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Sreenivas “Sree” Koka was born in the United Kingdom to Indian immigrants, and grew up with two nationalities, two religions (Anglican and Hindu), two languages, and two cultures. At the age of 19, he emigrated to the United States and began his university education.

A lifelong learner, Sree has earned five graduate level degrees including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, a Master in Applied Sciences (MAS) from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medical Sciences from the University of Nebraska. In addition, Sree received a Master’s degree and doctoral degree from the University of Michigan.

Sree has had an active leadership career in private practice including as business owner; in hospital practice including serving as Department Chair at Mayo Clinic; as Executive Director of a non-profit organization; in academics including serving as Dean at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; by leading professional national and international organizations; and through professional service as Chair of the MIT Sloan School of Management Alumni Board. During his career he has been chosen as the outstanding teacher of the year many times by professional/graduate students.

Sree has lectured extensively nationally and internationally (six continents) and has given a TEDx presentation. He is the founder of the Shaping the Future (SHIFT) leadership workshop series specifically designed to teach the human side of leadership to early-career and mid-career professionals. He presents on a variety of leadership topics, focusing on the human side of building great teams, and is a sought-after speaker for audiences across many industries.

Elizabeth Carr is a native of the Mississippi Delta, where she was raised in both Catholic and Baptist communities. She loves to read, debate, watch movies, sing, travel and make new friends across the globe!

Elizabeth has earned numerous degrees including Bachelors and Masters degrees, and culminating with a Doctorate of Health Administration. In a successful faculty career, she has led university academic units at the department level and program level. In addition, she is an experienced leader of degree-level online education efforts. A lifelong learner, Elizabeth has completed MIT Sloan School of Management’s Executive Certificate program in Leadership and Management.

Elizabeth is a sought-after speaker; her invited presentation portfolio includes national venues across the US and international venues in Europe and Asia. A talented scholar, she has published research on leadership, specifically the why, when and how of courage in leadership, as well as the communication skills requisite for effective team-building. These attributes embody her passion for inspiring others to make courageous choices and navigate career and life changes confidently while simultaneously leading high-performing teams.

Elizabeth’s commitment to advancing public health has been recognized with numerous accolades. With a track record of working with non-profit and political stakeholders, Elizabeth has advocated for and enacted changes that reshape communities through public health initiatives. Her leadership capabilities have been honed through years of efforts at the local, regional, state and national levels and in academic, community, organizational and legislative arenas.