Born Global: Los Angeles

Meet the 2018 Propel Cohort in Los Angeles and San Francisco! Propel provides Australian entrepreneurs with the resources, expertise and international connectedness they need to build large, globally significant and sustainable companies.

On a warm breezy winter evening, overlooking Los Angeles skyline, a gathering of some of our community’s best and brightest joined us at The Montage Beverly Hills to meet with other Born Global leaders, enjoy Penfolds wine, delicious canapes and a special live music performance.

During one of America’s most challenging economic eras, Jeff Bleich served as a senior advisor to President Obama, helping him build a successful new administration, providing legal and policy guidance on all issues that might require presidential action.

With a background in web and mobile marketing, Melbourne-native Adam Garone’s career took a left turn in 2003 when his brother challenged him to grow out a moustache. And so began the now globally recognised Movember movement, where Adam served as CEO until June 2016.

Melbourne native Judy Olian is the Dean of UCLA Anderson School of Management, one of the leading business schools in the world. Driving an institution that annually provides management education to almost 2,000 students enrolled in various MBA and Doctoral programs, and to over 2,500 professional managers through executive education programs, Judy knows first-hand what it takes to succeed in business.

Jaddan Comerford started his music business as a 17-year-old from the bedroom of his parents’ house, in one of the most tumultuous periods the music industry has ever seen; when illegal downloading service Napster and CD burning were just being introduced.

Like many Australians, Paul O’Byrne relocated to Los Angeles from Sydney after following a “sense of adventure”. A senior creative entrepreneur, Paul helps companies conceive, lead, deliver and evaluate major change programs, turning business problems into long-term assets.

At very young age, Elizabeth Jens developed an interest in space exploration. Through a number of factors; unwavering dedication, perseverance, sheer grit, and, as she acknowledges, a “little bit of luck”, she had her dream realised when she began working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

Bruna Papandrea is a South Australian-born Hollywood producer telling Australian stories on a global stage and putting women front and centre.

Georgii Speakman is an Australian living in LA, and a woman who has worn various creative hats throughout her career. She is currently the Director of Strategic Business Development at VOL. 4, Roc Nation’s / Jay Z’s newest Creative + Consultancy Agency in LA.

Currently holding a top-10 place in the Australian iTunes charts for her latest hit “I Love You Always” and having earned the prestigious opening act slot for A-list names such as Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue, Betty Who is fast becoming known as one of Australia’s most talented singer-songwriters.