Voices of Change: Get Inspired by 7 Past EMERGE Speakers

As Founder and CEO of Stackwell, Trevor continues to lead with purpose. The platform combines automated investing with culturally relevant financial education to support Black Americans in building long-term wealth and financial confidence. His mission has grown through partnerships with HBCUs, nonprofits, and pro sports teams – and most recently, through a powerful new collaboration with the Social Change Fund United (SCFU), co-founded by Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul.

In April 2025, Stackwell and SCFU, in partnership with the National Basketball Players Association, launched the Visionary Ventures Program in Los Angeles. Focused on small business owners impacted by wildfires, the program delivers financial education, grant funding, and long-term support, proving that with the right tools and access, scalable change is possible in the communities that need it most. Read more about the work of Stackwell in the 2025 report here.

As founder of both the credit union and the People Trust Community Loan Fund, Arlo’s mission is clear: eliminate financial barriers and create real, equitable change. Under his leadership, these institutions have distributed tens of millions in small business relief, expanded access to credit, and built a model for inclusive lending from the ground up.

In April 2025, Arlo joined an electrifying lineup at ASU+GSV’s LightningX, sharing the spotlight with icons like Ayesha Curry, Colin Kaepernick, and CNN’s Rosa Flores. His session, “Rewriting Economic Narratives: From Little Rock to Systemic Change,” lit up the stage – and reminded the audience that grassroots leadership still shapes the biggest rooms.

From Little Rock to the national spotlight, Arlo’s voice is helping rewrite the rules of economic justice.

She also founded The Rosie and Otis Brown Foundation in honor of her parents – celebrating everyday people doing extraordinary things in their communities. Her mission remains clear: to open doors to opportunity for all. Check out her recent features in Fortune 100: Most Powerful People in Business and the New York Times.

“We are all agents of the art of possibility. We do our best as an industry when we come together to help all Americans achieve their hopes, address their fears, and help them make their dreams a reality.”
– Thasunda Duckett

His passion for financial health led him to H&R Block, where he now serves as VP of Financial Services and continues to champion equitable financial solutions. At EMERGE 2024, John shared his insights on how organizations can move beyond the basics and build businesses that prioritize financial health. His session provided passionate leaders focused on financial health the opportunity to discuss their challenges and collaborate on potential solutions.

Today, John is at the helm of Spruce, H&R Block’s innovative mobile banking platform designed to simplify money management for everyone. Most recently, he played a key role in strengthening the partnership between H&R Block and Atomic, driving the launch of PayLink Switch on Spruce. This powerful integration makes it easier for users to manage direct deposits and payment flows, all in one seamless experience.

From research to real-world impact, John’s career continues to embody the bold thinking, practical tools, and transformative power of financial health – hallmarks of the EMERGE experience.

In 2024, she returned to EMERGE for a timely session on “Moving the Industry: How Standards Will Drive Financial Health Forward.” Her insights helped attendees understand the critical role of measurable standards in driving real progress across the financial services landscape. 

Ashley’s recent work continues to influence the national dialogue. On the Diversity Goes to Work podcast, she discussed how paying a living wage and measuring DEI progress are not just good practices – they’re essential to long-term corporate equity. In partnership with colleague Daniel Krasner, she also co-authored a powerful analysis on fair chance hiring, elevating the importance of employment pathways for the 70 million and counting formerly incarcerated individuals.

From the boardroom to the podcast studio to the data dashboard, Ashley brings clarity, urgency, and heart to the conversation on financial health. Her leadership is helping shape a new future where opportunity is truly accessible to all.

She’s been featured in Fortune discussing how inflation is shaping financial well-being, quoted in USA TODAY on fraud and data breaches, and joined the Money Life podcast to talk about how financial firms can raise the bar on account protection. Most recently, she helped launch J.D. Power’s 2024 Financial Account Protection Study, which provides key benchmarks around fraud resolution and consumer expectations.

Jennifer recently attended FinovateSpring 2025 to share the latest on what today’s fintech customers are saying and how companies can truly listen. With each new study and stage appearance, she keeps the focus where it matters most: on the financial health of real people.

Her work embodies the spirit of EMERGE – translating insight into action and putting consumers at the center of the conversation.