Youth Entrepreneurship Summit 2022

Donna Harris is CEO of Builders + Backers, a distributed venture studio and investment firm igniting entrepreneurial action and experimentation in communities around the world. Harris is also General Partner of 1776 Ventures, a venture capital fund with investments on five continents, and a Venture Partner at Praxis. She was formerly Managing Director of the Startup America Partnership during the Obama Administration and she is on the Board of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, the International Advisory Council of APCO Worldwide and the Policy Council of the Economic Innovation Group. Harris is also an active angel investor, cofounder of K Street Capital, and was recognized as one of the top 25 female early-stage investors in the United States in 2021. Named as one of Washington DC’s Power 100 by Washington Business Journal and Washington Life, and as a Tech Titan by Washingtonian Magazine, she has become one of the most influential leaders on the intersection of entrepreneurship, investing and economic thriving. Harris holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University, an MBA from The University Michigan, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from American University.

Anwesha Banerjee is an accomplished patient oriented neuroscientist with over 10 years of success contributing to biotech and neuroscience research in university, focusing on neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. She has been the recipient of Women in bio behavioral scholarship in 2013 by UTD and has been awarded with a fellowship by Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation/ Wyck Foundation in 2017 to conduct her own independent research in finding a cure for Myotonic Dystrophy. She has authored multiple publications in the area of autism, fragile X and myotonic dystrophy.
She has been an active member of Toastmasters International for over seven years. What started as a side step for professional development has now become her passion. She is a Distinguished Toastmaster, which is the highest level of educational goal one can achieve in the organization. She in past has served in various leadership role including District Director, the highest ranking officer in District 14, which encompass the entire state of Georgia east of Interstate, and was responsible for directly administering and overseeing the District’s day-to-day operations, finances, and human resources for over 3000 members. An avid public speaker, she is well versed in facilitation, communication and leadership skills, winning various awards & commendations for her speeches and presentations.

Last year, she delivered her first TEDx talk where she shared the idea of how to deal with stage fright from the perspective of neuroscience. She says that joining Toastmasters and staying in the organization has been a life changing experience. The journey from timid and shy presenter to a bold, confident and passionate public speaker, is a proven path in this global organization.