REGIONAL IMPACT LEADERS
Ethiopia | Addis Ababa
Abigya Endale
Award Winning Youth Advocate
Abigya received her law degree from Mekelle University with great academic achievement, winning two awards from Nairobi University and Mekelle University for "Best Female Oralist" in the All-African Round Moot Court Competition. She volunteered for more than two years at the Satchmo Center of the American Embassy in Addis Ababa and is currently the organizer and trainer of the inclusion, advocacy, and youth mentoring programs. Abigya also serves as vice president of the Model Africa Union—Ethiopia. She works for Earth Charter International as a youth leader. She also served as a field assistant for a consulting company, assessing various projects on disability. She received recognition from Youth for Human Rights International as an active advocate for human rights.
Abigya is an enthusiastic youth with a deep-rooted passion to serve women and girls living in destitute situations through innovative, long-lasting solutions that will help them restart their lives and build a better future. As a woman who has dealt with a great deal of hardship and is currently fighting in front, Abigya wants to empower young girls with the necessary tools to realize their dreams and give back to the community.
Award Winning Youth Advocate
Abigya received her law degree from Mekelle University with great academic achievement, winning two awards from Nairobi University and Mekelle University for "Best Female Oralist" in the All-African Round Moot Court Competition. She volunteered for more than two years at the Satchmo Center of the American Embassy in Addis Ababa and is currently the organizer and trainer of the inclusion, advocacy, and youth mentoring programs. Abigya also serves as vice president of the Model Africa Union—Ethiopia. She works for Earth Charter International as a youth leader. She also served as a field assistant for a consulting company, assessing various projects on disability. She received recognition from Youth for Human Rights International as an active advocate for human rights.
Abigya is an enthusiastic youth with a deep-rooted passion to serve women and girls living in destitute situations through innovative, long-lasting solutions that will help them restart their lives and build a better future. As a woman who has dealt with a great deal of hardship and is currently fighting in front, Abigya wants to empower young girls with the necessary tools to realize their dreams and give back to the community.
United States | Northeast
Julianne Hausler
Producer/Manager/Entertainment Executive/Consultant/Advocate
Prior to founding NY OFFICE, a multi-faceted production and literary management company in 1998, Julianne Hausler worked as a producer on television shows, independent films, and commercials. Her credits include a series of short films shown at festivals in the US and Europe as well as independent features that premiered at US and International film festivals. At NYO she developed a keen eye for the emerging talent and shepherded the careers of numerous award-nominated and winning International Cinematographers, Designers, Writers, and Directors.
In 2012 Julianne and her husband, Artist, Ward Yoshimoto adopted a son from Addis Ababa, ET and life changed forever. After several years and two trips to ET, she has deepened her love of the African diaspora. Her decision to adopt a child from Africa was born of a desire to blend her Western European heritage with that of her husband's Japanese American roots and the culture of the African continent where so much of our civilization began. Long a socially active feminist and arts advocate, the opportunity to empower girls through education and advocacy is an authentic one that she is grateful to embrace.
Producer/Manager/Entertainment Executive/Consultant/Advocate
Prior to founding NY OFFICE, a multi-faceted production and literary management company in 1998, Julianne Hausler worked as a producer on television shows, independent films, and commercials. Her credits include a series of short films shown at festivals in the US and Europe as well as independent features that premiered at US and International film festivals. At NYO she developed a keen eye for the emerging talent and shepherded the careers of numerous award-nominated and winning International Cinematographers, Designers, Writers, and Directors.
In 2012 Julianne and her husband, Artist, Ward Yoshimoto adopted a son from Addis Ababa, ET and life changed forever. After several years and two trips to ET, she has deepened her love of the African diaspora. Her decision to adopt a child from Africa was born of a desire to blend her Western European heritage with that of her husband's Japanese American roots and the culture of the African continent where so much of our civilization began. Long a socially active feminist and arts advocate, the opportunity to empower girls through education and advocacy is an authentic one that she is grateful to embrace.
Jeffrey Heinbach
Jeffrey Heinbach is a self-professed book nerd whose interests are at once eclectic and outlying, who has lived in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas for all his life, often with cats. As a writer, filmmaker, visual artist, creative consultant, and occasional culinary professional, Jeffrey brings a nervous yet heartfelt sincerity to all of his (sometimes) overlapping projects.
As a self-directed student of world cultures, and an enthusiast of and advocate for marginalized communities, Jeffrey seeks to fight for those without (and denied access to) life sustaining and affirming resources and means of expression. He is thrilled to have connected with Tamara Horton and the team of Studio Samuel, who diligently work to furnish and cultivate an infrastructure for the empowerment and flourishing of the truly remarkable girls in our studentry.
Jeffrey Heinbach is a self-professed book nerd whose interests are at once eclectic and outlying, who has lived in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas for all his life, often with cats. As a writer, filmmaker, visual artist, creative consultant, and occasional culinary professional, Jeffrey brings a nervous yet heartfelt sincerity to all of his (sometimes) overlapping projects.
As a self-directed student of world cultures, and an enthusiast of and advocate for marginalized communities, Jeffrey seeks to fight for those without (and denied access to) life sustaining and affirming resources and means of expression. He is thrilled to have connected with Tamara Horton and the team of Studio Samuel, who diligently work to furnish and cultivate an infrastructure for the empowerment and flourishing of the truly remarkable girls in our studentry.
Marissa Putney
As VP, International Label Management at The Orchard, Marissa leads the International Label Management team based out of New York and works closely alongside teams throughout The Orchards 40+ global offices. Marissa’s day to day consists of seeking out areas of opportunity to widen artists’ reach - crossing country boundaries and languages. She leads on building comprehensive campaigns for various global priorities to propel further international artist growth and development. Marissa is motivated by Studio Samuel's mission which prompted her to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on several occasions to conduct hands on volunteer work on the ground at the Studio Samuel training center. In an effort to continue her education in International Development, Marissa received a certificate from MIT in “The Challenges of Global Poverty” and is currently taking a Stanford University online certified course for “Women’s Health and Human Rights.” She has also led a successful fundraising and awareness campaign for Malaria No More in 2010.
As VP, International Label Management at The Orchard, Marissa leads the International Label Management team based out of New York and works closely alongside teams throughout The Orchards 40+ global offices. Marissa’s day to day consists of seeking out areas of opportunity to widen artists’ reach - crossing country boundaries and languages. She leads on building comprehensive campaigns for various global priorities to propel further international artist growth and development. Marissa is motivated by Studio Samuel's mission which prompted her to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on several occasions to conduct hands on volunteer work on the ground at the Studio Samuel training center. In an effort to continue her education in International Development, Marissa received a certificate from MIT in “The Challenges of Global Poverty” and is currently taking a Stanford University online certified course for “Women’s Health and Human Rights.” She has also led a successful fundraising and awareness campaign for Malaria No More in 2010.
United States | West Coast
Braden Kuhlman
Braden thrives on connection with and for others. She began her entertainment career in 1988, traversing tv, film, and commercial industries to studios, producers, personal assisting and talent management. Since her teen years, volunteer and events coordination support for charities locally, nationally and globally has kept her heart strings firmly dedicated within philanthropy throughout. Giving to and inspiring others personally and creatively remains a passion, which naturally works well with wanderlust in the non-profit community at large.
Braden's VIP client expertise has included icons from Sharon Stone and Dennis Hopper to Studio Samuel's own Global Ambassador Julian Lennon. She's shared many environmental and humanitarian projects with a realm of worldwide organizations seeking to better our planet. It's with great pride that she embraces all consulting, leadership, mentoring, and ideation projects. Her belief in empowered people trickles through her professional and altruistic life.
Ms. Kuhlman has also served since 2011 on the Board with the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants (Membership at Large 2011-2012; Director of Charities 2013-2016; Treasurer 2017 to currently). Braden is a hobbyist blogger/writer, photographer, sailor, surfer, and enthusiastic traveler. Los Angeles and Maui are her main ports of call.
Braden thrives on connection with and for others. She began her entertainment career in 1988, traversing tv, film, and commercial industries to studios, producers, personal assisting and talent management. Since her teen years, volunteer and events coordination support for charities locally, nationally and globally has kept her heart strings firmly dedicated within philanthropy throughout. Giving to and inspiring others personally and creatively remains a passion, which naturally works well with wanderlust in the non-profit community at large.
Braden's VIP client expertise has included icons from Sharon Stone and Dennis Hopper to Studio Samuel's own Global Ambassador Julian Lennon. She's shared many environmental and humanitarian projects with a realm of worldwide organizations seeking to better our planet. It's with great pride that she embraces all consulting, leadership, mentoring, and ideation projects. Her belief in empowered people trickles through her professional and altruistic life.
Ms. Kuhlman has also served since 2011 on the Board with the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants (Membership at Large 2011-2012; Director of Charities 2013-2016; Treasurer 2017 to currently). Braden is a hobbyist blogger/writer, photographer, sailor, surfer, and enthusiastic traveler. Los Angeles and Maui are her main ports of call.
Sarah Landy
With great passion for supporting and developing artists, Sarah Landy has worked in the music industry for over 17 years with expertise in business development, artist relations, marketing, publicity, strategic partnerships and event production.
Inspired with energy to contribute impact work, Sarah asked Founder Tamara Horton if she could be involved with Studio Samuel upon learning about the organization in its first year of development while they were working together at Sony Music Entertainment. Sarah joined the initial Board of Directors in 2012 and traveled to Ethiopia annually through the Studio Samuel Training Center opening in 2015.
Sarah currently lives in Los Angeles after spending much of her career in New York, and she holds a B.S. degree in Economics and Journalism (Public Relations) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sarah is a mother and loves running, learning about other cultures, listening to music with soul (including deep love for African music), and is passionate about women’s empowerment, education and equality.
With great passion for supporting and developing artists, Sarah Landy has worked in the music industry for over 17 years with expertise in business development, artist relations, marketing, publicity, strategic partnerships and event production.
Inspired with energy to contribute impact work, Sarah asked Founder Tamara Horton if she could be involved with Studio Samuel upon learning about the organization in its first year of development while they were working together at Sony Music Entertainment. Sarah joined the initial Board of Directors in 2012 and traveled to Ethiopia annually through the Studio Samuel Training Center opening in 2015.
Sarah currently lives in Los Angeles after spending much of her career in New York, and she holds a B.S. degree in Economics and Journalism (Public Relations) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sarah is a mother and loves running, learning about other cultures, listening to music with soul (including deep love for African music), and is passionate about women’s empowerment, education and equality.
