Image
Meet the Judges
Merit E. Janow
Professor of practice in international economic law & policy, Dean Emerita of Columbia SIPA (2013–2021) and founder of the Global Policy Challenge, Merit Janow is an internationally recognized expert in trade and investment. She is Chair of Mastercard and the Japan Society, and previously chaired Columbia University’s Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, and has held senior roles at the WTO, U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Justice. At Columbia, she is a Professor of Practice in International Economic Law.
As a judge, she will evaluate whether ventures demonstrate policy relevance and business feasibility.
Image
Sarah Holloway
Sarah Holloway is a Senior Lecturer at Columbia SIPA and Co-Director of the Technology, Policy and Innovation Concentration. She is an expert in social entrepreneurship, education equity, and technology, and co-founded several organizations including MOUSE.org, Computer Science for All, and The Wellness Classroom. During the pandemic, she also co-founded eLab, a fellowship supporting education entrepreneurs worldwide.
As a judge, she will evaluate ventures on their social innovation, equity focus, and feasibility in leveraging technology and design for impact.
Image
David Park
Dr. David K. Park is a Fellow at Columbia’s Center for the Management of Systemic Risk and a founding member of Columbia University’s Digital Storytelling Lab. He has co-founded several New York–based technology companies focused on natural language processing and machine learning. He explores themes such as the limitations and possibilities of “big data,” how failure and vulnerability underlie innovation and creativity in organizations, and the electoral roots of congressional polarization.
As a judge, he will assess ventures for their technical rigor, narrative coherence, and capacity to leverage data/tech in creative, policy-relevant ways.
Image
Lynn Thoman
Adjunct Professor at Columbia SIPA, Lynn Thoman teaches international business and social impact. She is also the founder and host of 3 Takeaways, a podcast with global leaders. With senior corporate experience at American Express and board leadership at institutions including Brookings and Harvard Medical School, she brings deep global expertise.
As a judge, she will focus on innovation and scalability for social impact.
Image
Rajiv S. Joshi
Raj Joshi is Associate Dean for Climate Action at Columbia’s Climate School and Adjunct Assistant Professor at SIPA. A regenerative economist and entrepreneur, he is CEO of Bridging Ventures and former Managing Director of The B Team. He has advised global climate policy initiatives, including Project Regeneration and the Decisive Decade Inquiry.
As a judge, he will assess ventures on systemic impact, technological relevance, and scalability.
Image
Shanna Crumley
Shanna Crumley is Chief of Staff for AI & Data at Mastercard, where she helps shape the company’s global AI and data strategy. She previously managed a $50M impact data science portfolio at Mastercard’s Center for Inclusive Growth and served as Senior Innovation Advisor to New York City. A SIPA alumna and former winner of the Global Policy Challenge, she co-founded a public interest tech startup as a direct outcome of her winning venture.
As a judge, she will focus on ventures that harness innovation and technology for inclusive impact.
Image
Steve Miller
Steve Miller is Executive Vice President & CFO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment and former longtime CFO of Warby Parker, where he led its NYSE listing. He has extensive experience in startups, corporate finance, and governance, and serves on nonprofit and cultural boards, including Cooper Hewitt Museum.
As a judge, he will evaluate ventures on financial viability, operational rigor, and scalability.