Social Impact Entrepreneur & Systems Innovator; Founder of Switchboard; Co-Founder of Zebras Unite; Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Faber Center
Mara Zepeda Biography
Mara Zepeda is a systempreneur and social entrepreneur whose career focuses on building equitable, collaborative, and community-centered institutions. Zepeda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Russian from Reed College and a Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University. Her professional experience spans community building, economic empowerment, and education, including directing programs at Harvard University and reporting for National Public Radio. This background in storytelling and systems thinking has shaped her path as an entrepreneur and movement builder in the social impact and entrepreneurship sectors.
Zepeda founded Switchboard, a venture-backed software company that merged with Hearken. Switchboard served as a community-building marketplace for Portland startups, the women's cycling network, the Portland Meat Collective, and Willamette University, among other organizations. The company participated in the Wieden+Kennedy Portland Incubator Experiment and drew inspiration from Portland's creative and entrepreneurial culture. Zepeda's experience navigating the limitations of traditional venture capital led her to envision alternative business models.
She co-founded Zebras Unite with Jennifer Brandel, Astrid Scholz, and Aniyia Williams. Zebras Unite is an international, intersectional hybrid cooperative focused on creating capital, culture, and community for the next economy. The organization's manifesto, "Zebras Fix What Unicorns Break," launched a movement recognized by The New York Times and Nikkei. Under Zepeda's leadership, Zebras Unite grew to more than 300 members and achieved a combined $3 million in revenue and grant funding.
During her time in Portland, Zepeda co-founded and served as founding board chair of Business for a Better Portland, a business organization with more than 350 members that advances systemic change, shared prosperity, and social justice through public-private collaboration. She also co-founded XXcelerate, which provides business support, education, peer mentorship, and funding to more than 200 Oregon women entrepreneurs. Zepeda has been recognized as an Omidyar Network Luminary.
Zepeda serves as an entrepreneur-in-residence at the Faber Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business. She is also a co-founder of Cola Love, a community and economic development design studio in Columbia, South Carolina. Zepeda speaks and leads workshops internationally on education, trust, social networks, and the future of business, continuing her work at the intersection of community building, economic empowerment, and movement building. Her work encourages audiences to reimagine business models that prioritize people and the planet alongside profit.
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How do I book Mara Zepeda to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mara Zepeda for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Mara Zepeda, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Mara Zepeda or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Mara Zepeda
Speaking fees for Mara Zepeda, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Mara Zepeda are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mara Zepeda, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Mara Zepeda speak about?
Mara Zepeda is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Business Consulting, Business Leadership, Economy, Entrepreneurship, Female Leadership, Leadership, Social Activism, Social Entrepreneurship, Strategic Leadership, Women in Business -
Where does Mara Zepeda travel from?
Mara Zepeda generally travels from Columbia, SC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Mara Zepeda’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Mara Zepeda for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Mara Zepeda for your next private or corporate function. -
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Mara Zepeda is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Zebras vs Unicorns, Become a doula for the new economy, Call and Response: How listening leads to social change, Entrepreneurship & the Creative Process and From Moscow to Jung: An entrepreneur’s journey. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mara Zepeda for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Mara Zepeda generally travels from Columbia, SC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Leah Solivan, Cheryl Cran, Maddy Dychtwald, Helaine Knapp and Valeria Aloe. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mara Zepeda for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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