BrandUp Teen Advisory Board

Orane Barrett is a social entrepreneur and the visionary founder behind Kool Nerd Connect (KNC), a career education company dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap for underserved youth by connecting them with career pathways, mentorship, and skill-building resources. A graduate of the University of Rochester with a degree in Chemical Engineering, he began his career at Intel, where he served as a Process Engineer and Operations Manager. After earning his MBA from MIT Sloan, Orane worked as an investment banker at UBS before launching KNC to bridge the gap between untapped talent and workforce needs.

Lainie Rowell is a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and award-winning educator with over 25 years of experience helping people and organizations thrive. She has worked with Fortune 100 companies like Apple and Google, and presented in 41 states and dozens of countries across four continents, and she has even been called “gritty” by Angela Duckworth. Her signature framework, Bold Gratitude, blends psychology, behavioral science, and neuroscience with practical tools to help people notice what matters, evolve with intention, and thrive through meaningful connection. A former district leader supporting 22,000 students and 1,200 teachers, Lainie is also an Apple Distinguished Educator and Google for Education Certified Innovator. Her work has been featured in PBS NewsHour, Edutopia, Greater Good Magazine, and Thrive Global.

Lynelle Kerstine is an accomplished Independent Education Consultant who draws on her years of experience as an award-winning creative marketing executive and writing expert to help students master the college planning and application process. With strategic and thoughtful mentorship, she guides students to discover their own paths, determine their genuine interests, and build strong narratives that will stand out in the highly competitive admissions landscape. Lynelle earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a College Counseling certificate from UCLA. She has held senior executive positions at MGM and New Line Cinema, authored a popular children’s book series, and worked on creative campaigns for brands including Skechers, Mattel, and HBO. She found her passion for college counseling while volunteering with a creative writing nonprofit, where she continues to do pro bono work.

Roselanda Lucas is a high school senior from Delray Beach, Florida. She is a student leader in JROTC, president of her school’s Recycling Club, and a small business owner of Rose Crochet World. She is passionate about nursing, leadership, and helping other teens grow in confidence.

Lila Alpers is a freshman at Horace Greeley High School (class of 2029). She has one brother and a soon-to-be 18-year-old dog. She enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Shelley Perez-Rubio is a 10th grader at Laurel High School in Laurel, Delaware. She’s passionate about global issues and entrepreneurship and currently serves as an SGA officer. She aspires to become a biomedical engineer with a focus on the intersection of science and politics.

Farida Momodu is a 10th grader at Odyssey Charter School in Wilmington, Delaware. She is passionate about helping others and playing lacrosse, and she is actively involved in volunteer organizations such as Healthy Kids Running. Farida is an aspiring math teacher.

Mariana Padilla is a junior at Carnegie Vanguard High School with a passion for entrepreneurship and a deep love of teaching others. She serves as the 11th-grade representative of the entrepreneurship club, is the Chief Strategy Officer of her Junior Achievement team, and volunteers as a teaching assistant at her church.

Andrea Oyanguren is a high school senior who is passionate about branding, social media, and audience engagement. An aspiring marketer, she is eager to bring creativity and strategy to the world of digital marketing.

Nitya Lohiya is the Founder of That Teen and the author of the book 13 Lessons I Wish Everyone Knew at 13.

Kaitlyn “Kailey” Rupp is a high school junior based in Georgia and the Vice President of Marketing for Girl Friends of CHOA. A dedicated athlete and soccer player for Walton High School and Roswell Santos, she also works in sports medicine at Walton, combining her passions for athletics and medical care. Certified in CPR and sports-specific taping, Kailey is driven by a deep love for medicine, sports, and helping people reach their goals. She hopes to use her skills to support and empower others on and off the field.

Justice Haller is a 9th grader based in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. An actor, singer, and influencer, Justice has released 14 music singles and starred as the lead in two films. He loves tennis and adventure, especially rock climbing, lake surfing, and traveling.

Nathan Hilsenrath is an 11th grader at Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, Florida. He’s passionate about psychology and fitness, and is actively involved in youth basketball coaching. Nathan is an aspiring engineer or psychologist and is currently taking calculus, advanced chemistry, and advanced psychology. He also hopes to participate in an original psychological study in the near future.

Tyra Maforimbo is a Grade 9 student at Trinityhouse in Glenvista. She is passionate about food and helping people, and is involved in soccer, athletics, public speaking, as well as CSI (Community Service Initiative) and WESSA (Environmental Group) at her school. She is an aspiring CEO, actuarial scientist, and quant, currently exploring productivity apps and building her skills in math and finance.

Ellie Mae Smith is a homeschooled freshman based in the Southwest. An actress, writer, and aspiring filmmaker, she has a deep love of movies, reading, and music. With credits in more than 20 films and 15 stage productions, she is the youngest person in the U.S. to have a feature film produced.


