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    Amber Brandner

    Led by curiosity and an unwavering belief in our collective potential.

  • Humanity Centered Design

    Amber Brandner stands at the forefront of fostering inclusive cultures through strategic and creative methodologies. With a deep-rooted belief in the power of authentic collaboration and thoughtful creation, she guides organizations and individuals in building environments where diverse perspectives thrive, and the highest good for all arrives.

     

    Her approach underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing missing voices, unspoken stakeholders, and unconscious biases that can hinder team dynamics and project success. As a seasoned producer and director, notably of the docu-short 'Between Narratives,' Amber adeptly weaves the voices of the collective to explore our current realities and give shape to the narratives directing our future. Her extensive leadership experience includes TEDx, National Science Foundation, World Economic Forum Global Shapers, and Singularity University. Currently, Amber is a Principal at A-Frame Venture Studio, Entrepreneur in Residence at UCSD Office of Innovation and Commercialization, contributes to the Advisory Board at the Center for Applied Ethics and Values in Emerging Technology at UCSC, and serves as head of community partnerships and collaborations with Generation Impact a nonprofit in the City of San Diego.

     

  • CURRENTLY CREATING

    ...

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    Working with founders and investors in acquisitions and in-house product development. Leading teams focused on Brand, Product, Partnerships, Experience, and People. A-Frame is rethinking capitalism, consumerism, and how we define value. Owner of Mirth Water.

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    All of Us Podcast is a place where we learn to take care of ourselves and each other to build communities where all of us belong. Supported by Camp Social and ETH Denver.

     

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    absoluteSUM Consulting

    Programming and Production through a unique lens tying together creative, community, strategy, and storytelling. Currently contributing to Center for Applied Ethics and Values in Emerging Technology at UCSB.

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    Living Between Narratives

    By delving into meaningful interviews with thought leaders and influencers, we aim to go beyond the surface-level excitement. Docu-style storytelling allows us to uncover the more profound insights, perspectives, and motivations shaping our future.

  • REFLECTIONS & TESTIMONIALS

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    “I have known and worked with Amber for over ten years within the San Diego startup scene, and during that time, I have continuously witnessed Amber's exceptional leadership and collaboration skills. Amber was an early adopter of lean startup practices--I believe it came naturally to her--which she applied to her numerous entrepreneurial endeavors, including hackathons, crowdfunding events, and mentoring programs. As Ambers colleague and mentor, I was able to witness her grassroots organizational capabilities, as well as her commitment to inclusion and empathy, more often than not as the leading proponent. It's incredible to witness the deep relationships she built across multiple innovation ecosystems, due to not only the value she provides but the authenticity of her presence."

     

    Brant Cooper

    NYT Bestselling Author The Lean Entrepreneur

    .

    "Working with Amber helped us build a framework to understand the value of community in building products through crowdsourcing. We discovered there is much to learn about communicating your stories and that you have to understand the value of what you are about to create. She is always looking for the best approach to reach the organizations' goals while sparking serendipity with our peers to achieve the goal in mind. Amber is forward-thinking, with an out-of-the-box mentality and full of energy."

     

    Claudio Cassio

    Nearsoft Head of Internal Innovation

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    Amber is grounded and highly focused on creating an engaged and inclusive environment for discussion. As the Guest Facilitator for The Time Will Tech Event, she worked with my colleagues and students throughout the behind-the-scenes process with passion and openness to teach. She was an integral part of the success of the event and helped us be intentional with our schedule to create a lasting message that transcended the event. It was a pleasure working with her, her calmness and people-focused approach to planning is exceptional.

     

    Lily Lapenna

    Founder and CEO GLEOW

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    Amber is the best community builder, curator I know. If you believe that everyone on this planet has a gift (or many gifts), I would say that without a doubt, Amber's gift is in bringing people together in beautiful, organic ways. If you combine that gift with her undying passion for the projects she believes in, then you have in Amber someone who is capable of creating emotionally resonant movements. Any company, brand, individual would be lucky to have Amber Brandner on their side as they try to capture the hearts and minds of their users/followers/costumers.

     

    Andres Shambleman,

    Previous VP of International Expansion Fiverr

    International Expansion Leader Airbnb

    .

    Beyond “greater than the sum of its parts”, Amber animates creative collaboration and community building in the spirit of “Absolute Sum”: everyone/everything adds value, opposites enhance rather than cancel out each other. Amber sees where the dots are and has an uncanny knack for connecting them in unexpected ways to deliver success. She is an agile and fearless changemaker as well as a committed and reliable worker and project partner. I had a front-row seat to Amber in action as producer/facilitator of the 2018 blockchain hackathon that our office hosted at UC San Diego, one of our more exceptional events – job very well done!

     

    Victoria Cajipe

    Associate Director, Physical Sciences Innovation at University of California San Diego

    .

    I've had the pleasure of working with Amber for the past decade in different capacities, including the San Diego Startup ecosystem, AbsoluteSum, and a number of challenges with local and global implications. She has always taken a leadership role in helping define and drive initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion leadership, with an innate ability to build consensus and collaboration. Her work in thought leadership and community building, combined with a strong sense of urgency in addressing today’s greatest challenges produces results that are timely and measurable. Amber is flexible and creates value as a leader or team member...and her passion is contagious!

     

    Tom Shultz

    previous Ideator VP Business Development and Sales

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    "Amber offers a contagion of brilliant impulses that seem to give new life to one's own ideas instilling confidence and a warm breath of collaboration almost effortlessly. In concrete terms, she takes a vision to another level by the sheer depth of interest and draws out elucidation with clear attention. My entire realm has become more and more defined and driven since we met her."

     

    James Drougas

    Founder Unoppresive Nonimperialistic Bargain Bookstore

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    "I discovered that I am not an expert in community and its natural extension of social media although my intent is to connect. I am old school in wanting to talk with everyone intimately but found that there are ways to do this in a digital format. Amber is a solid thinker with a body of curiosity lying at her fingertips. It's like hanging out with a TED curator."

     

    Heidi Rataj

    Director KPBS series re'flect

     

    .

    "Amber really puts things in a different perspective. She helped me to look at the bigger picture--not just the microcosms of my work. She really pulled back my focus to why I create, what I want to create, and who I create for. Amber is a mentor. Her positivity is bright and contagious. I'm really lucky to have crossed paths with her and have the opportunity to work with her.

     

    Clint Evangelista

    Sony

  • Human Connection and Belonging in the Coordination

    Voice at ETH Denver / DAO Denver / DeSci.Denver

    A conversation with Amber Brandner, Gary Sheng, Rachel Brissenden, Gloria Kimbwala, and Russell Ballard.

  • ABSOLUTESUM

     

     An initiative bringing communities together in a collaborative process exploring blockchain technology guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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    The San Diego Live Well Challenge included an evening expo, forum, collaborative hackathon, and incubator program in partnership with the University of California San Diego. 
     
    AbsoluteSUM has led hackathons at Chicago Blockchain Week, partnered with CIS to bring more students to blockchain, and supported nonprofits such as Pencils of Promise in designing a collaborative and educational exploration of blockchain technology. 
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  • PRESS

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    Leader Spotlight Podcast Interview

    Amber Brandner joins host Annette White-Klososky to discuss the importance of building inclusive communities, the power of our living our truth, as well as her own personal journey to becoming a leader in the spotlight.

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    SD Voyager Interview

    Life has been a golden thread of monumental moments, often only seen for their significance in a retrospective fashion when connected with the larger narrative, which indeed is ever changing. I find myself propelled in this life by curiosity, wondering what our story will be and what influences our collective belief in what is possible....

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    21 Cryptos

    a three page feature in the August 2018 issue of 21 cryptos decentreladies interview with iris discussing inclusion in blockchain and the effort of absoluteSUM.

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    Purdue Alumnus

    Winter 2017 issue

     

    Interviewed by purdue university alumni publication. a feature discussing the life and work of amber Brandner.

    Embodied Inclusion

    A call for a shift from merely talking about diversity and inclusion to embodying these values in the programming and representation of such events, highlighting the need for purposeful and meaningful missions to unite people beyond societal identities.

  • INTERVIEWS

    Asking the Questions

    Startup Grind

    Interview with Leslie Fishlock

    Amber interviews Leslie Fishlock founder of Geek Girls for this edition of Startup Grind San Diego.

    Startup Grind

    Interview with Brant Cooper

    Amber interviews NYT Best Selling author Brant Cooper for San Diego Startup Grind.

    All of Us

    Interview with Tomas Bjorkman

    Hear full-length All of Us interviews on Spotify and see shorts on Youtube.

  • PROGRAMMING + PRODUCTIONS

    LED BY CURIOSITY

    DEFINING HEALTH

    PROJECT LEAD

    Teams of researchers set out to understand how people are perceiving and live health day to day. Through individual stories and docu-style interviews, health was defined by the people of Barrio Logan.

    GLOBAL SHAPERS

    PRODUCER. CURATOR. PARTNERSHIPS.

    Women's Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is a day on which the work of Women entrepreneurs is observed and discussed, held at the University of San Diego; this is a United Nations Initiative. See other Global Shapers events and initiatives here.

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    C4H UCSD

    REDESIGN

    Worked closely with C4H Director, C4H Associate Director, along with a lead developer to rethink and redesign C4H highlighting the portfolio of projects. In addition to a website redesign, the Defining Heath research and film project. Produced a launch event for the new design and innovation building with an immersive art exhibit. Created branding materials for Health Futures Lab. Contributed to Earth 2.0 sessions.

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    NEAR x Singularity

    PRODUCTION.

    As a NEAR Entrepreneur in Residence, created a series of web3 education panel discussions and launched NearSpace a mastermind-style internal innovation space for the NEAR Community. I grew a small team of EIRs to assist in supporting grant applicants and collaborated with business development, education, and grants channels. Strengthening the ecosystem, and leading the Growth and Transparency Report.

    PRODUCTION TEAM

    Narratives are the front line of cultural transformation. A new story of what is possible ignites our imagination. Once enough people believe it, then culture changes. Once culture changes, everything changes, from companies to governments. This premise is what lead us to set foot on the Moon, to achieve civil liberties, to fight for freedom and justice. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals were a good start. Now it’s time to create compelling stories around how we went beyond them. We create opportunities to reverse engineer solutions and milestones and connect with funding.

    NEARSOFT SUMMIT

    IDEATION LAB + FACILITATION

    "Working with Amber helped us build a framework to understand the value of community in building products through crowdsourcing. We discovered there is much to learn about communicating your stories and that you have to understand the value of what you are about to create. She is always looking for the best approach to reach the organizations' goals while sparking serendipity with our peers to achieve the goal in mind. Amber is forward thinking, with an out of the box mentality and full of energy" Claudio Cassio

    Nearsoft Head of Internal Innovation

     

    TEDxAFC

    CO-DIRECTOR

    TEDxAmericasFinestCity 2012 Volunteer Coordinator for the La Jolla Playhouse main event. Creative Director for the 2013 TEDx Salon events CoDirector of TEDxAFC main event 2013.

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    ABSOLUTESUM

    PRODUCER + FACILITATOR

    We explore the AbsoluteSUM, by engaging communities in creative problem solving while embracing emerging technologies such as blockchain. Absolute solutions are conceptualized during all-in challenges where ideas are developed. Incubators are established with University partners and digitally connected around the globe with the ongoing support of a global community, mentorship, resources, and access to relationships with accelerators.

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    re'flect KPBS series

    DIGITAL PRESENCE + BRAND DEVELOPMENT

    re'flect, successful aging defined, is a mini-documentary series that highlights six vibrant older adults living life by their terms originally broadcast on KPBS San Diego in January 2017. Director Heidi Rataj Watch Trailer

    Overnight

    LAUNCH CATALYST

    Overnight is a mobile marketplace for travelers to book same day stays from local hosts. Considering the local and spontaneous elements of the brand, Amber worked with Overnight and Astrsk PR to launch in NYC, Coachella Valley, and San Francisco.

    SAN DIEGO STARTUP WEEK

    PRODUCER

    An initiative bringing the Startup community of San Diego together for informative, inspiring, and engaging events. Speaker series, live music, curation, and production.

    INNOVATORS COLLECTIVE

    PRINCIPAL + FACILITATOR

    Experiential learning labs foster collaboration and create space for innovation. Bringing the dynamism of the new economy to companies large and small through interactive hackathon-style workshops, growth hacking experiments, and digital media storytelling.

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    Crowdfund UP

    COPRODUCER + FACILITATOR

    A collaborative crowdfunding initiative bringing resources, social media, and mentorship to a cohort of entrepreneurs preparing to Crowdfund their ideas. Teams went on to collectively raise over $1 Million in Cohort 1. Concepted, led partnerships, curated mentors, and produced programming. Produced six crowdfunding videos and creative assets for campaigns.

    Coachella

    PRODUCER​

    An experiential production in collaboration with Overnight and RV Sherpa. offering a momentary small community in Coachella Valley with serious vibe setting intentions.

    West X PopUP

    PRODUCTION TEAM

    Technology and Art collide in a hidden space brought to life through the life force of the night and a collective of seriously talented individuals. Collaboration with the folks of Canvas Chicago.

  • Past Partners and Clients

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS

    CREATIVE DIRECTION. PRODUCTION RESOURCES. FULL STACK.

    Steph Johnson

    Producer

    In this piece Amber worked with Director Nathan Stone on a feature to be used on crowdfunding campaign.

    Lord Wallington

    Producer

    For Lord Wallington Amber worked again with Director Nathan Stone to deliver story driven crowdfunding video for veteran designer and tailor.

    La Sirena

    Producer

    The Sirena Insolente is a peaceful surf retreat a few hours west of Santiago, Chile. Warm and comforting tones accompany a playful and magical feeling to a simple existence.

    Hathaways

    Producer

    Capturing a session post concert, musical duo Hathaways preform outside in Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru. Additional footage captured throughout the surrounding area of San Blas.

    Corazon de Tierra

    Producer

    Just east of Ensenada Mexico lies Valle de Guadelupe home to the award winning Corazon de Tierra (in english The Heart of The Earth) a farm to table fine dining experience led by award winning Chef Diego Hernandez and paired with the onsite wine crafting of Vena Cava Vineyards.

  • GREEN GLOW PRODUCTIONS

    Visual articulation of the creative vision.

    PARIS. Alaniz

    Production Designer

    Production with Greenglow films featuring Georgia May Jagger. Producer Ignacio Morales

    Tesla

    Production Designer

    Production with Greenglow films, Director Jane Qian

    Distracted Driver

    Production Designer

    Production with Greenglow films.

    Director Kenlon Clark

    Mr. Rogers:

    A war hero

    Production Designer

    Production with Greenglow films.

    Director Kenlon Clark

  • THE DETAILS

    ENGAGING COMMUNITY IN CREATING OUR FUTURE

    SingularityU San Diego

    Abundance 360 Recap SessionChapter Leader and Inclusion Liaison

     

    At 220 Members, we’re one of the largest chapters in the U.S. community! And, over 700 participants have participated in our events...with many new friendships and connections forged.

     

    Quantum Computing and Drug Discovery,

    2021 Event

    • Dr. Mark Jackson is the Quantum Evangelist at Cambridge Quantum
    • Dr. Joseph Geraci
    • Julie Collens is the CEO and founder of Vivid Genomics
    • Ramzi Temani 
    • Genevieve LeMarchal is the Managing Director of Healthcare ventures for Expert Dojo

    Past Events:

    • XMed Exponential Medicine; November 6, 2018
    • Leading with Dignity; December 15, 2018
    • Visioneering and Ideation; February 26, 2019
    • Exploring Exponential Health Technologies; April 30, 2019
    • Motivating Power of a Massive Transformative Purpose; June 25, 2019
    • An Inside Look at Smart Cities; August 27, 2019
    • XMed Exponential Medicine; November 5, 2019
    • Precision Medicine - Taste of Health Nucleus; December 18, 2019
    • Conversation with Exponential Thinkers; March 31, 2020
    • Conversation with Exponential Thinkers; April 28, 2020
    • Exponential Youth; July 9, 2020
    • Abundance 360 Recap Session, 2021

    • How can Defi and Blockchain define New Economic Models?, 2021

    • Breaking Down Web3, May 2022

    CoOrganizer and Producer 2014 - 2016

     

    San Diego Tech Founders has grown to be a defining element of the San Diego startup community, whose organizers have founded or been involved with San Diego Startup Week, Xconomy Speaker Series, the SWARM investor event, Founders Fight club, Connected-Dreamers, San Diego Tech Coffee, Crowdfundup San Diego and Startup San Diego.

     

    Tech Founders Presents

    Justin Mares Author of Traction

    November 2015

     

    Norway Crowdfunding Playing Lean

    Consumer feedback workshop
    January 2015

     

    Tech Founders Presents

    Gary Ridge founder WD40

    December 2014

     

    Tech Founders Presents

    Charles Hudson Soft Tech VC

    April 2014

     

    Tech Founder Presents

    Dan Martel Founder Clarity.fm

    March 2014

     

    Tech Founders Presents

    Dave McClure

    February 2014

     

    Convergence SDSW and Tech Founders Demo Night January 2014

     

    SD Tech Founders is co-organized with Brant Cooper NYT BestSelling Author on Entrepreneurship.

    TEDxAmericasFinestCity

    PRODUCTIONS

    • TEDxAFC Speaker Bootcamp 2014 CoProducer
    • TEDxAFC Interactive Workshop Volunteer 2014
    • TEDxAFC at Main Event, Barrio Logan CoDirector 2013
    • TEDxAFC Wellness Salon 2013
    • TEDxAFC Story Salon June 2013
    • Speaker Bootcamp, 3rdSpace 2012
    • TEDxAFC at La Jolla, Volunteer Coordinator, Art Installation commissioner 2012

    INNOVATIONS

    2014 TEDxAmericasFinestCity Award

    An opportunity for startups and community projects: a first of it’s kind sponsorship from CrowdFund-UP granting participation in the next collective.CrowdFund-UP created by TEDxAmericasFinestCity past Director Amber Brandner and Founder of San Diego Co-Working Space, PreFAB, Brian Hawkins.

    Inspired by other global innovative TEDx initiatives such as TEDxAmsterdam, the organizers of TEDxAmericasFinestCity offer this as a soft launch of an award that will be ongoing from year to year.

     

    Sponsors and Partners:

    Prefab SD

    NinthLink

    MIND Research Institute

    University San Diego

    University California San Diego

    San Diego State University

    Microsoft

    San Diego Public Market

     

    About TEDxAmericasFinestCity

    TEDxAmericasFinestCity is a local, independently organized TEDx event operated under a license from TED, the globally influential nonprofit organization devoted to ideas worth spreading. TEDxAmericasFinestCity held its first event in May of 2011 at Scripps Seaside Forum, a beautiful venue where a sold out audience enjoyed 14 brilliant and innovative speakers. Since then TEDxAmericasFinestCity has held dozens of events in several San Diego communities, bringing the excitement and wonder of TEDx to thousands of San Diego’s most interesting, discerning people. TEDx attendees leave feeling inspired and connected to one another; our platform demonstrates to our audiences that we have more similarities than differences.

     

    To date we have showcased over 70 speakers at five large events including TEDxAFCWomens and TEDxAmericasFinestCity 2.0. The videos produced from the events have attracted over 250,000 view and counting.

    San Diego Startup Week

    #GoSanDiego Inspiring Innovation Event

    Executive Producer Event & Video

     

    San Diego City Policy Panel;

    Innovating a city from the inside out.

    Moderator: Kris Michell of the Downtown Partnership Panel Participants: Assembly member Brian Maienschein, Bill Fulton Mayor Faulconer’s designate on the innovation economy. City Council President Pro Tem Sherri Lightner, Sean Barr EDC’s VP of Economic Development

     

    Featured Musical Guest:

    • Sister Speak, SDMA Award Nominee
    • Gayle Skidmore SDMA Award Winner

     

    Speakers:

    • Scott Case Startup America CEO, Founding CTO Priceline
    •  Greg Horowitt Cofounder T2Ventures & Global CONNECT
    • Katie Rast, Founder FABLAB, 
    • Michael Sacca Founder Brandisty, Tiny Factory. Community Inspired
    • Jim Brown, Founder Bread & Salt Factory, Civic Innovation
    • Don Mirra, Art Innovator, Beyond the Lens 
    • Brian Hawkins, Founder PreFab, Fabrication and Collaboration
    • Miguel Buenrostro, Founder HUBSTN, A New Story 
    • Joseph Jackson: CoFounder, Bio Tech and Beyond. DIY-BIO Movement and Citizen Science.
    • Ari Hoffman, GOBIE, Be the Mayor
    • Parker Harris, Junto 
    • Neal Bloom, Founder Portfolium
    • Summer Rogers Founder NPRUV
    •  Nan Renner and Deborah Forster, Analog Facebook

     

    Conversation Canopies

    • ART OF SCIENCE & LEARNING Waterstock & Kate's Place
    • BINATIONAL HUBS: Discuss Innovation without borders
    • LOCAL AUTHORS Sharing Published Works
    • PREFAB: Fabrication, Crowdfunding, Collaborations
    • SAN DIEGO SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: Conversations

     

    World Economic Forum

    Global Shaper

    Curator San Diego HUB

     

    The Global Shapers Community is one of several multi-stakeholder communities at the World Economic Forum. Other communities include the Young Global Leaders, the Global Agenda Councils, and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs.

     

    Projects:

    • TEDxMonumento LiveStream Event at San Diego Public Library 2015
    • Womens Entrepreneurship Day Sponsored by USD featuring HeraHub founders Felena Hanson and Silvia Mah
    • Hera Venture Summit
    • Global Conversation community outreach series.
    • Panleist at Binational Model United Nations.

    Overnight

    Creative Consultant specializing in

    Community UX & Expansion to New Markets with mobile app Overnight, VC Backed Startup booking last minute stays with locals.

    • Produced top tier press release event.
    • Developed partnerships and aligned sponsorships for events. 
    • Developed custom art and branded swag with maker communities and local creatives. 
    • Produced video and photo assets.

    Markets:

    • NYC
    • San Francisco
    • Coachella Valley

     

    Featured Press:

    Executive Producer and CoOrganizer 2014

     

    Including: Web Design, Sponsorships, managing production of crowdfunding videos.

     

    Sponsored by

    • GoFundMe Crowdfunding Platform
    • California International Business University, founded in 1995 and focused on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship
    • PreFAB Space, a unique combination of co-working, pop-up retail, special event, and networking for entrepreneurs,

    Impact

    • Over 1 Million USD raised via crowdfunding  in cohort 1. 

     

    CrowdFund-UP  is a first-of-its-kind crowdfunding ‘hackathon’ which took place, over a period of 72 hours, with 8 Crowdfunding Campaigns produced, launched, and celebrated by a collective of passionate entrepreneurs.

     

    The month-long journey began with a Ridiculously Collaborative Launch Party, debuting participants such as Diane Serra Designer, Lord Wallington Menswear, Mammal Clothing, Steph Johnson Band, HUSH, Gov Alert, Lift & Twist Timed Pill Cap, and The Undress Invention.

     

    CrowdFund-UP is co-organized by Brian Hawkins, a serial entrepreneur and professor.

     

    TEDxMonumento

    LiveStream Event Producer 2015

    A Global Shapers Project

     

    TEDxMonumento258 began as a collaboration between the organizers of TEDxSanDiego and TEDxTijuanain 2013. The basic idea was to conduct a cross-border TEDx event. Stages would be constructed on either side of the border and the program would consist of speakers alternating their talks; one on the U.S. side, followed by one on the Mexico side. Although a fence exists between these two countries, the fence is not solid, allowing attendees on each side to witness the talks taking place in the other country.

     

    A number of names were considered for the event, but after a visit to Playas de Tijuana, where the border meets the Pacific Ocean, Boundary Monument 258 became the primary focus, with TEDxMonumento258 selected as the event title, along with the theme, Ideas Without Borders.

     

    The significance of Monument 258 dates back to the point at which two countries – the United States and Mexico – were physically divided by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that was signed on February 2, 1848. Since that time these two cities – San Diego and Tijuana – continued to grow, though under very different circumstances. This event seeks to understand the history of this binational region, the success achieved and challenges that remain between these two diverse cultures some 167 years later, and highlight the opportunities which are unfolding within this unique location, and the larger CaliBaja MegaRegion.

     

     

    National Science Foundation

    Art of Science and Learning Incubator at Balboa Park, addressing Water Scarcity.

     

    Mentor with team WaterStock addressing the issue of gaining awareness for water conservation through a city wide event.

     

    Waterstock Site Description

    Waterstock is an interactive music and arts festival that promotes a DIY attitude toward water conservation by encouraging behavioral change through gamification. Not simply a concert for a cause or just another music and arts festival to boost awareness. We want to see you change your behaviors toward water to maintain our stock. Not only are we innovative, we want you to innovate with us. The art and music festival is:

    • Aesthetically and sonically exciting, featuring DIY water-saving solutions combined with live music and performance, public and interactive art.
    • Gamified to let you see your own and others’ impact on our water supply.
    • Participatory to let you showcase your stock in our water’s future.

    Waterstock had presence at several events throughout San Diego, raising awareness and aligning community in a shared initiative to conserve water.

     

    Defining Health -BuildingH

    UC San Diego Center for Health Design

     

    We are interested in reimagining the routines of everyday life – how we eat, sleep, live, get from place to place, socialize, and entertain ourselves – with health and wellbeing as explicit design goals.

    We live in an era characterized by the steadily growing prevalence of chronic diseases that are closely connected with lifestyles, or people’s everyday behaviors. These behaviors, however, occur in contexts — the built environment that surrounds us, the products and services we buy and use, our socioeconomic status and resources, and cultural norms.

    This design project examines the broader, national trends — and opportunities — at a personal and local level in Barrio Logan, and, as such, generates insights on the possibilities and challenges.

     

    COLLABORATORS

    • Heidi Rataj UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH
    • Eli Spencer UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH
    • Amber Brandner - Film Director and Project Lead, Defining Health
    • Grace Zheng - Project Lead, Defining Health
    • Drew McGills - Director of Photography
    • Steve Downs - Defining Health Mentor, Cofounder, Building H
    • Rochelle Ardesher - Principle, HealthMade Design

     

    Event support team

     

    On the 75th anniversary of the historic forum, experts from across disciplines convened in Bretton Woods to study the original frameworks created and their application today. Diverse perspectives on data and outcomes will meet classic and emerging theories on technology, sustainability, collaboration & more.

    • Retrospective of Bretton Woods Institutions
    • Whole Systems Economic Design
    • Evolution of Money & Rethinking Value
    • Governing the Commons
    • The 4th Industrial Revolution: Emergent Ethics
    • Learning from the Financial Crisis
    • Ecological Economics & the Evolution of Capital
    • Geopolitics of Money
    • The Evolution of Central Banks
    • Sustainable Economic Development
    • Economics of Climate Change
    • Municipal Economics & Local Innovation
    • Planet or Plastic?
    • Building a Caring Economy
    • Lessons from Emerging Markets on Global Cooperation
    • Spiral Dynamics & the Emerging Values of Humanity
    • Access & Empowerment for Women
    • The Future of Global Reserve Currencies

    Select organizations represented include:

    IMF, World Bank, World Wildlife Fund, CARE, Poverty Action Lab, Brookings Institute, Holochain, RL Leaders, Council on Foreign Relations, Human Rights Foundation, Buckminster Fuller Institute, Long Now Foundation, The Bretton Woods Committee, The Nature Conservancy, MIT Innovation Lab, US Federal Reserve, Financial Times, MEMEnomics Group, Schumacher Center, Institute for New Economic Thinking, Bloomberg News, & Crooked Media

    Entrepreneur Day

    Event Producer and facilitator, 2014

     

    An event produced for

    California International Business University

     

    B Corp Workshop

     

    Retail and Manufacturing Workshop

     

    Future trends panel discussion with

    Lauren Avenius, Sony Electronics

    Patricia Stitson, TEDxElCajonKIds

    Shannon McCarey LiveGoode

    Jessie Gardner Founder at HeySoul

     

    Live Music by Luneaux

    Geek Girls

    Facilitator & Speaker

    2013, 2014, 2015

     

    Geek Girl empowers women & girls (and dudes!) of all ages and all financial levels in technology, from beginner newbie to startup savant.

     

    Productions

    Whova

    Brand Ambassador, Partnerships 2014

     

    The easiest way to build event apps that help event organizers print less, attract more sponsors, and boost attendee networking & engagement

     

    Whova has been incorporated into Geek Girls, TEDx, Tech Founders, Tijuana Hackathon.

    Maker Faire San Diego

    Keynote Binational Stage Balboa Park, 2015

    The art of team building and the essence of communicating your brands mission.

     

    About the event and contest:

    This contest seeks to boost entrepreneurship through the contestants’ exposure to an experience similar to the real world and attract investment for their projects, promote young entrepreneurs from both sides of the border in an academic environment, providing a platform to discuss their ideas and experiences, encourage the creation and strengthening of binational networking bonds.

     

    3rdSpace

    Community Member & Event Production

    Coworking & Club For The Creative, is a dynamic hub for creative entrepreneurs, startups, and change makers in San Diego.

    • Human Rights Crowdfunding Launch Event 2013, with live music, art exhibit, storytelling and afterparty.  
    • Convergence SDSW with Pitch Night, Art installation, live muscial performances and DJ bringing together over 300 entrepreneurs and startup enthusiaist for a night of connection and pure fun. 

    REFLECT a KPBS series

    Re'flect, successful aging defined, is a new documentary series that highlights six vibrant older adults living life by their terms. This series provides a fresh and inspiring look at aging successfully and insight into the active and engaged world of today’s seniors who are living out loud and defying stereotypes associated with aging. Their stories unfold through interviews, day-in-the-life footage, and archival materials. Also featured are the many healthy living opportunities San Diego affords seniors, from work to play to volunteering, and everything in between. RE’FLECT will broadcast on KPBS San Diego in January 2017.

     

    *Amber worked developing digital presence for the series and helped bridge the personal brand of the director. Amber took on creative direction of website design, development and outgoing communications.

    IMPACTSD

    Brand Strategy and Community Building, Workshop 2015

     

    IMPACT SD is an alliance of high impact non profits, private sector, and educational orgs working together to create a larger scale impact in San Diego.  Emphasis on high growth with sustainable results. 

    Startup Weekend

    Mentor Startup Weekend EDU 2015, 2016

     

    Startup Weekend Womens Perfect Pitch Talk:

    Participants were prepped on the weekend before them with an informal informative talk covering technical and nontechnical elements of the pitch.

    Tijuana Hackathon

    Binational Hackathon for Social Good.

    Keynote Idea Lifecycle.

     

    Partners:

    • Angel Ventures Mexico
    • HUBSTN
    • Ideator
    • Global Shapers

    StartUP Grind Host

    Interview with Leslie Fishlock

    Founder of Geek Girls

     

    Interview with Brant Cooper

    NYT Bestselling Author

    The Lean Entrepreneur

    The Lean Brand

    CoFounder Moves The Needle

    Prefab

    Producer and Event Organizer, 2014

    Prefab is an unique co-working and event space.

    • Concert Series
    • Art Shows
    • PopUp Shops
    • CrowdfundUP

    Collective 1939

    Founder of a Coworking accelerator for a collective of neoteric entrepreneurs, innovators & creatives bringing ideas to life.

     

    Productions include the

    • Naked Truth of the Creative Life multi-sensory immersion event
    • "They Lives" Gender Equality through a nonbinary lens with UN Panelist,
    • "He Named Me Malala" viewing event
    • Global Shapers Conversations of Connection.

    Courageous Voices

    CoCreated with Carolina Grace MFT

     

    We live in a time that calls for bravery, every one of us is needed in this evolution. Your Voice can transform darkness into light, fear into love, and chaos into understanding.

     

    Our Voice is a powerful tool for change, inside each one of us is a unique story that only we can tell. When we come together in trust, the context created is courage, empowering us to discover, define, and share our ultimate truth. No one person holds the answers.

     

    How we come together reveals our collective path forward and provides a new scope of possibility. It is through our vulnerability that our depth is unveiled and our potential is actualized. The identities we wear are not permanent fixtures when we allow the space for the transformation of self and use our voices courageously, we allow all of who we are to show up fully and through this act give permission for everyone around us to BE the dynamic beings WE ARE.

     

    What we work with:

    • Embodiment and Presence• Incorporating a Fun, Spirited Exploration of the Power of our Individual and Collective Voices• Opening up the Voice with your highest State of Self• Claiming your story• Connecting your story with your Community• Using your story to make an impact• The Art of Public Speaking, Speak like a JEDI!!!• Learn a universal language, which allows our stories to reach millions.

     

     

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