Introducing the 2023 Imagine Cup World Championship Judges
Published May 05 2023 08:00 AM 7,172 Views

After the excitement of the Imagine Cup World Finals in March, it is with great pleasure that we announce our esteemed judges for the Imagine Cup World Championship on May 23 at Microsoft Build! With a combined wealth of expertise and experience in the fields of technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation, this panel of judges are poised to who will take home USD100,000 and a mentoring session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella.

 

To get to the World Championship stage, tens of thousands of students began innovating for impact — dreaming up new realities that could help make our communities, and the world, a better place. Now, after multiple rounds, and months of competition, it’s down to the final three teams, each competing for the coveted title of Imagine Cup World Champion. 

 

During the the top 3 teams will pitch to the judges, demonstrating their technology and fielding questions on their solutions.  The team presentations will enable the judges to gain profound insights into the technology used by each team, its use of Azure services in their solution, potential impact, as well as the creativity and commercial viability of the project.

 

Get ready to be inspired, as our judges bring their knowledge and expert perspectives to the forefront of this year's competition.

 

Let’s meet the judges:

 

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Melanie Nakagawa

Chief Sustainability Officer

Microsoft

 

Melanie Nakagawa is Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer. Ms. Nakagawa has spent nearly 2 decades at the nexus of policy, business and technology where she has been committed to using the power of technology and innovation to advance sustainability. Ms. Nakagawa leads Microsoft’s ambitious plans to become a carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste company. She most recently served as Special Assistant to President Biden and Senior Director for Climate and Energy on the National Security Council at the White House.  Prior to the White House, she helped launch Princeville Capital's inaugural global growth equity climate technology fund investing in companies delivering transformative solutions to climate change.  Ms. Nakagawa received a J.D. and M.A. from American University and A.B from Brown University. 

 

 

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Wayne Sutton

Community Lead

Observable

 

Sutton is a serial entrepreneur and Community Lead at Observable, as well as founder of the Icon Project. Wayne is also the co-founder of Change Catalyst and its Tech Inclusion programs. Change Catalyst builds inclusive tech ecosystems through strategic advising, startup programs and resources, and a series of events around the globe. Sutton’s experience includes years of establishing partnerships with large brands to early-stage startups. As a leading voice in diversity and inclusion in tech, Sutton shares his thoughts on solutions and culture in various media outlets where he has been featured in TechCrunch, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. In addition to mentoring and advising early-stage startups, Sutton’s life goal is to educate entrepreneurs who are passionate about using technology to change the world.

 

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Talib Visram

Staff Writer

Fast Company

 

Born and raised in London, Talib Visram is a Staff Writer at Fast Company in New York, where his reporting focuses on the social impact of business. He is one of the judges for the publication’s annual World Changing Ideas Awards, which celebrates the greatest achievements in innovation, and was the host of the namesake podcast. He’s interviewed business leaders, politicians, and cultural figures from Roger Federer to Pharrell Williams. He’s had stints at CNNBusiness and Inc. Magazine, and has written for publications including Men’s Health, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, NBC News, and Vice. 

 

 

Watch the live show at Microsoft Build to find out who will become the 2023 Imagine Cup champion! Follow the action on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with all the competition action.

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‎May 08 2023 02:45 PM