American Express Company (AXP)

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Express, in partnership with Ashoka Changemakers®, has recognized 15 social entrepreneurs as top innovators that are most likely to become the next generation of leaders who will solve the world's critical challenges.

"The problems the world is facing can only be tackled by a class of innovators with the social and emotional intelligence to create solutions and develop the skills required to lead," said Timothy J. McClimon, President of American Express Foundation. "These 15 emerging innovators are the future leaders of social entrepreneurship, capable of collaborating across sectors of expertise, expanding the reach of their ideas and creating true long-term impact."

The entrepreneurs will attend the American Express Emerging Innovators Leadership Boot Camp where they will have the opportunity to seek guidance from leaders including Ashoka Fellows Molly Barker and Greg Van Kirk, Andrew Yang (founder of Venture for America), Leslie Berland (senior vice president, Digital Partnerships & Development, American Express) Dan Schulman (group president of Enterprise Growth, American Express) and Antony Bugg-Levine (CEO, Nonprofit Finance Fund).

The three-day workshop in New York City is part of the American Express Emerging Innovators Campaign, which aims to accelerate and highlight the ideas of tomorrow's leaders through training, mentorship, promotion and collaboration. The campaign web page will feature videos and interviews from the 15 innovators, as well as notable thought leaders who will share knowledge and advice about leadership, social change and entrepreneurship.

The American Express Emerging Innovators are:

    --  Yi Wei, market penetration strategist, iDE - Cambodia
    --  Chelina Odbert, co-founder and principal, Kounkuey Design Initiative -
        Kenya
    --  Alison Malmon, founder and executive director, Active Minds, Inc. -  USA
    --  Tyler Gage, co-founder and president, Runa - Ecuador
    --  Anna Young, co-founder, LDTC+ Labs - USA
    --  Dhruv Lakra, founder and CEO, Mirakle Couriers - India
    --  Shiv Bhaskar Dravid, founder, The Viewspaper - India
    --  Matthew Alexander, co-founder, Red Tierras (Mercy Corps) & Ahmsa -
        Colombia
    --  Jodie Wu, founder and CEO, Global Cycle Solutions - Tanzania
    --  Jacqui Cutts, founder, president, and CEO, Safe Mothers, Safe Babies -
        Uganda/USA
    --  Lawrence Cann, founder and director, Street Soccer - USA
    --  Emily May, co-founder and executive Director, HollaBack - USA
    --  Mario Aleman, founder, Bright New Ideas- Nicaragua
    --  Dalumuzi Mhlanga, founder and CEO, Lead Us Today - Zimbabwe
    --  Peter Luckow, founder, Tiyatien Health- USA

The American Express Emerging Innovators Boot Camp is an extension of the highly successful American Express Leadership Academy that just finished its 20th session held in New York City May 8-11. The American Express Leadership Academy is a week-long program created in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) that immerses participants in a series of leadership training and development courses. Through the Academy, participants polish the personal, business and leadership skills needed to run a successful nonprofit enterprise in today's complex economic climate. The Innovators Boot Camp uses the same principles to help these emerging social entrepreneurs to be better equipped to lead their organizations, create sustainable solutions and, ultimately, be a positive impact on the global society.

About American Express
One of American Express' three philanthropic giving platforms is Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow. Under this giving initiative, which recognizes the significance of strong leadership in the nonprofit sector, American Express makes grants focused on training high potential emerging leaders to tackle important issues in the 21st century. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Ashoka Changemakers is a community of action that connects social entrepreneurs around the globe to share ideas, inspire, and mentor each other. Through its online collaborative competitions and Open Growth platform, Changemakers.com is one of the world's most robust spaces for launching, discussing, and funding ideas to solve the world's most pressing social problems. Changemakers builds on Ashoka's three-decade history and belief that we all have the ability to be a Changemaker. Ashoka is the global association of the world's leading social entrepreneurs--nearly 3000 men and women with system-changing solutions for the world's most urgent social problems.

Contact: Caitlin M Lowie
American Express
Caitlin.M.Lowie@aexp.com
212-640-2921

Contact: Smita Satiani
Ashoka Changemakers
ssatiani@ashoka.org
714-269-8299

SOURCE Ashoka Changemakers