Mara Zepeda is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Zebras Unite, an international and intersectional hybrid cooperative creating the capital, culture, and community for the next economy. This global community of founders, investors, and are creating a more ethical, inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable approach to building businesses.
Prior, Mara was the founder of a venture-backed software company, Switchboard (now Hearken). It was through her experience as an entrepreneur of a different stripe that led her to co-found Zebras Unite, along with Jennifer Brandel, Astrid Scholz, and Aniyia Williams. Their manifesto,“Zebras Fix What Unicorns Break,” launched this timely, necessary, culture-shifting movement that has garnered broad recognition. It now boasts an online community of 10K+ strong, 100+ member-owners, and over 25 chapters around the world.
Mara Zepeda is a systempreneur and serial social entrepreneur. She has also co-founded and was the founding board chair of Business for a Better Portland and XXcelerate. BBPDX is a next-generation business organization 350+ members strong that forges public-private collaborations to advance systemic change, shared prosperity, and social justice and equity in Portland. XXcelerate provides business support, education, peer mentorship, and funding to 200+ Oregon womxn entrepreneurs.
She speaks about and leads workshops on education, trust, social networks, and the future of business internationally. Mara has spent her career at the intersection of community building, economic empowerment, and movement building.
Mara Zepeda speaks from her experience as an economic reporter for NPR, calligrapher, and child of bohemian and spiritually curious artists. She holds a BA in Russian from Reed College and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University where she graduated with honors. She grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
SPEAKS ABOUT
Alternative Funding, Entrepreneurship, Startup, Business, Community Building, Economic Empowerment, Movement Building, Social Change & Issues, Journalist
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The Swing Cats Big Band with the Swing Kittens is Southern California’s freshest and most dynamic swing band around. Composed of top musicians dedicated to the performance and preservation of big band music, The Swing Cats will take you back to the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s with their high-quality, authentic sound. Come cut a rug […]
Born in his native Scotland, Jordan Campbell excels in engaging audiences in a professional & interactive fashion – in Atlanta & across the USA. An award-winning Event & TV Host, Emcee & Auctioneer, Jordan loves to connect with guests in a professional & lively fashion. Having spoken in front of the British Royal Family & […]
Doc Hendley is the founder and president of Wine to Water, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing clean water to communities in need around the world, Doc has transformed the lives of countless individuals. His journey from a small-town bartender to a global humanitarian leader is both inspiring and humbling, demonstrating the profound impact one […]
Ben Hines is the founder of Moving Performance, an innovative initiative that merges his two lifelong passions: people development and music. Drawing upon over 13 years of experience in the financial and legal sectors, Ben has developed a groundbreaking approach to leadership and team development. His ability to intertwine real-world business insights with his artistry […]
Electrifying speaker Jess Todtfeld has an incredible talent for inspiring audiences: his magnetic speeches are entertaining and teach audiences how to gain more results in various fields. With more than 20 years of experience in the media industry, Todtfeld helps CEOs, spokespeople, authors, experts and public relations representatives with achieving real results. From the beginning of his career, […]
Aerial Cube Contortion from Christine Lee has been a professional circus performer and teacher for 15 years, she’s performed internationally and locally here in California. She also works with a troupe of performers and can provide variety entertainment/shows and custom packages. She performs aerial acts (lyra, silks, trapeze, cube, chains, moon etc), ground acts (cube […]
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Angela Gargano is a keynote speaker, 6x American Ninja Warrior, Miss Fitness America, 3x Covergirl biochemist-turned-coach, and founder of a global movement that’s helped thousands of women accomplish what once felt impossible, starting with their first pull-up. After tearing her ACL live on national television, Angela didn’t just recover she redefined herself. She turned a […]
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