Abby Malchow
Manager of Small Business Partnerships, Amazon

Abby Malchow is a Business Development Manager for Small Business Empowerment at Amazon where she manages partnerships that help drive success for early-stage entrepreneurs and small businesses through delivering programs and investments that support their continued growth.

Abby joined Amazon in December 2018 and during her tenure she has remained focused on enabling the success of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and underserved businesses through various roles, programs, and initiatives to include creating the Military Entrepreneurship Program and supporting the launch of Amazon’s Supplier Diversity Program. Prior to joining Amazon, Abby worked at Intel Corporation and is a retired U.S. Navy Chief and combat veteran, serving more than 20 years in the military.

Arlan Hamilton
Founder of Backstage Capital & Runner, Author & venture catalyst

Arlan Hamilton is a serial entrepreneur, author, and master multi-tasker. She founded Backstage Capital in 2015 to invest in founders who are people of color, women and/or LGBTQ. Since its founding, Backstage has raised nearly $30 million and invested in 200 startups led by underestimated founders. Arlan is also the founder of HireRunner.co, a startup that connects outstanding employee talent with inclusive companies.

Arlan published her first book, “It’s About Damn Time,” in 2020, detailing her journey from homelessness to venture capital trailblazer. A second book is planned for release in 2024, “Your First Million: Building a Path to Generational Wealth.” Arlan also hosts the popular podcast “Your First Million”, and in 2018, was the first non-celebrity Black woman to grace the cover of Fast Company magazine.

Arlan is a big proponent of paying it forward and supporting other underestimated people in the tech industry and beyond. She’s a limited partner in 27 funds led by emerging, underestimated managers, and she and her mother, Mrs. Earline Butler-Sims, have established scholarship programs for Black students at Oxford University, HBCU Dillard University, and Harvard Law.

Joanna Serra
Founder & COO, Birdy Boutique | Fundraiser Blankets

A mom of three, she resides on an old farm in Michigan. Joanna graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; she also began her Master of Art in Educational Leadership at the University of Michigan. She taught elementary aged children and during this tenure, she earned some of the highest and most distinguished awards in her field at the state level. Her initiative and determination, combined with love for her field, allowed her to be a leader in every working environment she took part in. Joanna loves organizing fundraising events and staying very involved in her local community for the benefit of children. Now retired from education, she utilizes that experience with her army veteran sister and co-founder Barbara Kent, to incorporate education and purpose into the textile products that their company manufactures for various nationwide retailers, schools, and corporations. In addition to being passionate about education and business growth, she is an overly active community planner and volunteer and also enjoys bird watching, gardening, and learning from other inspirational entrepreneurs.

Barbara Kent
Founder & CFO, Birdy Boutique | Fundraiser Blankets

Barbara is a retired and service-disabled Army officer and veteran of almost 15 years. She is the wife of an active duty Army Engineer, mom to two very busy “almost” teenagers and a very clumsy German Shepherd puppy named Hans. Their family has recently been stationed in Alaska, Hawaii, and Virginia. They currently reside in Germany, her husband’s latest duty assignment. Barbara graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1999. She went on to honorably serve in the US Army Military Police Corps for 13 years, after which she was medically retired and disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is now a service-disabled combat veteran. She loves her sewing machine, traveling, good food and wine. Barbara is an active member of several Army spouses’ clubs which raise scholarship funds for military kids and help the active duty military communities in many other ways.