Multicultural Innovation Collaboratory

Our vision is to ​enable youth to serve as changemakers for people and the planet​. 

About

MICollaboratory (Multicultural Innovation Collaboratory) is a non-profit organization that aims to accelerate social innovation opportunities for youth in marginalized communities and developing economies. We offer an online platform with local training programs and an international network of social entrepreneurs, mentors, and educators.  We believe in optimizing the collective wisdom and talent of culturally diverse changemakers around the world. Through a​ human-centric collaboration process, our platform connects local eco systems to a global digital network. This allows youth to connect, learn and collaborate for greater impact, from concept to execution.

Our Story and Purpose

Inspired by Local Youth

How can youth from marginalized communities create a purposeful path and opportunities for building their future? This challenge was presented to Founder Dr. Karina R. Jensen after volunteering at Nepal Orphans Home in Kathmandu in 2015. Representing nearly half of Nepal’s population, youth have great interest and talent to contribute to societal challenges, yet most lack training, resources, and the support of a local eco system. This is a challenge that is shared by many developing economies today. The idea was born to accelerate social entrepreneurship training for youth in order to solve community challenges for social impact and economic empowerment. With the support of the local eco system in Kathmandu, the Empower Social Entrepreneurship pilot program was launched in 2019. It inspired online programs in Nepal and Ghana in 2020 and 2021. MICollaboratory was created as a non-profit global platform in 2022/23 to scale and grow social entrepreneurship programs for youth in Africa and Asia.

Executive Team

  • Karina R. Jensen

    FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

    Dr. Karina R. Jensen is an international advisor, change facilitator, and educator with 25+ years of experience in launching and leading global innovation and education initiatives. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Global Minds Network, an international advisory for innovation leadership. She has authored Leading Global Innovation and co-edited Innovation Leadership in Practice among other publications.

  • Melina Galeadi

    VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

    Melina Galeadi has enjoyed a 20+ year career in consumer goods with particular interest in the customer journey. She brings expertise in brand strategy, new product development, launching and developing brands in over 50 markets worldwide. She is also working with the HEC MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, coaching entrepreneurs in building their start up with a strong brand story and training on pitching to investors.

  • Laura Vivien

    VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

    Laura Vivien is an aspiring and dynamic entrepreneur with experience in creating a mobile application start-up in France. She has held roles in sales development for the online learning content platform Edflex and web development for strategic client projects at IT consulting firm Elanz. In addition to her diploma in web development, she has been certified in innovation and digital sales skills from HEC and AKIMBO.

Interns

Board of Advisors