From the class of 1985 to 2020: Quick takes with five Morehead-Cain Alumnae leading in consulting, tech, nonprofits, and government

Navigating leadership transitions. Tackling education inequities. Finding inspiration within cancel culture.

Five Morehead-Cain alumnae share with Benny Klein ’24 about their entrepreneurship journeys from the worlds of consulting, tech, nonprofits, and government.

The group shares their role models, most impactful Morehead-Cain summers from college, and what’s keeping them motivated at the moment.

Today’s guests:

• Jane Sommers-Kelly ’85, founder of JSK Leadership (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
• Chesca Colloredo-Mansfeld ’87, co-founder and strategic advisor for MiracleFeet (Chapel Hill)
• Caroline Lowery ’16, product and customer insights manager at Amazon (Seattle, Washington)
• Cecilia Polanco ’16, director of community growth and outreach for Pupusas for Education and CEO of So Good Pupusas (Durham, North Carolina)
• Pavani Peri ’20, co-founder and COO of Acta Solutions (Chapel Hill)

The group spoke with scholars at the Morehead-Cain Foundation on September 30, 2023.

Music credits

The episode’s intro song is by scholar Scott Hallyburton ’22, guitarist of the band South of the Soul.

How to listen

On your mobile device, you can listen and subscribe to Catalyze on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For any other podcast app, you can find the show using our RSS feed.

Catalyze is hosted and produced by Sarah O’Carroll for the Morehead-Cain Foundation, home of the first merit scholarship program in the United States and located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You can let us know what you thought of the episode by finding us on Twitter or Instagram at @moreheadcain or you can email us at communications@moreheadcain.org.