TEDXSeattle

Debra Music, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Theo Chocolate

Debra’s background combines her degrees in philosophy and developmental psychology with many years as a strategic brand and cause related marketing consultant for both Fortune 100 companies and public health care systems in the US and abroad. As Joe Whinney’s ex-wife, she took a 3,000 mile leap of faith and moved to Seattle with him to launch Theo Chocolate in 2004.

Theo’s brand values reflects Debra’s core belief that doing well in the world is inextricably linked with doing good.

Joe Whinney, Founder and CEO, Theo Chocolate

After spending many years researching sustainable agricultural and agro-forestry in the humid tropics, Joe pioneered the organic cocoa and chocolate market into the US in the early 90’s. Many years later, Theo Chocolate is the culmination of Joe’s experiences working with cacao farmers and his expertise in navigating the economics of cocoa and chocolate manufacturing from beans to finished confections. Joe’s dedication to the fundamental principle that there is no luxury in products that benefit us today, while depleting the resources of future generations is at the core of Theo’s mission and vision as a company.

David Edelstein, Director of the Grameen Technology Center (GTC), Vice President of Technology Programs at Grameen Foundation

David Edelstein is the Director of the Grameen Technology Center (GTC) and the Vice President of Technology Programs at Grameen Foundation. He guides the foundation’s efforts to create innovative and sustainable approaches for using technology to benefit the world’s poor.

The GTC develops tools and services that leverage technology to put information and capital into the hands of the poor and those serving their needs. This includes an open source software platform (Mifos) which extends the scale and impact of Microfinance Institutions. The GTC also has extensive experience working with mobile phones, delivering services that put vital information on health, agriculture and other topics directly to people with access to basic mobile phones. Together with Google and MTN Uganda, Grameen Foundation’s Application Laboratory was awarded the Global Mobile Award for the “Best Use of Mobile for Social and Economic Development”.

Prior to joining the Grameen Foundation, David spent three years at Microsoft designing business models to provide affordable technology products for people in emerging markets. David also worked in Brazil for four years, with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he developed business strategies tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses in developing countries. Previously, David conducted economic analyses and evaluated public policy with the White House Council of Economic Advisers and with Resources For the Future.

Ignacio Mas -  Deputy Director, Financial Services for the Poor - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Ignacio Mas is a Deputy Director in Financial Services for the Poor at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  Most recently, he served as a Senior Adviser in the Technology Program at CGAP.  Prior to joining CGAP in September 2007, Ignacio was Executive VP of Marketing and Account Management at interTouch (an NTT-DoCoMo Group Company), Director of Global Business Strategy at Vodafone Group, and Senior Manager responsible for telecoms investments in Europe at Intel Capital (Intel Corp’s venture capital arm). He has also been a consultant, and was at the World Bank in the early part of his career, where he worked on financial sector reforms in Latin America as well as in the Treasury department. Ignacio has been a Visiting Professor of International Business at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. He holds undergraduate degrees in mathematics and economics from MIT and a PhD in economics from Harvard University.

Scott Macklin – Bridging Community and Education (South Africa and Seattle)

Scott serves on the advisory board of the Head Start Center for Inclusion and on board of the South African NGO Saving our Schools and Community (SOSAC).

Scott – along with his wife, Angelica and two children, Case (11) and Nikko (6) – makes award-winning documentary films, raises chickens and brews up bio-fuel. Scott uses social media as a powerful tool for learning and building meaningful relationships that create opportunities to engage in acts of social justice. You can get a glimpse of some of his work at: http://www.vimeo.com/openhandreel/videos