Meet the Team
Executive Leadership & Governance
LaNell T. Williams
President & Chief Executive Officer
LaNell Williams is a serial entrepreneur, strategy consultant, and elevator of human potential. With Consultative Status under assignment with the United Nations Economic & Social Council, Mr. Williams serves as the President & CEO of Athgo, one of the world’s leading entrepreneur development platforms, and Founder of the Athgo Global Center for Purpose, Innovation & Change.

Armen Orujyan, PhD
Founder & Chairman Emeritus
Armen Orujyan, PhD is an entrepreneur, innovator, and Founding Chairman of the Foundation for Armenian Science & Technology. Dr. Orujyan is also the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Athgo. Learn More

Darel Tai Engen
Vice President of Education and Training
Darel Engen has served as the VP of Education and Training of Athgo International since 2002. He has taught at UCLA, Gonzaga University, and is currently an Associate Professor of History at California State University, San Marcos.

Naila Chowdhury
Board Member
Naila Husain Chowdhury is Chairman of the TeleConsult Group in Bangladesh and United States. Previously she held the position of Director Customer Relations and Human Resources at Grameen Phone Ltd. Learn More

Timothy Riesen, PhD
Board Member
Timothy Riesen is the CEO of Madison Springfield, Inc. – an emerging markets consultancy that specializes in providing research, advisory services, and innovative technology solutions to multinational organizations.

Joseph Barnes
Board Member
Joseph Barnes, CEO of Barnes and Barnes LLC – a consulting company, – has spent over 20 years developing executive level management and leadership experience while personally starting and building viable service related companies.
Trendsetters

Masiela Lusha
Ambassador of Youth
Masiela Lusha is a European born author, actress, producer and humanitarian who first gained recognition after starring in film and TV projects such as ABC’s George Lopez and Sony Picture’s Blood: The Last Vampire.

Yana Saakyan
VP of Programs
Yana leads the Organization’s activities to include E3.0 program, designed for startup engagements in the emerging countries. In a role of a product development lead, Yana currently directs all aspects of the product and user experience design.
Advisory Board

Joe Austin
Director of Investor Relations, Hawkeye Capital Management, LLC
John Chiang
California State Controller

Tony Coehlo
United States Congressman, Ret.

Rocky Delgadillo
Los Angeles City Attorney

John Duran
Council Member, City of West Hollywood

Rabbi Allen I. Freehling
Executive Director, Human Relations Commission for the City of Los Angeles

Eduardo Gelbstein
Advisor, United Nations Board of External Auditors

Wendy Greuel
Controller, City of Los Angeles

Corey Griffin
President and CEO, Global Government and Industry Partners

Michael Mahdesian
Former Deputy Assistant Administrator, US Agency for International Development, Bureau of Humanitarian Response

Cynthia M. Ruiz
President, Board of Public Works, Los Angeles

John Shegerian
Chairman and CEO, Electronic Recyclers

Gillian Sorensen
Senior Advisor, United Nations Foundation

Barbara Yaroslavsky
President, Medical Board of California