt’s Take the Lead organization. Additionally, she served as the Vice President of the Producers Guild AP Council from 2017 to 2019 and received the Producers Guild’s highest honor, the AP Council Award for Excellent Service, in 2020. Her work as a producer on Nickelodeon’s “Nick News” also earned her an Emmy nomination in 2022.
In addition to her successful career in the entertainment industry, Carrie has also made a name for herself in the art world through her fine art business, Art By Mistake. Her unique style of multimedia artwork has been recognized and accepted by prestigious galleries, such as the Los Angeles Clio Fair and the Art Market San Francisco being featured at the Alessandro Berni Gallery. She found a renewed passion for art and creating as a way to not only cope but thrive through the stress and isolation of the pandemic. Her art reflects her own emotions and experiences, and it has been well-received by various audiences, young and old. Through Ursa Productions and Art By Mistake, Carrie has established herself as a versatile and accomplished entrepreneur, making her a notable figure in both the entertainment and art worlds. Carrie actively lives by the words of Mark Twain, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
IG: https://www.instagram.com/artbymistake_certa/
7 – Johnny Maravelis
Johnny Maravelis is a well-respected figure in the tech industry, known for his skills as an entrepreneur and web technologist. He’s the founder of Phoenix Afterglow™, a company that offers a range of web development services, including website creation, app development, online marketing, and cybersecurity, to clients throughout the United States. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Maravelis has made significant contributions to the field of science. At a young age, he built a supercomputer for Stanford University that was used to study the DNA of various cancers. His company has worked with well-known brands such as Ford and Sony, as well as celebrities like video game developer David Perry, Morgan Freeman, and Angelina Jolie.
In addition to his successful business ventures, Johnny is also a humanitarian who has worked with “Hands Across the Planet to Poor Youth” to combat hunger, thirst, and genocide in Africa. He’s won numerous awards, including “Top 30 SEO Company” by DesignRush and “Small Business Person of the Year” by Alignable. With the goal of establishing Phoenix Afterglow™ as a top web development company in the United States, the company has recently developed solutions for the Hospitality industry that increase efficiency and profits for clients through specialized hardware and software, as well as eCommerce solutions that combine online and in-store sales with a user-friendly management system.
YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/PhoenixAfterglow
8 – Chris Sheng
Chris Sheng’s journey to entrepreneurship has been a long and winding road. He’s worked a variety of low-paying jobs, including answering phones at a cancer clinic for $12/hr in his early-30s, while trying to get his first startup off the ground. He eventually found his calling as a growth marketing expert for startups, working now with 200+ venture-backed B2B SaaS and software companies on go-to-market and growth. Chris has also gone on to become the co-founder and CEO of LeadrPro (his 3rd venture), a VC-backed B2B startup that’s revolutionizing the way software is discovered, evaluated, and purchased. By connecting sellers directly with buyers of software solutions, LeadrPro is changing the landscape of B2B sales and marketing. They are working with companies like RedBull, Tesla, Hired, Lyft, Ulta Beauty, Brex, USAA, amongst many others.
In the future, Chris sees himself exiting LeadrPro, starring in an action film that he produces, and penning a book about being a first-generation Asian-American. But Chris is not just a business leader – he’s also an extreme sports enthusiast (ultra-marathon runner, fitness competition participant, skydiver, and mountain climber) and a creative force to be reckoned with. In his previous career, he’s written, produced, directed, and sold a feature film to Lionsgate, fulfilling a lifelong childhood dream. Currently engaged to media personality Courtney Stodden, Chris also hosts a weekly podcast called PodSaaS featuring SaaS founders and is a producer on “How to Start a Startup,” a YouTube series about the LeadrPro team’s journey to success.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thechrissheng
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csheng/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thechrissheng/
9 – Jiggs Love
Jiggs Love, founder, and CEO of The Scan Truck is making waves in the 3D scanning industry. Alongside his partner Vlad Galat, Jiggs started the company in his garage, taking on the challenge of building a state-of-the-art 3D scanning rig and figuring out how to mobilize it for their ambitious projects. Today, the company has grown to include a large dedicated team fueled by high vibes. With a family mentality, they’re working towards a shared vision and currently expanding all their departments. With the launch of a second scan trailer on the East Coast in tandem with a fully upgraded system in their original rig, The Scan Truck is outfitted with the latest technology and ready to capture and create anything you can imagine from coast to coast.
While keeping up with the increased demand for digital avatar creation and mind-expanding 3D art; Jiggs and his team recently completed a beautiful project with the EOD that has the capability to save lives all over the world. They’ve designed an automated robotic scanning solution to capture and catalog explosive devices. This data is used to safely identify and extract unexploded ordnance left behind in war-torn areas, providing a crucial service to ensure the safety and security of those in affected regions.
Jiggs’s company also operates a Virtually Conscious program that donates services to projects that help make the world a better place. They are currently donating their previous rigs DSLR Nikon cameras to educational programs worldwide, giving children access to tools that would otherwise be out of reach. With big aspirations, the Scan Truck family have visions of expanding this program into a 501c3 and creatively using the latest technology available to help people, animals, and the planet.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thescantruck/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thescantruck/
10 – Armani Martin
Armani Martin is a force to be reckoned with in the film industry. As a narrative and commercial filmmaker, and the owner of June Entertainment, she’s worked with some of the biggest names in the business, including Capitol Records, Warner Music, Sony Music, Jordan, Lend Up Bank, and more. Her experience in executing branded content and commercials has made her a multifaceted and proficient filmmaker.
Armani’s ability to connect with and create meaningful relationships in the Hip Hop industry has led her to produce and direct for some of the biggest stars in music such as Chance The Rapper, Migos, Lil Yachty, Lil Baby, Megan The Stallion, and a live performance for Jimmy Fallon, to name a few. Her debut short film, Deus ex Machina, premiered at the BronzeLens Film Festival, winning the Best Short Film award. She followed it up with a family dramedy feature, All I Want For Christmas, starring Erica Peeples, streaming now on Hulu.
By 21, Armani co-developed her first television show, Beyond The Pole which airs on WeTV, and began producing television shows like Love and Hip Hop Hollywood, Sunday Best, and VH1’s Couples Retreat. With a passion for giving back and a desire to make a difference, she is developing and writing projects that focus on social issues and dreams of creating a non-profit program that offers professional development courses or training for people with health conditions or impairments who are interested in growing their skills within the film industry or jobs that are work-from-home employment.
Armani’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armanimartin/
June Entertainment IG: https://www.instagram.com/juneentertains/
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