Founder & Managing Director, Maven Global Access
Founder & Managing Director, Maven Marketing & Events
As an American who has built an award-winning entertainment marketing agency in the Gulf over the last decade, Sarah Omolewu is living proof of the success that awaits under-represented entrepreneurs in strategic markets across the globe. She founded Maven Marketing & Events in Dubai in 2012 with a vision to connect leading brands across the Middle East with Hollywood’s icons. Her work has advanced the role of entertainment marketing and public relations in the region, landing her on CEO Middle East magazine’s list of the “50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World” and recognition among the “Top 100 most influential people in the UAE” three years in a row.
Under Sarah’s leadership, Maven Marketing & Events has delivered many firsts in the region: the first privately-owned marketing agency to have organized a major red carpet movie premiere in the UAE (Suicide Squad with Will Smith, 2016), the first activation with an active NBA player (Kobe Bryant Health & Fitness Weekend, 2013), and the first to bring celebrity clothing line pop-up stores to Dubai (Jaden and Willow Smith MSFTS, Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960, and Giuliana Rancic’s G by Giulaina, 2015).
While she continues to elevate experiential marketing in the Middle East, Sarah’s focus has expanded to paying it forward. She founded Maven Global Access to bridge the gap between East and West and ultimately pave the way for US businesses, particularly those led by women and minorities, to bring their international growth ambitions to life.
Co-Founder and CEO, Halcyon
Co-Managing Director, Halcyon Fund
Kate Goodall is a global advocate for impact investment and champion of under-represented entrepreneurs. Her tech accelerator, Halcyon, identifies and invests in early-stage ventures, which have gone on to raise more than $500 million in funding during her tenure. Halcyon has established partnerships with blue chip organisations like Amazon Web Services, Deloitte, Capital One and Arnold & Porter to provide space, access and community to entrepreneurs worldwide. Goodall’s transformative approach has shaped future entrepreneurs by directing them on clear paths to prosperity. In additiona to the accelerator, Halcyon also now comparises an impact angel investor group, venture fund and microloan vehicle.
Goodall was recently named a Global Impact Leader by the Sorenson Foundation, listed as DC Inno’s 2020 Fire Blazer, one of the Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business, Power 100, 40 Under 40, and Washington’s New Guard in 2018, Washingtonian’s 2017 Tech Titans, and Techweek 100 DC’s Talent Cultivators, and has served as a juror in pitch competitions worldwide.
In addition to leading the progressive incubator, Kate also spearheads WE Capital alongside Patrice King Brickman.
Founder & Managing Director, Inspire Capital LLC
Minority Owner, Monumental Sports
A seasoned Venture Capitalist, Philanthropist and Private Equity leader, Washington D.C.-based Patrice King Brickman actively strives for a more equitable world through her work as the Founder and Managing Director of Inspire Capital, a private equity/venture firm that invests in predominantly women and minority led businesses with social impact, and General Partner of Lafayette Square, Black Star Fund and Blue Marlin.
She is also a minority owner of Monumental Sports – parent company of the Washington DC-based NBA, WNBA and National Hockey League teams, Founder and Investor of WE Capital – a consortium of leading businesswomen deploying capital to fund the next generation of female entrepreneurs changing the world, and a member of the Economic Club of Washington, TIGER 21, and Venture Philanthropy Partners.
Patrice has served on several non-profit boards both locally and nationally. Currently, she serves on the boards of Children’s Hospital, Halcyon, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, Wolf Trap and Martha’s Table.