Join us for a wine and cheese reception followed by an exciting panel discussion with Penn alumni founders hosted by the Wharton Club of New York and the Young Alumni Committee!
Our founders, coming from various industries and backgrounds, will talk about their startup journeys and share advice they have for aspiring entrepreneurs. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired by the innovative minds from our very own Penn community.
Meet The Panelists:
Serena Advani (C’17, W’17, WG’22), is the founder of Seadrop, the brand reinventing skincare as water-activated tablets (instead of liquids). Her debut product is a first-of-its-kind, “just-add-water” skincare tablet that activates into a hydrating facial cleanser upon use with the tap water you already have at home. While traditional liquid cleanser is ~90% water and stored in single-use plastic, Seadrop's waterless cleanser comes in zero-waste, refillable packaging for skincare that’s cleaner for both the planet and your skin. Serena holds degrees in cognitive neuroscience and operations (with a focus on neuromarketing) from Penn, along with an MBA from Wharton (where she served as a President of the Wharton Beauty Club). She previously worked on beauty due diligences at McKinsey and in global brand strategy at Estee Lauder Companies (Bobbi Brown), and she has been named a 2023 Most Influential ESG Leader by Women’s Wear Daily. Seadrop has been featured in Fast Company, Modern Retail, Refinery29, Elle, and on the Today Show.
Jacob Beckerman (ENG’20, W’20), is the founder of Macro, an innovative document editor that integrates AI and redlining tools. Macro has garnered support from prominent investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Craft, and BoxGroup, and is widely adopted by 24% of the AmLaw 50, Wall Street banks, endowments, funds, and Fortune 500 companies. Jacob completed the prestigious Jerome Fisher M&T Program, earning a Master’s in Computer Science, a Bachelor’s in Finance, and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from The Wharton School. His academic focus included finance, Bayesian statistics, and causal inference.
Wilglory Tanjong (G’22, WG’22), is the founder of Anima Iris, a high fashion brand specializing in the manufacturing of women's designer handbags and accessories curated and handcrafted in Dakar, Senegal. In 2019, Wilglory stumbled upon an artisanal village in Senegal and began creating bags with the local artisans. Inspired by the beauty of their craftsmanship, she left her job the week COVID was declared a pandemic to focus solely on building a company that blends African heritage with modern luxury, aiming to disrupt the industry. Taking its name from Iris, Wilglory’s late mother, and Anima, her childhood friend, Anima Iris was born. Anima Iris is a modern brand that draws inspiration and strength from the matriarchs of its past. Similar to Cameroon’s traditional Bamileke cloth or the geometric shapes of Ghana’s kente, Africa’s bold history is reflected in the designs of Anima Iris’ pieces. In a world of muted leathers and prescribed social norms, Anima Iris pushes boundaries. It is unafraid, emboldened, outspoken, and emblematic of the women who carry it. Every piece in the Anima Iris collection is carefully curated and handcrafted by seasoned professionals in Dakar, Senegal, using customized leathers sourced from the same tanneries in Italy used by the world's leading luxury brands. Wilglory is a discerning luxury expert with a deep and personal understanding of Anima Iris’ target demographic. Her magnetic personality and strong storytelling abilities, combined with her intellectual prowess, have laid the foundation for Anima Iris’ success.
When:
Monday, September 9, 2024
6:00PM – 6:30PM Doors Open
6:30PM – 7:15PM Presentation Begins
7:15PM – 7:30PM Q & A
Where:
Midtown location
(Note: Address will be sent via email to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please review your profile to confirm that the email address listed is correct.)
Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members – $20 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni/Alumni Guest Ticket – $40
Gold & Benefactor Member – $0
Pre-registration is required. Please register early as this event will sell out quickly.
Space is limited!
Registration is subject to availability and will close on Monday, September 9th at 9:00am.
Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations. Click here for full details.
Our founders, coming from various industries and backgrounds, will talk about their startup journeys and share advice they have for aspiring entrepreneurs. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired by the innovative minds from our very own Penn community.
Meet The Panelists:
Serena Advani (C’17, W’17, WG’22), is the founder of Seadrop, the brand reinventing skincare as water-activated tablets (instead of liquids). Her debut product is a first-of-its-kind, “just-add-water” skincare tablet that activates into a hydrating facial cleanser upon use with the tap water you already have at home. While traditional liquid cleanser is ~90% water and stored in single-use plastic, Seadrop's waterless cleanser comes in zero-waste, refillable packaging for skincare that’s cleaner for both the planet and your skin. Serena holds degrees in cognitive neuroscience and operations (with a focus on neuromarketing) from Penn, along with an MBA from Wharton (where she served as a President of the Wharton Beauty Club). She previously worked on beauty due diligences at McKinsey and in global brand strategy at Estee Lauder Companies (Bobbi Brown), and she has been named a 2023 Most Influential ESG Leader by Women’s Wear Daily. Seadrop has been featured in Fast Company, Modern Retail, Refinery29, Elle, and on the Today Show.
Jacob Beckerman (ENG’20, W’20), is the founder of Macro, an innovative document editor that integrates AI and redlining tools. Macro has garnered support from prominent investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Craft, and BoxGroup, and is widely adopted by 24% of the AmLaw 50, Wall Street banks, endowments, funds, and Fortune 500 companies. Jacob completed the prestigious Jerome Fisher M&T Program, earning a Master’s in Computer Science, a Bachelor’s in Finance, and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from The Wharton School. His academic focus included finance, Bayesian statistics, and causal inference.
Wilglory Tanjong (G’22, WG’22), is the founder of Anima Iris, a high fashion brand specializing in the manufacturing of women's designer handbags and accessories curated and handcrafted in Dakar, Senegal. In 2019, Wilglory stumbled upon an artisanal village in Senegal and began creating bags with the local artisans. Inspired by the beauty of their craftsmanship, she left her job the week COVID was declared a pandemic to focus solely on building a company that blends African heritage with modern luxury, aiming to disrupt the industry. Taking its name from Iris, Wilglory’s late mother, and Anima, her childhood friend, Anima Iris was born. Anima Iris is a modern brand that draws inspiration and strength from the matriarchs of its past. Similar to Cameroon’s traditional Bamileke cloth or the geometric shapes of Ghana’s kente, Africa’s bold history is reflected in the designs of Anima Iris’ pieces. In a world of muted leathers and prescribed social norms, Anima Iris pushes boundaries. It is unafraid, emboldened, outspoken, and emblematic of the women who carry it. Every piece in the Anima Iris collection is carefully curated and handcrafted by seasoned professionals in Dakar, Senegal, using customized leathers sourced from the same tanneries in Italy used by the world's leading luxury brands. Wilglory is a discerning luxury expert with a deep and personal understanding of Anima Iris’ target demographic. Her magnetic personality and strong storytelling abilities, combined with her intellectual prowess, have laid the foundation for Anima Iris’ success.
When:
Monday, September 9, 2024
6:00PM – 6:30PM Doors Open
6:30PM – 7:15PM Presentation Begins
7:15PM – 7:30PM Q & A
Where:
Midtown location
(Note: Address will be sent via email to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please review your profile to confirm that the email address listed is correct.)
Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members – $20 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni/Alumni Guest Ticket – $40
Gold & Benefactor Member – $0
Pre-registration is required. Please register early as this event will sell out quickly.
Space is limited!
Registration is subject to availability and will close on Monday, September 9th at 9:00am.
Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations. Click here for full details.