In an innovation-driven, resilient, and fearless world, some entrepreneurs stand out in the way they’re building the future of business. “Top Entrepreneurs Shaping the Future in 2025” is a tribute to visionary leaders who are reshaping industries, creating purpose-driven brands, and shaping the next generation of change-makers.
Mykella Auld M.Ed.
Mykella Auld’s has emerged as a leading voice in advancing culture and impact consulting as the Co-Founder, Partner, and Chief Culture Officer of “Odyssey Alliance LLC”. From a young age, Mykella noticed how culture can bring people together and how systems can support communities and shared advancements. This deep-rooted curiosity led her to study Sociology (BA) and Organizational Leadership (M.Ed.), where she explored the intersection of people, systems, and power.
Inspired to bring her experience to life Mykella directs The Work Well Studio, (a specialized center within Odyssey Alliance) that aims to ensure that organizations are equipped to grow bold leadership, center lived experience, and build caring cultures to fuel lasting change. This experience has shown her the urgent need for a shift in traditional business practices, especially as modern workplaces are struggling under the weight of burnout, disconnection, and decreasing impact.
As the co-founder of Odyssey Alliance, she brings over a decade of experience working with and coaching diverse global organizations. Leaders benefit from the “Well Leaders” Coaching initiative and organizations gain tools through consulting services in the areas of and culture audits, impact management, and community design.
Her commitment to advancing culture and impact has earned her significant recognition, including being named one of the “Top 25 Female Leaders of 2024” by WomElle, and being named to Marquis Who’s Who in 2025, for her work in coaching and consulting.
Looking ahead, Mykella aims to coach over 250 leaders and entrepreneurs, expand her influence through speaking engagements, and author a book on building innovative cultural strategies. For Mykella, shaping the future means organizations are equipped to make data-informed, values-aligned decisions to build healthy cultures and societies.
Lara Varjabedian and Jonathan L. Hasson
Names getting attention this year are Lara Varjabedian and Jonathan L. Hasson, the cofounders of UBQT. It’s not just the platform they’re building that stands out, but the reason behind it.
UBQT‘s AI-powered platform empowers more human, real-life, meaningful connections within communities. With powerful features that allow users to sync diaries and easily plan in-person catchups, UBQT empowers corporates, events, universities and more to keep community members (employees, attendees, alumni) connected with their professional and personal circles effortlessly.
The idea came from a simple problem: teams are geographically disconnected, communities aren’t engaged, and real-life connection is often missing. UBQT fixes that. Community owners can plan real life catchups for everyone, while members can plan their own in-person meetings with others while on the go.
For the users, UBQT is designed to keep them connected with people they know from communities, travel, work connections and more. There are no feeds, no followers, no addictive algorithms. Instead, the platform helps them catch up in real life, something that’s strangely hard to do in a world where we’re always online but rarely present.
Together, Lara Varjabedian, Jonathan L. Hassan and IQ Sayed bring serious experience in tech, media, and insurance. Using technology, they’re redefining how communities connect and giving business partners the tools they need to unlock the full potential of their social capital.
UBQT was runner-up at the Entrepreneurship World Cup UAE 2024 and recently raised $750,000 in pre-seed funding. That kind of backing shows people are paying attention.
As community owners struggle to keep their members connected and engaged, UBQT might be hitting the right nerve. It’s simple. It’s quiet. And it reminds us that sometimes the best way to connect… is in real life.
Josiah Corbin
If you’re looking at the people shaping the future of entertainment and live experiences, Josiah Corbin is a name worth knowing.
Currently serving as Director of Business Development and Entertainment Strategy at Elite Multimedia Productions, Josiah brings more than two decades of experience in music, events, and storytelling. He’s not just producing events; he’s curating experiences that leave a lasting mark. With every custom concept he maps out for a Fortune 500 brand, Corbin proves that true creativity lives in the details.
His journey started humbly, right out of college, promoting local music shows in Nashville. He had an eye for undiscovered talent, a passion for people, and a gut feeling about what’s next. That early hustle laid the groundwork for what would become a career spanning artist management, tour production, corporate events, and brand experiences. More than anything, Corbin is driven by a love for connection between sound, space, and people.
Today, Elite Multimedia services major touring artists and top corporate clients, offering custom LED and lighting design that blends art with strategy. Corbin approaches each project not like a vendor, but like a creative partner. He’s guided by relational equity, something he believes makes or breaks the experience.
In recent years, his work has earned plenty of attention. In 2024, he was inducted into both the Forbes Business Council and the Rolling Stone Culture Council, where he now leads as Music Biz Leader. He’s also been featured in Canvas Rebel, Nashville Voyager, and recognized by Marquis Who’s Who for his contributions to the field.
Whether designing immersive moments for music fans or rethinking how brands connect with audiences, Corbin keeps one foot in the culture and one in the future.
Staci Swidersk
Staci Swiderski isn’t just a CEO—she’s a visionary force in the reproductive health space, reshaping the way we think about family, business, and purpose. As the founder of Family Source Consultants, one of the nation’s top-rated surrogacy and egg donation agencies, Staci brings over 20 years of hands-on experience and heart-led leadership to an industry that demands both compassion and innovation. What sets Staci apart? She’s lived the surrogacy journey as an intended parent, giving her a rare and deep personal understanding of the process. In addition to building her own family with the help of a gestational surrogate, Staci also served as an egg donor—an experience that has profoundly shaped her commitment to guiding others through their family-building journeys with empathy, understanding, and purpose. That’s why empathy, ethics, and excellence are the foundation of everything she’s built. Under her leadership, Family Source Consultants has become a globally respected agency known for its integrity, inclusivity, and heartfelt approach to third-party reproduction. In a space that’s rapidly evolving, Staci is a grounded disruptor—fearlessly pushing for better standards, more transparency, and a client-first mindset. Her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed: she was named one of the “10 Most Admired Women in Business 2024” by Entrepreneurial Outlook Magazine and continues to be a trailblazing voice for women, parents, and entrepreneurs alike. Staci is also the host of the SHE DECIDES podcast, a powerful platform where female founders, creators, and thought leaders rewrite the rules of success on their own terms. She believes in leading with heart, lifting others as she climbs, and building businesses that make a real difference. With a mission that blends purpose, power, and people—Staci Swiderski is not just leading a company. She’s leading a movement.
Nicole Craveiro
Nicole Craveiro Is Redefining HR—One Bold Move at a Time
Nicole Craveiro, Founder and CEO of CraveHRO, is leading a much-needed rebellion in Human Resources. With her unapologetically modern, human-first approach, she’s proving that compliance doesn’t have to be cold—and that small employers deserve more than templated advice and liability panic. Guided by her trademark mantra, “Not Your Father’s HR,” Nicole is rewriting the rules of people management for today’s workplace.
At the heart of CraveHRO is its promise: “The HR Guidance You CRAVE.” Nicole offers subscription-based HR services that scale with small businesses as they grow. From foundational compliance support to full-scale HR leadership, each package is designed to meet employers where they are—and take the guesswork out of managing people. Nicole specializes in HR compliance, employee relations, leave laws, and policy development, with a particular focus on supporting small employers across the U.S. and international companies with U.S.-based teams.
Over the past year, Nicole has expanded her offerings to include digital HR e-books and tools—resources that make it easier for small business owners to get compliant without Googling their way into a lawsuit. Every retainer client also receives access to CraveWave, her client cloud platform packed with labor law alerts, policy templates, training tools, and attorney-reviewed docs.
Backed by a Master’s degree in HR Management from Stony Brook University and certifications including PHR and SHRM-CP, Nicole’s work has earned international recognition. She’s also a dedicated mental health advocate and suicide prevention volunteer.
CraveHRO was born from Nicole’s own experience navigating toxic workplaces—and built to deliver HR that’s equal parts strategic and compassionate. Because for her, it’s not just about policies. It’s about people.
