Dr. Michelle Sadrena Pledger

Founder |  Living for Liberation

Director of Liberation | High Tech High Graduate School of Education 

Dr. Michelle Sadrena Pledger is the Founder of Living for Liberation, an organization that supports the liberation of self, systems, and society. She is also the Director of Liberation at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, an institution that brings together practitioners, researchers and youth to address complex problems of practice in K-12 education and create more equitable, engaging learning environments for all students. She co-directed the Share Your Learning Campaign, which spread student-centered practices (exhibitions, student-led conferences, and presentations of learning) to 5 million students. As a faculty member at High Tech High’s Graduate School of Education, she co-teaches Justice: Self, Schools, and Society course in the San Diego Teacher Residency Program, Leadership for School Change in the Master’s Program, and Culturally Responsive Continuous Improvement in the new teacher induction program. As a Freedom Facilitator, Dr. Pledger consults with organizations and districts who seek to liberate self, others, and systems. Read more of Dr. Pledger's bio here. 

Dr. Amanda Aiken

Founder and CEO | A.Leigh Solutions

Dr. Amanda Aiken is the founder and CEO of A.Leigh Solutions, a leadership development firm dedicated to helping individuals and teams leverage their strengths for greater impact. With a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Harvard University and a background in child development, Amanda blends research-based insights with practical experience to support leaders at all levels. A certified coach in CliftonStrengths, Six Working Geniuses, and Immunity to Change, she has worked with executives, school districts, and nonprofits to foster leadership growth, workforce culture, and sustainable success. Passionate about joy, impact, and sustainability, Amanda believes leadership should be transformative, not transactional. Amanda lives in Montgomery, AL, with her husband, Ismail. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, walking, and staying active on her Peloton.

Stephanie Castellanos

Founder | Uproot Talent

Stephanie Castellanos is a member of the new mom club, a talent strategist, learning facilitator, and the founder of Uproot Talent – an award-winning executive search and learning experience firm based in Los Angeles, CA. Her commitment to creating equity stems from her experiences as the daughter of immigrants and a single mom, the granddaughter to a Bracero, being the first-person in her family to graduate from high school and college, two decades of grassroots organizing, and growing up as a kid from Inglewood, CA. Her experiences include leading the talent, DEI&J, and recruitment strategy for multiple start-up organizations – including founding a multi-sector grassroots coalition dedicated to recruiting and retaining teachers of color and matching over 600 leaders (90% identify as people of the global majority) to nonprofits, foundations, public school districts, and child welfare agencies across the country. As the creator of WOKESHOP®, she’s also facilitated over 1,000 un/relearning experiences alongside over 23,000 participants since 2015. Stephanie’s expertise goes beyond the “professional” realm. She’s organized thousands of community members to become the first U.S. city to defeat Walmart’s expansion while in high school, spent countless hours preparing her neighbors & family for interviews growing up, and co-founded a standing mentorship program (CAMBIO Academy) for girls of color while a Sociology and Urban Planning & Regional Studies student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Martha Alicia Castillo

Founder | GanasED LLC

Dr. Martha A. Castillo is an Education Consultant and equity-driven leader with over a decade of experience in higher education, digital learning, and student success. As the founder of GanasED LLC, she advises EdTech platforms and institutions on AI-driven student engagement, culturally responsive content strategy, and digital learning innovation. Her research and advocacy focus on first-generation college student success, particularly within Latino communities. Her doctoral dissertation, "I Am My Mother’s Daughter: The Interwoven Role of Family and Community in the Persistence and Success of First-Generation Latina College Students," explores the critical role of familial and cultural wealth in student retention. She uses this framework to design equity-centered education initiatives that empower historically marginalized students. Dr. Castillo has served as a Program Manager at ASU Prep Digital, a college readiness counselor, and a virtual facilitator for educator training programs. Her work has improved student retention rates by 90% and expanded access to academic resources through culturally relevant digital strategies. She has also designed and led national workshops on student engagement, family involvement, and AI-integrated learning solutions. A sought-after speaker, Dr. Castillo is passionate about elevating leaders of color, transforming educational access, and leveraging technology to close opportunity gaps. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from The University of Arizona, a Master’s from The City College of New York, and certifications in college admissions counseling and digital learning strategy.

Aquabah Gonney

Founder and CEO | Lead With Leaders LLC

Aquabah Gonney-Buckner has dedicated her 18-year career to teaching and leading in urban schools. As a former turnaround school principal in Chicago Public Schools, Aquabah transformed her school from Level 2 (intense support) to Level 1 (good standing) by emphasizing social and emotional learning, personalized learning, and culturally responsive practices. The Chicago Public Education Fund's Principal Response to the Pandemic Report and Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan’s book, How Schools Work, have both featured her work as a turnaround school principal. In 2023, Aquabah founded Lead With Leaders LLC to provide coaching, consulting, and professional development to principals and district leaders.  She leverages her experience as a former school leader to help leaders across the country navigate leadership challenges. In 2024, The Black Principals Network recognized her service as Program Director for The Leadership Collaborative 2024 with two leadership awards. Aquabah Gonney is a proud wife, mother, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and HBCU alumni of Delaware State University. She is the co-owner of ASA Books, a self-publishing children's book company and the recipient of “Illustrator of the Year” at the Black Child Bookfair in 2023. She serves as the Director of Programming for the International Coaching Federation, Chicago chapter. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership with a Superintendent endorsement at National Louis University. Her dissertation focuses on developing a guide for school leaders, which incorporates culturally responsive leadership and social and emotional learning to dismantle systemically racist and oppressive school practices. 

Nancy Hanks

Senior Partner | The Management Center

From a childhood on Chicago’s West Side to earning a degree from Harvard, Nancy Hanks has spent her life proving that circumstances don’t define potential. Over the past 20 years, she has shaped education as a teacher, principal, and systems leader, always holding students and adults to high expectations while ensuring they have the support needed to thrive. As a principal in Chicago, Nancy led a bold transformation that extended the school day by 90 minutes, improving literacy and math outcomes while creating a richer experience for students and staff. As Chief of Schools in Madison, she spearheaded strategic initiatives that drove a ten-point increase in literacy and math across elementary schools, with 17 schools achieving at least ten-point literacy gains in five years and five exceeding 20-point gains. She also designed and implemented a district-wide support system, equipping principals with the tools and strategies to drive student success. Now a Senior Partner at The Management Center, Nancy coaches and trains senior leaders in school districts, CMOs, and nonprofits nationwide, helping them build strong management systems and lead with equity at the forefront. Grounded in hard work, humor, and humility, Nancy believes in unlocking the unique talents of students and adults alike. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University and an M.Ed. in School Leadership from Harvard. A devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, she is fueled by a deep belief: when leaders are equipped to lead well, entire communities thrive.

Lula Defersha

Founder | Lula Abera Coaching & Consulting

Lula Abera is a dynamic Organizational Development Consultant, DEI Strategist, and ICF Certified PCC Coach with over 15 years of nonprofit experience and 10 years of leadership expertise. She is passionate about empowering individuals and organizational leaders to reach their fullest potential by cultivating inclusive cultures and navigating change effectively. As the founder of Lula Abera Coaching & Consulting, Lula is dedicated to helping leaders, especially Black women and women of color, break through systemic barriers, navigate workplace politics, and thrive in leadership roles. Her coaching style is deeply rooted in intersectionality, helping clients find their voice, build resilience, and lead authentically. Lula’s work extends beyond individual coaching to organizational transformation. She specializes in conflict resolution, cultural competency, and change management, ensuring that people are always at the heart of impactful work. Her strategic and people-centered approach has transformed work cultures and leadership dynamics in diverse sectors, including nonprofits, education, and social justice movements. Lula’s mission is to reimagine leadership, where equity, authenticity, and people-centered practices are at the forefront. With a steadfast belief in the power of community and collective action, Lula is not just leading change—she’s fueling a movement.

Melanie Pagán

Strategy & Operations Consultant | Uproot Talent

Melanie Pagán is a 1.5 generation Caribbean (im)migrant from Puerto Rico and an inner-city kid from Chicago with over 15 years of experience developing and implementing anti-oppressive programs for historically marginalized leaders across the country. Her passion for inspiring change was first nurtured by her parents, and then further developed in college with the encouragement of her alma mater’s multicultural center directors. Since then, she has dedicated her life to advocating for marginalized and minoritized students at predominantly white institutions and ivy leagues, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, low-income, first-generation, international, pregnant, and students with disabilities. More recently, Melanie has shifted her focus to diversifying executive leadership and transforming cultures at nonprofits, public schools and social impact organizations at Uproot Talent, where she leads the search operations, strategy and talent cultivation. Personally, Melanie enjoys hanging out with her three cats, exploring DC with her partner, and visiting her motherland and parents as often as possible. Wepa!