The 2024-2025 cohort will offer mentorship and professional development opportunities for students in the entrepreneurship minor as they visit campus this year.
Every year the Shuford Innovator-in-Residence program invites several Carolina alumni to campus with an intentional focus on diversity of personal and professional backgrounds, experiences and identities.
Each innovator will connect with students enrolled in the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship for one week through academic lectures, professional development initiatives, mentoring opportunities and candid conversations.
The 2024-2025 Shuford Innovators-in-Residence includes:
- Hannah “Fussy” Cocca ’14: Innovator in Education
- Tobenna “Toby” Egbuna ’16: Innovator in Tech and Talent
- Rwenshaun Miller ’09: Innovator in Mental Health
- Niki Shamdasani ’15: Innovator in Fashion
- Lakethia Jefferies ’06: Innovator in Law
- Victoria Fritz, MD ’22: Innovator in Women’s Health
Hannah “Fussy” Cocca ’14: Innovator in Education
Hannah “Fussy” Cocca is a first-generation entrepreneur and designer whose expertise in creative innovation, consumer trends, and viral growth-hacking grew the Nugget furniture brand from a three-person team to a 100-employee company — generating more than $250 million in sales since 2017 and earning the title of America’s Fastest-Growing Manufacturing Company (Inc. Magazine, 2020, 2021).
Her leadership in corporate impact and internal policies helped create “an equitable, conscientious company, one that may be the new face of North Carolina furniture manufacturing” (Indy Week).
Tobenna “Toby” Egbuna ’16: Innovator in Tech and Talent
Toby Egbuna is a passionate entrepreneur and the founder of Chezie, which is “revolutionizing how companies approach employee resource groups.” His software helps organizations cultivate inclusive and diverse environments where every team member can thrive.
Beyond his work at Chezie, Egbuna is committed to sharing his knowledge and resources with fellow founders and early-stage entrepreneurs.
Rwenshaun Miller ’09: Innovator in Mental Health
A mental health change agent, Rwenshaun Miller, is a therapist, author and social entrepreneur. As a licensed professional counselor, Miller works with individuals of all ages, with a goal of helping each person understand and take accountability for their own mental wellness.
Miller creates safe spaces for open and honest dialogue about mental illness. He uses his personal experience to educate others and break the stigma associated with mental health and wellness.
Niki Shamdasani ’15: Innovator in Fashion
Niki Shamdasani is the co-founder of Sani (sani.co), an apparel brand inspired by South Asian culture. Shamdasani launched South Asian fashion on Rent the Runway and in Nordstrom, has been featured in places like the TODAY Show and Forbes, and has been worn by celebrities including Karlie Kloss. The company focuses on responsible manufacturing by working with community-focused manufacturers, using deadstock raw materials and creating in small batches.
Previously, Shamdasani was a design thinking consultant at PRX and on the Program and Investments team of Matter, a startup accelerator for early-stage media companies in San Francisco and New York.
Lakethia Jefferies ’06: Innovator in Law
Lakethia Jefferies is an attorney and the director of the Pro Bono Clinic and Externship Program at North Carolina Central University School of Law.
In her role, she supervises the Pro Bono Clinic and oversees the placement of law students with volunteer legal service opportunities along with advising the Pro Bono Board. Under Jefferies’ supervision, students have the opportunity to provide free legal services to those who are unable to afford them.
Additionally, Jefferies leads the law school’s externship program, teaches courses, is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association and served as the director of student development at the UNC School of Law.
Victoria Fritz, MD ’22: Innovator in Women’s Health
Victoria Fritz, MD, is a proud alumna of the UNC School of Medicine. After completing medical school, she launched BabyBumps, a startup focused on ethical and transparent surrogacy matchmaking.
She is part of RIoT’s Accelerator Program, First Flight Venture Services’ pre-accelerator program, and American Underground’s Idea-2-Entrepreneur program.
Learn more about the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship.
By Sophia Melin ’27, College of Arts and Sciences