ESHIP Community Activation Team

Cecilia Wessinger

Grew up in NYC, lives in Tulsa, OK. Her current role unites her dedication to empowerment and equity, with her love of community culture. As certified Cultural Competency and Unconscious Bias facilitator, she moves conversations beyond diversity and inclusion to connecting, engaging and belonging. Her entrepreneurship path includes being a former lead organizer of 1 Million Cups, SXSW Pitch Advisory Member, multiple year US delegate to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress and co-founder of the Future Agro Challenge USA. She has lived, worked and traveled throughout the world. Her favorite person is her son, JD who is currently exploring and enjoying his own global adventures; though Bruce Springsteen in high on her list.

Christine Lai

Born and raised in Southern California, currently geo-flexible. Cross-sector collaboration catalyst who loves being in community by living with community, and bringing people together [often times via dinner!] to strengthen communities of action, trust, and belonging. Has a practice of taking life sabbaticals and OPT-ing into life [being open.patient.trusting]. Fun fact: co-hosted over 300 dinners, resulting in new friendships, partnerships, and relationships [including one marriage!].

*The ESHIP Community Activation Team works in the community, on the community, with the community. They serve in an infrastructure/support role that is supported by the Kauffman Foundation, but they do not work for the foundation, they are accountable to the ESHIP Community and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Field.