SLĀ Foundation Presents The Power of Storytelling with Shane Adams

Usama Siddiquee is an actor and standup comedian in New York City. Usama and Aniket discuss embracing one's own culture, the importance of passion, the difficulties of dealing with external pressures, and his tough path in the entertainment industry. Usama made the courageous decision to forego medical school and pursue his dream, and today has found widespread success as a comic with his own podc...

A child of divorced parents and an alcoholic father, Michael faced a lot of hardships at home. However, he found solace in education and an escape through playing viola. By viewing the difficult times in his life as learning opportunities, he has worked hard to become a Technical Recruiter at Google, while also continuing his love for music as a DJ and producer. Michael's story inspires us all to...

Katherine Allen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Flo Recruit . Katherine shares with Melissa how she discovered her love for entrepreneurship and venture capital, the trials and tribulations of starting her own business during college, and her experiences in the Bay Area with Y Combinator . This past year, Flo Recruit raised $1M in funding. Katherine lives in Austin and works full-time with Flo Recrui...

Dwamian Mcleish is the founder at Journely and former chief technology officer at Camp Gladiator. Dwamian and Shane recall his childhood days in Jamaica, where he fell in love with the computer lab—except it wasn’t much of a lab considering there were only two computers. Despite this, he realized his passion for technology as a young child. Dwamian also talks about how he used his skills in track...

Dwamian Mcleish is the founder at Journely and former chief technology officer at Camp Gladiator. Dwamian and Shane recall his childhood days in Jamaica, where he fell in love with the computer lab—except it wasn’t much of a lab considering there were only two computers. Despite this, he realized his passion for technology as a young child. Dwamian also talks about how he used his skills in track...

Kelsey Creveling is the Founder and CEO of her own ventures, including KelsC. Consulting and The Consultants Closet to name a few. Shane and Kelsey have known each other for years, as they crossed paths in Texas as Shane was seeking someone skilled and ambitious to join his company Sagacious Consultants. Kelsey opens up to Shane about her life before that as she talks about struggling with trying...

Kelsey Creveling is the Founder and CEO of her own ventures, including KelsC. Consulting and The Consultants Closet to name a few. Shane and Kelsey have known each other for years, as they crossed paths in Texas as Shane was seeking someone skilled and ambitious to join his company Sagacious Consultants. Kelsey opens up to Shane about her life before that as she talks about struggling with trying...

Lori Mankin is an Integrated Marketing Manager at Lifesize, a video conferencing software company with clients like Netflix, LinkedIn, and many more. Lori sits with Shane to talk about her college experience at California State University, Chico and how she found her passion in journalism. She tells about her rocky road to where she is now as she had to deal with childhood bullies, financial insta...

Lori Mankin is an Integrated Marketing Manager at Lifesize, a video conferencing software company with clients like Netflix, LinkedIn, and many more. Lori sits with Shane to talk about her college experience at California State University, Chico and how she found her passion in journalism. She tells about her rocky road to where she is now as she had to deal with childhood bullies, financial insta...

Mrignayni Chhotwani, or Maggie, is a senior software engineer at Visa. Shane and Maggie talk about her love for stand-up comedy, her recent relationship status, and her thoughts on the importance of persistence.  She also discusses some of the challenges she faces being a woman in a male-dominated industry, how she found her love for computer science, and how she was able to acclimate after a big...

Mrignayni Chhotwani, or Maggie, is a senior software engineer at Visa. Shane and Maggie talk about her love for stand-up comedy, her recent relationship status, and her thoughts on the importance of persistence.  She also discusses some of the challenges she faces being a woman in a male-dominated industry, how she found her love for computer science, and how she was able to acclimate after a big...

Dana Rygwelski is Founding Director for MassChallenge, a startup accelerator. Originally from Pennsylvania, Dana sits down with Shane to talk about her many many feats, including being one of 5 women to squat over 700 pounds, working in some awesome positions in companies like Hulu, and even defeating cancer. Dana is an open book as she sits down to tell Shane about obtaining an abortion in colleg...

Dana Rygwelski is Founding Director for MassChallenge, a startup accelerator. Originally from Pennsylvania, Dana sits down with Shane to talk about her many many feats, including being one of 5 women to squat over 700 pounds, working in some awesome positions in companies like Hulu, and even defeating cancer. Dana is an open book as she sits down to tell Shane about obtaining an abortion in colleg...

Aanandh Chandrasekar is a chemical engineer major who became an Investor Evangelist at Capital Factory. Aanandh talks with Shane about growing up in Sugar Land, Texas as a child of Indian immigrants. He talks about being bullied for being smart and going to Nationals for Quiz Bowl. Aanandh offers the challenges he faced in college, advice on finding jobs, and details on his work in venture capital...

Aanandh Chandrasekar is a chemical engineer major who became an Investor Evangelist at Capital Factory. Aanandh talks with Shane about growing up in Sugar Land, Texas as a child of Indian immigrants. He talks about being bullied for being smart and going to Nationals for Quiz Bowl. Aanandh offers the challenges he faced in college, advice on finding jobs, and details on his work in venture capital...

Stephanie Cantú, PhD is the Senior Student Program Coordinator at The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Stephanie and Shane sit down to talk about growing up as a child of divorce, being bullied for being less affluent than her peers, becoming a yoga instructor, and studying the social psychology of mating. She recalls the major factor that led her to where she is to...

Stephanie Cantú, PhD is the Senior Student Program Coordinator at The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Stephanie and Shane sit down to talk about growing up as a child of divorce, being bullied for being less affluent than her peers, becoming a yoga instructor, and studying the social psychology of mating. She recalls the major factor that led her to where she is to...

Danny De Los Santos is a Global Sales Enablement Manager at the technology company Cloudera. Danny came from the small town of Mercedes in the south of Texas. In this episode, Danny discusses his sexuality with Shane and struggles he’s faced because of it. Danny also talks about breaking out of the status quo when it comes to extracurriculars. He mentions how one of the best way to escape a bad si...

Danny De Los Santos is a Global Sales Enablement Manager at the technology company Cloudera. Danny came from the small town of Mercedes in the south of Texas. In this episode, Danny discusses his sexuality with Shane and struggles he’s faced because of it. Danny also talks about breaking out of the status quo when it comes to extracurriculars. He mentions how one of the best way to escape a bad si...

Shayna Dunitz is the Chief Operating Officer at the startup Central Athlete. Shayna talks about working in startups ever since she graduated from Ithaca College in New York and how she enjoys running marathons. Shayna and Shane discuss getting out of her comfort zone, taking initiative in business, navigating friendships, and becoming more involved in college. The two discuss how many people don’t...

Shayna Dunitz is the Chief Operating Officer at the startup Central Athlete. Shayna talks about working in startups ever since she graduated from Ithaca College in New York and how she enjoys running marathons. Shayna and Shane discuss getting out of her comfort zone, taking initiative in business, navigating friendships, and becoming more involved in college. The two discuss how many people don’t...

Vida Biggins is a Management Consulting Senior Analyst at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Vida talks with Shane about dropping out of high school, attending community college, and then graduating from the Ivy League college Columbia. She discusses how having determination and taking initiative opened up new possibilities for herself. Vida talks about how she turned her adversity in...

Vida Biggins is a Management Consulting Senior Analyst at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Vida talks with Shane about dropping out of high school, attending community college, and then graduating from the Ivy League college Columbia. She discusses how having determination and taking initiative opened up new possibilities for herself. Vida talks about how she turned her adversity in...

Jose Tamez is a Software Application Tech Support Associate Manager at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Jose talks with Shane about how he achieved his dream by overcoming the challenges of moving and cultural barriers, a serious health ailment, and a long-distance relationship. He discusses how change can open up new, unknown pathways, and can often times be for the better. Jose st...

Jose Tamez is a Software Application Tech Support Associate Manager at Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm. Jose talks with Shane about how he achieved his dream by overcoming the challenges of moving and cultural barriers, a serious health ailment, and a long-distance relationship. He discusses how change can open up new, unknown pathways, and can often times be for the better. Jose st...