Meet the Experts Who Powered This Year’s Changemaker Institute
This year’s Changemaker Institute (CI) brought together a powerful cohort of emerging social entrepreneurs—and the changemakers who support them. From funding strategies to legal structures, from design research to AI consulting, CI Fellows gained hands-on experience with the tools, mindsets, and skill sets needed to launch and grow ventures that create meaningful social impact.
Each Wednesday afternoon, students gathered to learn from a dynamic lineup of guest speakers—leaders, innovators, and experts from New Orleans and beyond—who generously shared their insights, offered personalized feedback, and guided students through the highs and hurdles of early-stage entrepreneurship. Whether in group sessions or one-on-one coaching, these mentors helped CI Fellows refine their ideas and take bold steps toward building viable, values-driven ventures.
Below, you’ll find a snapshot of our 2025 curriculum and the phenomenal speakers who made this year’s program unforgettable.
- Design Research Analysis & Value Proposition
- Kwame Terra, Founder of bERH Health Systems
- Building your Lean Canvas
- Aileen Dingus, Venture Lab Program Director, Tulane Innovation Institute
- Heropreneurship & Positionality/Identity Reflections and Considerations as an Entrepreneur
- Laura Stein, Co-Founder and Founding Director, Dancing Grounds; Founder and CEO of Rooted Evolution &
- Christa Talbott, Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer, Salon22; Partner Engagement Manager at Imagine Learning
- Business Entities 101 and Funding Your Venture
- Alissa Bilfield (Professor of Practice, Sustainability, Social Entrepreneurship, Food Systems, Tulane University
- Drake LeBlanc (Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Tele Louisiane)
- Blake Bertuccelli Booth (Co-Founder, BlueHouse NOLA (NGO) & Founder, Equalify (Corp)
- Nora Ellersten (NGO Funding Consultant, The Funding Seed). See Nora’s slides on nonprofit fundraising
- Legal Considerations for Startups (Q&A with Attorneys)
- Utilizing AI Consulting
- Branding and Marketing
- Cat Landrum, Founder, 2nd Story Creative
- Crafting your Pitch
- Ting-ting Rivers, Founder and Principal of Mission + Margin L3C
About the Changemaker Institute
Participants in the 6-month Changemaker Institute deepen their understanding of the social issue their venture tackles, gain social entrepreneurship and business development skills, and work as a cohort to iterate their idea and build a sustainable business model. CI participants are either working to create their own social impact venture (such as a non-profit, program, student-run organization, or business) OR are focused on building a new and innovative capacity within an existing organization.
Interested in learning more about our speaker or potentially leading a CI workshop to support our budding social entrepreneurs? Contact Julia Lang at jlang@tulane.edu to learn more.