We bring a network of highly successful professionals to provide transformation mentorship to young talent.
Board of Directors
Rebecca Beagan
Board member of Buckets of Rain since 2015, Rebecca is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. Rebecca grew up in the Detroit metro area and is a Management Consultant at Roland Berger. She is an alumna of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA) and University of Michigan Ross School of Business (BBA). Rebecca has a passion to see more underrepresented talent in professional roles and believes there is a lack of institutional support early enough in the lives of talented youth.
Leon Evans
Leon joined the Board of Directors of Buckets of Rain in 2022. He is an investment professional within the Private Equity group at Apollo Global Management. Leon is an alumnus of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA) and the University of Florida (BS). Leon has a passion for increasing the pipeline of diverse talent within finance and business and has been involved with several organizations including the Toigo Foundation, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, and Alt Finance.
George Hardy
George Hardy is a native Detroiter and product of the Detroit Public Schools system. George joined the board of Buckets of Rain in 2022 and brings a deep commitment to the city and passion for equitable educational outcomes for all students. George holds a MBA from Chicago Booth School of Business and BA from the University of Pennsylvania. George is currently a senior consultant at Deloitte Consulting. Previously, George served in the education and nonprofit space where he held roles as a teacher, coach, consultant, and entrepreneur.
Wayne Workman
Currently semi-retired, Wayne was previously appointed Deputy Treasurer for Local Government Services for the State of Michigan on July 22, 2013. He worked in Robert W. Baird and Co.'s Michigan Public Finance Office, served as the Director of the Office of Economic Development in the Michigan Department of Commerce, and as a member of the Michigan Job Development Authority. He was also a consultant for the State Municipal Finance Commission and an auditor with the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Mentors 2023
Manos Souganidis
Manos is a University of Chicago alumna and currently works as Head of Finance at Lunchbox. His background includes investment banking and business development across several organizations. Manos received his MBA from the University of Chicago in 2019 and lives in New York where he also invests in various startups. Manos is passionate about food, travel and Greece (where he is originally from).
Leon Evans
Rebecca Beagan
George Hardy
DJ Cherif
DJ Cherif is the Chief Academic Officer at University Prep Schools in Detroit, Michigan and is responsible for leading the educational programs for the network. She was formerly the Executive Director of K-12 Academics and Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction K-12 Mathematics. She began her career in education as a math teacher at Barack Obama Leadership Academy. At the age of 27 years old, DJ became the youngest building administrator ever in Washtenaw County when she returned to Ypsilanti Community Schools, the school district she graduated from as a student. She was recognized by Corp! Magazine as one of Michigan’s 2021 Most Valuable Millenials and received the Michigan Overall Most Valuable Millennial Award. DJ is a proud HBCU alum, a graduate of Hampton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and criminal justice and earned a Master of Arts in Education and Urban Pedagogy from the University of Michigan.
Serena Simpkins
Serena joined as a mentor for Buckets of Rain in 2022 and is currently an analyst at J.P. Morgan within their investment banking division. Serena holds a BS from Rutgers Business School where she developed the interest to increase diverse representation in finance and business by spreading awareness through education. She also serves as a mentor for the SEO Scholars program and is a member of the Rutgers Center for Women in Business’ Associate board.
Ian Bridges
A Detroit native, Ian Bridges has pursued a career as an educational equity advocate. Ian holds graduate degrees from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and School of Education and a BA from Morehouse College. Ian is currently Chick-fil-A Inc.'s Principal, Education Strategy Program Lead. Previously, Ian served in the education and nonprofit space where he held roles as a teacher, consultant, and partnership manager.
Ammy Yuan
Ammy is a University of Michigan alumna and currently works at a B2B software company, Qualtrics. Her background includes management consulting and teaching in Korea on a Fulbright grant. As the first in her family to attend college, she understands how important it is to have mentors in your life that can help you understand and navigate the professional world. Ammy is passionate about helping underrepresented groups enter and succeed in the working world.