Technology

Arianny Mercedes

Founder & Principal Consultant Revamped

Arianny Mercedes is the founder of Revamped, a global consultancy focused on empowering professionals to secure high growth professions and aiding enterprises in unlocking the full potential of their human capital. With a rich background in Human Resources, management consulting, DEIB, data engineering, and talent acquisition, she boasts a notable professional journey marked by tenures at renowned enterprises including Fidelity Investments, American Express, Meta, and Accenture. Since 2019, Arianny has aided over 700 professionals in securing thriving careers at top enterprises and startups including Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Google, Microsoft, Charlie Health, Ramp, Zoom, and Asana. Her expertise and perspectives have been highlighted on NPR, CNN, CBS News, and LinkedIn News. At the intersection of wellness, equity, and growth, Revamped is dedicated to a global mission, aiming to close gaps in talent, wages, and skill sets worldwide. Arianny graduated from The University of Virginia, engaging in research as part of the honors program in history. On a pre-law track, her focus delved into 20th-century labor history in the United States examining how specific policies disenfranchised Black Americans, leaving lasting impacts in the 21st century.

Kiara Reed

Global Business Development Lead Google

Hailing from Queens, NY, Kiara Reed is an avid traveler who enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on her NY teams (Knicks, Yankees, Giants). Inspired by her childhood idol, Mayor David Dinkins, Kiara has always been passionate about public policy, leadership, and community service. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Citizens Committee for New York City, and is on the Board of Directors for the Columbia Alumni Association and the CBS 4A. As the Global Business Development Lead for Live Events, Kiara oversees the global partnership and go to market strategy for a new Google Events experience spanning Search and Ads. In addition to managing key industry relationships, Kiara participates in Responsible AI testing and is a Black Google Network Lead for Google’s Global Partnerships organization. She is an accomplished leader in product management, customer experience, and client engagement and held previous roles at Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Ralph Lauren. Kiara is a 2016 graduate of Columbia Business School and the School of International and Public Affairs where she studied finance and urban policy. During her time at CBS, she was VP of Conference and Co-President of the BBSA and was the inaugural recipient of the Bill Campbell Award. In 2011, she graduated with her BA in Economics and Political Science from Columbia which motivated her love for community development and policymaking.

Raul J. Cepin

Lead Product Manager Wolters Kluwer

Raul J. Cepin is an innovative Tech Product Management Lead building API & Data tools for small to large tech companies. Currently he works at Wolters Kluwer, a Fortune 500 B2B software and data firm. Prior to his current role, Raul has immersed himself in the AdTech space from a product perspective, having worked at global adtech company Ogury, as well as time in startups such as BaseballCloud and abuque. He has provided consulting services through his business CreativeCTO to small to large tech startups looking to launch and scale tech products. Raul also serves as a Founder-in-Residence at Bubble’s Immerse accelerator program, providing support for “no-code” founders looking to build their business. He is on a mission to increase access for underrepresented backgrounds to the technology that will shape our future. Raul received his Bachelors of Arts in Latin American & Caribbean Studies from Binghamton University, where he participated in the McNair Scholars Program, with a focus in social work. Beginning his career in social work, Cepin realized the disproportionate data based on race and took it upon himself to learn code and other tech-based skills, before making a career pivot into tech He took his passion for advocacy through his social work and applied it directly to the tech field. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. Raul seeks to improve people’s quality of life through a career in tech with his platform of Social Justice Tech, a social enterprise assisting people with breaking into technology careers. Raul, whose family hails from the Dominican Republic, is passionate about inclusive product development and building digital solutions for immigrant communities.

Shadan Deleveaux

Staffing Team Lead Google

Dr. Shadan Deleveaux currently leads the recruitment initiatives for Google's Global Partnerships Organization where he is credited with the development of Google’s pioneering Inclusive Hiring Process, reflecting his commitment to diversity and inclusion. Spanning over two decades, Dr. Deleveaux's career is marked by diverse roles encompassing Brand Marketing, Business Development, Sales, and Recruiting, with significant tenures at Nestle Purina, Colgate Palmolive, and L'Oreal USA prior to Google. A recognized talent expert, Dr. Deleveaux has contributed his insights to outlets including Fortune.com and Ebony magazine. He is also a sought-after speaker, having delivered keynote speeches at the Aspen Institute, UC Berkeley's NOW conference, the US Department of State, and more. In addition to his corporate accomplishments, Dr. Deleveaux co-founded Technology for Families in Need (TechFIN), a 501c3 organization helping to close the digital divide and promoting technology accessibility for underprivileged communities. To date, the organization has provided computers to nearly 4,000 low-income families. Educationally, Dr. Deleveaux holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and a doctorate in Leadership and Innovation from NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, where he focused his research on hiring equity in the technology sector. This research underscores his expertise in fostering fair and inclusive hiring practices.

Jeff S. McClellan

2Y Student Columbia Business School