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Founder and CEO, Elite Changemakers
Although we are a newly formed nonprofit in 2026, our core programs have successfully developed over 500 power leaders across the national for the past 2 years!
Through exceptional programming and world-class organization workplace insights, we have accelerated the careers for students and professionals from across the nation and throughout all industries.
We are now positioned scale our impact across the world for college and early career talent to drive and maximize their workplace readiness and career success.
We will accomplish this goal through leveraging existing programming while reinforcing the experience with additional power services (AI Fluency) to ensure our students are the best of the best!
Refugio (Ref) Atilano history includes being first-generation professional and college student and was born and raised in Chicago. He is a former global senior leader for a world-class pharmaceutical company, worked for 2 Fortune 100 organizations, and was the Global Chair of an award-winning Employee Resource Group (ERG).
Refugio is passionate about leadership development – he mentors professionals and students across the country and from all sectors of industry.
To support his leadership development journey, he authored The Latino Leadership Playbook, created the Professional Leadership Club (PLC), and is also the creator of the Professional Acceleration national webcast.
Ref is an influencer for the academic and business community and uses his network to help drive the collective leadership development with the goal of shaping the future with the next generation of powerful leaders.
Founder and CEO
Ref Atilano empowers first-generation professionals through leadership, mentorship, and workplace readiness development.
Board Member
Corporate strategist and policy leader connecting business, advocacy, and politics to drive real-world impact and influence.
Board Member
Rafael Magaña is a nonprofit leader, mentor, and advocate for gender equality, human rights, and advancing diverse leadership.
Board Director, Senior Advisor & Fortune 100 executive
A pulic company board director, senior advisor and Fortune 100 executive with three decades of experience across Aerospace, Medical Devices, Multi-Industrial, and Energy sectors, Marta has led business strategy, B2B sales, marketing, communications, and brand through large-scale transformations, turnarounds, mergers, acquisitions, and digital transformations at Medtronic, Boeing, Johnson Controls, and Westinghouse — consistently driving value creation in complex, highly regulated, and technology-driven global markets.
CEO of JJR Marketing and Fig Factor Media Publishing, Author of 39 books, Pilot
Jacqueline Ruiz is an internationally known, award-winning entrepreneur and publishing magnate, Latina storytelling pioneer, and Latina aviation and youth champion. Jackie is a two-time cancer survivor dedicated to inspiring and empowering others. She founded the award-winning public relations firm JJR Marketing in 2006 and Fig Factor Media publishing company in 2014, which has published more than 500 books for authors across 34 countries.
Cesar A. Lostaunau, MBA, PMP --- Global Director, Workforce Engagement
Cesar Lostaunau is a purpose-driven executive and advocate for inclusive leadership, with a proven track record of building high-impact engagement strategies across global organizations. As Global Director of Workforce Engagement at Morningstar (NASDAQ:MORN) an investor research and data organization, he leads global enterprise-wide initiatives that elevate employee experience, foster belonging, and align workforce strategies with business outcomes.
Managing Partner, Global Human Resources Practice
John leads the Global Human Resources Practice and is Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office. Known as an innovative and strategic human resource and talent acquisition leader, John works with organizations to assess, structure and build leadership teams to achieve outstanding business results. He brings over 25 years of experience in Global CPG, Retail, Hospitality, Life Sciences, and Healthcare, with special emphasis on organizational effectiveness, DEI&B, culture and employee inspiration.
In a 2025 Study reported by Forbes, only 24% of recent college graduates now in the workforce reported “I have all the skills I need for my current role”. Similarly, 96% of HR professionals reported that “Colleges need to take more responsibility for training students for the workplace”. The study summarized that “Recent college graduates are profoundly unhappy with their lack of workplace readiness—and so are their employers”.
