Faculty Advisors
GARRETT BROWN, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship
Garrett is a fourth-generation Trojan who began his career as a lawyer representing entrepreneurs. His first sales role was at Fastpoint Games, where he eventually ran all Sales & Business Development efforts until the company was acquired. He then helped launch & scale Bitium, an enterprise software company, where he served as Chief Revenue Officer until they were acquired by Google. Garrett joined Google & learned countless lessons about the inner workings of one of the most recognizable companies on the planet. He’s now an active startup investor & advisor, & a founder of Agency18, a firm that helps companies, build, scale, & inspire sales teams.
COLIN COGGINS, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship
Colin is well known for his repeatable approach to scaling revenue, sales IQ, learner EQ and technology evangelism. He’s held senior leadership roles at emerging technology companies including SVP of Sales at Bitium (acquired by Google), Mobile Roadie (acquired by Intellectsoft), Phunware (NASDAQ: PHUNWARE), and Results.com. After Bitium was acquired by Google, Colin became the CRO at Chanje Energy, in addition to championing their DEI board. Colin also serves as a sales advisor and EIR at Techstars LA. He’s also dedicated to helping mission-centric companies transition to revenue-forward cultures while staying true to their purpose, as a founding partner of Agency18.
Executive Board
ADITYA DUTT, President
Aditya is a senior from Cupertino, California studying Business Administration with an emphasis in Business Analytics and a minor in Digital Entrepreneurship. He is a co-founder and head of business development of a hospitality startup and has previous internship experience in digital infrastructure and software solutions as a customer success analytics intern and market researcher. He aims to work in operations or product management in tech. Besides RISE, some of his interests include playing guitar, cooking, and streetwear.
DAVID KENNEY, Vice President of Marketing
David is sophomore from Foxborough, Massachusetts majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship and a minor in Consumer Behavior. At age 12, David founded a sensory toy company dedicated to helping those with anxiety and sensory disorders serving customers across the world. He has continued his curiosity for the business world by pursuing internships in the marketing and finance fields - broadened his skillset and interests. He has a passion for creative problem solving and innovation - traits he will bring into his next venture. Outside of class, he enjoys exploring the food, art, and fashion of Los Angeles and engaging with the local community at USC.
SHREYA MANIVEL, Vice President of Administration
Shreya is a Sophomore from Santa Clara, California. She is majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Applied Analytics. Her love for animals sparked her interest in non-profit management and social entrepreneurship. She hopes to start a social enterprise of her own in the future to improve the world of animal welfare. In her free time, she likes to watch movies and spend time with her friends.
VISMAY AWAL Vice President of Operations
Vismay is a sophomore from Delhi, India studying Economics and Data Science. Interested in big data, artificial intelligence, and data science, Vismay hopes to pursue a career in the finance world. He aspires to create a startup that uplifts the economically underserved in his home country of India. In his free time, he likes reading, playing golf, watching F1, and exploring nature.
ANJALI DULIPSINGH, Vice President of Engagements
Anjali is a junior from Boston, Massachusetts, and is currently studying Business Administration with a minor in Mathematical Finance. This summer, she worked as an intern for the U.S Commercial Service—an organization helping SMEs increase their international market presence. She hopes to pursue a career in strategy consulting and get an MBA in the future. In addition to RISE, she is in the Marshall Student Community and Beta Alpha Psi. In her free time, she loves to play the piano, explore coffee shops and work out.
ERIC BRANDT Vice President of Finance
Eric is a Junior from Cleveland, Ohio studying Business Administration with minors in Mathematics and Applied Analytics. This past summer, Eric interned at a boutique investment bank, which he hopes to pursue after graduation. Outside of RISE, he is involved in Trojan Investing Society, TAMID, and the American Marketing Association. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his friends, hiking, and going to the beach.
SOFIA URREA, Vice President of Events
Sofia is a sophomore from Colombia. She is majoring in Business Administration with a Consumer Behavior minor. Her interest in technology and entrepreneurship will lead her down a road of innovation and critical problem solving. In her free time she enjoys playing tennis, cooking, reading and spending time with her friends.
TANUSH SHANGHAI Vice President of Engagements
Tanush is a sophomore from Kathmandu, Nepal, and is currently studying Business Administration with a minor in International Relations. This past summer, Tanush worked as a bank teller in Nepal to gain experience in the banking sector. He hopes to pursue an MBA and a career in marketing & sales related entrepreneurship. Furthermore, he is interested in entering the consulting industry for experience in various business fields. In his free time, Tanush enjoys hiking, drumming, sports, and traveling with his friends.
AARON TEKLU, Vice President of Member Outreach
Aaron is a junior from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was raised in Seattle, WA and is currently studying Business Administration and Blockchain. Aaron has interned at UBS and Accenture, working diversely on deliverables including financial analysis, blockchain research, and supply chain efficacy. He has a passion for basketball, kinesiology, and street wear and ultimately hopes to empower marginalized communities through his work.
Engagement Managers
NIKKI LIU
Nikki is a sophomore from Los Altos, California studying Business Administration and minoring in Product Design. She hopes to pursue a career in strategy consulting and is interested in product and user experience design. Nikki has a passion for problem solving and hopes to bring her creative perspective to each project she becomes a part of. In addition to RISE, Nikki is also involved in Sigma Eta Pi and SCOutfitters. Outside of school, she loves to go backpacking, explore cafes around LA with friends, and listen to house music.
VIOLET FORNEY
Violet is a sophomore from Waltham, Massachusetts majoring in Business Administration. Her interest in the world of business and social entrepreneurship goes back to childhood and she has worked for 3 consecutive summers at a global consumer goods company that focuses on sustainability. She plans to pursue a career in strategy consulting with an emphasis on sustainability. Outside of classes, she loves to explore California by skiing, hiking, surfing and capturing it all through film photography.
REVA CHAUDHRY
Reva is a sophomore from Phoenix, Arizona studying Business Administration with a minor in Individuals, Societies, and Aging. Struck by the power of small dollar amounts while interning at her grandpa's clinic in India, Reva founded Gift a Treat, a charity to fund medical and auxillary services for impoverished patients in Gujarat, India. She is an entrepreneur by heart who loves jumping on new projects, from creating a craft blog to investing in land. She is currently exploring business opportunities for the older adult market. Outside of work, Reva loves hiking, playing pickleball, picnicking, and traveling.
PRANAV APPALANENI
Pranav is a sophomore from Bergen County, New Jersey majoring in Business Administration looking to pursue a minor in Statistics. He enjoys working with data-analytics, as he did heavily in his role as an economics research assistant at his previous institution, Wake Forest University. This past summer, he interned at a Search Fund where he explored the startup space from a personal lens. In the future, he plans to work in Investment Banking, where he hopes to combine his interests in finance, statistics, and technology. Outside of the classroom, Pranav is an avid basketball enthusiast, and enjoys playing and following the sport. His passion for athletics help him stay active beyond his professional endeavors.
Senior Advisors
AKASH SHETTY
Akash is a sophomore from Franklin, Massachusetts majoring in Business Administration. He has interned at an Ameriprise financial advising firm, and is looking to explore the field of management consulting more. He has experience creating deliverables through his high school's DECA program, where he has qualified for nationals twice. Outside of RISE, Akash is also a member of the men's crew. In his free time, he likes exploring different parts of LA, running, and playing poker.
DANIEL KONG
Daniel is a sophomore from Fullerton, California majoring in Business Administration with a double minor in Social Entrepreneurship and Applied Analytics. Daniel partnered with U.S. Bank in high school to create an official financial literacy curriculum for K-12 students. Since then, he has found a passion for combining the intersection of business and innovation to create impactful change in his community. Interested in fintech, data, and AI, Daniel hopes to pursue a career in the tech industry through product management. In his free time, he likes running, playing golf, snowboarding, and exploring new restaurants and cafes in Los Angeles.
JENNY GUO
Jenny is a junior from Hong Kong studying Computer Science and Business Administration. An avid film-watcher, she picked up a minor in Cinematic Arts and pursued a data science internship in a media conglomerate. She also helped found a club on campus that promotes socially responsible technology in hopes of encouraging the engineering and usage of human-centered tech and media. Outside of class, you can find her stretching in the dance studio, solving logic puzzles, watching reality TV shows, reading Paul Graham’s essays, or studying geography on Google Maps.
ANUSHREE SHARMA
Anushree is a junior from Delhi, India studying Business Administration with an emphasis in Business Analytics and minors in Screenwriting and Digital entrepreneurship. She is interested in management consulting, especially within the tech and entertainment industries. Outside of RISE, she is involved in ProductSC, Trojan Film Club, and serves as a Staff Writer for the Daily Trojan. In her free time, she likes exploring different cultures by learning languages.
Business Analysts
ANNA MELLO DA ROCHA AZEVEDO
Anna is a sophomore from São Paulo, Brazil majoring in International Relations and Global Business with a minor in Media Economics and Entrepreneurship. As an enthusiast of social change yet increasingly passionate about the growing role of the private sector in closing societal gaps Anna has explored her role in diverse sectors. This ambitious goal has led her to draft articles targeted towards political-economic impacts for USC's foreign affairs publication, serve as Education Chair for a second generation entrepreneur society, intern in marketing and, most recently, serve as a consultant for startups through RISE.
CHARLOTTE WOOD
Charlotte is a freshman from Seattle, Washington studying Business Administration. She is interested in Workplace Innovation and the intersection between corporate decision-making and societal issues. She hopes to work in Management Consulting or Human Resources. In her free time, she enjoys running, spending time outdoors, exploring the fashion and culture of Los Angeles, and trying out new creative endeavors.
KEVIN LIN
Kevin is a sophomore from Rome, Italy majoring in Business Administration. In high school, he launched a venture specializing in the design and fabrication of custom mechanical keyboards, managing to successfully deliver over 300 units globally. Kevin's professional aspirations lie in the realm of finance and aspires to ultimately operate a series of hotels throughout Italy. In his free time, he enjoys to cook, listen to podcasts, and watch films.
AUDREY CHEW
Audrey is a freshman from Irvine, California and spent the last 8 years in Johor, Malaysia. She is majoring in Biological Sciences with an emphasis on Biotechnology and minoring in Business Finance. Her interest in advancements in healthcare technology and business began her interest in the start-up consulting field and she hopes to make an impact on bettering the local healthcare system. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and cat, and binge-watching sitcoms.
SERENA YANG
Serena is a sophomore from Rowland Heights, California studying Applied and Computational Mathematics with minors in Dance and Business Finance. She intends to pursue a progressive Master's Degree in Communication Data Science to blend her analytical and financial skills with her passion for marketing and the beauty industry. Committed to making a social impact across various fields, Serena is actively involved in a technology ethics organization on campus and consistently volunteers for underserved and first-generation student communities in the Los Angeles area. Outside of class, Serena enjoys playing pickleball, going to the beach, and following football and Shohei Ohtani.
LUCA YEGHNAZAR
Luca is a Freshman from Pasadena studying Business Administration at Marshall. He has an interest in and hopes to pursue a career in marketing or product management. Luca enjoys finding creative ways to tap into consumer minds and understand why people buy what they buy. He is also a part of MOVE, an organization breaching the gap between business and social good. Outside of academics Luca is on the USC rugby team, loves to cook for friends, and, likes to play geo-guesser.
CLAIRE YANG
Claire is a freshman from Los Angeles, CA studying Computer Science and Business Administration with a minor in Mathematical Finance. This spring, Claire will be interning at a private equity firm as a financial analyst, which she hopes to explore her intersecting interests in finance and technology. In her free time, she likes to spend her days hanging out with friends, thrifting, and going out to eat.
REEYA SAWHNEY
Reeya is a freshman from Cupertino, California studying Computer Science and Business Administration. She’s interested in user interface design, data analytics, biotechnology, and innovation and hopes to pursue a career in product management. Professionally, she aims to enter the health-tech industry where she hopes to work on making medical technologies more efficient and affordable to the general public. In her free time, Reeya enjoys reading, baking, exploring new cafes and restaurants, and going to the beach.
ETHAN SCHNEIDER
Ethan is a freshman from Los Gatos, California, majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a minor in AI applications. After graduation, he hopes to pursue careers in AI, supply chain, manufacturing, operations, and management consulting. His ultimate goal is to own his own startup or business in the future. Ethan has previously been involved in founding a boba shop, real estate development, nonprofits in Kenya, and a mechanic business. Outside of work, Ethan enjoys nature, fishing, riding dirt bikes, exploring restaurants, snowboarding, and guitar.
SHRIHARI ASOKAN
Shrihari is a freshman from Aurora, Colorado pursuing a double major in Political Economy and Data Science with a minor in Law and Technology. He hopes to land a career as a technology consultant and eventually go to law school to become a civil rights litigator. Outside of RISE, Shrihari is a competing member on USC's Model UN team, and he enjoys playing basketball and hanging out with friends in his free time.
ADA IMPERT
Ada is a freshman from Seattle, Washington. She is currently majoring in Business Administration, but plans on minoring in Artificial Intelligence. Ada is interested in a variety of fields, from strategy consulting to risk management, where she can harness her uniquely creative, problem-solving, entrepreneurial mindset. Outside of RISE and her academic pursuits, Ada enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and all things outdoors.
RYAN CASCI
Ryan is a Sophomore from Alamo, California. He is majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Applied Analytics and Cinematic Arts. He is highly interested in consulting, technology, entrepreneurship, and the intersection of the three sectors. Outside of RISE, he is involved in the Impact Investing Group and Marshall Entertainment Association. In his free time, he likes listening to music, playing golf, watching sports, and exploring new restaurants and cafes in Los Angeles.
ALEXIA FRANCO HIBNER
Alexia is a freshman from São Paulo, Brazil and Geneva, Switzerland. She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Behavioral Economics. Her interest in startups dates back to her founding of the first Save The Children Club in any school in Switzerland. She looks forward to working with startups at RISE and potentially starting her own social enterprise. Apart from RISE, Alexia also takes part in other clubs such as TAMID, Global Investment Society and BRASA. During her free time, she likes to ski, bake, and run - soon to participate in her first half marathon.
LUCAS DAMASCO
Lucas is a freshman from Palos Verdes, CA studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). His professional interests are broad, including Corporate Law, Strategy Consulting, Finance, and Artificial Intelligence. Outside of RISE, Lucas serves as the Director of Finance for the Academic Culture Assembly within the Undergraduate Student Government and is a member of the Leadership Program for TroyPhi. In his free time, he likes to play golf, take photos with his retro digital camera, and explore the food scene with friends in LA.
NIKHIL MEHTA
Nikhil is a freshman from Houston, Texas studying philosophy, politics, and economics and minoring in Artificial Intelligence Applications. He hopes to pursue a career in investment banking or private equity and is interested in data analytics and finance. Nikhil loves to think outside of the box and hopes to bring this unique perspective to each project in Rise. On campus, in addition to RISE, Nikhil is also involved with the Trojan Investment Society and SCIA. Outside of school, he loves to watch sports, explore LA, and listen to all types of music.
TED LE
Ted Lê is from the Inland Empire and a first-year student studying biomedical engineering with an electrical engineering emphasis. Interested in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, he is interested in consulting and venture capital roles. Researching medical devices, he is still curious and always learning about types of biotech from CGT to ADC. In his free time, Ted likes to go camping, play video games, and try new cuisines.
Founders
JONATHAN LU, Founder
JOHN MCCUBBIN, Co-founder
CHLOE HSU, Co-founder
ZACH MOLLO, Co-founder