Featured Speakers
“Pinky" Cole Hayes is a Jamaican-American restaurateur, author, community activist, and owner of the Slutty Vegan restaurant chain and Bar Vegan in Atlanta, Georgia. Cole Hayes is a culinary disruptor in the industry, transforming America's view of plant-based fast food and striving to make plant-based eating delicious, accessible, and enjoyable for vegans and flexitarians alike.
In addition to her work in the food industry, Pinky is also a philanthropist and head of The Pinky Cole Foundation, which is committed to uplifting marginalized and underrepresented communities and breaking the cycle of poverty by providing access to resources and education to pursue their entrepreneurial goals. Pinky has been named to Restaurant Hospitality’s 2021 Power List, Forbes Next 1000, Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 100 Powerful Women in Business List, LA Wire Influential Women of 2020, PETA’s 2021 Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities List and Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 List, and was a 2023 TIME100 Next List honoree. Most recently, Pinky was a finalist for the 2024 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
In November 2022, Cole Hayes released her first cookbook, Eat Plants, B*tch — a compilation of 91 vegan recipes plus a selection of tips and tricks for vegan cooking and other plant-based substitutes — that is now available for purchase online and at bookstores across the country. Pinky’s latest book with HarperCollins Leadership, called I Hope You Fail details how her failures have driven her successes.
To learn more about Pinky Cole Hayes, visit iampinkycole.com and follow @pinkycole on Instagram and @pinky907 on X (formerly Twitter).
Jude Bernard is a Brooklyn-based entrepreneur, real estate broker and general contractor who founded the nonprofit The Brooklyn Bank in 2017 to provide financial literacy, asset-building and wealth-education programs to underserved communities.
After buying his first property at age 25, Bernard built a multi-unit real estate portfolio, experienced significant setbacks during the Great Recession, and now uses those lessons to guide others toward generational wealth and economic empowerment.
His mission: close the racial wealth gap by equipping Black and brown communities with the tools to invest, own property, and build financial freedom.
Beyond his roles as a leader of BKBNK INC an entrepreneur, Jude is also a Licensed Real Estate Broker, Licensed General Contractor, business consultant, landlord, public speaker, philanthropist, and wealth educator.
To learn more about Jude Bernard, follow @mr.judebernard on Instagram and @mr.judebernard on X (formerly Twitter)
Royale L’radin is a Reinvention Expert, entrepreneur, and transformational speaker guiding individuals and organizations through the process of intentional self-transformation.
His work focuses on helping people identify limiting patterns, elevate their self-awareness, and realign their lives with clarity, discipline, and purpose.
Born from his own deeply transformative journey after incarceration, Royale rebuilt his life through accountability, introspection, and internal reinvention. Today, he uses that blueprint to empower audiences across the country — from youth organizations to corporate environments — teaching them how to navigate challenges and create change from within.
With a signature mantra, “LET’S GET IT, ON PURPOSE,” Royale delivers keynotes, workshops, and reinvention programs that blend personal story with practical strategy. His message resonates with audiences seeking growth, clarity, resilience, and next-level transformation.
Royale continues to be a sought-after voice in personal development, offering a powerful and relatable perspective on what’s possible when you choose to reinvent your life with intention.
To learn more about Royale L'radin, follow @royalelradin on Instagram and @royalelradin on X (formerly Twitter)
Featured Panelists
Founder of Vanguard Style Suite, a Boston, MA-based styling company. SÀNDRA, whose background as a psychiatric and administrative nurse revealed the deep connection between appearance and mental well-being, offers expert personal styling, image consulting, wardrobe edits, and bespoke packages designed to meet you where you are and elevate you to where you want to be.
Whether curating everyday looks or styling you for milestone moments, SÀNDRA approaches each client with intentionality and precision, crafting wardrobes that are authentic, effortless, and perfectly aligned with your unique vision.
SÀNDRA styles women, men, children, and even pets for special events and standout moments, always with polish and purpose. More than fashion, this is styling to perfection—because your image deserves nothing less than excellence, and your future looks too bright to settle for anything less.
To learn more about SÀNDRA follow @sansan1214 on Instagram and visit Vanguard Style Suite
Nicolette Quashie is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and co-founder of Silver Lining Integrative Psychiatry, a Black, women-owned mental health clinic serving clients across Massachusetts. With over 11 years of nursing experience, she brings both clinical expertise and cultural insight to her practice. Deeply connected to her Caribbean roots, Nicolette champions culturally responsive, stigma-free mental health care. After years in bedside nursing, she boldly stepped into entrepreneurship to create a space where compassion, representation, and healing intersect. Her work centers on empowering women to embrace their wellness, break generational barriers, and live boldly. By blending evidence-based treatment with empathy and lived experience, she aims to redefine what holistic, inclusive mental healthcare looks like. Nicolette’s mission extends beyond her clinic, she seeks to inspire other women in healthcare to lead fearlessly, prioritize self-care, and pursue purpose without compromise.
Allysa Cambra has dedicated her life to caring for others, beginning her healthcare journey at just 16 years old. Over the years, she has worn many hats, starting as a home health aide, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, advancing to a Registered Nurse, and now serving as a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Born and raised in New Bedford, MA, Allysa comes from humble beginnings and proudly identifies as Portuguese, Cape Verdean, and Native American. Her cultural heritage and lived experiences have shaped her passion for equity and representation in healthcare. Allysa’s mission is deeply personal, inspired by witnessing the impact of mental illness within her own family. She is devoted to reducing stigma, breaking barriers to care, and ensuring culturally sensitive services for all. Through education and empowerment, Allysa helps individuals reframe challenges, embrace healing, and transform adversity into personal growth.
To learn more about Nicolette Quashie (@nicki_q), Allysa Cambra (@fab_allys), and Silver Lining Integrative Psychiatry, follow @slip_psych_services on Instagram
Coach Dre is the founder of LiveFitArmy, a Boston-based fitness community and business dedicated to promoting health, consistency, and personal growth. LiveFitArmy offers personal training, boot camps, and a free public run team, all centered on building a supportive, community-driven approach to fitness.
Known for its signature mantra — “One Percent Better” — LiveFitArmy has been featured by Boston Voyager Magazine and Heartbreak Hill Running Company for its impact in the local fitness scene.
Dre started the company through his own fitness journey and a desire to create an inclusive, empowering community where people of all fitness levels could thrive together.
LiveFitArmy’s mission emphasizes discipline, consistency, and connection. The organization provides tailored one-on-one programs, year-round bootcamps (indoor and outdoor), and free public run clubs that foster both cardiovascular health and community engagement. Beyond classes, LiveFitArmy hosts and participates in local events, including its annual 5K/10K race and free community boot camps all aimed at inspiring others to live “one percent better” every day.
To learn more about Coach Dre, follow @Dre_LiveFitArmy on Instagram and visit LiveFitArmy
Moderator
Amaka Ubaka anchors 7NEWS Today in New England every weekday along with 7NEWS at Noon. She joined 7NEWS as a reporter in May 2016.
Amaka is Nigerian-American and her name means “beautiful” in one of the many languages spoken in Africa’s most populous country. She was named “Best News Anchor” by Boston Business Women two years in a row and was one of Boston Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Bostonians.” One of her proudest moments was being chosen by the Regis College class of 2023 to be their commencement speaker and receiving an honorary doctorate.
She loves using social media as a way to connect with viewers and inform them about the news of the day. Before arriving in Boston, Amaka was a reporter in Orlando, FL, Omaha, NE and Redding, CA. She is a graduate of the University of Miami.
Amaka enjoys meeting new people, learning their stories and being involved in the community. She spends much of her free time supporting charities including West End House, the Cambridge YWCA, the International Institute of New England, The One Mission Buzz Off, Rosie’s Place, BMA TenPoint, Cradles to Crayons and the Igbo Organization of New England. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Amaka is a Florida native who has fully embraced living in New England – even the snow! When she’s not on the anchor desk, you’ll find her in the gym, hiking, watching sporting events and traveling.
To learn more about Amaka Ubaka follow amakaubakatv on Instagram
