CARLA VIONETTE SANTIAGO
(Harvard)
Carla is the founder of Stori.
At Stori, she strategically architects impactful communities for platforms, brands, and talent. Leveraging AI, she offers innovative, cost-effective solutions, ensuring clients explore groundbreaking opportunities for engagement and growth with notable brands like Netflix, Airbnb, and Unilever. She is also the driving force behind the CoffeeXChange, a vibrant community of BIPOC executives and creatives in Hollywood.
Her journey includes impactful roles at esteemed organizations such as New Balance, Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program, C-Space, and AMR Research, where she excelled in supply chain management. Later in her career, she left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, spearheading influencer marketing at EQAL and collaborating with industry giants such as CAA, UEG, Macro, and Netflix.
MORE ABOUT CARLA
Where are you originally from?
Born in Puerto Rico but raised in Massachusetts (MassaRican).
How long have you lived in the Los Angeles market?
16 years in Los Angeles
What is your absolute favorite thing to do in your area?
Go to the Lobby Bar at the Maybourne Hotel.
Name your top five favorite local restaurants.
Origin Korean BBQ, Birrieria Villalobos, Ceviche Stop, Kazan, and Shin-Sen-Gumi.
What’s a random fact you’ve learned about your market that you’d like to share with others?
Los Angeles has a vibrant Latino culture, with Latinos forming the largest ethnic group at nearly 49% of the county’s population. This translates to a whopping 4.9 million residents. Interestingly, Los Angeles is known as having the biggest Mexican community in the US, and it’s no surprise that Mexicans are also the #1 tourists visiting this dynamic city.
YOVANY JEREZ
(Brown, Dartmouth)
Yovany is the senior director marketing, B2B small and mid-size businesses at AT&T.
Yovany has worked in several industries, including telecom, SaaS, manufacturing, packaging, logistics, external affairs, banking, and consulting. His business impact includes: leading 11,000+ people through 42 territories, generating $10B in EBITDA, evaluating 338 startups and producing $7.3B in revenue, producing $6.5B through 450 omnichannel campaigns with 370M+ customer touchpoints, and helping elevate over 5,000+ corporate managers.
Recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Latinos and part of Atlanta’s 40 Under 40, Yovany is an impactful influencer. He founded the Hispanic Corporate Council of Atlanta (HCCA), facilitating the collaboration and partnership of 43 corporations. He helped organize purpose-driven treks that raised funds for approximately 450 orphans in some of the world’s most remote and iconic locations, including Mouth Everest in Nepal, Mount Cotopaxi in Ecuador, and the Inca Trail in Peru.
MORE ABOUT YOVANY
Where are you originally from?
Yo soy Cubano. I was born and raised in Havana for the first 12 years of life.
How long have you lived in the Los Angeles market?
We moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles four years ago. I have also lived in Boston, Miami, Chicago, and Hanover, New Hampshire.
What is your absolute favorite thing to do in your area?
Tuesday Night Ultimate Frisbee! I picked up the sport at boarding school, played in college, and I rush at every opportunity to chase that flawless, flying disc.
Name your top five favorite local restaurants.
Frijoles, Tropicana, Cheesecake Factory, Benihana, and In-N-Out (cheeseburgers in paradise!).
What’s a random fact you’ve learned about your market that you’d like to share with others?
There are insect seasons: ants, flies, and spiders! But, they are tolerable because the weather is enjoyable through 90% of the year.
The Alumni Society seeks to further expand the City Club program to more markets in 2024 and beyond. Submit the form below to express your interest in being a City Club leader. Please note: City Club leaders must be members of The Alumni Society.
