In celebration of Women’s History Month, join us for this intimate conversation with inspiring UWM alumni women leaders.

Join three UWM women alumni that were recognized in Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, Obiageli Nwabuzor, Ariam Kesete, and Marquayla Ellison, for an intimate event.

This facilitated discussions will focus on professional development, how to stand out in an innovative workforce, how to be creative when it seems impossible, and learn how to grow along your women identified peers.

This event is proudly co-hosted with Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, Black Student Cultural Center, and Women’s Resource Center.
Dinner will be provided.

Reserve your spot today, please RSVP below.

Meet Obigagel: Oby Nwabuzor, MBA is the Founder of Envision Growth, a Milwaukee-based real estate development group to build healthy people and regenerate communities. She has mastered the art of being a community connector and has held roles within the nonprofit and public sectors, currently including the American Heart Association.

She has developed health strategies to improve social influencers of health in communities and has led community collaborations through programs, partnerships, and policies. Her involvement with governmental agencies and strategic alliances has resulted in a Complete Streets Policy and, to date, a $600k Fresh Food Access Fund. She serves on boards for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, City of Milwaukee-NIDC, Malaika Early Learning Center, the Friendship House of Milwaukee, and the Progress Center for Black Women.

Meet Ariam Kesete: Ariam Kesete was born and raised in Eritrea, East Africa. She came to the United States in 1997 with her mother, who instilled in her the family’s entrepreneurial spirit. Ariam tapped into that spirit at a young age becoming the fourth generation dedicated to furthering the improvement of her community and, to people as a whole, through real estate development.

She is an established real estate developer who founded her own company, AK Development, LLC in 2016. As the President, she established a vision for the company focused on the development of real estate, communities, and people.

Meet Marquayla Ellison: Marquayla Ellison is the owner and creative force behind Ellastic Designs, LLC. Her innate creative skills were enhanced at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Design & Visual Communication from the Peck School of the Arts (PSOA) in 2013.

After finding herself unsuccessful in securing internships to supplement her education during her freshman year, and with the amazing support of family and friends, Marquayla started Ellastic Designs, LLC a small design firm set on creating customs digital and print designs for small businesses, local philanthropic professionals, non-profits, and organizations.

Since May 17, 2011, Ellastic Designs has illustrated a creative vision for many clients including: Traci Braxton, The Milwaukee Health Department, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, and ACLU-WI, Medical College of WI, Near West Side Partners, Running Rebels, Milwaukee Film – just to name a few.

In addition to building her full time business, she regularly gives back to the community and entertains her social side as co-owner and president of Social X MKE, a young professional diversity and inclusion consulting group. Social X MKE creates and provides a connective platform for black & brown young professionals, businesses and corporations, so they can thrive in Greater Milwaukee and surrounding areas. She was recently announced as a 2022 Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree.