Liz’s Story
INSPIRE • CONNECT • ACTIVATE • TRANSFORM
My Story:
As an international social entrepreneur, executive coach, educator, and speaker, I am dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through powerful storytelling, purpose-driven action, and emerging technologies. Let me take you on a transformative journey that has shaped my life and career.
Inspired Beginnings:
Growing up with the influence of my renowned Ugandan dramatist father and a mother who was United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) communications official, I have been inspired to deliver engaging presentations on personal branding, leadership, entrepreneurship, fundraising, and the impactful use of digital storytelling and generative AI for social change.
Recognized Expertise:
I am honored to be included in the prestigious U.S. Speaker Program at the U.S. Department of State, where I share my wealth of knowledge and practical insights to empower individuals and organizations, leveraging emerging technologies.
Dedication and Education:
With over 25 years of experience in various industries, I bring an unwavering dedication to making a positive impact. My educational background includes graduate training from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, undergraduate training in Information Systems from Syracuse University iSchool, and 13 years at the United Nations International School.
With my first role models – my granny and my mom – at The Museum of Natural History in New York. They taught me about the importance of kindness, of creating social capital and of striving for excellence.
Global Network:
Throughout my journey, I have built an extensive global network, allowing me to connect individuals and institutions with like-minded stakeholders and potential supporters, fostering collaboration and growth.
Learn from Experience:
Mentors have played a pivotal role in shaping my path, teaching me the importance of developing long-term relationships. My services reflect the successes and invaluable lessons I have gained along the way.
Discover and Engage:
I invite you to explore my story and the services I offer, which include the impactful integration of emerging technologies, digital storytelling, and generative AI. Dive into images and videos to gain deeper insights into my work.
Driving Social Impact:
In this phase of my career, I am dedicated to assisting social impact-driven leaders and entrepreneurs in shaping successful lives and careers that positively impact communities and the wider world. Together, we can create meaningful change.
With my mentor of nearly 30 years, the late Tom Pedulla. He taught me the importance of developing long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with clients, colleagues and collaborators.
My Story
In Uganda at nine months of age, ready to explore and excited about what life has to offer.
Here I recount some of my extraordinary experiences at the United Nations International School in New York, which I attended from kindergarten through 12th grade and which helped train me to become a global citizen and a changemaker.
One extraordinary UNIS memory: high school graduation at the United Nations General Assembly with Carl Sagan as our speaker!
My inner girl geek was ignited by my first courses at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies. I am pictured here with a mentor from Syracuse, the late Professor Marta Dosa, whom I assisted with her research into information access in Africa.
Immediately after graduating from college I worked as a Marketing Specialist at Digital Equipment Corporation in Massachusetts. I had the honor of meeting DEC founder Ken Olsen and learned a great deal about cutting-edge computer technology. Here I am pictured working a tradeshow booth.
As a a Sales Executive at MICROS Systems Inc., I sold Point of Sale systems to hospitality companies throughout Massachusetts. I learned about the challenges faced by small business owners, and how to help them address those challenges.
As a graduate student at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, one of my proudest accomplishments was the planning and execution of a “Taste of Africa” luncheon with two of my classmates during the annual Hotel Ezra Cornell (HEC) event. That year’s HEC theme was “Illuminate the World,” and we produced a contemporary African event experience that helped to debunk some popular misconceptions about Africa.
The Master of Management in Hospitality degree program at Cornell was a wonderful experience for me, and a very wise investment. In this hospitality-focused business program, I learned a tremendous amount about service excellence – lessons that I subsequently incorporated into my business activities, my teaching, and my volunteer work.
In my final corporate job, immediately after completing graduate school, I worked as a business consulting manager with a “Big 5” firm. After that I started my second business venture (the successor to my high-school era babysitting service!). It started out as Amazing Taste Catering and Event Services and later morphed into AT Marketing and Event Strategy, which served a clientele consisting largely of nonprofit organizations.
In 2005 one of my favorite Cornell professors, Dr. Sheryl Kimes, invited me to speak in the prestigious Dean’s Distinguished Guest Lecture Series. It was my first large lecture, and it gave me an opportunity to share my entrepreneurial journey with hundreds of students…a real honor!
I am pictured here with one of the Hotel School’s most storied alumni, the legendary businessman and philanthropist Chuck Feeney. My firm was responsible for re-branding the annual Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards event, at which this memorable 2013 meeting took place.
The late fundraising powerhouse Naomi Levine hired me to teach at New York University’s Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising in 2009. She subsequently became a mentor and opened many doors for me. Among other things, she helped lay the groundwork for two of the first projects undertaken by The International Social Impact Institute.
Sharing my personal story publicly for the first time: my 2013 TEDx CornellU Talk titled “Want your enterprise to change the world? Start with yourself!”
Over the years, I have been privileged to address many different audiences around the world. In this photo, I am about to keynote the 2013 Southern Africa Fundraising Awards.
At the 2017 African Diaspora Awards, I was honored to receive the Advocate of the Year Award for my work as the CEO of Afrika Tikkun USA – the North America representative of South Africa-based youth development organization Afrika Tikkun.
Another valued mentor has been the pioneering Ugandan serial entrepreneur and philanthropist Mrs. Tereza Mbire. Her groundbreaking career utterly dispels the myth of the African woman as breeder and beggar.
I am pictured here (on the streets of Reykjavik) with my husband, Stuart Cane, who grounds me, advises me and always brings out the best in me! We both love puffins!
Anyone who knows me knows that I love teaching, which I have been doing since I was a graduate student at Cornell. I am pictured here receiving a 2021 Teaching Excellence Award from New York University, where I have taught since 2009 and where I am currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Fundraising.
Stay Connected Today!
Stay connected with me and never miss out on valuable resources, event announcements, and course offerings. You can follow me on social media or sign up for my mailing list to be the first to know about my latest insights and updates. By staying connected, you’ll have access to opportunities that can help you reach your goals. Join me today and let’s stay connected.