Be the Change: (Em)Power Breakfast Honors Leaders Who Embody the Power of Educational Access and Opportunity

Student Leadership Network joyfully celebrated its collective impact and commitment to “Be The Change” at the 18th annual (Em)Power Breakfast!

From longtime supporters to new friends, school leaders to students and graduates, 500 guests came together to honor alumni Farzana Hossain and Ian Genao, and corporate partner the Apollo Opportunity Foundation, for effecting change through modeling leadership and investing in their communities.

They were joined by Soledad O’Brien, who took the stage to enthusiastic applause as the morning’s emcee.

Setting the Stage to Be The Change

Ann Tisch, Student Leadership Network’s visionary Founder and Board President, applauded the audience for supporting educational opportunity and college access for young people around the country. “Today’s theme is ‘Be The Change’ – something I take to heart every time I enter one of our schools or meet one of our college graduates,” she shared, “because that’s what we do. Empower young people to be the change for themselves, for their families, their communities, and for all of us!” She also led a quiet moment to honor the memory of the late Richard Beattie, a past (Em)Power Breakfast Honoree who was a powerhouse in founding and leading New Visions for Public Schools in New York City and shaping Title IX legislation to change the landscape of girls’ education.

“The work we do is personal and it’s life-changing,” said Yolonda Marshall, CEO of Student Leadership Network. “The data tells us that college is a critical lever to multigenerational prosperity. Young people from underserved communities face significant barriers to accessing higher education. A gap of over 20% exists in college enrollment for students from low-income schools, and even more so for students of color, shrinking their job and life choices. We have already helped put close to 80,000 students on a path to college and expanded life choices, and our goal is to reach 160,000 students in the next five years. Your support today will help us reach this important milestone.”

Meet Our Honorees

Our (Em)Power Breakfast Honorees exemplify the life-changing power of investing in educational opportunity and college access. Congratulations to all of our honorees and thank you for modeling leadership and effecting change!

Farzana Hossain

Farzana Hossain is a proud graduate of The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Queens and went on to study at Harvard and Cornell Universities. A Bangladeshi-American architect who focuses on the intersection of design, ecology, and community, she is currently a Junior Architect at Arrowstreet in Boston and an Adjunct Professor at Boston Architectural College. “I stand here not alone, but on the shoulders of an entire community that has lifted me up,” said Farzana. “Becoming who you’re meant to be is not about perfection. It’s about having the freedom to discover yourself, to fail bravely, and to rise stronger each time.”

Julia Gamolina, Founder and Editor of Madame Architect and Associate Principal at Ennead Architects, joined us to present Farzana’s award.

Ian Genao

Ian Genao shared his remarkable leadership trajectory as a teenage immigrant from the Dominican Republic, navigating the complex college process with the support of his CollegeBound Initiative counselor. Ian earned a full-tuition scholarship to Dickinson College as a Posse Scholar and distinguished himself as an active campus leader and mentor, and now works as a Sales Account Manager at Bloomberg L.P. “I am living proof of what happens when someone invests in your potential and refuses to let you give up on yourself,” said Ian. “To the students in the room, where you start does not define where you can go. You have everything it takes to be the change in your family, your community, and your own story.”

Nancy Cutler, Head of Corporate Philanthropy, Americas at Bloomberg, presented Ian’s award.

Apollo Opportunity Foundation

The event honored the Apollo Opportunity Foundation (AOF) for its exceptional commitment to Student Leadership Network’s mission. Stephanie Drescher, Apollo’s Chief Client & Product Development Officer and Board Member of Student Leadership Network, and Lauren Coape-Arnold, Executive Director of AOF and Global Head of Citizenship at Apollo, accepted the recognition and commended the 115 Apollo employees who volunteered with Student Leadership Network in the last year. Nadia and Sirahi, students from The Young Women’s Leadership School of the Bronx, presented their award and shared how this partnership has enriched their career explorations. “From Women in Finance Mentorship Day at Apollo to Career Day at our school in the Bronx, Apollo has been present in so many ways, inspiring me and my classmates and showing us what is possible,” shared Nadia.

“We’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact of their work and are inspired by the many opportunities to engage with their remarkable students,” said Stephanie. “The Student Leadership Network visits to our office are always a highlight, and I know many of my colleagues would agree. Looking ahead, Apollo is committed to continuing our valuable work together, creating even more hands-on experiences, growing financial literacy and career skills, and supporting the professional networks that help students thrive in their chosen paths.”

“When Apollo launched AOF three years ago, our aim was two-fold: to deploy our capital and to engage our people to expand opportunity,” shared Lauren. “We emphasize a real partnership with each organization, and seek to leverage the entire Apollo ecosystem to maximize our impact. And Student Leadership Network has seized this opportunity.”

Gratitude for Our Supporters

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Breakfast! Your support equips our students with the tools and resources they deserve to reach their full potential. Special thanks to all of our sponsors, especially to our lead sponsors: The Estée Lauder Companies, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Tisch Families, Fredda Cassell and Jim Maher, Richard Cohen and Patricia Duff, and Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

Enjoy more (Em)Power Breakfast highlights below!