Advisory Board

MAUREEN ELLIOT: SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING, ESPN
Maureen oversees VIP Experiences and ticketing operations across global events such as the FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend, and Wimbledon. A two-time BizBash honoree and founding member of the BizBash Sports Advisory Board, Maureen brings unmatched expertise in live event strategy and execution.

SHIRIN GHAREEB: FOUNDER, ARAB SIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
Shirin is Deputy Director of the Washington, DC International Film Festival and Founder of the Arabian Sights Film Festival. A recognized expert in Arab cinema, she has spent over 30 years amplifying underrepresented voices in film. She is a Georgetown and Johns Hopkins graduate, and was named one of the 100 Most Important Names in Arab Film.

NIKA KUMALO: CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTER & BOXING SOUTH AFRICA COMMISSIONER
Nika is a former world-champion boxing contender turned entrepreneur, investor, and community leader. He founded Box Science and Brotherhood of Elite South Africa, and previously built and sold ventures in retail and fuel services. Kumalo is also an active board member of South Africa’s National Boxing ratings committee and a passionate advocate for youth development.

KARLA MARTIN: OUTSIDE BOARD MEMBER, SAVAGE X FENTY
Karla is a globally recognized leader in retail strategy, AI, and digital transformation. A General Partner at BrainTrust Fund and former executive at Deloitte, Google, and Booz & Company, she has advised and scaled some of the world’s top retail and tech companies. She is also the co-author of a top-ten Harvard Business Review article, a board leader at Savage X Fenty, and a frequent speaker at global innovation summits.

DARREN PRINCE: MARKETING EXECUTIVE
Darren is a celebrity agent, bestselling author, and global recovery advocate. As CEO of Prince Marketing Group, he represents legends like Magic Johnson, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair. With over 16 years in sobriety, Darren is also the founder of the Aiming High Foundation and a leading voice in addiction recovery, featured in The New York Times, CNN, USA Today, and more.

JANE SHAO: FOUNDER OF LUMIERE & FIRST CFA IN CHINA
Jane is the Founder and Executive Director of ChinaPlex Network Limited and Lumiere Limited, one of China’s leading media companies focused on film exhibition, distribution, and production. With over two decades of leadership in media, finance, and investment, she previously served as Managing Director at Istithmar World and held Vice President roles at J.P. Morgan and Credit Suisse First Boston. Jane is also a long-standing member of the CFA Institute's Board of Governors. Her cross-sector experience and global perspective have positioned her as a trusted voice in media, capital markets, and cultural enterprise development.

IVANE VANIKO TARKHNISHVILLI: DIRECTOR, ADJARA GROUP HOLDING
Ivane (Vaniko) is a Georgian business and creative industries leader with more than two decades of experience spanning hospitality, real estate development, fashion, and entertainment. As Director of Adjara Group Holding and former Managing Director of Adjara Group, he has been instrumental in transforming Georgia’s lifestyle and hospitality landscape through pioneering hotels and landmark cultural projects. Fluent in Georgian, English, German, and Russian, he is recognized for blending creative vision with commercial strategy to advance Georgia’s global profile

FATOUMATA TOURE: CHIEF OF STAFF, MINISTRY OF PLANNING & INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, GUINEA
Fatoumata is an accomplished banking and development executive with over 15 years of experience in finance, governance, and public policy. She currently serves as Board Member and Acting Director General of the Banque de Développement de Guinée, and also sits on the boards of Africa Gold, Africa Synergy, and the Société Guinéenne d’Exploitation des Mines et Métaux. Previously, she was Chief of Staff at Guinea’s Ministry of Tourism and a Private Banker with PNC Bank in Washington, D.C.

JOHN R. THOMPSON III: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MONUMENTAL BASKETBALL
One of the highest-ranking African American executives in the NBA ecosystem, John is a senior basketball executive and strategist whose career bridges championship-level coaching and front-office leadership. A Princeton graduate and former head coach at both Princeton and Georgetown, he now serves as Senior Vice President of Monumental Basketball, overseeing athlete development and organizational strategy. The son of Hall of Fame coach John Thompson Jr., he carries forward a legacy of excellence—bringing intellectual rigor, cultural fluency, and generational credibility to the business of sport.