CCI LIVE 2023 Virtual Conference

Mentor Dida
Mentor Dida is a changemaker with over a decade of experience as a storyteller, youth champion, and social entrepreneur. Before launching his business, Mentor co-led initiatives in business, education, and technology, collaborating with innovators globally through his work at Ashoka. His portfolio includes leading diverse projects for prestigious organizations such as the U.S. State Department, USAID, Yale Center for Social Emotional Intelligence, IDEO, Facebook, T-Mobile, and Stanford University. Mentor excels in managing and facilitating both virtual and in-person learning experiences, empowering business leaders, educators, social entrepreneurs, and young changemakers to unlock their innovative potential to create change. At his core, he is a conscious leader who thrives on connecting with people and fostering collaborative impact, driven by a personal mission to spread compassion and joy.

Luisa Trujillo Lopez (Colombia, NOVA – Annandale, Business, 2019-20)
Meet Luisa Dahianna, a Colombian digital marketer and former teacher, navigating the exciting realms of communication and interpersonal skills. Her journey unfolds from the coffee fields of Colombia to the vibrant landscape of India. She believes that positive change ignites from individual consciousness.
Hailing from a Colombian coffee farm, Luisa champions the cause of high-quality, ethical coffee production. It’s more than just coffee; it’s about ensuring the process benefits the community, echoing her conviction that we are all interconnected.
During 2019-2020, Luisa participated in the CCI Program, studying Leadership Development at NOVA. This experience broadened her perspective, infusing her communicative approach with a profound understanding of leadership dynamics.
Currently stationed in India, Luisa infuses her role as a digital marketer with a multicultural flair, seamlessly weaving together creativity and innovative practices.
Luisa’s philosophy is simple yet profound: positive change commences with individual growth. Her mission is to inspire a collective commitment to personal development, envisioning a world where every shared thought has the potential to impact through the art of public speaking and interpersonal skills. Join us on this transformative journey towards a better world.

Hamdia Yakubu (Ghana, Kirkwood, Media, 2020-21)
Yakubu Hamdiatu is a Communication Officer and final year student of Tamale Technical University offering BTech. Media and Communication Studies based in Ghana- West Africa, specializing in Development Communication. With a passion for development communication, she has 4 years of experience working in the developmental space. She is a CCI Program alumni from the year 2020-21 and studied Journalism and Media at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
In addition to her professional pursuits, she is interested in horticulture and psychology hence, her intent to have a vegetable farm someday and study psychology as well. She believes in the power of learning by doing and hopes to inspire others without being the spotlight.

Tantoh Nforba (Cameroon, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Agriculture, 2010-11)
Tantoh Nforba grew up learning to love and grow plants in his grandmother’s garden in Cameroon. This early connection with the soil inspired Tantoh to study farming – today he proudly calls himself Farmer Tantoh. A bout of typhoid impressed upon Tantoh the need for clean water and the link between a healthy environment and healthy people.
Today, Farmer Tantoh runs a non-for-profit organization, The Farmer Tantoh Foundation, providing food, clean drinking water and gardens for thousands of people.
In acknowledgment of his work, Tantoh Nforba was elected an ASHOKA fellow in Washington, DC in 2012 and a Making More Health Fellow in 2022.

Maria Eiman (Pakistan, NOVA – Alexandria, Early Childhood Education, 2017-18)
Maria Eiman is a passionate advocate for social change and empowerment, currently serving as a Civil Society Officer at the Aga Khan Development Network. Their focus lies in driving socio-economic empowerment initiatives for women in the challenging landscapes of northern Pakistan. Working from an area with minimal basic facilities and limited community awareness about women’s rights and safety, Maria is dedicated to bridging these gaps.
In addition to her role at the Aga Khan Development Network, Maria also holds the position of Youth Group Director at the Pakistan U.S. Alumni Network. Through this role, they spearhead engaging developmental activities by providing grants and organizing awareness sessions. Her efforts culminate in annual alumni reunions, fostering a robust network and offering valuable learning opportunities for all participants.
Owing to her outstanding contributions to women’s empowerment initiatives, Maria has earned the esteemed appointment as the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women in Gilgit Baltistan, accorded by the Government of Gilgit Baltistan. In this role, they continue to lead and advocate for women’s rights, fostering a more inclusive and empowered society.