Josh Kahn is an award-winning filmmaker and the founder of MYLES, a story incubation lab and production studio based in Los Angeles. His sports and impact-focused films and series have been featured on major platforms such as Amazon Prime, FOX Sports, Tubi, and DAZN. Beyond his film work, he has served as the inaugural Senior Producer/Director at UNINTERRUPTED and The SpringHill Company, founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. Prior to this, Josh was the Senior Creative Producer for the Chicago Bulls, where he launched the mixed-media production arm, BullsTV. A Forbes "30 Under 30" alumni, Josh graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

Renowned for his work with top athletes, Josh switches gears in his newest film, 'Untapped,' to interview some of the biggest names in business, addressing one of the most pressing issues in corporate America: closing the opportunity divide and unlocking the potential of the largest untapped talent pool in the United States. Having spent much of his career as a storyteller within the workforces of NBC Sports, the Chicago Bulls, and The SpringHill Company, Josh now turns the camera on those striving to enter corporate America. Applying his signature vérité following style to the business world, he chronicles the participants of Year Up—a one-year intensive education and internship program connecting young adults to Fortune 500 corporations—as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of entering the workforce.

Susana (Susie) Schowen serves as the Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. She was appointed by Governor Jeff Landry in January of 2024. In this role and through prior roles at the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and Louisiana Economic Development, she focuses on collaborative efforts to align education with the needs of employers and the economy. She also works across agencies and with regional partners to identify inefficiencies in the workforce system, and better align the delivery of social services with workforce development programs.

Justin Hutchinson is the Director of Business Development at ThreeSixtyEight, The Creative Agency for the Future of Learning. Rising from Sales Intern to Director in under five years, Justin has significantly contributed to the company’s revenue goals while helping drive its vision of making Baton Rouge the creative capital of the South. Throughout his career, Justin has received several recognitions, most notably being featured in the national "Tear the Paper Ceiling" campaign led by the Ad Council. His story as a STAR (worker skilled through alternative routes) stands as a powerful testament to the talent that exists beyond degree requirements. In addition to his role at ThreeSixtyEight, Justin is dedicated to creating opportunities for others like him, advocating for the more than 1 million STARs in Louisiana and over 70 million nationally who are often screened out of roles due to the "paper ceiling."

Meagan West is driven by a passion for service, which led her to pursue a career in Human Resources. She earned her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and SHRM-Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certifications, emphasizing her commitment to advancing her expertise in the HR field.  Throughout her 22 years as an HR Professional, she has excelled in coaching, leading, and guiding employees to achieve both personal and organizational success. Beyond her professional role, Meagan has actively contributed to the local HR community through her volunteer work with GBR SHRM, LASHRM, Junior League, and other service organizations. More recently, she has championed the “Tear the Paper Ceiling” movement by advocating for STARs across the state, speaking at events and encouraging local organizations to implement the initiative within their workplaces. In the future, she looks forward to consulting more and inspiring others to enhance their environments through a steadfast dedication to the principles of engagement, empowerment, and empathy.

Dr. Willie E. Smith has been working in the Louisiana Community & Technical College System (LCTCS) for the past 23 years in various executive roles. As the current Chancellor for Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC), Dr. Smith has a proven track record of driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and achieving exceptional results. He is a visionary leader known for removing systemic barriers and has dedicated his life to uplifting and motivating others. As the leader at Baton Rouge Community College, Dr. Smith has been successful in removing institutional barriers and advocating for disadvantage young men and women. He has led several major initiatives at BRCC that have led to record enrollment growth and an increase in the number of students trained at Baton Rouge Community College. In the last three years, he has secured over $20 Million in donations to support student and institutional success. Dr. Smith currently serves on the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) Board of Directors, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS) Board of Trustees, the Research Park Corporation Nexus LA Board of Directors, and Board member on the Baton Rouge Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation. Dr. Smith was selected to the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship for Community College Excellence as a rising President committed to transforming his institution and advancing student success and equity. Most recently, Dr. Smith was selected by his peers across the country to serve on the prestigious American Association of Community College (AACC) Board of Directors. Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University, where he attended on a full athletic scholarship. He earned his Master’s in Public Administration from Troy University and went on to earn his doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Argosy University. Dr. Smith is extremely active in the community and has received many awards for his service and dedication to education. Dr. Smith received a Congressional Recognition award from Congressman Troy Carter, a Commendation award from City of Baton Rouge as BRCC’s Sixth Chancellor, the Louisiana/Mississippi Network Coalition Distinguished Leadership award, the Delta Sigma Theta Educational Development Award, and the 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge Appreciation award. Dr. Smith’s other honors and awards include becoming a Certified Workforce Developer (CWD) by LED Fast Start. He was recognized by Community Policing News in Washington, D.C., for his hard work addressing juvenile delinquency. He was awarded Outstanding Professional Staff by LCTCS and he received the Man of Excellence Award for his work in Public Service in Acadiana. Dr. Smith enjoys fishing, foreign policy, and sports. He is married to Cheryl Smith and he has five children.

LaShana Lewis is a technologist working in the diversity space with over 25 years of experience. She is currently CEO of L. M. Lewis Consulting, a DEI, technology, and nonprofit management consulting firm. She also volunteers on several boards dedicated to equity and inclusion across sectors, such as civic engagement, STEM education, and workforce development.

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LaShana serves as a role model for diversity in technology, and has met with President Barack Obama's administration as part of the nationwide TechHire Initiative. The TechHire Initiative, which encouraged employers to hire and train people with non-traditional tech backgrounds, is now powered by Opportunity@Work, an organization whose mission is to rewire the U.S. labor market so that all individuals Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) can work, learn, and earn to their full potential. In the next decade, Opportunity@Work aims to enable at least one million working adults in America to translate their learning into earning – generating a $20 billion boost in annual earnings. LaShana currently serves as the Chair of STARs Advisory Council with Opportunity@Work.