OUTSIDE THE BOX
A podcast & virtual event platform designed to create positivity, meaningful connections and
expand the possibilities
JUST ANNOUNCED! Better Humans Series & The CARE Initiative
Better Humans Series – an engaging, interactive virtual & in-person series for students & adults
Hosted by Janeane Bernstein, this interactive series for all ages (Master Class meets the View) is about disrupting pre-existing mindsets about racism, sexism, ageism and how we can become better humans. The series includes a wide variety of guests and engaging discussions about Janeane Bernstein's brainchild - The CARE Initiative: Connection, Attention, Resilience & Education.
The Mentoring series
A virtual and in-person series that matches students & mentors in meaningful conversations about finding and creating opportunities, building resilience, adaptability, and why mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health matter more than ever.
Meet SOME OF THE OTB Mentors
Alice Fraser
Christina Zorich
Alice Fraser
Alice Fraser is an award-winning writer, broadcaster, performer and comedian. She's also an ex academic, ex-corporate Lawyer and (sort of) banjo player. Podcasts: The Gargle/Tea With Alice/The Bugle/The Alice Fraser Trilogy/The Last Post.
Savage (Amazon Prime)
Ann Mincieli
Christina Zorich
Alice Fraser
Ann Mincieli is a renowned Engineer, Mixer, Collaborator and Album Project Manager for Alicia Keys. The 2x GRAMMY winner has worked with some of music’s biggest acts including Mariah Carey and Jay-Z, among others. Mincieli is the owner of Jungle City Studios, which is one of New York’s most elegant and best equipped recording facilities in the world
Christina Zorich
Christina Zorich
Christina Zorich
Christina Zorich is a working professional actor, acting teacher, director, and producer. She has taught and performed in some prestigious and respected theaters and training institutions on the East and West Coast; producing music videos, a web series and plays. Her most recent project is the documentary, The New Abolitionists - learning
Christina Zorich is a working professional actor, acting teacher, director, and producer. She has taught and performed in some prestigious and respected theaters and training institutions on the East and West Coast; producing music videos, a web series and plays. Her most recent project is the documentary, The New Abolitionists - learning from those who are leading the way in ending
human sex trafficking.
Gretl Claggett
Gretl Claggett
Christina Zorich
Gretl’s eclectic arts and business background has built a strong foundation for a career steeped in storytelling — from creating short- and long-form narrative content to tech-forward immersive experiences for the world’s biggest brands. As a creator, director, writer, and experiential creative director , she holds MFAs in Acting, Poetry,
Gretl’s eclectic arts and business background has built a strong foundation for a career steeped in storytelling — from creating short- and long-form narrative content to tech-forward immersive experiences for the world’s biggest brands. As a creator, director, writer, and experiential creative director , she holds MFAs in Acting, Poetry, and Nonfiction, plus successful stints as an On- and Off-Broadway actress, an event and multimedia producer and a business development executive,
Ivan Williams
Gretl Claggett
Ivan Williams
Ivan Williams is currently a film, tv, and theatre executive producer with a passion for the arts. As a media and entertainment entrepreneur, he supports the deployment of state-of-the-art technology to streamline and diversify the development and presentation of new shows and films. Before becoming a filmmaker, he had a 35-year career as
Ivan Williams is currently a film, tv, and theatre executive producer with a passion for the arts. As a media and entertainment entrepreneur, he supports the deployment of state-of-the-art technology to streamline and diversify the development and presentation of new shows and films. Before becoming a filmmaker, he had a 35-year career as a chemical engineer and senior business leader with major energy related companies, including ARCO, BP, and Worley Parsons.
Jay Silverman
Gretl Claggett
Ivan Williams
Jay Silverman has excelled as a leading Director and Producer specializing in award-winning film and television. “Saving Paradise” marks Jay Silverman’s third original feature film. His first was the multi-award-winning dramatic feature “Girl on the Edge."
Keri Potts
Malcolm Mitchell
Malcolm Mitchell
Keri Potts a is 21-year corporate communications executive with stops at Nike, the NCAA and, for the past 17 years, ESPN, where she served as senior director, communications, leading strategy for the company’s largest content portfolio
– college sports.
During her tenure, she publicized properties ranging from Monday Night Football, NBA,
Keri Potts a is 21-year corporate communications executive with stops at Nike, the NCAA and, for the past 17 years, ESPN, where she served as senior director, communications, leading strategy for the company’s largest content portfolio
– college sports.
During her tenure, she publicized properties ranging from Monday Night Football, NBA, and WNBA, to ESPN Films and its 30 for 30 documentary series, The ESPYs, English Premier League, and the launch of espnW. In addition, she provided training and content guidance across the company on matters of gender-based violence. Potts is an experienced anti-sexual violence speaker; victims advocate and non-profit leader for domestic and international gender-based violence crisis services.
Malcolm Mitchell
Malcolm Mitchell
Malcolm Mitchell
Author and Super Bowl Champion,
Malcolm Mitchell, is a native of Valdosta, Georgia. As a high school senior, he was an Under Armour All-American and went on to finish in the top ten all time receivers
during his playing career at the
University of Georgia (UGA).
In 2015, Malcolm authored and
published a children’s book,
“The Magician’s
Author and Super Bowl Champion,
Malcolm Mitchell, is a native of Valdosta, Georgia. As a high school senior, he was an Under Armour All-American and went on to finish in the top ten all time receivers
during his playing career at the
University of Georgia (UGA).
In 2015, Malcolm authored and
published a children’s book,
“The Magician’s Hat” and created a youth literacy initiative called Read with Malcolm.
He went on to establish a 501c3 organization, Share the Magic Foundation,
to transform children’s lives through literacy. His new book, My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World, was published in 2020.
Melanie Spring
Malcolm Mitchell
Melanie Spring
International keynote speaker, dynamic emcee, and big-shot brand strategist. Melanie Spring is a brand storyteller, international keynote speaker, and speaker trainer with a drive to make sure you become unforgettable.
Brandon Ross
Robert Lotreck
Melanie Spring
Brandon graduated Syracuse University
with is a dual-major in Broadcast and Digital Journalism and in History. Outside of the classroom, Brandon has gained media experience through multiple organizations, working for student-run radio and television stations as well as broadcasting sports for local NPR affiliate WAER and ACC Network Extra.
Yasna Vismale
Robert Lotreck
Robert Lotreck
Yasna Vismale is a junior at Columbia University studying Sustainable Development and Philosophy. She is writing Werk Your Net, a book dedicated to bridge the gap within our professional circles and empower students from marginalized backgrounds to develop the skillset to build their network and net worth.
She is a Coca Cola Scholar, Rec
Yasna Vismale is a junior at Columbia University studying Sustainable Development and Philosophy. She is writing Werk Your Net, a book dedicated to bridge the gap within our professional circles and empower students from marginalized backgrounds to develop the skillset to build their network and net worth.
She is a Coca Cola Scholar, Recipient of the Class of 1939 Fellowship, Kraft Global Fellow, composer, and musician.
Robert Lotreck
Robert Lotreck
Robert Lotreck
Robert Lotreck was born in Tolland, Connecticut. Throughout high school, he competed on the swimming and track teams, but by senior year, started to focus on playing the drums. He was heavily involved in the school's multicultural organization and participated in Boy Scouts in his hometown.
In his past 3 years of studying at Columbia U
Robert Lotreck was born in Tolland, Connecticut. Throughout high school, he competed on the swimming and track teams, but by senior year, started to focus on playing the drums. He was heavily involved in the school's multicultural organization and participated in Boy Scouts in his hometown.
In his past 3 years of studying at Columbia University in New York City, he started out
in Computer Science before switching to Sociology. He is growing increasingly involved in the New York City music scene and plans on going full time into a music career .
More OTB Mentors!
Tim Cawley
Sara Eckhardt
Sara Eckhardt
Founder & Chief Creative Officer
of HeyLetsGo! Tim’s work as a Writer, Director and Creative Director has been featured in Adweek, Ad Age’s Creativity Online (where he has over 50 credits), One Show (which he’s judged twice), Cannes, Clio, Webbys (People’s Choice Winner), Shorty Awards, The Minneapolis Show, Communication Arts, and the Ne
Founder & Chief Creative Officer
of HeyLetsGo! Tim’s work as a Writer, Director and Creative Director has been featured in Adweek, Ad Age’s Creativity Online (where he has over 50 credits), One Show (which he’s judged twice), Cannes, Clio, Webbys (People’s Choice Winner), Shorty Awards, The Minneapolis Show, Communication Arts, and the New England Hatch Awards
(twice winning Best of Show).
Archive Magazine ranks him as one of the top ten U.S. writers of all time. Beyond advertising, his films have screened in competition at such festivals at Locarno, Montreal World, Vancouver, New Orleans, FantasticFest, Cleveland and Independent Film Festival of Boston. His feature-length documentary “From Nothing, Something” was acquired by The Orchard - one of the world’s largest independent distributors - and released in over a dozen countries worldwide.
Sara Eckhardt
Sara Eckhardt
Sara Eckhardt
Sara Eckhardt is a digital retail & site
marketing expert, currently working at REI. However, digital hasn’t always been Sara’s north star. Sara studied broadcast journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, with the original goal of being a news anchor.
In her junior year, Sara realized that journalis
Sara Eckhardt is a digital retail & site
marketing expert, currently working at REI. However, digital hasn’t always been Sara’s north star. Sara studied broadcast journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, with the original goal of being a news anchor.
In her junior year, Sara realized that journalism wasn’t for her (insert quarter-life crisis) & pivoted to PR - which was not as easy as just described. Sara’s college internships included Assignment Desk Editor at NBC Connecticut, On-Air Promotions Intern at CNN, Corporate Communications Intern at Adidas.
After college, Sara started in PR at
Reebok & then pivoted to digital, gaining invaluable business management experience. She believes that working for a company that aligns with her values makes waking up every morning all the easier & there’s always
time to pivot. Sara has many passions including women’s empowerment, personal growth & storytelling. In her free time she leads a women’s group in Seattle called Seattle Wellness Babes & hosts a personal-growth podcast called Sunrise with Sara.
Piper
Sara Eckhardt
Piper
The best gift you can give yourself is time to decompress and self-care. Piper offers a great diversion during the pandemic and can talk about the power of pets!