About the Social Entrepreneurs
Luke is a member of Bentley University's Class of 2025 and will graduate with a B.S. in Corporate Finance & Accounting and a minor in Nonprofit Leadership. While at Bentley, Luke has served as Student Director of the Bentley Service-Learning and Engagement Center and shares responsibility for equipping 1000+ students annually with the skills needed to participate in effective community work. His prior experience includes roles at JP Morgan Chase, Luke Shoes LLC, and at Brookhaven at Lexington. Recognizing local businesses and nonprofits as cornerstones of the community, Luke is looking forward to launching his full-suite consulting enterprise that will enable these organizations to reach new heights. He is passionate about providing the business insights to enable this growth while remaining authentic towards the mission of the nonprofits and small businesses he hopes to work with.
Jamal Byenkya worked with the local nonprofit More Than Words and was inspired by their mission to help “youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.” Working at More Than Words enabled Jamal to gain knowledge on how to run a social enterprise business. He and his business partner envision that Remove With Purpose will become a moving company that also does junk removal/demolition clean up. Instead of throwing away used products, they will recycle or repurpose these items to reduce their presence in landfills.
Ann has been promoting health and fitness for over 35 years. She has a background in community support and inclusion and a passion to share healthy living strategies. Ann is a part-time fitness instructor and part-time Service Coordinator working with Seniors and adults with disabilities who live in publicly supported housing. Over the past 35 years, she has created two community gardens in Watertown Public Housing, run learning centers, and implemented her own “Healthy Habits” program concept. For the last 5 years, ten cohorts have spent 8 weeks each sharing ideas for healthy foods, speaking about toxic foods, and offering a variety of fitness formats, and spreading awareness with the community at-large, creating a positive ripple effect of health focused communities. Ann is now building her social enterprise, a food truck called Fruit Yourself to bring culturally connected, local recipes to helping to increase the good foods people eat in order to increase their health for better living.
Varvara Dobrynina is an entrepreneur with a strong focus on social innovation and impact. She has worked on startups, case competitions, and research projects in data analytics, bringing a unique blend of technical and business expertise. Varvara is the co-founder of Step X, a premium service company designed to support international students in their transition to the U.S. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, she has experience in data analysis and interpretation, working with diverse organizations to drive impactful solutions. Currently pursuing a major in Data Analytics with a minor in Entrepreneurship, Varvara combines strong communication skills with technical proficiency to help companies remain innovative and on the cutting edge. Born and raised in Russia, she is fluent in both Russian and English, and has beginner proficiency in Spanish. Now based in Greater Boston, Varvara is passionate about collaborating to foster change and innovation in and with her community.
June is a serial social entrepreneur with interests in journalism, creativity, biomedicine, and patient advocacy. She co-founded The Waltham Times, a nonprofit, independent newspaper serving Waltham. Previously, June co-founded and led the Alzheimer Research Forum and N-of-One, Inc., a for-profit pioneer in precision cancer decision support. At the FSHD Society, June has been a transformative leader in accelerating treatments for the one million individuals affected by facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. June also co-founded New Harmony Line, a nonprofit with the mission to empower anyone to compose music. June has been a journalist and editor for Scientific American, Science, The New York Times Magazine, PBS, Discover, and Allure, among others. She also co-wrote the acclaimed guidebook, Gateway to Japan. Her passion is to make the world a better place by building sustainable enterprises to promote health, wellness, and culture. June graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in physics.
Keith is an Executive Creative Director at a Fortune 100 company here in the greater Boston area. He spent the first 13 years of his career as a creative in advertising, and the last 12 years managing in-house creative teams at some of this region's most successful companies. Whether incubating brands from the ground up, designing brand identities, developing integrated go-to-market campaigns, or leading full-service creative teams, Keith brings a holistic brand vision and creative business perspective to every role and project he tackles. Now, as he and his partner embark on launching their own purpose-driven brand BOOM Impact he is excited to create a slow fashion social enterprise that makes a large social impact in the world.
Anthony is a consulting professional with experience in risk management, internal controls, and business operations. He has worked with global firms such as Ernst & Young, Dell Technologies, and BerryDunn, providing practical solutions to mitigate financial, operational, and compliance risks. His background also includes leadership roles in nonprofit and community engagement, where he has managed large teams and overseen volunteer initiatives supporting social impact programs. Anthony is pursuing an M.S. in Finance at Bentley University, where he also earned a B.S. in Economics and Finance with minors in Computer Information Systems and International Affairs. His expertise spans financial analysis, data-driven decision-making, and project management. Passionate about social impact work, Anthony serves as a board member on two nonprofits and serves on the Downtown Development Commission for the City of Biddeford, Maine. Anthony actively engages in initiatives where he can leverage his finance, technology, and leadership skills to contribute to organizations that drive social change.
Juliet founded Africano Waltham in 2010 as a nonprofit organization which uses a holistic approach to help lift area African immigrant children and their families to succeed in life. Africano provides a safe space, educational and mental health support, visual and performing arts, and cultural connections. Since starting with 5 students, the organization now serves over 800 families with on-site afterschool programs, college prep, Saturday enrichment, job readiness, financial literacy, cultural workshops, performances, event space for the wider community, and more. The programs are offered at a minimal or no cost to families. With her participation in the Bentley Social Innovation Incubator, Juliet aims to create a for-profit arm of Africano that can help provide funds for the nonprofit arm while serving as a model for other social enterprises seeking to balance people and planet alongside profit.
Ingkar Serikpayeva is currently pursuing her degree at Bentley in Finance and Technology with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Business Administration. She is an entrepreneur and researcher with a strong focus on innovation and social impact, having worked on projects that explore the intersection of finance, technology, and global markets. Her social enterprise Step X is a premium service company designed to support international students in their transition abroad. She previously started up Sisterhood.kz, a female mentorship club that expanded across multiple schools. In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Ingkar has gained hands-on experience in sales, consulting, and business development, working closely with clients and organizations to drive growth and strategic impact. Originally from Kazakhstan, she brings a global perspective to her work and is fluent in Kazakh, Russian, and English and Turkish.
Jen Williams is a dedicated dance fitness leader committed to creating inclusive, empowering spaces where women can connect, move, and celebrate together in her GLOW studios. With over a decade of experience, she has cultivated high-energy dance experiences that inspire joy, confidence, and a deep sense of community. As a Zumba instructor and entrepreneur, Jen focuses on movement, wellness, and cultural connection, fostering spaces where individuals feel supported, seen, and free to express themselves. Her work is rooted in the belief that dance has the power to uplift, unite, and transform—both on and off the dance floor. Her social enterprise work will include an increased focus on planet and sustainability, adding to the unique work she is doing to nurture people in our community. Through the Bentley Social Innovation Incubator, Jen is looking to make her business model financially sustainable and to expand her triple bottom line business to other locations.