Event Committee
Our event committee bring a wealth of experience, passion, and inspiration to the Hoop Dreams stage—leaders, athletes, and trailblazers who continue tomake an impact on and off the court.
Meet Our Event Committee & Special Guests
Shantell Jeter
Founder, You Got It, Girl
A former physical education teacher and Division I varsity basketball coach, Shantell Jeter proudly serves as a member of the ABCD Hoop Dreams event committee.
In 2023, Shantell was honored as a Commonwealth Heroine of Massachusetts, recognizing her dedication to empowering young women and girls through sport and mentorship.
In 2022, she launched You Got It Girl, a free basketball and leadership initiative that has already impacted over 400 young women through clinics, seasonal training, and summer camps.
Rooted in the joy and lessons of her youth, Shantell says, “I show up for young people as my full, authentic self, and they keep showing up for me.”Follow her
on Instagram @CoachShantell.
Kisandra Ayanbeku
Founder, Still Got it Athlete
Kisandra Ayanbeku is a former collegiate basketball player from Montclair State University, where she was named Female Student-Athlete of the Year, a two-time All-Conference honoree, and a 1,000-point scorer. She earned her Master’s in Sport Administration from Canisius College and has over 14 years of coaching experience, including a 2016 NJCAA National Championship at Roxbury Community College. Kisandra is also the Director of College and Career Prep and Post-Secondary Services at a non-profit and the founder of Still Got It Athlete, a brand dedicated to creating competitive opportunities for athletes to continue proving they “still got it."
Shardé Marchewski
Global Head of Purpose & Inclusion, Wayfair
Shardé Marchewski is the Global Head of Purpose & Inclusion at Wayfair, where she leads the company’s Inclusion and Social Impact strategies. In this role, she ensures Wayfair fosters an inclusive workplace culture while advancing meaningful change in the broader community.
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Shardé has been with Wayfair for seven years, beginning her tenure in Category Management before transitioning into leadership roles across Supplier Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Impact. She founded and led Wayfair’s Supplier Diversity initiative, which became the foundation for a Harvard Business Review article she co-authored on the power of e-commerce platforms to drive economic equity.
A recognized thought leader, Shardé has helped build Wayfair’s external brand by speaking at conferences such as the Bloomberg Sustainability Summit, AfroTech, eTail, Good Soil, and more. She was named to Modern Retail's Inaugural Retail Vanguard list and 21Ninety’s Must-See Black Women Speakers.
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Before joining Wayfair, Shardé built her career in Investment Banking, covering the Consumer Retail industry.
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She holds a B.A. in Economics from Spelman College and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Shardé lives in Boston with her husband and their three children and is a powerful advocate for embedding purposeful impact across all areas of business.
Leo Ruiz
VP of Denterlein
Leo Ruiz is a Vice President at Denterlein, where he helps organizations communicate with clarity, credibility, and impact. An Emmy and Murrow Award-winning journalist turned strategic communications leader, Leo brings more than 20 years of experience in shaping stories that resonate with audiences and inspire action. At Denterlein, he counsels companies, associations, and advocacy groups on media relations, crisis response, and thought leadership, guiding clients through high-stakes moments with uncommon expertise.
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Before transitioning to public relations, Leo built a distinguished career in broadcast journalism. He served as Director of Streaming Content & OTT Platforms at NBCUniversal, where he spearheaded NBC10 Boston’s first documentary series created exclusively for streaming platforms. As Assistant News Director, he oversaw coverage of breaking news and led initiatives to strengthen inclusion and belonging in newsroom practices and reporting. Earlier roles as Executive Producer at WHDH-TV and WFOR CBS Miami showcased his talent for launching innovative programming and mentoring newsroom teams.
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With deep experience at the intersection of journalism, strategy, and community engagement, Leo is committed to using his expertise to uplift voices and strengthen civic life. ABCD is proud to welcome him to the Hoop Dreams Committee, where his insight and leadership will help expand the reach and impact of this vital youth development event.
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