Thank you to our event sponsors:

Chat with successful business owners

The interactive panels provide a platform for individuals to openly share their authentic journeys as entrepreneurs in Central Texas.

We will host an impactful discussion with Successful Business Owners. Join us to be inspired by their stories, learn from their experiences firsthand, and engage directly with them. This event offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and advice from seasoned professionals. Don’t miss out on this exceptional opportunity!

July 2024 Moderator:

Karla Leal – Spectrum News 1 Texas

Karla is a seasoned award-winning journalist. She’s the anchor of Spectrum News 1 Texas’ Saturday evening newscasts & the host of the network’s weekly public affairs show ‘In Focus Texas.” She’s honored to gain the trust of Texans and to have the opportunity to tell impactful stories.

Karla is a passionate bilingual journalist with over 16 years of experience conducting effective interviews in both English and Spanish. Having covered various topics across Texas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida, and Mexico, she is well-versed in diverse reporting. Karla was instrumental in launching Telemundo Austin’s first local Spanish newscasts and served as an anchor and reporter for four years. Her notable work includes reporting on the Tejano Monument and the Circuit of the Americas race track.

Before joining Spectrum News 1 Texas, Karla spent nine years at Telemundo Chicago, where she also served as a substitute correspondent for national newscasts. Her investigative series “Persecuciones Mortales” earned her an Emmy and a Peter Lisagor award.

Originally from Mexico, Karla considers herself an adoptive “Tejana.” She married a Texas native and has completed seven marathons in Texas. In her free time, she enjoys visiting parks and museums with her family, running with her dog, or dancing to Latin rhythms.

Contact Karla at karla.leal@charter.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KarlaLealTVNews, or via X and Instagram @KarlaLealTV.

PANELISTS:

Sarah Seraj – A Better Force

Sarah Seraj, PhD is co-founder and CTO at A Better Force, where she conducts workshops and consults with companies on improving workplace culture by using the latest findings from the social sciences. In her data consultancy work, she uses computational language tools to answer social psychological questions and come up with best practices for companies. As a woman of color and an immigrant, one of the main goals of her work is to have more inclusive spaces for women, BIPOC, and other underrepresented groups by tackling systematic inequalities in organizations. Sarah got her PhD in Psychology from UT Austin in 2021.

Alejandro Medina – CompuPlus

Alejandro Medina, a business owner at CompuPlus and co-owner at AZ Producciones, originally hails from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and has been residing in Austin since 2013. With a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications and certification as a Computer Repair Technician, both earned in Monterrey, Alejandro has built a diverse professional background. He spent several years teaching English as a second language in Monterrey before moving to Austin. While a soccer enthusiast, he currently enjoys playing pickleball. Alejandro is passionate about environmental sustainability, focusing on reusing, recycling, and repurposing materials. He also loves hiking up big mountains, though he laments the scarcity of such terrains in Texas.

Sandra Fleming – CEI Preschool

Sandra Flemings is the proud owner and director of CEI Preschool. Originally from Mexico, Sandra moved to the United States after getting married. With over 20 years of experience as an educator and a doctoral degree in education, Sandra has dedicated her career to teaching and early childhood development. Her deep passion for early education led her to recognize the growing need for childcare services in Austin. Motivated by this vision, she founded CEI Preschool, a center that not only provides care but also offers a nurturing and educational environment where children can grow and learn safely and happily.

When: Tuesday , July 16th | 6-8pm

Where: City of Austin Economic Development Department

5202 East Ben White Boulevard #Suite 300 Austin, TX 78741

If you are interested in connecting with small business owners and align your organization with our mission, please inquire about sponsorship opportunities at hello@egbi.org.