Mary Kurek

Curator of strategic relationships to scale business, impact, and bridge the gap between challenges and solutions. We embrace UN SDGs, particularly #17 - "Partnerships for all goals." As a professional business developer, I've been introducing diplomats and innovation leaders to resources and opportunities that create partnerships, board appointments, generate business, solve econ dev problems, and expand reach for 17+ years. With Frontrunners as a team, we work to achieve our goals to help businesses and governments achieve theirs through 1) Frontrunners Innovate, a business development podcast aimed at generating business connections, and 2) The Frontrunners League. The League is a global collective of impact leaders/innovators/investors/diplomats in almost every industry (my business development resource pool.) I spent years working media on an NC Gov's Press Staff, programmed professional visits for int'l dignitaries in the tech hub of RTP, and directed the Chamber of Commerce next to the world's largest Marine Corps Air Station. Started my business in 2007. Since then, we've made thousands of intros in health tech, education, economic development, women's empowerment, and more. I've interviewed over 560 global innovators, diplomats, philanthropists, corp. and NGO leaders in all impact spaces. Currently, serving as Trade & Investment Counselor to His Highness Prince Telepshore's Royal House in Madagascar. Private Consulting is available. (Currently projects involve: logistics tech, clean water, diabetes care (monitoring/wound), education and resources, and economic dev projects.I'd like to hear your story - here's a bit of mine:*17+ yrs Consulting, Business Dev., Speaking*Graduate of US Chamber's Institute for Org. Mgt. *Author, nationally endorsed women's business networking book *Awarded NC's Long Leaf Pine Award by Gov *Founder, 2 youth ldrshp progs + BOD sports ldrshp nonprofit 1994-present*Co-founder, Friends of Aging of Carteret Co. 2011*Exec Board, NC Governor's Advisory Council on Aging*International Trade & Research Centre Board*Governing Board, Sub-Saharan Open University*Youthgether Global Youth Dev. Governing Council (2020-present)*Girls and Young Women's Mentor & Empowerment Speaker - Mentor Her to Greatness & Youthgether events (2020-present)*Counselor, Trade & Investment, Madagascar*Distinguished Fellow, Global Africa Leadership Council*Adv Board, Propel GPS*Rotary Club Member