Elan Divon is a Harvard-trained author, professional development leader, and founder of Divon Academy; an education platform that equips young talent with work, life, and leadership skills that companies want most. Elan also served as the Director of Career Development at Chapman University’s Argyros College of Business and Economics, where he helped bridge the gap between education and the workforce.
Over the years, Elan has trained thousands of professionals in Fortune 500 companies like Nike, Uber, Intel, and Disney and helped countless individuals land jobs, lead teams, and multiply their impact. A captivating speaker and instructor, he’s inspired audiences from business leaders, to professionals, and students. Combining insights from anthropology, psychology, and the hard sciences, Elan’s groundbreaking approach to career development has earned accolades from notables such as NBA Board Chairman Larry Tanenbaum and wellness guru Deepak Chopra.
Former Education Advisor to the White House & University President
A former senior director with the Department of Education, and former executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well as an HBCU president, Dr. Haynes brings a combination of policy and practical experience that will strengthen Strategic Education’s support of HBCUs and the students they serve. Widely recognized for his work in education, he has also counseled numerous organizations, such as the Ford Foundation and the Merck Corporation. He earned his BA from Southern University, an MS from Carnegie Mellon University, his PhD from Ohio State University. He is also the recipient of 14 honorary degrees, the 2018 White House Initiative on HBCUs Distinguished Service Award now known as the Leonard L. Haynes III Distinguished Service Award, and the Servant Leader Award from the United Methodist Church for his work on behalf of HBCUs.
Founder, Courtyard Connections, LLC
Ms. Marcus serves as an independent board director for several companies: Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc. (NYSE: FDP), 24 Hour Fitness, and Phunware (NASDAQ: PHUN), a provider of software that powers mobile apps. Until recently she also served on the boards of DDC (DNA Diagnostics Center), Golub Corporation (owner/operator of the Price Chopper/Market 32 chain of grocery stores) and Talalay Global (provider of high-end mattresses and pillows). She is also a board member for SHARE Cancer Support and Vice Chairman of the Board for the MMRF (Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation). She comes to board work after a long career as an operating executive in leading consumer companies — PepsiCo, The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Keurig Green Mountain, and Peloton Interactive. In addition to her board director work, Ms. Marcus serves as a board advisor to early-stage direct-to-consumer, tech-enabled companies. She is a founding member of the Band of Sisters, along with (5) former PepsiCo colleagues, speaking frequently on diversity, equity and inclusion. She also serves as an executive coach to c-suite executives. Ms. Marcus earned her BS degree in Marketing from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
Media Industry Executive & Former EVP of News Coroporation
Mr. Pompadur joins Divon Academy’s Executive Advisory Board after a prolific and distinguished 60 year career as an executive within the media industry. He entered the field in 1960 when he joined American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (ABC, Inc) and went on to become president of Ziff Corporation and later, Chairman and CEO of RP Companies’ various partnerships operating 12 television stations, 25 radio stations and numerous cable television systems. Pompadur went on to become EVP of News Corporation and then Chairman of News Corp Europe, where he negotiated the merger of Stream and Telepiu to create Sky Italia, now one of the world’s most successful Pay-TV businesses.
Other notable executive positions included becoming the senior advisor to Oliver Wyman, and Global Vice Chairman of Media and Entertainment for Macquarie Capital.
Marty Pompadur is currently a board member of four public companies: Nexstar Media Group, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Golden Falcon Acquisition Corporation, and Troika Media Group. Previously, he held board positions with Imax Corporation, ABC. Inc, BSkyB, Sky Italia, Premier World, Fox Kids Europe, Metromedia International and Elong.
Founder, El Entertainment Television | President/CEO, Metan Global Entertainment Group
An entertainment industry veteran with close to 50 years professional experience in cable television, live events and new media, Larry Namer is a founding partner of Metan Global Entertainment Group (MGEG), a venture created to develop and distribute entertainment content and media specifically for Chinese speaking audiences in China and abroad. In 2018, the company launched the MGEG Film Fund I and serves as managing partner. He is also the executive producer on the recently announced feature film “EMPRESS,” a new travel series for the China audience titled “Explore The World,” and an executive producer of the new crime series “Nova Vita.” He is a co-founder of the recently launched lifestyle platform https://www.beautykween.com/.
Mr. Namer is the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, a company now valued at over four billion USD, and the creator of several successful companies in the United States and overseas. Among those companies are Comspan Communications that pioneered Western forms of entertainment in the former Soviet Union and Steeplechase Media that served as the primary consultant to Microsoft’s MiTV for developing interactive TV applications.
Early on, he was named the youngest general manager of a major cable system at Valley Cable TV (VCTV) in Los Angeles. His vision and direction garnered VCTV several Emmy and Cable ACE award nominations, as well as recognition by Forbes magazine as the national model for local cable television programming. In 1989, he was awarded the prestigious President’s Award from the National Cable Television Association. He was honored with the “Outstanding Contribution to Asian Television Award” at the 19th Asian Television Awards in Singapore, and received the International Media Legacy Award at the 2017 Elite Awards Foundation Gala. He was the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2018 Hollywood Tribute Awards and the 2019 Hollywood China Night, presented by the American-Chinese CEO Society, both in celebration of the Academy Awards®. In July 2019, he was awarded The Tribeca Disruptor Award at the Novus Summit, held at the United Nations.
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Founder and CEO of the ACB Group
Andrea Harry Bibbs is the Founder and CEO of The ACB Group, a boutique media and marketing consulting firm she founded in late 2022. Bibbs brings her more than 20 years of experience in the media industry to help small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed through press exposure, strategic partnerships and more.
Prior to starting The ACB Group, Bibbs spent more than 22 years at Warner Bros. Discovery (previously Turner Broadcasting and WarnerMedia.) In her last role there, she served as the Vice President of Marketing and Studio Operations with Warner Bros. Discovery’s Ad Sales division. In that role, she developed strategic opportunities for clients and spearheaded new operational strategies to maximize process and efficiencies for the ad sales marketing and brand studio teams.
Bibbs also previously served as the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy for WarnerMedia News and Sports (WMNS), which included CNN Worldwide, Turner Sports, Bleacher Report and WarnerMedia Studios. There, she was responsible for driving the division’s DE&I strategy, core vision, and internal and external programs and opportunities that drove awareness of the team’s efforts. In addition, she formed strategic partnerships with external stakeholders, including industry and community organizations.
Outside of the office, Bibbs is passionate about sharing her life and career experiences with students and industry organizations. The Toronto native has been a speaker, moderator and panelist at many industry events on the subjects of DE&I, media, advertising and more. Some recent speaking engagements include The University of Georgia, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), University of Toronto and Atlanta Film Festival’s Creative Conference.
In 2022, Bibbs was named to the first-ever cohort of the ADCOLOR Leaders program. In 2021, Bibbs was recognized by the National Diversity Council as a DEI Champion and in 2020, she was awarded Cablefax’s inaugural D&I Champion Award for her work in this space.
Managing Director and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Ascension.
Aida C. Rodriguez is Managing Director and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Ascension: a national minority owned boutique recruiting and staffing firm serving the interests of law firms and corporate legal departments across all practice areas and specialties.
An experienced business leader with over twenty-five years in the legal industry, Aida provides consulting and services to law firms and corporate legal departments on organizational measures, human capital, strategy development, operational management and talent structure design. An educator at heart, Aida is a strategic advisor on career advancement, personal branding and the art of business development.
VP of Finance and Administration, New Haven Mortgage Income Fund
Born in Toronto and raised in New Delhi, India. Arjun completed his undergraduate degree at Carleton University in Prelaw and Economics and went on to achieve his CA designation. He has held leadership roles multiple organizations during his time at Carleton University such as the Indian Students Association and Kappa Sigma Fraternity. In addition to his CA he also holds an Exempt Market Dealer License and a Mortgage Agent license. He has experience volunteering in Toronto as well as internationally in India and Peru – and has sat on the board of other Not for Profits Organizations. Along with his current position of VP Finance and Mortgage Administration, Arjun also does work with Gulf Stream Day Care which is the basis for his passion in childhood development and education.
Arie has created a successful and diverse career leveraging business opportunities and growing companies. His projects and sales experience has spanned the Americas and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). As an expert in business development where research and network are equally important, his leadership leads to sales growth, JV, Strategic partnerships, investments, and exposure.
Arie’s international background, experience and training have successfully guided a broad range of companies, including B2B, B2C and non-profit organizations. He is passionate about management in all its aspects: social, psychological, process, leadership (both inward and outward facing), employees and org. functional hierarchy. However, most important is the validated and measured results. Arie can produce meaningful and fast results.
Arie has developed a rich career in managing company ecosystems with suppliers, VARS, customers, advocates, and regulators. His business development skills and sales acumen allow him to identify emerging opportunities and negotiate unique positions for success in multiple markets, including hi-tech, biotech, green-tech, and consumer products. His technical skills, operational management and creative thinking address employer needs in operations, supply chain issues, marketing, and sales.
During more than a decade as an executive manager for publicly traded companies, Arie has managed technical professional services and ran P&L operations with sales responsibility. He has operated in many Fortune 1000 sectors, local and federal governments and businesses in the insurance, manufacturing, aerospace, financial, healthcare, sales and marketing, distribution, and retail arenas.
Miaad is a highly respected business leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose impact resonates across Orange County and far beyond. As a co-founder and principal in a thriving real estate enterprise with her husband, Albert, Miaad brings deep expertise in commercial, industrial, and multi-family real estate — with a focus on design, construction management, and investment strategy across Southern California and Las Vegas.
Guided by a steadfast commitment to quality, value, and service, Miaad has helped shape a business legacy built on integrity and long-term relationships. These same principles drive her family’s philanthropic vision. Passionate about giving back, Miaad is deeply engaged in supporting causes related to education, the arts, equity, and community empowerment — beliefs she and her family live out together.
As a new member of ElevateU’s executive team and board, Miaad brings not only strategic insight and operational experience but also a genuine belief in investing in people and potential. Her presence reflects a shared mission: building systems that uplift, connect, and create meaningful opportunities for others.
Elan Divon is a Harvard-trained author, professional development leader, and founder of Divon Academy; an education platform that equips young talent with work, life, and leadership skills that companies want most. Elan also served as the Director of Career Development at Chapman University’s Argyros College of Business and Economics, where he helped bridge the gap between education and the workforce.
Over the years, Elan has trained thousands of professionals in Fortune 500 companies like Nike, Uber, Intel, and Disney and helped countless individuals land jobs, lead teams, and multiply their impact. A captivating speaker and instructor, he’s inspired audiences from business leaders, to professionals, and students. Combining insights from anthropology, psychology, and the hard sciences, Elan’s groundbreaking approach to career development has earned accolades from notables such as NBA Board Chairman Larry Tanenbaum and wellness guru Deepak Chopra.
Elan’s academic achievements include Master’s degrees from Harvard and Brandeis Universities, where he graduated with distinction, and a B.A. from the University of London’s Birkbeck College. In 2010 he penned his first book, Reaching Beyond the Religious, and will soon be publishing his next book, The Initiation, which explores the intersection of science, spirituality and personal development, and offers a road map for students transitioning to the workforce and their next stage in life.
Nushin is a dynamic career development leader and operations strategist with a proven track record in higher education, recruiting, and workforce readiness. With experience as a Senior Career Coach at Chapman University’s Argyros College of Business and UCI’s School of Engineering, she has guided hundreds of students toward career clarity and meaningful employment outcomes.
At ElevateU, Nushin brings her passion for transforming lives through education and job placement into a high-impact operational role—where she oversees program implementation, team coordination, and student engagement strategy. Her background spans the full spectrum of the career launch ecosystem, from talent acquisition as a technical recruiter at Apex Systems, to leadership in high-volume environments as an Executive Team Lead at Target.
Nushin is a skilled project manager, systems thinker, and advocate for students navigating today’s complex job market. She holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from Cal Poly Pomona, and combines deep industry insight with a commitment to operational excellence that helps ElevateU scale with heart and purpose.
