The Unsung Heroes of Ecosystem Building was a storytelling campaign spearheaded by Anika Horn, Jeff Bennett, and Jessica Edwards in 2020 to raise the profile of entrepreneurial ecosystem builders around the country.
After receiving 70 nominations in a mere two weeks, the team got to work and interviewed 40+ entrepreneurial ecosystem builders from Puerto Rico to Tuczon, AZ. Over the course of seven months, the campaign team introduced all seven ESHIP Goals along with three to five Unsung Heroes each on a monthly basis. From academics to economic development officers, entrepreneurs, investors, nonprofit leaders, corporate employees and grassroots activists, the first season shone a spotlight on Unsung Heroes that work across all levels of systemic change.
In 2023 Anika Horn has resumed the campaign meeting really brilliant ecosystem builders–online and in-person–and sharing their awesomeness with the ecosystem building community at large. Check out her most recent podcast episode to learn about her most recent unsung hero interviews, Nida Ansari in Indianapolis and Sammy Popat in Maryland.
Unsung Heroes of Ecosystem Building 2020
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- Jordan Walbesser
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- Kim Louis
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- Mel Lambert
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- Mara Hardy
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- Harshita Girase
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- Lauren Mehler Pradhan
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- Jeannette Balleza-Collins
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- Adam Arredondo
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- Steven Rodriguez
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- Melanie Lenci
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- Taj Ahmad-Eldridge
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- Paul Riser
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- Rodney Woods
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- Candice Matthews Brackeen
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- Buddy Palmer
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- Jacqueline Summers
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- Zen Trenholm
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- Denisse Rodríguez Colón
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- Nia Richardson
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- Carina Boston Pinales
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- Gabe Munoz
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- Dustin Shay
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- Heather Metcalf
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- Mark Lawrence
In total, the Unsung Heroes of Ecosystem Building campaign highlighted over 40 ecosystem builders. In addition to those showcased above as part of the Kauffman Foundation’s ESHIP Summit content, the campaign highlighted dozens more. Check out the full list below and click through to their spotlights.