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Team


Shahrukh Malik
Founder
Shahrukh has a strong understanding of selective admissions processes and outcomes. Discovering his calling for working with students, he moved from heading a multi-national company to full-time college consulting two years ago. He has particular expertise in working with high school students seeking selective undergraduate universities, and with graduate MBA applicants.
Shahrukh was born in Montréal and has lived in the US, Canada, UK, France, China, and Thailand. As a curious and tireless traveler, he has also visited 68 countries for work and leisure. He is passionate about studying world cultures and anthropology.
He received his bachelor’s in Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Management from Johns Hopkins University. He holds two separate MBA degrees, from Columbia University NY and London Business School. He is a committed golfer, playing off a single handicap. Most importantly, Shahrukh is dedicated to his wife and two young children.
Shahrukh has a strong understanding of selective admissions processes and outcomes. Discovering his calling for working with students, he moved from heading a multi-national company to full-time college consulting two years ago. He has particular expertise in working with high school students seeking selective undergraduate universities, and with graduate MBA applicants.
Shahrukh was born in Montréal and has lived in the US, Canada, UK, France, China, and Thailand. As a curious and tireless traveler, he has also visited 68 countries for work and leisure. He is passionate about studying world cultures and anthropology.
He received his bachelor’s in Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Management from Johns Hopkins University. He holds two separate MBA degrees, from Columbia University NY and London Business School. He is a committed golfer, playing off a single handicap. Most importantly, Shahrukh is dedicated to his wife and two young children.


Christopher Pinnisi
Advisor
Chris Pennisi, has an MBA from Columbia Business School and an MBA from London Business School, and has previously completed his Bachelor of Science in Business at Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business.
Chris has spent his career in global digital infrastructure. He currently is part of the Executive team at Turbidite, an edge Data Center platform focusing on building facilities across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. Previously, Chris held a Vice President role at Global Cloud Xchange, one of the largest owner-operators of subsea fiber optic cables based in Asia. Within his role at Global Cloud Xchange, Chris led the US sales and engineering teams working with Fortune 500 clients on large scale infrastructure deployments across the Middle East, India and APAC regions.
Chris is a dedicated father of two and is passionate about the expansion of digital infrastructure across the developing world.
Chris Pennisi, has an MBA from Columbia Business School and an MBA from London Business School, and has previously completed his Bachelor of Science in Business at Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business.
Chris has spent his career in global digital infrastructure. He currently is part of the Executive team at Turbidite, an edge Data Center platform focusing on building facilities across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. Previously, Chris held a Vice President role at Global Cloud Xchange, one of the largest owner-operators of subsea fiber optic cables based in Asia. Within his role at Global Cloud Xchange, Chris led the US sales and engineering teams working with Fortune 500 clients on large scale infrastructure deployments across the Middle East, India and APAC regions.
Chris is a dedicated father of two and is passionate about the expansion of digital infrastructure across the developing world.


Lixia Zhu
Advisor
Lixia is an executive with dynamic and wide ranging payment experience in banking and merchant service industries, conceiving and implementing innovative digital payment solutions, including crypto, network tokenization, digital pay wallets, eCommerce, and treasury service products, including Automated Clearing House (ACH), Real Time Payment, Faster Payment, Wire, and SWIFT.
Nearly a decade's leadership experience with First Data Corporation(now Fiserv) and JPMorgan Chase holding positions including Product Strategy Director, Product Owner, Product Manager, Technical Business Analyst, and Project Manager. She holds a master's degree from University of Florida; two certifications.
She has a dual MBA from Columbia University in New York and the London Business School. Lixia is passionate about dancing and a running enthusiast, she resides in Manhattan, New York.
Lixia is an executive with dynamic and wide ranging payment experience in banking and merchant service industries, conceiving and implementing innovative digital payment solutions, including crypto, network tokenization, digital pay wallets, eCommerce, and treasury service products, including Automated Clearing House (ACH), Real Time Payment, Faster Payment, Wire, and SWIFT.
Nearly a decade's leadership experience with First Data Corporation(now Fiserv) and JPMorgan Chase holding positions including Product Strategy Director, Product Owner, Product Manager, Technical Business Analyst, and Project Manager. She holds a master's degree from University of Florida; two certifications.
She has a dual MBA from Columbia University in New York and the London Business School. Lixia is passionate about dancing and a running enthusiast, she resides in Manhattan, New York.


Marina Ulanovskaya
Advisor
Marina has over 13 years of experience in strategy, consulting, and finance roles across Europe, Middle East & Africa and Asia. She started her career in PwC as an audit and advisory consultant for Oil & Gas industry, followed by CAS leadership program in General Electric. Currently she leads AMEA region controllership for Bacardi Limited and a board member of a start-up in South Africa. Marina was nominated by the management team for the NextGen leadership program recognizing top 2% young performers as the future global leaders of Bacardi in 2017.
Marina holds MSc in Chemistry from M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and MBA from London Business School. She is passionate about women's development and mentors young female professionals from emerging markets under ACCA alumni mentoring program.
In her free time, Marina enjoys yoga, golf & mindfulness practices.
Marina has over 13 years of experience in strategy, consulting, and finance roles across Europe, Middle East & Africa and Asia. She started her career in PwC as an audit and advisory consultant for Oil & Gas industry, followed by CAS leadership program in General Electric. Currently she leads AMEA region controllership for Bacardi Limited and a board member of a start-up in South Africa. Marina was nominated by the management team for the NextGen leadership program recognizing top 2% young performers as the future global leaders of Bacardi in 2017.
Marina holds MSc in Chemistry from M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and MBA from London Business School. She is passionate about women's development and mentors young female professionals from emerging markets under ACCA alumni mentoring program.
In her free time, Marina enjoys yoga, golf & mindfulness practices.


Neha Dhingra
Advisor
Neha is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in semiconductor industry. With her expertise in evaluating semiconductor infrastructure requirements for scalability she has lead startups and ramps for green and yellow field high volume Semiconductor Fabs. She has diverse management experience in Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Project Management and Construction departments in some of world’s largest logic and memory chip manufacturers. Neha has been awarded GM Leadership Award for improving employee engagement and increasing retention in organization.
She holds three master’s degree; two in business administration and one in chemical engineering from Columbia Business School, London Business School and University of Florida respectively. Her Bachelors is in Chemical Engineering from NIT and she holds CORe certification from Harvard Business School.
Her passion to empower young professionals to unlock their full potential has kept her engaged in P-tech mentor program, NY and SWE chapters in various universities.
Neha is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in semiconductor industry. With her expertise in evaluating semiconductor infrastructure requirements for scalability she has lead startups and ramps for green and yellow field high volume Semiconductor Fabs. She has diverse management experience in Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Project Management and Construction departments in some of world’s largest logic and memory chip manufacturers. Neha has been awarded GM Leadership Award for improving employee engagement and increasing retention in organization.
She holds three master’s degree; two in business administration and one in chemical engineering from Columbia Business School, London Business School and University of Florida respectively. Her Bachelors is in Chemical Engineering from NIT and she holds CORe certification from Harvard Business School.
Her passion to empower young professionals to unlock their full potential has kept her engaged in P-tech mentor program, NY and SWE chapters in various universities.


Denny
Advisor
Denny is a co-founder of YBC NYC. Young Business Club of New York City is an organization of young self-made entrepreneurs, start-up founders, business owners, and investors doing business in New York Greater Area.
According to the results of the Ukrainian Legal Ranking, "The Legal Newspaper" named him among the TOP-100 best lawyers and the TOP-15 in the practices of Alternative Dispute Resolution, International Law and Foreign Economic Activity, Bankruptcy and Debt Restructuring.
Denny holds two separate MBAs, one from Columbia Business School and the other London Business School, further he has a masters degree in International Relations from the University of Hertfordshire. He completed his LLM from the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University.
Some personal facts about Denny. He's a very positive self-made entrepreneur, an international businessman, who has visited more than 30 countries and has crossed four seas on a sailing yacht. He's a fan of electric cars, technology, fashion, and golf. He is happily married, has a daughter and a lovely Scottish Fold Cat.
Denny is a co-founder of YBC NYC. Young Business Club of New York City is an organization of young self-made entrepreneurs, start-up founders, business owners, and investors doing business in New York Greater Area.
According to the results of the Ukrainian Legal Ranking, "The Legal Newspaper" named him among the TOP-100 best lawyers and the TOP-15 in the practices of Alternative Dispute Resolution, International Law and Foreign Economic Activity, Bankruptcy and Debt Restructuring.
Denny holds two separate MBAs, one from Columbia Business School and the other London Business School, further he has a masters degree in International Relations from the University of Hertfordshire. He completed his LLM from the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University.
Some personal facts about Denny. He's a very positive self-made entrepreneur, an international businessman, who has visited more than 30 countries and has crossed four seas on a sailing yacht. He's a fan of electric cars, technology, fashion, and golf. He is happily married, has a daughter and a lovely Scottish Fold Cat.


Zari Zahra
Advisor
Zari Zahra is an experienced Product Leader and cofounder of leading digital enablement platform Spekit. She is a Harvard Business School MBA whose prior experience includes building web and mobile apps for companies including Pandora, SquareTrade, RealtyShares and Rakuten.
Zari built and led Spekit - the leading platform for onboarding and training remote teams - as Chief Product and Technology Officer from founding till May 2022. The Spekit product works in any tool - instantly with the B2B sales stack applications to make day to day role mastery contextual and intelligent.
The company raised over $45 million in Series B funding led by Craft Ventures, with participation from Felicis, Operator Collective, Matchstick Ventures, Renegade Partners, Foundry Group and Bonfire Ventures, as covered by Forbes. It was one of the first female-founded companies to raise funding of this calibre in Pakistan, bringing the company’s total funds raised to $60 million.
She enjoys reading a good mystery, playing with her dog Rumi, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Zari Zahra is an experienced Product Leader and cofounder of leading digital enablement platform Spekit. She is a Harvard Business School MBA whose prior experience includes building web and mobile apps for companies including Pandora, SquareTrade, RealtyShares and Rakuten.
Zari built and led Spekit - the leading platform for onboarding and training remote teams - as Chief Product and Technology Officer from founding till May 2022. The Spekit product works in any tool - instantly with the B2B sales stack applications to make day to day role mastery contextual and intelligent.
The company raised over $45 million in Series B funding led by Craft Ventures, with participation from Felicis, Operator Collective, Matchstick Ventures, Renegade Partners, Foundry Group and Bonfire Ventures, as covered by Forbes. It was one of the first female-founded companies to raise funding of this calibre in Pakistan, bringing the company’s total funds raised to $60 million.
She enjoys reading a good mystery, playing with her dog Rumi, and spending quality time with family and friends.


Bo Zhao
Advisor
Bo is an experienced technology investment professional with expertise in evaluating opportunities across venture capital, growth equity and buy-out private equity. His investment domain experience has spanned across artificial intelligence, ICT, FinTech, PropTech, robotics and other emerging technologies. For his investments, he has representation on board committees and has responsibility for overseeing strategy and governance matters. Furthermore, he is a co-founder of a technology platform promoting sustainability in the sharing economy.
He has an extensive global professional experience, which has taken him to working in New York, London, the Middle East and Asia. During this time, he has held various leadership roles while enjoying working across diverse cultures. He is personally passionate about travelling, gastronomy and football.
He holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is a graduate from Columbia Business School, London Business School and the University of Nottingham.
Bo is an experienced technology investment professional with expertise in evaluating opportunities across venture capital, growth equity and buy-out private equity. His investment domain experience has spanned across artificial intelligence, ICT, FinTech, PropTech, robotics and other emerging technologies. For his investments, he has representation on board committees and has responsibility for overseeing strategy and governance matters. Furthermore, he is a co-founder of a technology platform promoting sustainability in the sharing economy.
He has an extensive global professional experience, which has taken him to working in New York, London, the Middle East and Asia. During this time, he has held various leadership roles while enjoying working across diverse cultures. He is personally passionate about travelling, gastronomy and football.
He holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is a graduate from Columbia Business School, London Business School and the University of Nottingham.


Andrew Ushakov
Advisor
Andrew is a passionate leader with strong skills in business and engineering. He is a founder at 4 companies, including Genpro, a renowned architectural & engineering design company with 500+ specialists & iconic projects worldwide, and Scalarr, a cybersecurity IT company with focus on IoT and edge computing technologies.
Andrew holds 3 Master degrees in engineering, economics, and business administration (Columbia University, London Business School, Kharkiv National University), along with several record-breaking climbings to the highest mountains in Antarctica and South America.
Aside his work, Andrew leads “Help Kharkiv”, a strong team of volunteers in his native city, delivering humanitarian kits to thousands of Ukrainians, affected by war, every week.
A happy father, husband and son.
Andrew is a passionate leader with strong skills in business and engineering. He is a founder at 4 companies, including Genpro, a renowned architectural & engineering design company with 500+ specialists & iconic projects worldwide, and Scalarr, a cybersecurity IT company with focus on IoT and edge computing technologies.
Andrew holds 3 Master degrees in engineering, economics, and business administration (Columbia University, London Business School, Kharkiv National University), along with several record-breaking climbings to the highest mountains in Antarctica and South America.
Aside his work, Andrew leads “Help Kharkiv”, a strong team of volunteers in his native city, delivering humanitarian kits to thousands of Ukrainians, affected by war, every week.
A happy father, husband and son.


Brian Gorski
Advisor
Brian has experience in consulting, finance, and executive leadership. His professional career has been focused largely on the mining and construction industries. He began his career as an engineering consultant working on the development of mining projects around the world, subsequently joining the mining finance team at ING Capital in NYC, providing capital to new projects and corporates. He has held CFO and advisory positions and is currently the President of a heavy civil construction company operating across the Eastern US.
Brian holds a BSc in Mining Engineering from Colorado School of Mines, a professional engineer designation (P.E.) in the state of New York, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He enjoys mentoring young professionals interested in business and finance. In his free time, Brian enjoys travelling, spending time with his family, yoga, golf, and snowboarding.
Brian has experience in consulting, finance, and executive leadership. His professional career has been focused largely on the mining and construction industries. He began his career as an engineering consultant working on the development of mining projects around the world, subsequently joining the mining finance team at ING Capital in NYC, providing capital to new projects and corporates. He has held CFO and advisory positions and is currently the President of a heavy civil construction company operating across the Eastern US.
Brian holds a BSc in Mining Engineering from Colorado School of Mines, a professional engineer designation (P.E.) in the state of New York, and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He enjoys mentoring young professionals interested in business and finance. In his free time, Brian enjoys travelling, spending time with his family, yoga, golf, and snowboarding.


Miguel Munoz
Advisor
Miguel is a petroleum engineer and global energy professional with over 17 years of industry experience. Miguel has worked at Total E&P USA, Schlumberger, and Apache Corporation in Houston Texas. At Apache, Miguel has acted on roles of increasing responsibilities across Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and most recently internationally in Cairo Egypt. In Egypt, Miguel held the position of Engineering General Manager of Qarun Petroleum Corporation, a joint venture company between Apache Egypt, SINOPEC, and the Egyptian National Petroleum Company overseeing production and engineering operations across the Egyptian Western Desert.
Miguel holds a BSc from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and MBAs from Columbia University in the City of New York and London Business School in London UK.
Miguel grew up in Venezuela and holds both US and Venezuelan citizenships. Miguel is a strong believer in education and sees learning as a lifelong process that enriches professional and personal development.
Miguel is a petroleum engineer and global energy professional with over 17 years of industry experience. Miguel has worked at Total E&P USA, Schlumberger, and Apache Corporation in Houston Texas. At Apache, Miguel has acted on roles of increasing responsibilities across Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and most recently internationally in Cairo Egypt. In Egypt, Miguel held the position of Engineering General Manager of Qarun Petroleum Corporation, a joint venture company between Apache Egypt, SINOPEC, and the Egyptian National Petroleum Company overseeing production and engineering operations across the Egyptian Western Desert.
Miguel holds a BSc from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and MBAs from Columbia University in the City of New York and London Business School in London UK.
Miguel grew up in Venezuela and holds both US and Venezuelan citizenships. Miguel is a strong believer in education and sees learning as a lifelong process that enriches professional and personal development.
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