The Wharton Global Youth Program mobilizes the extensive opportunities of the Wharton academic community to educate, inform and inspire pre-collegiate students to explore business practices, analyze the world’s complex challenges, and take the needed steps to become leaders who will transform the global economy.
By the Numbers
Video clips of Wharton faculty defining business and finance terms
High school age students in residence during the summer for Wharton On-Campus Programs
High school students participating annually in our global high school investment competition
Engage with Us
Our annual report highlights the achievements that the Global Youth team has accomplished in a year’s time. Click this button to discover Global Youth’s mission-driven work, partnerships, markets and vision as we deliver quality business-education opportunities to high school students and educators.
Meet the Team
Serguei Netessine — Senior Vice Dean
Serguei Netessine joined the Wharton School as a faculty member in 2001. He is now Senior Vice Dean for Innovation and Global Initiatives, and Dhirubhai Ambani Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Russian native, he lived, taught and conducted research in Russia, France, Singapore and USA. He now teaches innovation and entrepreneurship to audiences ranging from high school students to senior executives while conducting research on business model innovation with corporations, non-profits and governments. All his spare time is occupied by travel and two teenage children.
Eli Lesser — Senior Executive Director
A career educator, Eli leads the Wharton Global Youth Program team and his work focuses on the strategic vision for programming and partnerships. Eli started his career teaching high school social studies, but transitioned to working in higher education full-time in 2006. He is committed to connecting the teaching and research of the Wharton faculty directly to high schools and pre-college age students. Originally from Miami Beach, Eli now lives with his family in Center City, Philadelphia and rides his bike to the office (when it is not too cold!).
Lena Elguindi — Senior Director, Programs
Lena Elguindi is the Senior Director of Programs for Wharton’s Global Youth, Academy, and Partnership Programs, where she makes it her mission to deliver world-class education to visiting high school and undergraduate students. After a career in operations and finance with Fortune 100 companies, Lena joined Wharton Executive Education, then Wharton Interactive, to design impactful global programs for executives and undergraduate students. A proud Bucknell and NYU Stern alum, she knows firsthand how powerful education can be in changing lives—and she’s on a mission to make that accessible to students around the globe. A lifelong candy aficionado, Lena will always have an opinion on the best M&M (plain).
Diana Lasseter Drake — Managing Editor
A professional writer and editor, Diana manages the reporting, writing, editing and distribution of Wharton Global Youth content, publishing regularly in the program’s online business journal and newsroom. She hosts a monthly Global Youth podcast and creates a monthly newsletter to keep our growing Global Youth community informed. Diana began her journalism career more than 30 years ago, and helped to lay the foundation in the 2010s for many of the Wharton Global Youth Program initiatives. A California native, she grew up in New Jersey, where she now lives with her husband, daughter and son. When she’s not at her computer, you can find Diana volunteering with the youth in her community, hiking and biking the trails, serving on various boards, and cheering on the soccer sidelines. Her cooking? Chef’s kiss.
Kara Dunn — Director, Communication & Competitions
Dongnian (Effie) Zhou — Senior Manager, Learning Design & Instructional Technology
Originally from China, Effie supports the development of curriculum materials and programming across the Wharton Global Youth programming suite. A graduate of Penn’s Graduate School of Education, Effie led the development of Wharton’s Global Young Leaders Programs. A passionate program developer, Effie works directly with faculty on creating new opportunities for students. Effie and her family foster a working dog from Penn Vet Working Dog Center.
Lauren More — Director, Enrollment Management & Learning Pathways
An experienced program leader and advisor, Lauren’s first teaching experience was in Japan, where she served as English language instructor to elementary, junior high, and continuing education students. For twelve years she managed undergraduate and high school programming within Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences. Now at Wharton, Lauren leads all summer programming. She has a vision for creating dynamic educational opportunities for high school students within Wharton classrooms and providing the chance for students to learn directly from Wharton’s world class faculty. A native of Kentucky, Lauren now resides with her family in the Philadelphia suburbs, where she drinks a lot of coffee and reads a lot of Murakami.
Gregory Wilson — Associate Director of Communications
Gregory, a Pennsylvania native, helps manage the marketing materials as well as social media for the Global Youth Program. He is a Boston University graduate who has spent the past 6 years working at a marketing agency, a local plant shop and at an educational non-profit, before landing at Wharton. He is an avid traveller who’s visited over 30 countries across 6 continents. When he’s not on Penn campus, you’ll likely find him hiking and taking photos in a forest somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic or making music with his band.
Alaysha Suggs — Manager, Pre-Baccalaureate Program
With a passion for higher education, Alaysha focuses on coordinating logistical support for the success of the Wharton Pre-Baccalaureate Program and Wharton Global Youth Programming Team. Her involvement in higher education administration began as a work-study student in financial aid while attending Howard University in Washington, DC. Alaysha’s commitment to providing access and resources to underserved populations has resonated through her previous work and she is enthusiastic about working with Wharton to provide high school scholars with the tools to better prepare them for their next chapter in academia. When not on Penn’s campus, she enjoys venturing out on local hiking and bike trails and is an avid gardener.
Chelsey Thompson — Manager, On-Campus Programs
Chelsey Thompson (she/her) manages on-campus programming for the Wharton Global Youth Program. In her role, she works closely with high school students from around the world, helping to create engaging, educational experiences that spark curiosity and inspire future business leaders. One of the most fulfilling aspects of her work is seeing students grow in confidence and discover their potential during their time on campus. Chelsey is passionate about making learning dynamic, inclusive, and memorable. Outside the office, she’s an avid traveler who enjoys exploring new cultures and cuisines. When she’s not planning her next adventure, she loves spending time with her standard poodle, Teddy. Whether on campus or abroad, she finds joy in building connections and creating meaningful experiences. Chelsey is also known for her impressive knowledge of South American bird species.
Kimberly Navarro — Manager, On-Campus Programs
Kim, a Philadelphia native, has a range of experiences in education across local, global, and virtual communities. She has supported students with non-profit orgs, prek-12 schools, academic research programs, and online language learning spaces. She aims to continue serving students through the Wharton Global Youth Summer Programs in her role as an Administrative Coordinator. Kim is also an entrepreneur and lifelong learner. She has a background in sociology and education from Georgetown University. She is currently earning her Master in Ed Entrepreneurship at Penn GSE and enjoys knitting in her free time.
Donovan Moore — Operations Assistant
With a passion for learning and creative educational programs, Donovan supports the Wharton Global Youth Program’s High School Investment Competition and provides general support for the team’s needs. Having graduated from Xavier University, he has backgrounds in Political Philosophy, History, and Education. Don is always working on new creative projects, from learning new instruments to learning how to sketch. His most recent project is designing the curriculum for a creative residency that he plans to run in Southern Italy.
Rachel Szkaradnik — Business Manager
A longtime Penn employee, Rachel currently works in Wharton’s Finance & Administration office supporting financial operations and reporting for the school’s revenue business units. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and two rambunctious boys, and enjoys dining, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Congcong (Coco) Wang — Manager, On-Campus Programs
Coco specializes in integrative research, insight finding, and innovative design to proficiently solve complex problems, with a background in strategic design and management, graphic design, and communication. She focuses on the development of online courses and strategies for the Wharton Global Youth Program. In addition to her professional pursuits, she is a food enthusiast who loves exploring new restaurants and experimenting with new recipes.
Carlee D’Amato — Admission and Enrollment Manager
Originally from Massachusetts, Carlee joins Wharton Global Youth with over 16 years of experience in high school and college admission and financial aid. She has extensive experience working with local and international students and has recruited extensively abroad. Inspired by her own transformative experiences studying abroad in the U.K., Carlee is passionate about providing similar opportunities to high school students at the Wharton School. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring Philadelphia’s food scene, shopping, staying active and traveling as well as spending time with family, friends, and her cat, Penny.
James Gerdy — Online Programs Coordinator
James is a dedicated educator from Lancaster, PA, with a master’s degree in Education and Curriculum Development. With 5 years of experience as a high school history teacher, James is passionate about ensuring that all students receive a quality education that equips them for success in life beyond school. Outside of work, James enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and playing basketball.